Name: Highlights of Australia and New Zealand
Brand: AAT Kings
SKU: IMZBF25
Price: 13266 USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 4.7 (1843 reviews)

Overview

What's this trip about?

Three World Heritage Sites on one tour? It’s a reality on this two-country adventure. Whether you’re drifting across the Great Barrier Reef, sailing Sydney Harbour, gazing at Uluru, Kata Tjuta or cruising through Milford Sound, this Melbourne to Christchurch tour has ‘pinch me’ moments abound. These moments come with experiences of Indigenous heritage, from Maori a hangi in Rotorua to Aboriginal guides in the Red Centre.

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights

Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people

Age range65+, 50 - 64, 36 - 49, 18 - 35, 12 - 17, 6 - 11

Flights and transportN/A

Start CityMelbourne (VIC)

End CityChristchurch (Nz)

Travel Themes

Cultural

Activities

Culture

Trip includes

Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House, Fiordland National Park Centrally located premium hotels Arrival and departure private airport transfers

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Melbourne

Settle into your hotel on the banks of the Yarra River and meet your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and dinner at the South Wharf riverside pub, The General Assembly restaurant. It's a great opportunity to get to know everyone in a unique setting.

Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne

Dinner with Wine

Day 2: Melbourne

Join your Travel Director for a city sights tour that includes a private walk through Melbourne's famous hidden laneways. You'll discover the city's eclectic little lanes, arcades, café society and fascinating street art. There's time afterwards to explore on your own...

Day 3: Melbourne Free Time

If you're still getting your bearings in Melbourne, take your time to wander, exploring its boutiques, galleries, and eclectic suburbs. Or, perhaps exploring the city on foot with a History and Donuts Walking Tour is more your thing. However, if you're ready to explor...

Day 4: Melbourne - Uluru

The rusty red landscapes of Uluru beckon as you leave Melbourne for Ayers Rock Resort, experiencing the rugged desert landscapes while learning about the geological history of Australia. Stopping at the Mt. Conner lookout before arriving at Ayers Rock Resort. In the h...

Day 5: Uluru and Kata Tjuta

The only reason to get out of bed before dawn? For a magical Uluru sunrise. It’s a spiritual place, with stories of the Anangu, caretakers of this remote arid landscape revealed while you tour the base a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This is the countryside that Fir...

Day 6: Uluru - Cairns

The only reason to get up before dawn on your last day in Uluru is to glimpse the kaleidoscopic Field of Light art installation of artist Bruce Munro on an Optional Experience. 50,000 glowing spindles of light blanketing the desert. Clamber to the top of a sand dune t...

Day 7: Cairns Free Time

Cruising with crocs, a scenic railway ride into World Heritage listed rainforest, a wander along the Cairns Esplanade? Take to the skies for a bird’s eye view with a balloon flight over the Atherton Tablelands, the hot air ballooning capital of the southern hemisphere...

Day 8: Great Barrier Reef

The world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef, never fails to dazzle. Set out on a catamaran to explore a kaleidoscope of colour: over 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 spec...

Day 9: Cairns - Sydney

Touch down in Australia’s largest city, and spend time at leisure in the buzzing metropolis of Sydney. Take a stroll along the iconic harbour, visit one of the city’s many bars, pubs, or restaurants, or simply while away the day at the beach. You decide how best to enjoy this bustling city of delights.

InterContinental Hotel Sydney

Full Breakfast

Day 10: Sydney

Bring your stamina: today is one of innumerable highlights. Go on a tour of the Sydney Opera House, discovering its architectural and performance secrets. If these sails could talk. Then see the city from the water on a Sydney Harbour Highlight Lunch Cruise, enjoying ...

Day 11: Sydney Free Time

The hardest decision you have to make today: explore more of Sydney, or head to the Blue Mountains, 11,400 square kilometres of World Heritage listed wilderness, a place where sandstone escarpments appear to cleave off the edge of the Earth and waterfall-cooled valley...

Day 12: Sydney Free Time

You could spend weeks exploring Sydney. Months even. But you have today, so get set for a wild ride. Your agenda is completely up to you, but we have more than a few ideas. And ideally a stroll through the Royal Botanic Garden, which offers so many lookouts for sparkl...

Day 13: Sydney - Auckland

All you have to do today is sit back and enjoy the view as you cross the Tasman to embark on your next adventure. Join your travelling companions for at The Grill, celebrating Aotearoa's culinary treasures. Expect the finest quality grassfed steaks, from 100% New Zeal...

Day 14: Auckland

After a relaxed start, set your sights firmly on New Zealand's national game: rugby. The interactive All Blacks Experience explores an introduction to the game as a part of New Zealand culture. Afterwards get the lay of the land on a city sightseeing tour including Mi...

Day 15: Auckland - Rotorua

Get ready for a much-anticipated trip to the charming village of Hobbiton. Upon arrival, set off on a guided tour through the 12-acre set. You'll have plenty of time for photo opportunities on the interactive hobbit hole and complimentary drink at The Green Dragon, an...

Day 16: Rotorua - Auckland - Queenstown

Your destination this morning in Rotorua is the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, where you’ll join a Local Specialist for a tour. Learn about the work being done to save this rare native bird, get up close and see kiwi eggs being incubated, the hatching process, and e...

Day 17: Milford Sound Cruise

Bring your stamina and sense of adventure – things get a little wild today. Nature rules as you skirt Queenstown’s gleaming Lake Wakatipu, and traverse the Devil’s Staircase to Te Anau, the alpine gateway to World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park. Once you’ve p...

Day 18: Queenstown Free Time

Take today’s Queenstown New Zealand tour at your own pace. Like things fast and furious? Feel the wind in your hair on a high-octane jet boat ride, perhaps. Prefer to be able to talk (and drink wine) while you cruise? Glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS...

Day 19: Queenstown - Lake Tekapo

Today your New Zealand tour takes you to lovely Lake Tekapo travelling to Cromwell on the banks of Lake Dunstan. Visit Mrs. Jones' Fruit Stall to taste of some of the town's juicy stone fruit including apricots, nectarines, peaches, and plums. Is it Michael Schumacher...

Day 20: Lake Tekapo - Christchurch

Arrive into the beautiful English city of Christchurch for a guided visit. The city is not only rebuilding itself after the devastating 2010/11 earthquakes, but is changing the way architects think about design. Case in point the mind-bending Transitional Cathedral, made largely of cardboard, and Turanga, the gold-clad central library.

Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Full Breakfast

Day 21: Christchurch

Travel north through rolling countryside to Hurunui Hills, for a Be My Guest experience with the Bamford Family. Enjoy warm kiwi hospitality from Scotty and the team, who have been farming at Hurunui since 1884 with six generations focused on producing premium Merino ...

Day 22: Farewell from Christchurch

How did three weeks disappear like that? Re-live all the memorable moments on your way home.

Full Breakfast

Dates & Availability

Price from

$13,266

Price per day

$603

Highlights of Australia and New Zealand Reviews & Ratings

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Tour Operator

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Associations

Details

Accommodation:

Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Desert Gardens
Hilton Hotel Cairns
InterContinental Hotel Sydney
Horizon by SkyCity Auckland
Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
Peppers Bluewater Resort Lake Tekapo
Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Group size:

Standard Group - 25 + people

Maximum number of people in group:

40

Trip Excludes:

Meals included:

4 Dinner with Wine (DW)
21 Full Breakfast (B)
3 Lunch (L)
1 Highlight Lunch (HL)
3 Highlight Dinner (HD)
1 Be My Guest Morning Tea (BGM)
1 Farewell Dinner (FD)

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Overview

What's this trip about?

Travel Themes

Activities

Trip includes

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Itinerary

Dates & Availability

Highlights of Australia and New Zealand Reviews & Ratings

Tour Operator

AAT Kings

Details

Accommodation:

Group size:

Maximum number of people in group:

Trip Excludes:

Meals included:

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