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Day 1: Los Angeles
Board your evening flight to Auckland, New Zealand (D)
Day 2: In Flight
Cross the international dateline.
Day 3: Arrive Auckland
You will be met on arrival in Auckland and transferred to
your hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a city tour and visit Kelly
Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World. Join your
fellow travelers at our Welcome Dinner. Stay: Auckland,
Crowne Plaza Hotel (D)
Day 4: Rotorua, Maori Hangi Feast
This morning you will journey to the Waitomo Caves for a tour
of the limestone caverns and glow-worm grotto. Then continue to
Rotorua, a region rich in Maori heritage. Here tonight you will
enjoy a traditional Hangi feast and Maori cultural performance
of song and dance. Two Night Stay: Millennium Rotorua (B,D)
Day 5: Rotorua, Te Puia Thermal Reserve
Today visit the Agrodome to learn about the sheep farming
industry. Then head to Te Puia Thermal Reserve to see the power
of geothermal energy first-hand. The rest of the afternoon is at
your leisure to explore or relax as you choose. (B,D)
A Country Homestay option is also available tonight.
Day 6: Rotorua, Fly to Christchurch
Enjoy free time in Rotorua after breakfast before flying to
Christchurch. On arrival, you can relax or explore.
Stay: Christchurch, Crowne Plaza Hotel (B,D)
Day 7: Southern Alps, Franz Josef
Board the TranzAlpine train for one of the top rail journeys
in the world. Disembark and continue down the rugged West Coast
to Franz Josef. Stay: Franz Josef, Te Waonui Forest
Retreat (B,D)
Day 8: Franz Josef, Queenstown, Dine Around Dinner
Journey over Haast Pass and along the shores of lakes Wanaka and
Hawea to Queenstown. Tonight, you may choose to cruise on the
vintage steamboat TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm
for dinner. Or select from a range of other fantastic
restaurants on our Dine Around Dinner.
Two Night Stay: Queenstown, Crowne Plaza Hotel (B,D)
Day 9: Milford Sound Cruise
Considered one of
the most scenic alpine drives, absorb the majesty of Fiordland
National Park on the journey to Milford Sound. On arrival, enjoy
a cruise along the full length of the sound, passing beneath
cliffs, tumbling waterfalls and towering mountains. Return to
Queenstown by coach, or perhaps take an optional scenic flight
back (own expense). (B,L)
Day 10: Queenstown, Mt Cook
Enjoy free time this morning
before travelling to World Heritage-listed Mt Cook National
Park, home to Australasia’s highest mountain. On arrival, settle
in to your room and take some time to admire the view before
dinner in the hotel tonight.
Stay: Mt Cook National Park, The Hermitage, with guaranteed Mt
Cook views (B,D)
Day 11: Fly to Sydney, Australia
Travel via Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo, Burkes Pass and the
Canterbury Plains before arriving in Christchurch in the
afternoon. Head to the airport and board your flight to Sydney.
On arrival, check in to your luxurious hotel, then tonight enjoy
an evening at leisure to relax or explore at your own pace.
Three Night Stay: Sydney, Shangri-La Hotel (B)
Day 12: Sydney Sights, Sydney Harbour Cruise, Opera House Guided
Tour
Today, step inside the Sydney Opera House during a guided
tour. Then board a luncheon cruise on Sydney Harbour, viewing
the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House from a different
perspective. Later, discover Hyde Park and the famous Bondi
Beach on a guided city tour. (B,L)
Day 13: Sydney at Leisure
Enjoy this vibrant city at your own pace today. Perhaps take
an optional sightseeing tour to the Hunter Valley, or visit the
Blue Mountains (both at own expense). (B)
Day 14: Sydney, Fly to Cairns
This morning after breakfast, fly to Cairns. On arrival,
check in to your hotel before the rest of the day is at your
leisure to explore this tropical city. Perhaps go shopping, or
spend a relaxing afternoon by the pool or at the beach.
Three Night Stay: Cairns, Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina (B,D)
Day 15: Great Barrier Reef Cruise After breakfast, take a
guided cruise out to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier
Reef. Aboard your catamaran cruise out to Moore Reef and view
the colorful coral and diverse range of marine life through the
glass bottom of your boat. While out on the reef you have the
option to go for a snorkel or a swim, an experience you’ll never
forget. Afterwards visit your boat’s underwater observatory
before enjoying a tropical lunch of local specialties. (B,L)
Day 16: Skyrail, Kuranda, Wildlife, Cairns This morning
take a guided tour of Cairns before a ride on the scenic Kuranda
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over lush rain forest to Kuranda. On
arrival in Kuranda, visit a wildlife park and learn about native
Australian animals. Perhaps even have your photograph taken with
a koala (own expense). After seeing a performance by the
Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers, take in the stunning landscapes as
you travel aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway back through the
rain forest to Cairns. (B)
Day 17: Cairns, Fly to Uluru (Ayers Rock), Uluru Base Tour,
Sounds of Silence Dinner This morning, board a flight to
Uluru from Cairns. Join your coach and head into Uluru-Kata
Tjuta National Park for a tour of Uluru’s base. Your guide will
show you ancient caves and traditional Aboriginal rock art. Walk
to Mutitjulu waterhole and hear Aboriginal stories and legends.
See Aboriginal artists at work at the Maruku Arts and Crafts
Gallery. Tonight you will be treated to the unforgettable Sounds
of Silence dinner, where you’ll dine under the stars with vistas
of Uluru. Later, go star gazing with an expert guide.
Stay: Ayers Rock Resort, Sails in the Desert (B,D)
Day 18: Kata Tjuta (Olgas), Alice Springs
Today, after breakfast head out to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National
Park again. Here, visit the stunning Kata Tjuta (Olgas), a
cluster of 36 unique domes, and learn about this sacred place
from a local guide. You’ll walk through the domes to the
majestic Walpa (Olga) Gorge, a tranquil place of much
significance to local Aboriginal people. Later, re-board your
coach and travel to Alice Springs. Stay: Alice Springs,
Crowne Plaza Hotel (B)
Day 19: Alice Springs Tour, Fly to Melbourne, City Tour, Tramcar Dinner
On a tour of Alice Springs, visit the Royal Flying Doctor
Service Base and Anzac Hill. Following this board a flight for
Melbourne, where on arrival you’ll take a brief sightseeing
tour. Tonight, indulge in a unique meal aboard the Colonial
Tramcar Restaurant. Two Night Stay: Sofitel Melbourne on
Collins (B,D) Day 20. Melbourne at Leisure
Today spend the day at leisure in Melbourne. There are many
optional activities available, such as a journey along the Great
Ocean Road or a tour to Philip Island to see the famous penguin
parade. Or perhaps explore Melbourne at your own pace. You could
visit the Queen Victoria Market, go shopping in the city or
perhaps stroll through one of the many gardens. (B) Day 21.
Depart Melbourne After breakfast, transfer to the airport
for your flight to Los Angeles. (B)
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