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Overview
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Words simply cannot describe the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, with its clear, tropical water and explosion of colors. You’ll get to see it in person and even snorkel in it or take a watercraft tour! Similarly, photos do not adequately depict the magnificence and amazing size of Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia’s Outback. You must stand before it to get a true perspective of its size and to see the changing colors of the rock at sunset. On this tour, you’ll have that opportunity and you’ll learn about Uluru’s significance to the Aboriginal people. In New Zealand, more breathtaking scenery awaits you at Fiordland National Park, where you’ll cruise on Milford Sound and witness the extraordinary beauty and sheer cliffs.
On this Australia and New Zealand tour, you’ll also experience sophisticated, yet laid-back, cities. In Melbourne, soak up the city’s atmosphere and discover its boutiques, cafés, and world-class dining. Sydney offers a spectacular harbor; the world-famous Opera House, which you’ll visit during your sightseeing tour; fabulous shopping; and cosmopolitan cuisine. Known for adventure, Queenstown is a marvelous city set in the magnificent landscapes of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Here, enjoy a cruise on Lake Wakatipu.
From the sun-scorched desert of the Outback to the tropical Great Barrier Reef and from the smaller destinations in New Zealand to the cosmopolitan cities in Australia, this is a dream vacation!
Highlights
AUCKLAND
Sightseeing; welcome dinner atop Sky Tower
WAITOMO Visit Waitomo Glowworm Caves
ROTORUA Enjoy a Maori cultural performance and Hangi dinner; visit Te Puia, the Agrodome, and Rainbow Springs; behind-the-scenes visit at the Kiwi Encounter
MOUNT COOK Sightseeing in Mount Cook National Park; visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Center
QUEENSTOWN Visit Fiordland National Park and cruise on Milford Sound; gondola ride and dinner atop Bob’s Peak
MELBOURNE Sightseeing tour; visit Fitzroy Gardens; Melbourne Star Observation Wheel
ALICE SPRINGS Sightseeing tour including the School of the Air and the Old Telegraph Station; Outback barbecue
ULURU (AYERS ROCK) Visit Kata Tjuta (the Olgas); sunset toast; sightseeing tour around the base of the rock
CAIRNS Great Barrier Reef cruise with choice of activities; Koala Gardens with souvenir photo
SYDNEY Sightseeing tour; visit the Opera House, botanic gardens, and Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club; lunch at the North Bondi Returned Servicemen’s Leagues Club; Sydney Harbour cruise; farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant overlooking Sydney Harbour
2023 Tour itinerary
Total meals included:
- 19 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners
ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.
Day1
Kia Ora—welcome to New Zealand! Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in. A pre-night is not required for early check-in. Please schedule flights to arrive by 4:30 pm in order to attend this evening’s welcome briefing and dinner. Dinner this evening is at SKY TOWER, offering amazing 360-degree views of the city and harbor below. .
Meals included:
- Dinner
AUCKLAND
Day2
Start your day with a sightseeing tour of Auckland, the “City of Sails.” See bustling Queen Street, the city’s oldest park, Auckland Domain, and historic Parnell Village. The remainder of the day is yours to explore more of this vibrant city. You may want to visit the impressive Auckland Museum or visit the trendy boutiques and cafés on Chancery and High Streets. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
AUCKLAND–WAITOMO–ROTORUA.
Day3
Depart Auckland and travel through the green pastoral region of Waikato to the famous WAITOMO GLOWWORM CAVES. Experience a guided tour through the limestone chambers and passages of the cavern. Take a silent boat trip through Glowworm Grotto as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling. In the afternoon, continue over the Mamaku Ranges to Rotorua. Enjoy a traditional HANGI DINNER this evening, followed by an authentic LF MAORI CULTURAL PERFORMANCE.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
ROTORUA.
Day4
This morning, visit RAINBOW SPRINGS to view native bush and wildlife, including a visit behind the scenes at the LF KIWI ENCOUNTER to see each stage a kiwi chick goes through before being released into the national parks: incubation, hatching, and rearing. Kiwi Encounter is New Zealand’s largest and most successful kiwi conservation center. Your visit here helps support the National Kiwi Trust. Then, visit the AGRODOME to learn more about one of the country’s major industries—sheep! Continue on to TE PUIA, Rotorua’s most prominent thermal area with New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. You may wish to board a floatplane for flightseeing of this beautiful area, join a New Zealand family for dinner in their home, or indulge yourself in the relaxing hot springs, sumptuous spa treatments, and massage therapies at the Polynesian Spa.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ROTORUA–CHRISTCHURCH–MOUNT COOK.
Day5
Fly to Christchurch, the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island, then travel south to magnificent MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK, named after New Zealand’s highest peak. Weather permitting, you may wish to join a stargazing program this evening. The Mount Cook region offers some of the darkest skies in the world—perfect for viewing the southern night sky.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Spend the evening at the historic Hermitage Hotel, located at the base of Mount Cook. Enjoy splendid views, fresh mountain air, and all the modern amenities of this first-class property.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
MOUNT COOK–QUEENSTOWN.
Day6
Start the day with a visit to the SIR EDMUND HILLARY ALPINE CENTER for unique insight into the history and culture of this region. Then, time to explore on your own. You may wish to enjoy a scenic walk or perhaps an optional scenic flight that lands on nearby Tasman Glacier. Continue to Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.”
Meals included:
- Breakfast
QUEENSTOWN. EXCURSION TO MILFORD SOUND.
Day7
Today, enjoy a full-day excursion to Milford Sound. Travel into FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK through the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Boasting some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, this region of New Zealand has been honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. CRUISE on the fiord, with sheer rock walls rising thousands of feet from the water’s great depths. Return to Queenstown late this evening.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
QUEENSTOWN.
Day8
A full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Consider an optional visit to a local vineyard and sample some of the prize vintages, or maybe take a thrilling jetboat ride on the Dart River. Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you plan your day to explore, shop, and enjoy optional activities. This evening, take a scenic GONDOLA RIDE to the top of Bob’s Peak where you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and breathtaking views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkable Mountains. Make sure to have your camera ready for fantastic photo opportunities.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
QUEENSTOWN–MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Day9
This morning, board your flight across the Tasman Sea to Melbourne.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
MELBOURNE.
Day10
Today’s sightseeing tour includes landmarks such as Parliament House and the Shrine of Remembrance, a tribute to Australia’s war heroes. Visit beautiful FITZROY GARDENS, then drive past the Royal Botanic Gardens. You’ll soon discover the different architectural influences of this city as you see the Victorian Arts Centre and other buildings of significance. Next, enjoy a unique lunch experience aboard the MELBOURNE STAR OBSERVATION WHEEL. Savor a sparkling drink and nibbles as you admire breathtaking 360-degree views of Melbourne and the bay. Tonight’s optional excursion to see the world-famous Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is highly recommended.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
MELBOURNE.
Day11
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this multicultural and cosmopolitan city. Dine at a local restaurant and immerse yourself in Melbourne’s passionate food and wine scene or walk along Chapel and Brunswick Streets, famous for great shopping. Take a trip out of town to sample award-winning wines in the Yarra Valley, or drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the “Twelve Apostles.”
Meals included:
- Breakfast
MELBOURNE–ALICE SPRINGS.
Day12
Today, fly to the Outback where sightseeing includes a visit to the SCHOOL OF THE AIR to learn how education services are provided in this remote region. Also, visit the OLD TELEGRAPH STATION to discover how early settlers developed communications. Tonight, a unique LF OUTBACK BARBECUE features typical campfire fare and awe-inspiring Outback ambiance.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
ALICE SPRINGS–ULURU (AYERS ROCK).
Day13
Travel by coach to Uluru. Upon arrival, visit a popular lookout to enjoy views of the magnificent KATA TJUTA (the Olgas), a geological splendor of some 36 brilliant domes. There is time to take photos before visiting the “Sunset Strip” for a DRINK and to witness the changing colors of the rock.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ULURU–CAIRNS
Day14
Your Outback adventure continues this morning. For an unforgettable experience, you may choose to rise early for an optional camel ride to watch the sunrise at Uluru. Then, enjoy a TOUR at the base of the rock, learning of its significance to the Anangu Aboriginal people. For an even more amazing view of Uluru, perhaps take an optional aircraft ride. Later, fly to Cairns, “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef,” one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
NOTE: Direct flights from Uluru to Cairns may not be available and you may fly via Sydney or another city.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
CAIRNS. EXCURSION TO THE OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF.
Day15
Today, prepare for the experience of a lifetime when you board a catamaran and CRUISE to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Explore this underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of color and brilliance. Choose to SNORKEL, take a GLASS-BOTTOM-BOAT TOUR, view the reef from an underwater observatory, and watch a fish feeding. Return to Cairns, where your evening is at leisure.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
CAIRNS.
Day16
A full day at leisure in this tropical paradise. For a truly amazing experience, consider our optional trip to Kuranda via the old scenic rail route. See magnificent scenery from the comfort of a restored, historic mountain train. For the return journey, you may choose to take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway—or maybe spend the day in the magical Daintree Rainforest, thought to be the planet’s oldest surviving tropical rainforest.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
CAIRNS–SYDNEY
Day17
This morning, enjoy a special visit to KOALA GARDENS for your chance to see koalas doing what they do best—eating, sleeping, and looking adorable. There’s also the chance to meet Australia’s other native animals. Before your visit ends, you’ll have a PHOTO taken with a koala—the perfect souvenir! Later, fly to Sydney, Australia’s largest city.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
SYDNEY.
Day18
Explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Visit the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a guided tour of its interior and theaters. Travel to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the city’s BOTANIC GARDENS for a great photo opportunity and sweeping views of the harbor, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. Visit world-famous Bondi Beach for an insider’s tour of LF BONDI SURF BATHERS’ LIFE SAVING CLUB with one of the lifesavers. Lunch today is at the historic LF North Bondi Returned Servicemen’s Leagues Club, located on Bondi Beach. Learn about the history of this special place and the courageous “Rats of Tobruk” while enjoying sweeping waterfront views and delicious food. Afterward, a CRUISE on Sydney Harbour highlights some of the city’s best views.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
SYDNEY.
Day19
Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Perhaps join our optional excursion to the Blue Mountains for a wilderness experience or to the Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s leading wine-growing regions. You can even climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge! Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you make the most of this exciting city. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a WATERFRONT RESTAURANT, overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
SYDNEY.
Day20
Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Hotels
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
SKYCITY Hotel
First-Class
This spacious hotel allows you to relax in style while enjoying more than 20 restaurants, cafes and bars, a theatre, free live entertainment on selected nights and the iconic Sky Tower - all right on your doorstep! Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas. Additional amenities include a casino, spa services, and a fitness facility. This is a smoke-free property.
Location
Corner Victoria & Federal St., Auckland, New Zealand
Hotel Facilities
- Business Center
- Gift Shop
- Fitness Room
- Parking/Valet
- Bar/Lounge
- Pool
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
- Concierge desk
- Currency Exchange
- Restaurant On-Site
- Spa Services
- ATM
- Free WiFi
- Laundry Available
Room Facilities
- Alarm Clock
- Coffee Maker
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Television
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Voicemail
- Climate Control
- Cable/Satellite
- In-Room Safe
- Wake-Up Calls
- Phone
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Room Service
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Internet Access
- Mini-bar
- Pay Movies
- Hair Dryer
Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Superior First-Class
Next to mystical Lake Rotorua and just a brief stroll from the city center, Millennium Hotel Rotorua is an eco-friendly hotel. Perhaps its most unique feature is that its heating is provided by harnessing the hotel's natural geothermal resource. The hotel's amenities include a heated pool, spa, two restaurants, a lounge, and room service.
Location
Hinemaru Street, Rotorua, New Zealand
Hotel Facilities
- Fitness Room
- Bar/Lounge
- Spa Services
- Parking/Valet
- Business Center
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
- Currency Exchange
- Concierge desk
- Pool
- Elevator
- Hot Tub
- Restaurant On-Site
Room Facilities
- In-Room Safe
- Air Conditioning
- Television
- Voicemail
- Room Service
- Coffee Maker
- Desk
- Cable/Satellite
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Alarm Clock
- Wake-Up Calls
- Phone
- Mini-bar
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Complimentary Toiletries
The Hermitage
Moderate First-Class
A haven for adventurous travelers for more than a century, the world renowned Hermitage Hotel in the heart of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a complete year-round alpine retreat. The hotel features self-service coin-operated laundry, outdoor tennis court, and a selection of on-site bars and restaurants.
Location
Mount Cook National Park, Mount Cook, New Zealand
Hotel Facilities
- Elevator
- Restaurant On-Site
- Concierge desk
- Currency Exchange
- Gift Shop
- Bar/Lounge
- Ice Machine
- Luggage Storage
- Parking/Valet
Room Facilities
- Alarm Clock
- Hair Dryer
- Coffee Maker
- In-Room Safe
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Window Opens
- Daily Housekeeping
- Phone
- Wake-Up Calls
- Desk
- Cable/Satellite
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
- Television
Ramada Queenstown Central
First-Class
The Ramada Queenstown Central is ideally positioned in the heart of Queenstown with spectacular views of Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables Mountain Range, and Walter Peak. The hotel features a fitness center, on-site restaurant and bar, laundry services, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Location
Corner Stanley Street & Frankton Road, Queenstown, New Zealand
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
- Elevator
- Restaurant On-Site
- Luggage Storage
- Parking/Valet
- Fitness Room
Room Facilities
- Climate Control
- Alarm Clock
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Air Conditioning
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Television
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Desk
- Hair Dryer
- Wake-Up Calls
- Coffee Maker
- Cable/Satellite
- Voicemail
Vibe Melbourne
First-Class
The Vibe Melbourne is currently under construction. Originally built in 1873 in the Renaissance Revival style, the Cobden Building that once served as offices for the maritime trade and later as the clothing manufacturer and retailer Fletcher Jones will be transformed into a stunning new 24-story glass-fronted hotel and residential tower. The hotel will take in views of the Yarra River and Southbank, all the way to Port Philip Bay. The new hotel, which will preserve its classic heritage, will feature 206 guestrooms, an indoor heated swimming pool and gym, and ground floor lobby and restaurant. Please check back for more information about the hotel's amenities. Updates will be made as information is received.
Location
Corner of Queen and Flinders Street, Melbourne, Australia
Hotel Facilities
- Fitness Room
- Pool
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs
Superior First-Class
The modern Crowne Plaza Alice Springs is located at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges, in Australia's red center. The hotel features complimentary Wi-Fi, outdoor pool, spa, fitness center, on-site restaurant and bar, and in-room dining.
Location
93 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs, Australia
Hotel Facilities
- Spa Services
- Laundry Available
- Fitness Room
- Pool
- Elevator
- Bar/Lounge
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Hot Tub
- Free WiFi
- Luggage Storage
- Concierge desk
- ATM
Room Facilities
- Climate Control
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Mini-bar
- Desk
- Air Conditioning
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Cable/Satellite
- Room Service
- In-Room Safe
- Coffee Maker
- Television
Desert Gardens Hotel
First-Class
Centrally located to all resort facilities, the hotel offers a range of accommodation, outdoor pool, coin-operated self-service laundry, and the popular Bunya bar. It's only a short stroll to the Resorts' numerous lookouts, where you can view what is arguably Australia's best sunset, with the spectacular play of colors across the face of Uluru and the surrounding desert.
Location
Yulara Drive, Uluru, Australia
Hotel Facilities
- Concierge desk
- Bar/Lounge
- Spa Services
- Pool
- Luggage Storage
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Gift Shop
- ATM
- Beauty Salon
- Parking/Valet
- Currency Exchange
Room Facilities
- Room Service
- Mini-bar
- Climate Control
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
- Air Conditioning
- Coffee Maker
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Desk
- Phone
- Complimentary Toiletries
Bailey, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort
First-Class
Modern and innovative with an appreciation for the arts, Bailey, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, celebrates originality and individuality. Positioned in the heart of the Cairns Central Business District, the Bailey is just a short stroll from the Cairns Esplanade boardwalk, lagoon, and the Great Barrier Reef departure terminal. At the hotel, you'll find artists-in-residence and artwork from across Australia displayed in and around the hotel with a different artist featured on each level. The hotel features a swimming pool, on-site restaurant and bar, fitness center, gift shop, and complimentary Wi-Fi. A laundry service is available for a fee.
Location
163 Abbott Street, Cairns, Australia
Hotel Facilities
- Gift Shop
- Elevator
- Parking/Valet
- Fitness Room
- Concierge desk
- Pool
- Laundry Available
- ATM
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant On-Site
- Bar/Lounge
- Luggage Storage
Room Facilities
- In-Room Safe
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Voicemail
- Hair Dryer
- Television
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Mini-bar
- Desk
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Room Service
- Wake-Up Calls
- Phone
- Cable/Satellite
- Coffee Maker
- Internet Access
- Air Conditioning
Swissotel Sydney
Deluxe
The Swissotel Sydney is surrounded by Sydney's most exclusive shopping centres, such as the beautiful Queen Victoria Building and iconic Westfield Sydney and is within walking distance to all of Sydney's famous landmarks and cultural attractions. Enjoy a seasonally inspired dinner menu at JPB or delight in a unique buffet high tea at Crossroads Bar. The hotel offers a wide choice of treatments at the Day Spa as well as a gym, heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi.
Location
68 Market Street , Sydney, Australia
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
- Hot Tub
- Restaurant On-Site
- Currency Exchange
- Concierge desk
- Gift Shop
- Spa Services
- Beauty Salon
- Parking/Valet
- Fitness Room
- Business Center
- Pool
- Laundry Available
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Climate Control
- Coffee Maker
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Desk
- Cable/Satellite
- Television
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Alarm Clock
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Room Service
- Air Conditioning
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Voicemail
- In-Room Safe
- Hair Dryer
