For expert help planning your Australia vacation, call a travel specialist at 1-800-942-3301
| South Pacific Highlights Extended Tour
A 21-Day tour starting from $5,435
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| About This Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extend your vacation with an independent exploration of Melbourne and the great Australian Outback! |
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• Fully-escorted touring in New Zealand and Australia with Tour Director and Driver/Guides
• Centrally located hotels in key locations • Luxury motorcoaches featuring large panoramic windows, reclining seats with foot rests and restroom • Free travel kit including travel wallet and map • 23 meals—14 hot breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D) • Hotel porterage and restaurant gratuities Note: Itinerary effective 1 Apr 08.
Day 1: Los Angeles
This evening board your flight bound for Australia. (D) Day 2: In Flight Cross the International Dateline and “lose” a day. Day 3: Arrive Melbourne, Australia Be met on arrival in Melbourne and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy free time to explore the city. Overnight: Melbourne, Mercure Welcome Hotel for 3 nights (B,D) Day 4: Melbourne City Sights & Penguin Parade Today enjoy a tour of Melbourne, including the Royal Botanic, Fitzroy gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance. Later travel via a working cattle and sheep property to Phillip Island to watch the Penguin Parade. (B) Day 5: Melbourne at Leisure Today is free in Melbourne. Perhaps wander the vibrant riverfront, ride a tram, cruise along the Yarra River or go wine tasting in the Yarra Valley (own expense). (B) Day 6: Melbourne—Alice Springs Fly to Alice Springs, be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Later, on a town tour, visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base and the School of the Air before enjoying the panoramic views from Anzac Hill. Overnight: Alice Springs, Aurora Alice Springs (B) Day 7: Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) & Uluru (Ayers Rock) Journey to Uluru from Alice Springs, past the MacDonnell Ranges and rugged Outback landscapes. Stop at the Outback Camel Farm where you can ride a camel (own expense). This afternoon explore Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), 36 domes thought to have once been a single rock many times the size of Uluru. On arrival at Kata Tjuta, walk into Walpa (Olga) Gorge then later watch the sun set on Uluru. Overnight: Ayers Rock Resort, Outback Pioneer. Hotel for 2 nights (B) Day 8: Sunrise Uluru Base Tour Rise early and watch the day’s first light strike Uluru. Walk to Mutitjulu waterhole, then join the Mala Walk. As you tour the base of Uluru, visit Kantju Gorge, a sacred waterhole, and later visit the Cultural Center and Maruku Arts and Crafts Gallery. (B) Day 9: Uluru—Cairns Enjoy the morning at leisure and then fly to Cairns. Be met at the airport upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Escorted touring commences here. Day 11: Upolu Cay, Barrier Reef Discover the beauty of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. Stretching for over 1,250 miles, the Great Barrier Reef is visible from outer space and is composed of more than 2,800 individual reefs. Spend an unforgettable day at the magnificent Upolu Cay and reef edge. Swim, snorkel or join the glass-bottom boat to view the brilliantly colored coral, giant clams, tropical fish and other marine life. Enjoy a tropical lunch. (B,L) Day 12: Cairns at Leisure Today is free for you to explore Queensland’s tropical north as you choose. Perhaps take an optional tour to Kuranda, a village deep in the heart of the rainforest. Here you have the opportunity to ride the Skyrail Cableway over the rainforest, visit the local markets or embark on a journey aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway – passing over 40 bridges, tropical rainforest, rushing waterfalls and traveling through 15 tunnels (own expense). (B) Day 13: Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park,Sydney Spend the morning at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Meet and interact with the Tjapukai people as they demonstrate their ancient skills and knowledge of the natural world. This afternoon board your flight for Sydney, Australia’s largest city. Overnight: Sydney, Travelodge Wynyard for 3 nights (B) Day 14: Sydney Sights & Opera House Tour Today tour Sydney. Cruise Sydney Harbor and visit the Opera House before exploring Sydney Wildlife World, getting up close to koalas, kangaroos and other native animals. Visit an opal display and learn about Australian gemstones, then tonight enjoy 360° views of the city over dinner at the Sydney Tower Restaurant. (B,D) Day 15: Sydney at Leisure Today enjoy Sydney at leisure. Perhaps join an optional sightseeing tour to the Hunter Valley, famous for its wines. Maybe visit the Blue Mountains to see the Three Sisters rock formation (own expense). (B) Day 16: Queenstown, New Zealand Today, transfer to the airport and board your flight for New Zealand and the city of Queenstown. Be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Overnight: Queenstown, Copthorne Lakefront Resort for 3 nights (B) Day 17: Milford Sound Cruise Today travel to World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park. Cruise the full length of Milford Sound below towering Mitre Peak, past cascading waterfalls, dense rainforest and rugged mountains. (B,L) Day 18: Queenstown at Leisure & Walter Peak Dinner Today is free to explore Queenstown. Perhaps take a jetboat or helicopter ride, play golf or enjoy a winery tour (own expense). This evening cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw to the Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak for an authentic New Zealand farm experience and dinner. (B,D) Day 19: Mt Cook—Christchurch View spectacular scenery as we journey to New Zealand’s highest peak, Mt Cook. Weather permitting, take a ski plane flight over this stunning region, including a landing on the glacier (own expense). Continue to Christchurch. Overnight: Christchurch, Copthorne Central Hotel (B) Day 20: Christchurch—Rotorua This morning take a tour of Christchurch then fly to Rotorua. Here, visit the Agrodome and learn about the country’s farming history before enjoying a Maori Hangi (feast) and cultural performance. Overnight: Rotorua, Heritage Hotel (B,D) Day 21: Te Puia Thermal Reserve—Auckland Tour Te Puia Thermal Reserve and witness the power of geothermal energy, see boiling mud pools and exploding geysers. Continue to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city and one of the most impressive with its beautiful harbors, dormant volcanoes and unique visitor attractions. Tonight is a farewell dinner. Overnight: Auckland, SKYCITY Hotel (B,D) Day 22: Auckland—Los Angeles Tour Auckland then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before your evening flight home. (B) (B,D) Note: The Melbourne & Outback Pre-Trip Extension is not escorted.
• Tour Melbourne and travel to Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade
• Tour the Outback town of Alice Springs • Visit the giant domes of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) • Tour the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock) • Sydney Harbor cruise • Tour of Sydney Opera House • See native animals at Sydney Wildlife World • Enjoy 360° panoramic city views over dinner at Sydney Tower Restaurant • Great Barrier Reef cruise • Kuranda Scenic Railway • Visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park • In Queenstown, cruise Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Sheep Station for dinner • Cruise majestic Milford Sound • Take a city sights tour of Christchurch • Enjoy a Maori Hangi (feast) in Rotorua • Explore Te Puia Thermal Reserve • Tour Auckland, the “City of Sails” All tour prices are per person, in US dollars.
All prices, itineraries and routings are subject to change. Please call for our current prices. |
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| Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||