Australia’s Outback to New Zealand’s South Island

What's Included

• Great Barrier Reef Excursion

  Board a high-speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef, including a glass-bottom boat ride and snorkeling opportunities.

• Sydney Opera House Tour

  Take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, an architectural wonder.

• Milford Sound Cruise

  Cruise Milford Sound, taking in the natural beauty that surrounds you.

• Dinner Cruise of Sydney Harbour

  Enjoy scenic vistas of Sydney during a delightful dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour.

• Bush Dinner in Alice Springs

  Experience a memorable bush dinner set against the backdrop of the unique desert environment in Alice Springs.

• Home Hosted Dinner in Christchurch

  Join a local Kiwi family for a home-hosted dinner in Christchurch.

What's Not Included

• Optional Tours

  Optional tours such as the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Outback Ballooning, and a camel ride at Ayers Rock are not included.
  
  

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
  
  

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
  
  

• International Flights

  International flights to and from the starting and ending points of the tour are not included.
  
  

Experiences

Overnight in the majestic Mt. Cook National Park.Take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House – an architectural wonder.Cruise Milford Sound, taking in the natural beauty that surrounds you.

Options

Cairns: Over and Through the Rainforest Canopy Glide over and through the lush rainforests of Cairns on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, the world’s longest gondola cableway. The comfortable gondola carries you 4½ miles through the rugged beauty of Barron Gorge National Park, part of the Wet Tropics, a UNESCO World Heritage area. The gondola dips through the layers of the canopy to bring you deep into the rainforest, stopping at two viewing platforms along the way. Experience the sights, sounds and scents of this vibrant ecosystem up close and see the dramatic Barron gorge and waterfalls. Duration approximately 2 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.


This option is not wheelchair accessible.

Alice Springs: Outback Ballooning Drift over the Outback on the gentle winds in the welcome cool of the early morning. The landscape erupts into color as the sun’s rays strike the rugged MacDonnell Ranges. Watch as balloons slowly inflate and gracefully rise into the sky. Float aloft and enjoy the spectacular Australian scenery below you. Kangaroos and wallabies love the early mornings, so keep your eyes open for them as you glide over the bush. Return to the ground and enjoy a light breakfast as you toast your airborne experience! Duration approximately 3 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Actual balloon flight time is 30 minutes. This option operates on a weather permitting basis only. Time is seasonal and will begin approximately one hour before sunrise.
This option requires riding in a basket which does not have an entrance. To enter, guests must be able to climb up and into the basket that is approximately 1.2 metres/4ft in height unaided using the basket foot holes which act like a ladder. You will need to be able to swing your legs over and hop in to a small compartment that is approximately 60 cm/25 inches wide. Compartments will accommodate from 2-6 people side by side depending on the size of the basket and the number of people booked for that day. We do require the weight of every passenger when booking and anyone over 110kg/240 pounds should be noted in the booking with supplier.

Yulara: A Camel Ride, the Rock and a Sunrise Experience the majesty of the sunrise on Ayers Rock from a unique vantage point – the back of a camel! A peaceful one-hour camel ride brings you across the red sand dunes in the cool, clear morning air. Watch the sunrise over Ayers Rock bring the warm hues of the monolith alive. Learn about the flora and fauna of this UNESCO World Heritage Site from your friendly cameleer. After the ride, enjoy fresh-baked damper bread and hot, fresh tea and coffee. Duration approximately 2.5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

During the winter months, this option may not be available due to the timing of the sunrise. Due to the nature of this option, we require advance notice for any guest weighing 120kg/264lbs or more. Please inquire at time of booking.


Yulara: A Camel Ride, the Rock and a Sunrise Experience the majesty of the sunrise on Ayers Rock from a unique vantage point – the back of a camel! A peaceful one-hour camel ride brings you across the red sand dunes in the cool, clear morning air. Watch the sunrise over Ayers Rock bring the warm hues of the monolith alive. Learn about the flora and fauna of this UNESCO World Heritage Site from your friendly cameleer. After the ride, enjoy fresh-baked damper bread and hot, fresh tea and coffee. Duration approximately 2.5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

During the winter months, this option may not be available due to the timing of the sunrise. Due to the nature of this option, we require advance notice for any guest weighing 120kg/264lbs or more. Please inquire at time of booking.


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: Take a Steamship to Dinner Step back in time when you board the TSS Earnslaw, the beloved steamship that has been transporting goods and people on Lake Wakatipu since 1912. Nicknamed "The Lady of the Lake," she is the only coal-fired steamship still in operation in the southern hemisphere. Embark on a leisurely cruise across the pristine waters to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Enjoy the hospitality of the Colonel’s Homestead at an impressive buffet where you can indulge in the best of New Zealand meats and seafood, fresh vegetables and garden salads. You are sure to find the house dessert specialties hard to resist! An after-dinner visit to the farm provides an entertaining glimpse into farming life in the high country. Cruise back to Queenstown, relaxing or joining in the revelry of the lively sing-along. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

This option is only available from July through April as it is drydocked during the other months of the year.


Queenstown: Take a Steamship to Dinner Step back in time when you board the TSS Earnslaw, the beloved steamship that has been transporting goods and people on Lake Wakatipu since 1912. Nicknamed "The Lady of the Lake," she is the only coal-fired steamship still in operation in the southern hemisphere. Embark on a leisurely cruise across the pristine waters to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Enjoy the hospitality of the Colonel’s Homestead at an impressive buffet where you can indulge in the best of New Zealand meats and seafood, fresh vegetables and garden salads. You are sure to find the house dessert specialties hard to resist! An after-dinner visit to the farm provides an entertaining glimpse into farming life in the high country. Cruise back to Queenstown, relaxing or joining in the revelry of the lively sing-along. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

This option is only available from July through April as it is drydocked during the other months of the year.


Cairns: Outer Great Barrier Reef Jump in and explore the vibrant, colorful world teeming with life 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 Outer Reef pontoon where a diverse, bountiful ecosystem is yours to discover. See the kaleidoscopic underwater sea life up close as you snorkel along the reef. You’re sure to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience exploring one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Duration approximately 7 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.


Guests 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 optional. The swell of the ocean on the pontoon can be high at times of the day and can be intimidating for guests 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. Guests choosing this optional will not visit Green Island.

Culinaries

Witness Ayers Rock at sunset while you sip champagne.Take in the sights during a delightful dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour.Dine with a Kiwi family in their home.

Must See

Explore the Great Barrier Reef.Discover the origins of the Arrernte Aboriginal people on a "Dreamtime Tour."Explore Kata Tjuta and the base of Ayers Rock (Uluru).

Choice Highlights

Sydney Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. It is located on Australia’s east coast, with the metropolis surrounding one of the world’s largest natural harbors. The first British settlers founded Sydney in 1788, but the area around the city is said to have been inhabited for many years before. Millions of tourists come to Sydney each year to see its natural features such as Sydney Harbor and Bondi Beach, as well as Sydney’s man made attractions such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

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.

Cairns Cairns is a regional city in the far north of Queensland, Australia. The city was founded in 1876 and named after the then governor of Queensland. The region of Cairns ranks as the 4th most popular destination for international travelers in Australia. The city serves as a gateway point for those visiting the Great Barrier Reef. While being a gateway to Australia’s surrounding ocean, Cairns is also surrounded by rainforest, and also serves as a gateway to destinations like Daintree.

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.

Alice Springs Alice Springs is the third largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is situated in the geographic center of Australia near the southern border of the Northern Territory. The region around the area is referred to as the Red Center. This indigenous area is filled with endless desert landscapes and much aboriginal culture of the past.

Uluru Uluru, also called Ayers rock, is a large, sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory of central Australia. It lies 208 miles southwest of the nearest large town, Alice Springs. The rock is one of Australia’s most recognizable natural landmarks. The rock stands at 1,142 feet tall and is 2,381 feet above sea level.

Melbourne Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populated city in Australia. It is located on the large natural bay of Port Phillip. The city was founded on August 30th, 1835. Melbourne is often referred to as Australia’s cultural capital because it is a major center for the performing and visual arts. Melbourne is said to be the birthplace of Australian dance styles, the Australian film industry, Australian impressionist art and the Australian television industry.

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.

Mt. Cook National Park Mt. Cook National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand. New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mt. Cook, lies within the park. The area was established as a national park in October 1953 and covers about 270 square miles with glaciers covering over 40% of the park. It is a popular place for skiing, hunting and mountaineering.

Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the county’s third most populous urban area. It is located on the South Island’s eastern coast. Christchurch officially became a city on July 31st, 1856, making it the oldest established city in New Zealand. Christchurch is known as the Garden City due the large number of public parks and residential gardens.

Mode of Transport

Travel seamlessly with flights between major destinations such as Sydney, Cairns, Alice Springs, Uluru, Melbourne, and Queenstown. Enjoy scenic drives through the Outback and New Zealand's South Island, and cruise the stunning Milford Sound for an unforgettable experience.

Accommodation

Experience comfort and luxury at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Bailey Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters Hotel, Desert Gardens, Crown Promenade Melbourne, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, The Hermitage, and Distinction Christchurch during your journey through Australia and New Zealand.