Day 1-2
Leave the US this evening from Los Angeles on your flight across
the Pacific, crossing the International Date Line the way.
Day 3 - Auckland
After arrival in Auckland early in the morning you will then be
transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to see the
sights of Auckland – included in your tour package is a 45-minute
sailboat cruise and lunch on Auckland harbor – which is a great
introduction the "City of Sails". Overnight in Auckland
Day 4 - Rotorua
This morning you will be transferred to the Intercity coach
terminal. Travel south through lush Waikato farmland, past Hamilton,
to Waitomo Caves for a boat ride under a galaxy of glow-worms.
Continue east to Rotorua, steeped in Maori culture and history.
Spend two nights in Rotorua.
Day 5 - Rotorua
During a half day sightseeing tour this morning see roaring geysers
and boiling mud pools at the thermal area, tame trout at the springs
and performing sheep and dogs at the Agrodome. Your afternoon is
free – there are many activities to enjoy. Overnight in Rotorua.
Day
6 – Rotorua to Wellington
Drive south to
Wairakei and then to Taupo. Skirt Lake Taupo, and cross the volcanic
landscape of the Desert Road past the majestic peaks of Tongariro,
Ngaruahoe and Ruapehu. Continue across the fertile plains of the
Manawatu and along the rugged Kapiti coastline to Wellington, the
capital of New Zealand. Overnight in Wellington.
Day
7 – Wellington to Christchurch
Board the inter-island
ferry across the Cook Strait (approx. 3 hours) and then through the
fjord landscape of Marlborough Sounds until you dock in Picton. The
TranzCoastal train awaits the arrival of your ferry, before skimming
across the spectacular coastline between the Kaikoura Ranges and the
Pacific Ocean. Continue through North Canterbury sheep country to
Christchurch, the main city in New Zealand's South Island. Overnight
in Christchurch.
Day
8 – Christchurch to Dunedin
Board
your comfortable tour bus and travel south across the Canterbury
Plains through seaside Timaru, and historic Oamaru to Dunedin, a
city so steeped in Scottish heritage that it is known as the "the
Edinburgh of the South"! Arrive in the afternoon, with some time
available to explore the town on your own; overnight in Dunedin.
Day
9 – Dunedin – Taieri Gorge Railway - Queenstown
This
morning is at your leisure for optional sightseeing. Later in the
day, board the Taieri Gorge train for a journey through spectacular
gorges and over historic viaducts to Pukerangi, where you join your
coach for the remainder of the overland journey to Queenstown.
Arrive in Queenstown in the late evening and stay for three nights.
Day
10 –
Queenstown -
Milford
Sound -
Queenstown
After
an early start, travel by road around the southern shores of Lake
Wakatipu to Lake Te Anau, then into Fiordland National Park. Pass
through pristine beech forests and the Homer Tunnel to view the
majesty of Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls aboard a cruise on the Sound.
Return to Queenstown by the evening.
Day
11 - Queenstown
Today
is free for you to enjoy this fabulous resort – we have included the
Skyline Gondola and the Kiwi Magic movie in your tour. There are
dozens of optional activities from thrilling jet boat rides to
leisurely lake cruises, 4WD safaris and bungy jumping.
Day
12 – Queenstown – Mount Cook - Christchurch
Depart Queenstown in the morning and travel through the Kawarau
Gorge with it’s historic gold mines, then past the stone fruit
growing area of Cromwell to the Lindis Pass. Cross the spectacular
Mackenzie Country bounded by the Southern Alps to the glacial lakes
and into the Mount Cook National Park. After a midday break at Mount
Cook continue north through Burkes Pass, Fairlie and Geraldine to
Christchurch. Spend the night in Christchurch.
Day 13 – Christchurch to Cairns
The morning is free in Christchurch. Early in the afternoon transfer
to the airport for your flight to Sydney or Brisbane. After arrival
in Australia, clear customs & immigration and take a domestic flight
to Cairns in tropical North Queensland. Arrive late in the evening,
transfer to your hotel. Spend four nights in Cairns.
Day 14 – Cairns
A free day for you to
relax or take one of many optional tours available - check out the
tropical rainforest or do something active (how about whitewater
rafting, for instance).
Day 15 – Cairns: Great
Barrier Reef Cruise
No visit to North Queensland is complete without a day exploring the
Great Barrier Reef. You will be picked up at your hotel around 8am
and transferred to the jetty where you will board a high-speed
catamaran which takes you out to the Reef (about 70 miles away) in
approx. 2 hours. Once at the reef you have several hours to enjoy
the beauty of the fascinating underwater world of brightly colored
corals and tropical fish. Snorkel equipment is provided, and so is a
lavish smorgasbord lunch. Certified divers can pay a surcharge for
an escorted dive. Others can board a semi-submersible vessel and see
the life under water from huge windows without even getting wet!
After an exciting day at the Reef, return to Cairns by early
evening.
Day 16 - Cairns
Another free day in this tropical paradise, to spend as you wish.
Day 17 – Cairns to Melbourne
Leave Cairns today and fly to Melbourne, Australia’s second largest
city, where you will be staying for two nights.
Day 18 - Melbourne: Great Ocean Road or
Penguins at Phillip Island
Today, join a guided tour of your choice - either a trip along the
spectacular Great Ocean Road, or, a visit to Phillip Island, where
hundreds of penguins come ashore at nightfall and walk up the sandy
beach – a remarkable sight.
Day 19 – Melbourne to Sydney
After a free morning in Melbourne take a short flight to
Sydney, arriving early in the afternoon. The rest of the day is at
your leisure. Spend three nights in Sydney.
Day 20 – Sydney
You will be picked up at your hotel in the morning for a
half day sightseeing tour which includes the famous Opera House, the
mighty harbor bridge, the historic part of town called "The Rocks"
and popular Bondi Beach. The tour ends around noon at the Rocks and
you have time to yourself to browse the small shops, enjoy a harbor
cruise (included) or take in the view from Sydney’s Centrepoint
Tower.
Day 21 - Sydney
The whole day is yours to discover and enjoy Sydney. Or
perhaps take an optional day trip to the spectacular Blue Mountains,
or the vineyards of the Hunter Valley or a wildlife park with native
animals. Of course there is always last minute souvenir shopping!
Day 22 – Sydney to Los Angeles
Very early in the morning today you will be transferred to the
airport for your flight from Sydney back to Los Angeles. This time,
you ‘cheat’ the International Date Line and arrive back in the
United States on the same day that you left Australia!
