• 1-2

  Depart From Home

  Today you board your flight and begin the adventure of a lifetime. Crossing the International Dateline, you skip a day ahead.

   

  • Meals: Dinner
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  Day3

  Cairns, Australia - Tour Begins

  Your tour opens in Cairns, the tropical gateway to one of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions and a World Heritage site – the Great Barrier Reef. Established as a marine park in 1975, the reef is a haven for thousands of species of sea life, as well as turtles and birds.

   

  • Meals: Dinner
  • Hotel: Pacific International Cairns

  Day4

  Great Barrier Reef

  Board a high speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. This is an immense series of 2,800 coral reefs which are home to amazingly diverse marine life. Explore the reef from your base on Green Island. Enjoy a glass bottom boat ride, stroll the island walking trails, relax on the beaches, snorkel or just watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier. For a more adventurous encounter with the reef, optional scuba diving and an outer reef tour are also available. Whichever way you choose, you’ll see some of the world’s most fascinating marine and plant life.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
  • Hotel: Pacific International Cairns

  Day5

  Cairns

  Come to know the history of Australia’s original inhabitants at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center. Here you’ll see traditional dances, learn how to play a didgeridoo or even throw a boomerang. Browse the renowned art gallery and visit the interpretation center which houses a collection of interesting artifacts. At Hartley’s Croc Farm, get up close and personal with crocodiles in their natural habitat! Boardwalks take you on a path of adventure through rainforests and woodlands, home to birds, reptiles and wallabies. While visiting you also have the chance to meet some of the local koalas and have a private talk with a wildlife naturalist to learn more about these cuddly creatures. Take an exciting cruise on the lagoon and watch for crocodiles before enjoying a delicious Aussie barbecue.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
  • Hotel: Pacific International Cairns

  Day6

  Cairns - Sydney

  Your morning is at leisure. Make your own adventure or simply relax and take in the tropical atmosphere. Later today, fly to the bustling city of Sydney.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Hotel: Novotel Rockford Darling Harbour

  Day7

  Sydney

  This morning, see where the original English colonists first settled in 1788 during a city tour of Sydney. Highlights of your tour include Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens and the fashionable suburb of Paddington. Discover one of the world’s most fascinating architectural sights as you take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, poised majestically on Sydney Harbour. Next, learn how raw opals mined from the depths of the Earth are transformed into beautiful works of art at the National Opal Centre. The evening is free to explore Sydney at your leisure…the opportunities are endless!

   

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Hotel: Novotel Rockford Darling Harbour

  Day8

  Sydney

  Take hold of the exciting city of Sydney during a day of independent exploration. Your Tour Manager will be on hand to offer suggestions. Tonight, experience the best of Sydney. As you say your farewell to Australia, chat with new friends and take in the sights during a delightful dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour. Marvel at the scenic vistas the harbour has to offer including Sydney’s magnificent skyline and iconic attractions: the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
  • Hotel: Novotel Rockford Darling Harbour

  Day9

  Sydney - Christchurch, New Zealand

  Today you leave Australia behind and fly to the historic city of Christchurch, New Zealand. Devastated by an earthquake in early 2011, see firsthand how the city known as “the Garden City” is recreating itself. Make yourself right at home this evening when a New Zealand family welcomes you into their home for dinner! This is sure to be an unforgettable experience during which you will make new friends, learn about the customs of the “Kiwis,” and enjoy a home-cooked meal.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
  • Hotel: Pavilions

  Day10

  Christchurch

  Enjoy some leisure time to explore Christchurch on your own. You may wish to visit the International Antarctic Centre to learn about the 7th continent, or simply relax and enjoy what the city has to offer.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Hotel: Pavilions

  Day11

  Christchurch - Mt. Cook Region - Queenstown

  Traverse the spectacular countryside to New Zealand’s most famous national park, Mount Cook. Mt. Cook is one of the most impressive mountains in the world. En route, visit a Canterbury farmyard for a fantastic opportunity to learn how a New Zealand family farm operates. You may even catch a sheep shearing demonstration. Continue to Queenstown and enjoy a stop at a local fruit stand to gain an inside look at the produce of New Zealand. This evening, take in the city of Queenstown from above and soak in the breathtaking views during a gondola ride to dinner at the Skyline Restaurant overlooking Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountains.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
  • Hotel: Millennium Hotel Queenstown

  Day12

  Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown

  En route to Milford Sound, enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley. You’ll travel through ancient beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. During a cruise of the breathtakingly beautiful Milford Sound you will see why this fjord is one of the most visited sights on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet on either side, the scenery will take your breath away. Following your cruise, you return to Queenstown. You may choose to return via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Hotel: Millennium Hotel Queenstown

  Day13

  Queenstown

  En route to Milford Sound, enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley. You’ll travel through ancient beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. During a cruise of the breathtakingly beautiful Milford Sound you will see why this fjord is one of the most visited sights on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet on either side, the scenery will take your breath away. Following your cruise, you return to Queenstown. You may choose to return via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. 

   

  • Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
  • Hotel: Millennium Hotel Queenstown

  Day14

  Queenstown - Arrowtown - Queenstown

  Enjoy a leisurely touring day as you set off for the beautiful turn-of-the-century Gold Rush settlement of Arrowtown. Take time to explore independently and stroll its quaint, historic streets. Next, explore the Central Otago region where many of New Zealand’s best wines are grown and produced. During a stop at a local winery, visit their storage cave for a tasting of some of their famous wines.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
  • Hotel: Millennium Hotel Queenstown

  Day15

  Queenstown - Tour Ends

  Your tour ends, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful adventure.

   

  • Meals: Breakfast

Reserve your seat now!  Call 703-590-1295.