Australia and New Zealand Uncovered

What's Included

• Abel Tasman National Park

  Set sail through the graceful natural beauty of Abel Tasman National Park.

• Milford Sound Cruise

  Cruise through the dramatic Milford Sound.

• Sydney Opera House Tour

  Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sydney Opera House.

• Great Barrier Reef Activities

  Spend the day at the Great Barrier Reef at leisure with included options to snorkel, hike, or chat with a marine biologist.

• Hangi Lunch

  Taste Maori culture at a Hangi lunch.

• Sounds of Silence Dinner

  At a memorable Sounds of Silence dinner, dine under the stars overlooking Uluru (Ayers Rock).

• Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Passes in Sydney

  Included hop-on, hop-off bus passes in Sydney for a full day at leisure.

What's Not Included

• Optional Flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown

  The optional flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown is not included and is available at an additional cost.
  
  

• Walter Peak Farm Experience

  The Walter Peak Farm Experience in Queenstown is an optional tour and not included in the base package.
  
  

• Outer Reef Experience in Cairns

  The Outer Reef Experience in Cairns is an optional tour and not included in the base package.
  
  

Experiences

Explore New Zealand’s pristine wilderness and coastlines on several easy walks.Walk amongst the history and heritage of Maori culture.Spend the day at the Great Barrier Reef at leisure – with included options to snorkel, hike, or chat with a marine biologist.

Options

Queenstown: Flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown Soar over the plunging cliffs, snowfields and alpine lakes of the pristine Southern Alps on a flightseeing plane that carries you back from Milford Sound to Queenstown. Seeing Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park from the air will give you a whole new perspective on the overwhelming beauty of this region. You’ll be captivated by 9,000 foot peaks and frozen lakes that can only be seen from above. Enjoy amazing views and skip the lengthy return coach ride to Queenstown. A truly spectacular trip! Duration approximately 1 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 4 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Availability for flightseeing is limited. As of 9/20/24 this optional tour is available to book both pre trip and on site. This option operates on a weather permitting basis only. Any guests over 130kgs/286lbs will need to be approved by vendor.
Duration: 40 minutes. This option does have a weight restriction of 130kgs/286lb. Please advise your weight upon booking, as any guests over 130kgs/286lbs will need pre-approval from the vendor.

Queenstown: Walter Peak Farm Experience Cross the picturesque Lake Wakatipu on the famous TSS Earnslaw steamboat and head to Walter Peak Farm. Enjoy a visit to an authentic sheep farm where you’ll get to watch a sheep-herding demonstration in the company of other farm animals. Soak in the surrounding panoramic views before enjoying lunch at the farm’s restaurant. Duration approximately 3.5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 2 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

TSS Earnslaw undergoes annual maintenance from late May to early July.


Cairns: Outer Reef Experience Jump in and explore the vibrant, colorful world teeming with life at the Agincourt Reef at the very edge of the Continental Shelf of the Great Barrier Reef. This massive reef system, the largest in the world, can actually be seen from space. Cruise across the water by catamaran to the Quicksilver pontoon where a diverse, bountiful ecosystem is yours to discover. You may enjoy the fish feeding from the unique underwater platform. You’re sure to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience exploring one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Duration approximately 9 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.


You should be confident swimmers, able to swim at a leisurely pace for 10 minutes without stopping, and be familiar with swimming in the open water for this option. The swell of the ocean on the pontoon can be high at times of the day and can be intimidating for swimmers who are not confident in the water. There are life jackets and lifeguards on duty, and rest stations in the water for when swimmers need a break. Lunch is included.

Culinaries

Taste Maori culture at a Hangi lunch.At a memorable Sounds of Silence dinner, dine under the stars overlooking Uluru (Ayers Rock).

Must See

Set sail through the graceful natural beauty of Abel Tasman National Park.Cruise through the dramatic Milford Sound.Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sydney Opera House.

Choice Highlights

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.

Cook Strait The Cook Strait divides New Zealand’s South and North Islands. It is 14 miles wide and is named after the first European explorer to sail across it. The passageway features breathtaking scenery of rolling green slopes and picturesque mountains.

Nelson Nelson is the oldest established city on New Zealand’s South Island. It is known to be a lively hub for local artists, featuring numerous galleries, artisan products, trendy food markets and an up-and-coming cuisine scene.

Abel Tasman National Park Abel Tasman is New Zealand’s smallest national park. Here you can find sandy golden beaches, trees towering along the waterline, and maybe even some little blue penguins swimming in the water. Maori tribes lived here for at least 500 years.

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.

Choice on Tour: Franz Josef Glacier Hike or West Coast Wildlife Centre Today in Franz Josef, you have a choice between two activities. First, you may choose to immerse yourself in nature and view the Franz Josef Glacier with a local guide, traversing an exclusive trail not open to the public. On your journey, gain insight into the flora and fauna around you, providing plenty of opportunities to discover the remarkable landscape that the glacier has left behind. Experience pristine waterfalls, an ancient temperate rainforest, and the dynamic Waiho river. After a brief climb, enjoy views of the glacier’s constantly changing terminal face and enjoy a hot drink. Later, at your leisure, enjoy free entrance to the Franz Josef Hot Pools located a short distance from the hotel. Your other option is to explore the West Coast Wildlife Centre, a unique, indoor attraction dedicated to the conservation of the Rowi Kiwi. This bird is only found in the Okarito Forest and is New Zealand's rarest kiwi bird. Later, at your leisure, enjoy included entrance to the Hot Pools.



Franz Josef Glacier - NEO Day 7

Activity Level: 3

Hiking trail is approximately 1.5 miles round trip and mostly flat, with a 200 yard uphill at the end. Hike is done at a leisurely pace and takes approximately 3 hours. Trail is well-groomed, but uneven in some spots. Not suitable for walkers or wheel chairs. Walking boots/socks, trekking poles, waterproof jacket and over-pants, warm hat and gloves, and a small waist-pack will be provided.



West Coast Wildlife Centre - NEO Day 7

Activity Level: 2

West Coast Wildlife Centre is a 200-yard walk from the hotel, over flat, paved surface. The attraction is indoors, and is self-guided so guests can visit at their own leisure (take as long or as little time as they like).





Franz Josef Franz Josef is a quaint town on New Zealand’s South Island – most known for the glacier it is named after. Franz Josef glacier is 7.5 miles long and was named after the Austrian Empire Franz Josef I.

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.

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.

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, said to resemble an elephant's head, and The Lion, at 4,272 feet, in the shape of a crouching lion. Milford Sound is acclaimed as New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination.

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts center in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is situated on Bennelong Port in Sydney Harbour, adjacent to Sydney’s Central Business District and the Royal Botanical Gardens. The facility opened on October 20th, 1973. The opera house comprises several performance venues which together make one of the busiest performing arts centers in the world hosting 1,500 performances each year attended by some 1.2 million people. More than 7 million people visit the opera house each year.

Adelaide

Barossa Valley The Barossa Valley is a valley in South Australia. The valley is known as a major wine producing region and is said to be one of the finest wine producing regions in the world. Located about 37 miles northeast of Adelaide, the valley is formed by the North Pala River. The valley derives its name from the Barossa Range, which was named in 1837. The valley is about 8 miles by 9 miles.

Sounds of Silence Dinner at Uluru Like a natural work of art, Uluru (Ayers Rock), the icon of the Outback, rises up in the distance. You are really there, dining under the limitless sky. Relax as you enjoy a three-course meal, Australian wine, the services of an expert staff and, of course, the amazing backdrop. During your magical time here you’ll also come to know the local culture. Indigenous dance, a didgeridoo performance and the tales of a traditional “Star Talker” complete the scene as a new universe opens up to you and your fellow travelers. There are many ways to experience this often emotionally moving destination. However, few are a match for the elegance of the world-famous Sounds of Silence Dinner.

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, and the boat reveals it all. Jump in the water to snorkel and really experience the Reef in an immersive way! Stroll along the walking trails, relax on the beaches, or just watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier. It’s a truly good day at the Reef, mate.

Mode of Transport

Travel seamlessly with a mix of flights, cruises, and coach transfers, ensuring you experience the best of Australia and New Zealand's landscapes and cities with ease and comfort.

Accommodation

Stay in comfort at Rydges Wellington, The Nelson Hotel, Beachfront Hotel, Scenic Franz Josef Glacier Hotel, and more, offering a blend of urban and natural settings throughout your journey in Australia and New Zealand.