-Day 1 Start tour
Day 2 International Date Line
Lose a day as you cross the International Date Line
Day 3 Kia ora Queenstown
Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Walk along Lake Wakatipu
Dinner
Day 4 Queenstown
Maori culture experience
Queenstown Skyline Restaurant dinner
Details: Wakatipu Basin safari
Experience true four-wheel-driving in the most dramatic landscapes. This true adventure safari packed with goldmining history, thrilling 4WD river crossings and a great overview of the diverse scenery of the Queenstown / Arrowtown area. Visit the Lord of the Rings filming locations of Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, the Pillars of the Kings (Argonath), the site of Isildur’s Fall, the Ford of Bruinen and more!
Details: Aerial gondola to Bob’s Peak
Enjoy the perfect bird’s-eye view of Queenstown’s dramatic mountains and valleys as you ride high inside the cabin of your gondola.
Day 5 Milford Sound
Dinner
Details: Milford Sound excursion
Travel around the eastern shores of Lake Wakatipu and across the picturesque Southland countryside to Te Anau and into the dramatic landscape of the Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. Stop at the Mirror Lakes to see the near perfect reflections of the mountains in the calm waters, then take a short walk to the Chasm and see where the waters disappear into the rocks before arriving in Milford Sound. Cruise the fiord past Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea enjoying the stunning scenery of cascading waterfalls, dense rainforest, steep cliff faces and marine life that inhabits these waters.
Day 7 Sydney landmarks
Dinner
Details: Sydney guided sightseeing tour
See Sydney, Australia's beautiful waterfront city. A licensed, local guide will take you to Darling Harbor, a bustling entertainment and shopping center. At "The Rocks" see historical and contemporary Australia stand side-by-side. On this stubby peninsula on the western side of Sydney Cove, modern Australian history started with the landing of the first ships in 1788. From here, Sydney evolved from convict outpost to the most beautiful metropolis on the Pacific Rim. Visit one of the city's most well-known symbols, the Sydney Opera House, majestically poised between the Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanic Garden.
Details: Bondi Beach excursion
With a storied history, a dazzling setting and its fair share of beautiful people, Bondi Beach is rightly recognized as one of the best beaches in the world. Upon arrival at this enticing stretch of sand, you’ll first learn about what makes Bondi so unique—the surfers, the rescues and all the action you might expect at one of Australia’s most famous destinations. From there, you’re on your own. Catch some rays, feel the sand between your toes, rent a boogie-board or even take some surfing lessons.
Day 8 Sydney cruise
Details: Sydney city walk
Explore the historical neighborhoods, lush gardens and pathways that hug the city's harbor.
Details: The Rocks
As you stroll along the narrow, cobblestone streets of The Rocks, you can’t help but get caught up in the area’s intriguing past, present and future. Here you’ll find chic restaurants, stylish bars and hearty pubs, all amidst some of the oldest surviving buildings in Sydney. One moment you’ll be touring historic Cadman’s Cottage, and the next you’ll find yourself amongst the eclectic shopping, artisan markets and glitzy galleries that make The Rocks the engaging destination that is it today.
Details: Mrs. Macquarie's Point
You bring the camera and “Mrs. Macquarie” will provide the perfect backdrop. Featuring a breathtaking view of both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Mrs. Macquarie’s Point has been attracting visitors since its origin in 1810, when an exposed sandstone rock was cut into the shape of a bench. Known today as Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, legend has it that if you make a wish while sitting on the bench, there’s a very good chance that your wish will come true.
Details: Sydney Harbour cruise
With so much to see in Sydney, an enchanting harbor tour is your ticket to many of the area’s highlights. The Sydney Opera House, Point Piper, Darling Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are but a few of the attractions you’ll have the opportunity to view from the bustling harbour. With detailed descriptions from your tour guide, you’ll get an insider’s knowledge of all the city’s sites, including the many opulent waterfront homes that dot the “harbourside”.
Day 10 End tour
-Day 10 Start extension to Cairns
Flight to Cairns
Dinner
Details: Cairns guided sightseeing tour
After bustling Sydney, the city of Cairns may feel like a sleepy little tropical village. Everything in town seems built for relaxation. The homes are built on stilts to catch the cool ocean breezes. Overhead fans whirl in every room. A licensed local guide leads you to the lively, slightly bohemian Esplanade, the focal point of the city. This is where the city began in 1876 as a gold- and tin-mining port. Wharf Street was once the main drag, at a time when the entire area was known as the Barbary Coast because of its rough, criminal element. Now, it is a thriving port, where big-game fishing is a major industry. The actual center of Cairns is the City Place, the town square and a quaint pedestrian mall. The Cairns Museum includes not only artifacts on the city's history but the story of Aboriginal life in the surrounding rain forests. This city is a great gateway into Australia's natural wonders, with the rain forest and the Great Barrier Reef just minutes away.
Details: Palm Cove half-day excursion
Relax on Palm Cove’s gorgeous beaches, where Cairns’ residents and visitors come for fun in the sun.
Day 11 Great Barrier Reef
Details: Great Barrier Reef full-day excursion
As the world's largest living organism, the iconic Great Barrier Reef is the richest marine resource known to man. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with unique plants, fish, and coral representing a dazzling myriad of colors, the Reef is a dream visit for students who embrace science, art and nature. Set sail on a luxury 105 ft sailing catamaran for a smooth and comfortable journey to Michaelmas Cay, a low lying vegetated sand cay that is also a sanctuary for migratory seabirds. The Cay, with its calm, shallow waters, is ideal for first-timers and young families looking to experience the Reef in a safe, easy environment. With qualified crew on hand to supervise and buoyancy vests provided free of charge, students can effortlessly float as they snorkel and discover the world below. Take a Semi-submersible Coral Reef Viewing Tour, as well as walk the Cay for a most unique bird watching experience. With the onset of climate change and the clearly progressing decomposition of this delicate ecosystem, no time is better than now to experience perhaps the greatest natural wonder on earth.
Day 12 Cairns
Dinner
Details: Cairns free day
After bustling Sydney, the city of Cairns may feel like a sleepy little tropical village. Everything in town seems built for relaxation. The homes are built on stilts to catch the cool ocean breezes. Overhead fans whirl in every room. People stroll along the lively, slightly bohemian Esplanade, the focal point of the city. This is where the city began in 1876, but the actual center of Cairns is the City Place, the town square and a quaint pedestrian mall. Spend some time relaxing in and exploring this laidback city.
Day 13 End tour
Tour Includes:
- Round-trip airfare
- 7 overnight stays (10 with extension) in hotels with private bathrooms
- Buffet-style breakfast daily
- 4 included dinners (6 with extension)
- Full-time services of a professional Tour Director
- Guided sightseeing tours and city walks as per itinerary
- Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
- Tour Diary™
- Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
- Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Please visit our Fees FAQ page for a full list of items that may not be included in the cost of your tour.
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