Amazing Australia with New Zealand add-on

Your itinerary

Days 1 - 2: UK/Perth

Meet your travelling companions in the executive lounge prior to your scheduled flight.

Day 3: Perth

We arrive in the beautiful city of Perth in the early hours of Day 3, for a four night stay. A welcome dinner is included.

Days 4 - 5: Perth

Experience has shown us that most people appreciate the opportunity to relax and rest after their flight, so we have allowed plenty of time for this and also to explore the delightful surroundings of Perth.

Perth is the ideal first stop for our Australian extravaganza! This beautiful city, with its neighbouring port of Fremantle, is one of the most envied locations in the world in which to live. The golden beaches, superb restaurants, lush green parks, stunning broad expanses of the Swan River and lovely warm climate give the visitor a fine introduction to the relaxed, contented lifestyle of modern day Australia.

A half day sightseeing tour is included during our stay and you can join our fascinating optional excursions including a cruise on the Swan River in Fremantle and a full day drive to the gigantic Wave Rock.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Ayers Rock

Morning transfer for our flight to Ayers Rock. During the afternoon we will visit the mysterious Olgas, a nearby range of 28 spectacular rock domes.

Ayers Rock, situated in the Uluru- Kata Tjuta National Park, is one of the world’s most remarkable sights. This gigantic sandstone monolith is also a cherished Aboriginal shrine, and remains the property of the Anangu tribe of the Northern Territory. The rock is two miles long, 1,000ft high and six miles around the base. It changes colour dramatically with the light and is a quite wondrous sight at sunrise and sunset. We are at Ayers Rock for both these aweinspiring moments, with sunset included today. Enjoy a ‘Sounds of Silence’ dinner this evening.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 7: Ayers Rock & Alice Springs

Up early to visit Ayers Rock for sunrise, and the chance for the more energetic to climb to the top! There will also be a tour of the base to see the caves and Aboriginal rock paintings. During the afternoon we will travel through the heart of Australia, stopping en route at a camel farm, where you may take a camel ride if you wish. We’ll arrive early evening in Alice Springs for a two night stay.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Alice Springs

Alice Springs is situated amid a vast area of natural springs and shimmering red desert. You can join an optional excursion into the spectacular MacDonnell mountain range to see the Standby Chasm.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Alice Springs & Cairns

A half-day sightseeing tour is included, showing you the flying doctor base, the old telegraph station and the famous School of the Air (when open) to see the children being educated over the wireless. There will also be an opportunity to take a dawn balloon flight over the outback (weather permitting). Afternoon flight to Cairns, a lively seaside resort situated on the Great Barrier Reef, for a four-night stay.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Cairns

Today we include a trip by catamaran to the Outer Great Barrier Reef with lunch also included. The Great Barrier Reef is variously described as the world’s largest living thing, the eighth wonder of the world and the marine equivalent of Ayers Rock. It is a stupendous 1,400 mile wonderland of breathtakingly beautiful coral and colourful marine life, studded with unspoilt tropical islands. Our journey takes us right to the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Go snorkelling amidst the marine life and colourful corals, visit an underwater observatory, take a cruise in a semi-submersible submarine, or even just relax on the sundeck with a drink – the choice is yours!

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Days 11 - 12: Cairns

Now that we are halfway through our tour it’s time to relax and soak up some sunshine! Cairns enjoys an idyllic location, sandwiched between the deep blue ocean and lush green tropical forests. There are plenty of excursion possibilities. The most popular is a ride on the Kuranda Railway which is widely regarded as one of the world’s most spectacular rail journeys. The track burrows through 15 tunnels and traverses 40 bridges as it clings to the rock face along a narrow coastal strip.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13: Sydney

We take an early morning flight to Sydney for a four night stay. On arrival, we will have an included city sightseeing tour. Sydney is Australia’s biggest and most exciting city. The centre is surprisingly compact and can be explored easily on foot. The world-famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House dominate the vast and picturesque harbour. We include a half day sightseeing tour, featuring Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.

Meals: Breakfast

Days 14 - 16: Sydney

You are free to enjoy the exciting atmosphere and sheer beauty of Australia’s premier city, or join our optional excursions including a drive to the Blue Mountains and Wildlife Park to see the koalas, possums, wombats and kangaroos, which you may well have already seen in the wild whilst in the outback. There are opportunities to enjoy a harbour cruise and tour Sydney by night and the shopping is excellent.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 17: Canberra

We leave Sydney by coach for the drive to the beautifully landscaped capital city, Canberra for an overnight stay. Our included city sightseeing tour features the government buildings and the Prime Minister’s Lodge. En route to Canberra we will stop at a sheep station for a sheep shearing demonstration. BBQ lunch and entry to the Glenloch station is included.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 18: Melbourne

We drive to Melbourne for an included city sightseeing tour in the afternoon, and a three night stay. Colonial style buildings, beautiful parks, wealthy garden suburbs, wide boulevards and trams make Melbourne the most European of Australia’s cities. It has a sophisticated, more formal atmosphere yet is sports crazy! It is the home of Australian Rules Football, the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Melbourne Cup and the finest restaurants in Australia. On our included sightseeing tour we will see Captain Cook’s cottage and the old gaol where Ned Kelly was held prisoner.

Meals: Breakfast

Days 19 - 20: Melbourne

You are free to relax, or explore Melbourne further at your on pace. You can also browse through the shops, or join our optional afternoon visit to Philip Island for the remarkable Penguin Parade. This evening enjoy a five course farewell dinner in a colonial tramcar restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 21: Auckland

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Auckland, New Zealand. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel where two nights’ accommodation has been reserved for you. The rest of the day is free to rest and relax after your flight. During the evening there will be welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel.

Day 22: Auckland

Included a city tour of Auckland followed by free time for you to explore.

Day 23: Hamilton

Travel through Ngaruawahia home of the Maori Queen, and Hamilton to the Waitomo Caves for an included guided tour of the glow worm grotto, before arriving in you final destination of Rotorua where two nights’ accommodation has been reserved for you.

Day 24: Whakarewarewa

Included morning visit to Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve to view the boiling mud pools and spouting geysers. Optional excursion to the Agrodome this afternoon to see a display of working sheep dogs and a visit to Rainbow Springs to view the Kiwi bird. Alternatively you can relax in one of the thermal baths in Rotorua. Included visit to a Maori Concert and Hangi this evening.

Day 25: Wellington

Drive south through the Wairakei Valley, past the Huka Falls to Lake Taupo. Continue to Wellington. A city tour has been included on arrival before transferring to your hotel where overnight accommodation has been reserved.

Day 26: Blenheim

Sail from the North to the South Island, across the Cook Strait to Picton. On arrival in Blenheim transfer to your hotel where overnight accommodation has been reserved. This evening you will be treated to a dinner and wine.

Day 27: Christchurch

Today drive along the Kaikoura coast to Christchurch. On arrival in Christchurch transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 28: Fox Glacier

Today you will take the Tranz-Alpine Express on a spectacular journey into the Southern Alps from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass. At Arthur’s Pass, rejoin your coach and continue south to the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier regions. An overnight stop will be made near the Fox Glacier.

Day 29: Westland National Park

Continue through Westland National Park, across Clark Bluff and the Haast River Bridge, to Queenstown where three nights’ accommodation has been reserved.

Day 30: Milford Sound

Included excursion to Milford Sound, one of the most beautiful locations in New Zealand. The tour takes you to Te Anau, the gateway to Fjordland National Park. Continue through the forests of the Eglinton Valley and the glacial canyons on the Hollyford Valley to Milford Sound. Weather permitting there will be a cruise on the sound before returning by coach.

Day 31: Queenstown

At leisure to explore Queenstown or join an optional excursion, such as a ride on a jet boat for spectacular views of Queenstown.

Day 32: Mount Cook

Depart Queenstown for the drive to Mount Cook. Optional scenic flights will be available before transferring to your hotel in Omarama for an overnight stay.

Day 33: Lake Tekapo

This morning cross Burkes Pass before continuing to Lake Tekapo where you will cross the Canterbury Plains and return to Christchurch. On arrival transfer to you hotel for a two night stay.

Day 34: Christchurch

Free for you to explore the city. This evening there will be a farewell dinner and drinks.

Day 35: Christchurch/UK

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Day 36: UK

Arrival in the UK.