Day 1 – 2: Overnight Flight Cross the International Dateline as you begin a comprehensive adventure through Australia and New Zealand.

Day 3: Melbourne, Australia – Tour Begins Your tour opens in Melbourne. Set upon the shores of Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River, the city exudes a lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere. (D)

Day 4: Melbourne Set out on a panoramic city tour and see Fitzroy Gardens and Melbourne’s bustling “laneways.” After, enjoy time to explore this lively city on your own before heading to Phillip Island, where you’ll visit koalas in their natural setting at a conservation center. Continue to the nature reserve that houses the world’s largest colony of Little Penguins. Protected and studied by rangers, hundreds of them waddle out of the sea and cross the beach to their burrows. Learn more about these inquisitive birds at the interpretation center. (B)

Day 5: Hobart A flight to Hobart, Tasmania brings you to Australia’s second oldest city. An island state of Australia, Tasmania is surrounded by more than 300 scattered isles. Its rugged and pristine beauty provides the backdrop for your 3-night stay. (B, D)

Day 6: Hobart Today, it’s your choice! Embark on an early morning walking tour of the city -OR- take the morning to relax and enjoy a walking tour in the afternoon. No matter how you start your day, visit the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Center and learn about this unique marsupial, its fight for survival, and the plan to save it from extinction. Tour the Port Arthur Historic Site, the best-preserved example of Australia’s original penal colonies. En route, witness the coastal rock formations of Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen, and the Blow Hole. (B)

Day 7: Hobart Enjoy a free day to explore Tasmania’s capital city on your own. Perhaps you’ll indulge in the city’s up-and-coming café culture, meander along the lively harbor, or just take some time to relax. (B)

Day 8: Hobart – Adelaide Fly to Adelaide, South Australia’s bustling cosmopolitan capital. Settle into your home for the next 2 nights. (B, D)

Day 9: Adelaide – Barossa Valley – Adelaide Treat your taste buds to a full-day exploration of the Barossa Valley’s fine food and wine. Breathe in the calming essence of lavender at Lyndoch Lavender Farm, joining an expert on a guided tour of the estate. Savor a light lunch during a lavender tea party, featuring flavorful bites and lavender sweets. Your vintner voyage continues at Chateau Tanunda for a private tour and tasting of their world-class wines. (B, L)

Day 10: Adelaide – Uluru (Ayers Rock) This morning, make your way to Uluru (the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock) in the heart of the Australian Outback. Tour the sandstone domes known as Kata Tjuta and the beautiful area surrounding the base of “The Rock.” As the day draws to a close, sip a glass of champagne as Uluru’s hues change dramatically with the setting sun. (B)

Day 11: Uluru – Cairns Fly to Cairns, the tropical gateway to one of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions – the Great Barrier Reef (UNESCO). Before your departure, perhaps you will choose to partake in an optional excursion where you will enjoy a camel ride, taking in the magnificent Uluru at sunrise. (B)

Day 12: Cairns Rise high on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for an unforgettable ride over the rainforest canopy. Embrace the opportunity to explore the forest floor up close with access to specially designed boardwalks. Your evening is at leisure to enjoy your tropical surroundings. (B, D)

Day 13: Cairns – Great Barrier Reef – Cairns Board a glass-bottom catamaran and sail to the Low Isles to discover the aquatic realm of the Great Barrier Reef. Spend the day however you please, perhaps choosing from a selection of included
activities. Maybe you’ll soak up the sun on a tiny remote island,* located along the outer reef, or consider snorkeling in the rolling waves, uncovering a pod of vibrant sea life. You can also meet with a marine biologist, or join an expert on a heritage trail walk along the island. (B, L)

Day 14:  Cairns – Sydney Fly to the dynamic city of Sydney. This evening, personalize your culinary experience with Diner’s Choice – choosing from a variety of local restaurants for an included dinner along bustling Darling Harbour. (B, D)

Day 15: Sydney See where English colonists first settled during a city tour of Sydney, featuring Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and the fashionable suburb of Darlinghurst. Take an expert-led tour of the Sydney Opera House, poised majestically on Sydney Harbour. You’ll have the chance to join a special presentation at the National Opal Collection. In the evening, consider an optional dinner and engaging performance at the famous Sydney Opera House.** (B)

Day 16: Sydney Enjoy a day at leisure. Marvel at the scenic vistas of the harbor showcasing Sydney’s magnificent skyline, the iconic Sydney Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge. As the most populous city in Australia, Sydney is full of endless ways to spend your day. (B)

Day 17: Sydney – Auckland, New Zealand Fly to New Zealand and arrive in Auckland, the “City of Sails”. A city tour features the America’s Cup Village, the War Memorial, vibrant Queen Street, the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and spectacular views from the harborside. (B, D)

Day 18: Auckland – Rotorua Head to Rotorua’s dramatic geothermal landscape. Find culture behind every corner – over one-third of Rotura’s population boasts Maori roots, making it known as the Maori capital of New Zealand. (B, D)

Day 19: Rotorua Discover Whakarewarewa – a Maori cultural and geothermal experience. Explore an authentic Maori village where people live using natural geothermal resources to cook, bathe and heat their homes as they have done for centuries. At the Agrodome, see a sheep-shearing demonstration and learn about the importance of agriculture to the nation. (B)

Day 20: Rotorua – Wellington Make your way to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city and the world’s southernmost capital city. Built on the foreshore of a harbor and ringed by mountains, this gives the city the nickname “Windy Wellington.” (B, D)

Day 21: Wellington Come to know Wellington on a tour including the Beehive, New Zealand’s Parliament, historic St. Paul’s Church, and the Old Government Building – the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Explore the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongawera, a fascinating center dedicated to art, history and the Maori culture. (B)

Day 22: Wellington – Picton – Christchurch Today, experience what has been called “the most beautiful ferry ride in the world” as you sail across the Cook Strait on your way to the historic city of Christchurch, the “Garden City.” Enjoy some free time to explore. Perhaps you’ll stroll through the city’s gardens or learn about its more recent history at the Quake City exhibition. This evening, join a local Kiwi family for a home-hosted dinner. (B, D)

Day 23: Christchurch This morning, enjoy a city tour that highlights the city’s magnificent gardens and elegant park district. Then, visit Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. A leader in the conservation of New Zealand species, Willowbank offers the chance to view New Zealand’s “Big 5” up close and personal. (B)

Day 24: Christchurch – Queenstown Make your way to Queenstown, nicknamed the “Adventure Capital of the World.” Nestled on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is surrounded by stunning natural beauty. (B, D)

Day 25: Queenstown Enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley as you travel through a beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. Cruise the breathtaking Milford Sound and see why this fjord is one of the most visited sights on the South Island. Following your cruise, consider returning to Queenstown via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. (B, L)

Day 26: Queenstown A free day in Queenstown offers limitless activities set amidst breathtaking Alpine scenery. Today, you have the opportunity to partake in a tour through the charming Queenstown countryside, showcasing the filming locations of many blockbuster movies. Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner and toast to a fabulous trip.
(B, D)

Day 27: Queenstown – Tour Ends Your tour comes to a close in Queenstown. (B)