Australia & New Zealand Adventure

Passengers who purchase flights will depart 2 days before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.

For flight details, see Before You Depart.

Today we touch down in the lively harbor city of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island. We'll be greeted at the airport and escorted to our upscale city-center hotel where we'll join our tour director for a welcome drink and a brief orientation walk.

Today we'll discover this coastal gem's maritime heritage and indigenous people. We'll join our guide for a drive via Parnell Village to Mission Bay, a seaside suburb boasting a picturesque waterfront. Then we'll journey to Bastion Point for spectacular views of the harbor—one of two that helped earn Auckland its “City of Sails” moniker. We'll also visit the Auckland Museum, where we can learn about the native culture of the Maori—Eastern Polynesians that arrived in New Zealand over 1,000 years ago and still account for 14% of the population. One of the day’s highlights? We get to take in a traditional Maori performance. Then spend the afternoon at leisure, exploring independently. When evening falls, we'll join our fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.

Time to go island-hopping—flying to South Island’s Queenstown, New Zealand’s lakeside resort destination surrounded by the Southern Alps. In the afternoon, we'll accompany our tour director on a stroll through this charming town from our postcard-worthy hotel nestled near the shore of picturesque Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand’s third-largest lake. Tonight we'll enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Today’s outing takes us to one of the most scenic spots in the world. First, we'll take a drive along Lake Wakatipu to witness more of its dramatic lightning bolt shape. Then we’ll voyage through dense forests and past shimmering Lake Te Anau—New Zealand’s largest southern glacial lake. Watch out the window for Fiordland National Park and the Homer Tunnel—a 1.2 km passageway through solid rock that was built over 19 years. When we arrive at Milford Sound, it’s all aboard for an unforgettable cruise through towering fjords and past majestic waterfalls. Later, we'll return to Queenstown in the early evening.

Experience a day on the town your own way—and at your own pace. Looking for something to do that’s a little farther afield? You could always visit the famous Walter Peak Sheep Station located on the opposite bank of Lake Wakatipu. Here, you can join a farmyard tour, catch a sheep shearing demo, help feed the farm’s wooly residents and watch professional sheepdogs hard at work.

After breakfast, we'll say goodbye to Queenstown to travel to nearby Arrowtown. This former gold rush village blends history and nature in perfect harmony. Take time to admire the well-preserved buildings and walk through the leafy streets while we learn about Arrowtown’s rich past. As we proceed on our journey, countryside vistas unfold on our way to Kawarau Gorge (hint: watch for bungee jumpers). Then we’ll arrive at the top of the Otago Peninsula at Dunedin, a vibrant town with an impressive architectural heritage and wealth of diverse attractions, where we’ll check into our hotel.

This morning, we'll set out on an orientation tour of the city. In its center, Dunedin is truly a city of Spires with towers, gables, and turrets plus solid, gracious stone buildings, all earning Dunedin the title of the most Victorian City in New Zealand. We'll also enjoy a guided visit to Olveston House, a 35-room mansion built between 1904 and 1906 for David Theomin as an “English country house in the city.” In 1966, the last surviving member of the Theomin family gifted the home to the city so visitors could explore this life-sized time capsule, still filled with art, antiques, and furniture from around the world. This evening, we'll enjoy a Haggis Ceremony and dinner. Dunedin has evolved its own Haggis Ceremonies – they are lively, ritualistic, and colorful.

After breakfast, we'll say farewell to Dunedin and drive along the rugged eastern coastline to the historic port town of Oamaru. Here, we'll have time to explore the historic warehouse district. Its buildings are made from locally quarried limestone and are now filled with galleries, shops, artisans, and delicious places to eat and drink. We'll continue to the seaside town of Timaru before turning inland to the bustling rural town of Geraldine, a popular stop for travelers with craft shops and cafes featuring local produce. Once we've had some time for refreshments, we'll cross the Canterbury Plains, edged by the majestic Southern Alps, to Christchurch, New Zealand's second-largest city.

This morning we'll proceed to the airport for our flight across the Tasman Sea to Sydney, Australia! We'll experience the vibrancy of Sydney on our introductory tour of one of the world's most spectacular cities. We'll tour The Rocks area where Sydney was first settled, Botanic Gardens, and enjoy a photo stop at Mrs. Macquarie's Chair with the spectacular harbour as a backdrop to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the celebrated Opera House. We'll drive along Macquarie Street past the sandstone colonial buildings of the Parliament House, State Library, and St. Mary's Cathedral. Our coach tour end at the jetty for a delicious buffet lunch cruise around Sydney Harbour filled with photo opportunities of Sydney's landmarks like Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and Fort Denison, all with informative commentary. After lunch, we'll check into our Sydney hotel with the remainder of the afternoon free to relax or explore the city independently.

Today we travel to the famous Bondi Beach where we may have the opportunity to stroll along the beachfront promenade with locals and see the surfers and famous Aussie lifesavers on patrol. We'll continue through the exclusive eastern suburbs and historic Paddington with its unique terrace houses before we return to the city for a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, now one of Australia's most recognizable icons. We'll uncover untold stories, anecdotes, history, and discover the magic beneath the sails with unforgettable moments from past Concert Hall performances, and the past and future of this world-famous hall in an immersive digital experience. After our tour, we're free to see our favorite sights in greater depth on our own.

Because there’s just so much to see and do in Sydney, we’re giving you the full day to explore on your own. One suggestion is an optional tour of the Blue Mountains.

Today, we depart for Uluru (Ayers Rock). Ayers Rock is in the heart of one of the most remote wilderness regions on earth. We'll discover the traditions of one of the world's oldest cultures and experience the dramatic landscape of one of the greatest natural wonders. This afternoon, we'll embark on a sightseeing tour to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) before continuing to the base of Walpa Gorge. We'll spend time exploring the gorge and the unusual conglomerate rock formations and then travel to the Uluru sunset viewing area to see the striking color changes of Uluru at sunset with some complimentary wine.

This morning, we'll meet for a memorable sunrise at the base of Uluru and then travel to the Mutitjulu Walk where we'll be escorted to the Waterhole, which has been a key source of water for the Aboriginal people in the area for many thousands of years. See Aboriginal rock art and learn about the flora, fauna, and cultural traditions of the Aboriginal owners, the Anangu. We'll visit the Uluru – Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, which houses an amazing collection of original ceramics, paintings, and punu (woodwork) that provide an insight into the unique and spiritual culture of the Anangu people, the traditional custodians of Uluru. The rest of the day is at leisure and we may consider the optional Sound of Silence Dinner.

Today we board our flight to tropical Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef—one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Here we'll check into our hotel, where we encourage you to relax and enjoy the swimming pool—you’re in paradise after all!

Our journey begins the moment we board a high-speed catamaran for Green Island, an unspoiled 6,000-year-old coral cay located in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. With its unique reef and rainforest environment, this 37-acre island provides a superior tropical experience. In fact, Green Island is the only coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef with a rainforest growing on it—home to 126 native plant species, colorful bird life, and over 1,500 different species of tropical fish. Enjoy a self-guided Eco Island walk, take a ride in a glass-bottom boat to view the magnificent coral of the inner reef, or relax on the white coral sand beaches. There are many other optional activities offered on the island to enjoy as well. After our Great Barrier Reef adventure, we'll return to Cairns in the afternoon.

Spend the day at your leisure right here in tropical Cairns, or take an optional tour aboard a scenic skyrail to the aboriginal village of Kuranda, where we'll immerse ourselves in the culture or get up close with the local wildlife. Tonight, we'll enjoy a farewell dinner with your group.

Today we bid farewell to “the Land Down Under” and board our return flight. We'll cross the International Dateline and regain the day “lost” at the beginning of the trip. Our magical Australia and New Zealand tour comes to an end as we arrive in Los Angeles today.