Itinerary
Days 1 & 2 - Departure day
Fly to Cairns, crossing the International Date Line to arrive on Sunday.
Day 3 - Arrive Cairns
G’day, mates! Arrive in Cairns and the rest of the day is free to relax. Meet your fellow travelers at the SHANGRI-LA HOTEL CAIRNS.
Day 4 - Great Barrier Reef
Blue water and tropical fish surround you as you sail to the massive Great Barrier Reef. Swim or snorkel in this stunning underwater world, or take a ride in the semi-submersible for a close look at the coral and its residents. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL CAIRNS
Day 5 - Kuranda Train/Skyrail/Tjapukai
Ride the Kuranda train over deep gorges, past raging waterfalls, and through verdant rainforests as you journey to Kuranda. Witness a rainbow of color and the flutter of tiny wings at the butterfly sanctuary before you soar skyward aboard the world's longest gondola cableway. Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the canopy of the teeming rainforest below. Then, immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture with a performance of native dances at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Dance Theater. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL CAIRNS
Day 6 - Uluru/Ayers Rock
Mighty Uluru, often referred to as Ayers Rock, towers more than 1,100 feet above the desert and is a sacred site to the Aboriginal people. As mammoth as this monolith appears, approximately 2/3 of the rock lies beneath the ground. Watch, with a glass of champagne and canapes, as reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks blend slowly together as the sun sets. SAILS IN THE DESERT HOTEL
Day 7 - Uluru/Alice Springs
Today, return to Uluru to explore by daylight. Later, fly to Alice Springs, site of the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Visit the Flying Doctor Service Base and learn of the airborne physicians who make their house calls to outlying areas. Before the railway made its way into this isolated area, camels were the mode of transportation. Take a camelback ride and learn about these animals. This evening, join in the fun at an authentic Australian barbecue and boomerang-throwing demonstration. CROWNE PLAZA ALICE SPRINGS
Day 8 - Melbourne/Colonial Tram Car Restaurant
For those who wish an optional balloon ride (weather permitting), arrangements can be made for early morning. Then, fly to Melbourne. Arrive in time for dinner aboard the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant, sightseeing the city in a most unusual fashion. As you sit down to dine, the restaurant will begin to drive around the city. Your hotel is centrally located at the "top end" of prestigious Collins Street in the heart of Melbourne business, theater and shopping districts. SOFITEL MELBOURNE
Day 9 - Melbourne sightseeing/Free time
Begin this morning with a city tour, including Captain Cook's Cottage, a drive by the Shrine of Remembrance and Toorak Village. Visit The Melbourne Museum with a private guide. This afternoon is either free to relax at your hotel, discover Melbourne on your own, or take part in an optional evening tour of Phillip Island for the "penguin parade," where small fairy penguins cross the beach on their way home after a hard day of fishing. SOFITEL MELBOURNE
Day 10 - Hobart, Tasmania
This morning, head to Tasmania and Hobart, one of the world's finest deep-water harbors, with sightseeing en route to your hotel. Hobart is Australia's second oldest city, and has a fascinating and infamous history to investigate. HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR HOBART
Day 11 - Hobart, Port Arthur
Learn about Tasmania's more notorious side today with a full-day tour of Port Arthur. This former penal colony sits on the tip of the Tasman Peninsula. Visit the Isle of the Dead Cemetery and learn about its colorful past. Then hear about the area's more pleasant history as you stroll by fine gardens and visit preserved colonial villages. HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR HOBART
Day 12 - Sydney/Sydney Opera House Performance
Fly to Sydney and enjoy sightseeing en route to your hotel, located in the historic Rocks area on the harbor. Your stay is three nights; relax and explore your surroundings. This evening is a special treat. A private tour of Sydney Opera House is provided, then dinner and a performance. Dinner is either at the Opera House's Bennelong or Aria Restaurant. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL SYDNEY
Day 13 - Koala Park/Sydney sightseeing/Cruise
Begin where Sydney originated, at the Rocks. Drive to South Head for a view of Sydney Harbour from the enormous cliffs. Then, have a close-up meeting with some of Australia's furry inhabitants at the West Pennant Hills Koala Park. Return to Sydney for a relaxing luncheon cruise of the city harbor. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL SYDNEY
Day 14 - Sydney free day
You have the full day free to explore Sydney on your own. You may want to take a tour of the Olympic Park (site of the 2000 Summer Games), a 4WD excursion to the Blue Mountains, a wine tour to the Hunter Valley, or an exciting Sydney Bridge Climb. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL SYDNEY
Day 15 - Christchurch, New Zealand
Today you arrive into Auckland and connect to Christchurch, New Zealand, located on the picturesque South Island. Christchurch is known for its award-winning gardens, its cafe atmosphere, and as a staging area for expeditions to Antarctica. Meet your fellow travelers at the reception and dinner. CROWNE PLAZA CHRISTCHURCH
Day 16 - Christchurch/Antarctic Centre/Home-hosted dinner
Explore the city this morning. Walk through Cathedral Square and see the Canterbury Cathedral. Visit the Antarctic Centre to experience the feel of the South Pole without leaving New Zealand. Tonight, meet some "Kiwis," as the locals are known, when you dine with a native New Zealand family in their home. CROWNE PLAZA CHRISTCHURCH
Day 17 - Skiplane landing on the Tasman Glacier/Mount Cook
Gain a new perspective of the South Island as a skiplane carries you into the mountains. Observe how enormous glaciers have left behind numerous lakes and rivers, making for astounding scenery, with many featured in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Experience a snow landing on the Tasman Glacier and fly past Mt. Cook, also known as Aoraki, the highest peak in New Zealand. THE HERMITAGE
Day 18 - Te Anau
As you travel to Te Anau, notice how the countryside changes dramatically from wide plains to mountains and deep river gorges. Enter MacKenzie Country, named for a notorious sheep-thief, and where rugged Merino sheep stolidly withstand the rigors of winter. A horizon of snowy mountains is backdrop to the brilliant turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo. Keep an eye out for magnificent and colorful birds like the kaka, tui, and parakeets. DISTINCTION TE ANAU HOTEL
Day 19 - Milford Sound/Queenstown
Explore Fjordland National Park today, driving along one of the world's finest alpine roads, past towering forests and deep ravines, before arriving at serene Milford Sound. Cruise the glittering deep blue waters of the Sound, past waterfalls spilling into the fjord and gaze up towards the highest sea cliffs in the world, crowned by Mitre Peak at 5,500 feet. Later, drive around Lake Wakatipu en route to Queenstown. Your room overlooks the lake at the ST. MORITZ SUITES.
Day 20 - Shotover River jet boat ride/Gondola
Return to the pristine waters of Lake Wakatipu for an old-fashioned steamship cruise aboard the T.S.S. Earnslaw to the Walter Peak Station. After tea and scones, tour this fully functioning sheep farm and watch a sheep-shearing demonstration. Be amazed how the little Border collies keep the sheep herded together. Later, take the ride of your life on the Shotover River. Specially trained boat drivers speed you along the surface at 40 mph. (Be ready to get a little wet.) The day concludes with a quiet ride in a gondola, providing fabulous views of Queenstown, where the peaceful lakes reflect the images of noble mountains. ST. MORITZ SUITES
Day 21 - Queenstown/Free time
You have a full free day to enjoy the "adventure capital" of New Zealand. With ready access to Remarkable Mountains, lakes, rivers, ski fields and the glacial lake, you can hike the trails, ride mountain bikes, bungee jump off a bridge, or sedately shop the cosmopolitan stores. Enjoy the South Islands' most popular tourist destination today at your leisure. ST. MORITZ SUITES
Day 22 - Rotorua/Hangi feast/Whakarewarewa
Fly to Rotorua to visit Whakarewarewa Thermal Village and learn about Maori culture. Here amid hot springs, geysers and mud pools, learn of ancient cooking traditions, the power of the mineral springs, and the history of the Maori's ancestral meetinghouse. This evening is filled with song, dance and a Hangi feast. NOVOTEL LAKESIDE ROTORUA
Day 23 - Auckland/Waitomo Caves
At the Waitomo Caves, the darkness is broken only by the steady glow of the odd blue-green light of the caves' little residents--the glowworms. The caves were not widely known until 1887, when discovered by an English surveyor, though the Maori had known of them for generations. Continue to Auckland and enjoy a farewell evening at the LANGHAM HOTEL AUCKLAND.
Day 24 - Conclude Auckland
At world-renowned Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World, see the penguin colonies, ride in a snow cat, and get a close look at some predators of the deep from the vantage of a underwater tunnel. Your vacation concludes with transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Not Included
- International airfare and on-tour flight segments Cairns/Ayers Rock/Alice Springs/Melbourne/Hobart/Sydney/ Christchurch and Queenstown/Rotorua are not included in the land tour rate. Please inquire about our competitive rates at the time of booking. With
Travel Dates & Rates
| Departure Dates |
Space Available |
Land Only |
Single Supplement |
* Guaranteed to operate
** Ask agent about our waiting list
- Land rate is per person based on double occupancy.
- Triple reduction is from $505 per person.
- New Zealand departure tax of $20 per person is additional and paid directly to Maupintour, and is subject to change.
- Pre/post nights are available upon request. Reservation deposit is $1000 per person. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
- Note: Visa is required and is the responsibility of the traveler to secure.
Prices subject to change without notice until time of deposit. All dollar values not denoted as US or CA are in US Dollars. |
