Australia and New Zealand Uncovered

From sacred stories to stunning natural wonders, journey through Australia and New Zealand, where untamed landscapes, captivating cities, and the enduring legacy of Aboriginal communities and Maori culture invite you to connect with the heart of the South Pacific.
Hotel Name: Peppers Waymouth

Arrive in Adelaide, South Australia’s coastal capital. As arrival times will vary throughout the day, take time to settle in with no scheduled activities until late this afternoon, when you’ll meet for a briefing about the journey ahead. Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Desert Gardens, Ayers Rock

Admittance: Barossa Valley Wineries

Treat your taste buds to a full-day exploration of the Barossa Valley’s fine food and wine. Visit a local farmstead famed for its produce and enjoy a private interactive cooking demonstration. Your vintner voyage continues with a tour and tasting at the famous Seppeltsfield Winery, one of the oldest in the Barossa Valley, followed by lunch.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Visit Area: Uluru Sunset

Fly from Adelaide to the spiritual heart of the Outback — Uluru. Upon arrival, travel into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where the iconic red monolith rises dramatically from the flat desert landscape. On a guided tour of Uluru's base, uncover the stories, traditions, and deep cultural significance of this site through the lens of Australia's Aboriginal people. As the sun begins to set, sip drinks and savor canapés while the colors of Uluru change before your eyes.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Flynn Crystalbrook Collection Hotel

Admittance: Great Barrier Reef
Experience one of the seven wonders of the natural world when you climb aboard a high speed catamaran and set off for the Great Barrier Reef. As the world’s largest living organism, you’ll find over 2,800 individual coral reef systems which are home to amazingly diverse marine life. Their bright colors look remarkable against the turquoise waters. Jump in the water to snorkel and really experience the Reef in an immersive way! Stroll along the walking trails with a reef expert, simply relax on the beach, or meet with a marine biologist during an informative presentation. It’s a truly good day at the Reef, mate.

This morning, set out to explore Kata Tjuta — Uluru’s awe-inspiring neighbor. These towering, domed rock formations stretch across the desert for miles, offering a dramatic contrast to the surrounding landscape. Wander through the soaring red peaks and be rewarded with sweeping views that capture the raw beauty of the Outback. Return to your resort, where the rest of the day is yours — unwind, recharge, or take advantage of the resort’s activities.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Indigenous Welcome Ceremony in Cairns

Say goodbye to the Outback and hello to the tropics as you fly to Cairns, your gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy a relaxed evening at leisure.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Maori Culture in Wellington
Wellington is considered to be the cultural center of New Zealand. Find Maori culture around every corner, including traditional carved wakas (sleek canoes of intricate design). You may also attend an authentic traditional powhiri, an elaborate ceremony for welcoming guests. Maori heritage can also be found in the city’s cuisine – a local favorite is a Hangi dish which usually includes savory meat and vegetables cooked in a pit in the ground. You can also discover the roots of the culture at the Te Papa Museum.

Set sail aboard a high-speed catamaran bound for the Great Barrier Reef await. Spend the day exploring this underwater paradise your way. Maybe you’ll soak up the sun on a tiny remote island,* located along the outer reef. Or consider snorkeling in the rolling waves or taking a glass-bottom boat 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.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Hotel Name: PARKROYAL Darling Harbour

Visit Area: Marlborough Wine Region

This morning, a short cruise takes you to the stunning wetland environment of an Indigenous Protected Reserve, where Aboriginal traditional owners from the Mandingalbay clan will welcome you with a smoking ceremony, introduce you to native foods and bush medicines, and share ancient Aboriginal traditions, customs, and artifacts. This afternoon, meet some of Australia’s famous wildlife, like the koala and kangaroo, on a guided tour at Rainforestation Nature Park.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
Best known for its Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, no trip would be complete without a visit to Punakaiki. Both of these natural wonders are an absolute must-see while visiting the West Coast.

Wish the tropics goodbye and touch down in Sydney, Australia’s dazzling harbor city and your home for the next three nights.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: New Zealand’s Wild West Coast
Although an abundance of natural beauty is found throughout the entirety of New Zealand, nothing surpasses the mesmerizing splendor found on the country’s “wild” west coast. Where striking cliffs and sandy beaches meet the snowcapped Southern Alps, allow your senses to breathe in the serenity and spectacle around you. From the glaciers of Franz Josef to the Pancake Rocks of Punakaiki, there will be no shortage of incomparable landscapes to capture your eye. The west coast is also home to New Zealand’s famous greenstone, a stunning rock that is incorporated into Maori culture and jewelry.

Get to know Sydney’s spirit on a guided city tour showcasing its many highlights. Step back in time in The Rocks, a historic harborside neighborhood and discover Circular Quay. Stroll through the winding paths of the Royal Botanical Gardens, and go behind the scenes of the Sydney Opera House on an expert-led tour of this legendary venue. As evening falls, admire the city skyline on a dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour, gliding past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Rydges

Visit Area: Queenstown
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. The city is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu and has spectacular views of nearby mountains and the Southern Alps. The town was founded in the 1860s and is now known for commerce-based tourism, especially adventure and ski tourism, boasting over 200 adventure tourism activities to take part in.

Make the most of your final day in Sydney with a full day at leisure — your included hop-on, hop-off bus pass makes it easy to explore at your own pace! You could soak up the laid-back vibe at Bondi Beach, visit a museum, or wander the lively waterfront at Darling Harbour.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand’s South Island. The sound runs inland for over 490 feet from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 3,900 feet on either side. Among the peaks are The Elephant at 4,977 feet (1,517 meters), said to resemble an elephant's head, and The Lion, at 4,272 feet (1,302 meters), in the shape of a crouching lion. Milford Sound is acclaimed as New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination.

Arrive in New Zealand. Feel the ever-present heartbeat of Maori culture on this set of islands. Surrounded by natural beauty and striking contrasts, embrace the Kiwi lifestyle for the next 10 days. Say hello to Wellington, the colorful capital city of New Zealand. Savor the city’s gourmet eats and seaside charm as the warm ocean breeze welcomes you to the “Windy City.”

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Scenic Hotel Marlborough

Begin the day with an Impact Moment — experience a traditional powhiri, a powerful Maori welcome ceremony. At a cultural center, admire the carved waka (canoes), and see an archaeological site of a waterfront pa (village). Take the chance to taste Maori heritage with a hangi lunch and discover the roots of the culture at the Te Papa Museum. Explore the city of Wellington during your free afternoon and evening.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Cruise across the Cook Straight, surrounded by green slopes and misty mountains, to New Zealand’s South Island. Arrive in Blenheim, the heart of the Marlborough Wine Region. Enjoy an evening at leisure — perhaps you’ll explore local art galleries or indulge in the bustling food scene.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Scenic Hotel

Today, begin your exploration of the Marlborough region at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, where fascinating exhibits and meticulously restored aircraft retell local wartime history. Then, head to Havelock to sample its famous green-lipped mussels. Cap off the day with a visit to one of Marlborough’s celebrated wineries, indulging in a wine-tasting session complemented by a vineyard-side lunch showcasing fresh local ingredients.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Hotel Name: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Today, journey to New Zealand’s Wild West Coast. At Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks, feel the ocean spray as waves crash against these unique limestone formations known for their flapjack-like facade. Tonight, dine at your beachfront hotel, nestled between the ocean and rainforest.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Wake up in Punakaiki, and make your way to Franz Josef, New Zealand’s glacier country. Discover the area’s rugged allure, perhaps combing the creek bed in search of New Zealand jade, exploring one of the many walking trails, or trying the eateries in town.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Rendezvous Heritage Hotel

This morning, it’s your choice! View the Franz Josef Glacier with a local guide, traversing an exclusive trail not open to the public -OR- get a glimpse of kiwis at the West Coast Wildlife Centre, where you’ll learn more about conservation and rehabilitation of this national icon. Enjoy free time this afternoon, and finish your day with dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Journey through the thick rainforest and emerge on the untamed west coast — where the cliffs and beaches and the southern snowcapped Alps offer a feast for the eyes. Pause in Wanaka, a slice of tranquility nestled along a mountain-lined lake. Continue to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, and settle into your home for the next three nights.

Breakfast Included

Enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley and cross through an ancient red beech forest. Cruise along the waters of the dramatic Milford Sound, taking in the natural splendor around you. With cliffs rising up to nearly 4,000 feet, you’ll see why this is one of the most visited sights on the South Island. Following your cruise, you may choose to return to Queenstown via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Today is yours to explore Queenstown however you choose. Perhaps you’ll opt for a cruise of Lake Wakatipu aboard a historic coal-fired steamship. Once ashore, enjoy a BBQ lunch and a sheepdog demonstration. Tonight, gather once more to toast to the unforgettable journey you’ve shared.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Your tour of Australia and New Zealand comes to a close today.

Breakfast Included