Australia & New Zealand Adventure

Visitors to the Queenstown area never fail to be amazed by the unusual landscape of Skippers Canyon. Following the Shotover River valley, the Skippers Road was hacked by hand through solid rock, and clings to sheer cliff sides with breathtaking drops to the river gorge below. You’ll take every hairpin turn along this route and across the spectacular Skippers suspension bridge built in 1900, to the old township of Skippers. This tour delivers magnificent mountain scenery, rugged canyons, gold panning to gain a taste of New Zealand’s pioneer mining history and the excitement of commanding a four-wheel vehicle in a safe environment.

Embark on a guided afternoon excursion to the scenic Otago Peninsula. From Dunedin, you’ll take the spectacular “High Road,” offering amazing views of both the Pacific Ocean and Otago Harbor. When you arrive at Larnach Castle, you’ll travel back in time on a guided tour of New Zealand’s only castle, built in 1871. Learn the scandalous and tragic history of the Castle and why William Larnach took his own life. See the magnificent carved ceilings, antiques and craftsmanship. You’ll have an opportunity to take photos of the Castle and gardens before continuing to Wellers Rock, where you’ll embark on a one-hour wildlife cruise. Witness the diversity and abundance of wildlife on spectacular Taiaroa Head, the world’s only mainland nesting place for the northern Royal Albatross. The region is also home to fur seals, dolphins, sea lions, an array of rarely seen ocean birds and marine mammals in their natural environment. Following the cruise, you’ll return to your Dunedin hotel late in the afternoon.

Your smarTours program includes a cruise to Green Island on the inner Great Barrier Reef. This optional tour allows you to upgrade to sail aboard a 32-meter luxury catamaran to picturesque Michaelmas Cay for snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef and an experience you’ll never forget. Michaelmas Cay is an isolated sand island surrounded by magical coral gardens pulsating with marine life. There is also plenty to do while staying dry! Explore the Cay and discover the bird life (it’s a sanctuary for over 20,000 seabirds), hop into the semi-submersible and tour the underwater world with a Marine Biologist or just relax on the beach or decks of the catamaran. A delicious hot and cold buffet lunch, morning and afternoon tea, and snorkeling equipment included.

Begin this fascinating day filled with authentic Australian experiences with a scenic drive to Rainforest Station Nature Park, where you’ll learn about the flora and fauna of the rainforest on a guided ride aboard an original amphibious army duck. You’ll also immerse yourself in the Aboriginal culture as you attend a vibrant performance of native Pamagirri Dancers and join a Dreamtime walk for insights into this unique culture. You’ll have the opportunity to try your hand at boomerang and spear throwing. Travel to the nearby quaint village of Kuranda, famous for its elaborate craft markets, where you’ll have some free time to browse and buy on your own. In the afternoon, you’ll depart Kuranda for a thrilling ride aboard the SkyRail, the world’s longest cable car. Marvel at the scene as you travel across the rainforest canopy, stopping at an interpretive center for a visit and a short stroll before reaching the final station, where you’ll board the coach and travel back to your hotel.

This guided walking tour brings the history of Sydney’s convict settlement to life with entertaining stories of Rascals, Rats and Restoration. Your expert Rocks guide will lead you through the fascinating area and show you some of the earliest buildings, including homes of the “well-to-do” and the quaint cottages of the working class. You’ll also see historic pubs, once frequented by locals and sailors alike. Guided walks start at 10:30am, 1:30pm and 2:30pm from a central point in the Rocks area and last about 1.5 hours. Please note that transfers from and to your hotel are not included. 

Depart Sydney this morning via the scenic Harbour Bridge and head west of the city to Featherdale Wildlife Park. Here, you’ll enjoy an up-close look at some of Australia’s one-of-a-kind native animals including koalas, kangaroos, wallaby and emu. Do not miss opportunities to hand-feed kangaroos and have your photo taken with a koala. You’ll also come face-to-face with an amazing range of birds and many species of reptiles. On the way back to the city, drive through Sydney’s Olympic Park before returning to your hotel around lunchtime. (This tour requires a minimum of 15 participants to operate.)