Australia and New Zealand Panorama
Australia and New Zealand Panorama
Australia and New Zealand Panorama
15 Days Starting in Melbourne, Australia and ending in Auckland, New Zealand
Visiting: Melbourne, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Queenstown, Auckland, Rotorua
Tour operator:
Tour code:
QPACAF25
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Australia and New Zealand Panorama" tour, a captivating journey through the vibrant landscapes and cultures of two stunning countries. Begin in Melbourne, exploring its vibrant street art and hidden gems, before heading to Cairns to experience the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. In Sydney, enjoy a backstage tour of the iconic Opera House and a scenic harbour cruise. Cross the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, where Queenstown's adventure awaits, including a visit to a traditional sheep farm and a cruise on Lake Wakatipu. Discover the glowworm-lit Waitomo Caves and immerse yourself in Maori culture in Rotorua. With premium accommodations and expert guides, this tour offers a perfect blend of city life, natural beauty, and cultural experiences, ensuring an unforgettable adventure.
Make Travel Matter
Operation Nest Egg may sound like it’s from a Bond movie, but it’s actually a way that the National Kiwi Hatchery is helping boost the population of kiwi birds in the wild. Your visit helps.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Hotel 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.
Day 2: Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Get out and see the sights today on a guided walk with your Travel Director discovering the little lanes, arcades, and café society of stylish Melbourne. Gaze up at the beautiful Victorian façades lining grand boulevards. Stroll past famous, edgy street art that shows a stylish contrast to federation buildings and churches as Melbourne’s coffee aroma wafts overhead. Discover more of Melbourne over a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience tour and walk at Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery. Make a positive impact while you learn about Koorie peoples, cultures and communities. There's time afterwards to explore the city on your own, enjoy an optional experience to Phillip Island to see the nightly ritual of the Penguin Parade (own expense). Or simply relax and watch the world go by.
Day 3: Melbourne - Cairns
Location: Cairns
Accommodation Name: Hilton Hotel Cairns
Things start to heat up in Cairns, the heart of Tropical North Queensland. Jump aboard a cruise at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures to discover some of the wildlife that calls this part of the state home, koalas, wallabies and crocs among them. Now that you’ve appreciated the beauty of the area, you can put your passion into practice helping with a Rainforest Restoration project, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, to protect the natural wonder of the nearby Notophyll Vine Forest, an area older than the Amazon. By jumping in and helping the team plant trees, you’re supporting the protection of this rare type of dry rainforest from development and restoring it to an important wildlife corridor of native birds. Talk about a feel-good day. *If you are departing on an early flight from Melbourne, a boxed breakfast will be provided.
Day 4: Great Barrier Reef
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Accommodation Name: Hilton Hotel Cairns
Meals Included: Lunch
Did you know that the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef is home to 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents? Set sail on a high-speed catamaran for these tropical waters then explore this underwater wonderland up close donning your mask and fins for a snorkel (equipment provided). You’ll feel like a fish in an aquarium weaving through the rainbow of reefs and fish. Or, choose to stay dry in your semi-submersible, air-conditioned craft with an underwater observatory to have a different view of these tropical species. However you choose to explore, you’ll love learning the insights on the reef the colourful fish and plants that call it home from your local guide. On board you’ll be treated to a buffet lunch and afternoon tea and coffee to soak up the Aussie sun before you cruise back into Cairns.
Day 5: Cairns Free Time
Location: Cairns
Accommodation Name: Hilton Hotel Cairns
Meals Included: Dinner
Today is a free day to do as you choose. A great option is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda, travelling over and through World Heritage rainforest, explore quaint Kuranda village and later board the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway for the return journey (own expense). If you’d prefer to spend the day relaxing by your hotel pool or sitting back at a local café you can do that too! After a big day out or in town, meet up with the group for dinner at Ochre Restaurant and enjoy Australian cuisine featuring the best local produce.
Day 6: Cairns - Sydney
Location: Sydney
Accommodation Name: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney
Fly from Cairns to Sydney. The rest of the day is yours to do as you wish. You could walk to the Art Gallery of NSW or to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair for a panoramic views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Ask your Travel Director for evening dining suggestions.
Day 7: Sydney
Location: Sydney
Accommodation Name: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney
There are legendary Sydney sights, and then there’s the Sydney Opera House – this dramatic building is the reason the word ‘icon’ was made. Go on a guided tour of the pearly shell-shaped structure, learning about its architecture as well as some of the famous artists who have graced the stages. Then see it from the outside on a sightseeing harbour cruise, also sailing past Circular Quay, Shark Island, jaw-dropping mansions, beaches and parks. Oh, and you’ll get to glide under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Talk about ‘pinch me’ moments. You’ll want to toast your good fortune. Thankfully, we have planned a Be My Guest afternoon of wine tasting at Sydney’s Urban Winery. One of the few places in the city itself that makes wine, this establishment is a great place to get a feel for the stellar drops that are made in Australia. Cheers to that!
Day 8: Sydney Free Time
Location: Sydney
Accommodation Name: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney
Meals Included: Dinner
The day is yours to explore at your leisure or book one of our hand-crafted selection of optional activities. There are so many sights and experience to be had in this city and further afield. Perhaps a bird’s-eye perspective of the city on a Sydney BridgeClimb? Or take a tour to the Blue Mountains to view the famous Three Sisters (both own expense). This evening you can share your stories of your experiences that day with your fellow travellers at dinner.
Day 9: Sydney - Queenstown
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
New Zealand's adventure capital, Queenstown, awaits. Explore the alpine village and stunning Lake Wakatipu, then enjoy walkable bars and restaurants. Ask your Travel Director for tips.
Day 10: Queenstown
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
Meals Included: Dinner
Get a taste of country life combined with good old fashioned southern hospitality as you meet a ‘Southern Girl’ local farmer at Real Country. Have demonstrations of Horse communication and Working sheep dog mustering. Try your hand at a Stock whip cracking lesson, and feed and interact with the friendly farm animals. For every guest, we donate funds to The Fairlight Foundation, Advancing Women in Agriculture. Then you'll think you've stepped back in time when you arrive in the former gold-mining village of Arrowtown, where history and beauty merge to create an unforgettable experience. Nestled in the scenic Southern Alps, you can explore quaint shops and restaurants, all while taking in the stunning views. Come dusk, cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw; the only thing more inspiring than the surrounding peaks of the Remarkables is the festive atmosphere welcoming you to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where a gourmet barbecue Highlight Dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead awaits.
Day 11: Queenstown Free Time
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
You could spend a long time in and around Queenstown. But on your free day, we highly recommend either venturing into the end-of-the-Earth wilderness that is Milford Sound, to cruise past sheer cliffs, white-capped peaks and waterfalls. Or blissing out on an obligatory wine tour of the Otago region (both own expense). It’s a difficult decision.
Day 12: Queenstown - Auckland - Rotorua
Location: Auckland, Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel Rotorua
After touching down in Auckland, you'll board your coach for the drive to Rotorua, the cultural capital, where you will immerse yourself in Maori history and culture.
Day 13: Rotorua
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Meals Included: Dinner
Your visit to the National Kiwi Hatchery is guided by passionate conservationists and will give you fascinating insights into New Zealand's national bird on this rewarding MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Rotorua's landscapes are reminiscent of a sci-fi movie set where mud pops from bubbling geysers and steam rushes skywards. See it firsthand on your visit to Whakarewarewa, the world's only living Māori village where people live on a daily basis, using natural geothermal resources to cook, bathe and heat their homes as they have for centuries. This evening, embark on the Te Po experience at Te Puia. Learn about Learn about Maori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Witness a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. It ends on a high at the Pohutu Geyser, where, armed with a hot chocolate, you'll view one of New Zealand's geothermal wonderlands.
Day 14: Rotorua - Auckland
Location: Auckland
Accommodation Name: Horizon by SkyCity Auckland
Meals Included: Dinner
Set your GPS for the Waitomo Caves. While cruising cavernous limestone waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousands of tiny blue and green glowworms. The next thing that glows on your horizon is Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, dazzling with not one, but two harbours. This evening, share the stories of your New Zealand Panorama tour at a Farewell Dinner with your Travel Director and companions at The Grill, celebrating Aotearoa's culinary treasures.
Day 15: Farewell From Auckland
Location: Auckland
Two countries, multiple adventures, an abundance of new friends… Just how do you say goodbye to a journey like this?
What's Included
What's Not Included
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Meals
Meals are not included in the tour package unless specified otherwise.
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Optional activities
Optional activities such as hot-air-balloon rides, guided walks, and wine tours are not included and may incur additional costs.
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Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and tips are not included in the tour package.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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International flights
International flights to and from the starting and ending locations of the tour are not included.
Mode of Transport
Travel includes flights between major cities and scenic boat cruises, such as a high-speed catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef and a cruise across Lake Wakatipu.
Accommodation
Stay in centrally located premium hotels including Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne, Hilton Hotel Cairns, Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney, Millennium Hotel Queenstown, and Millennium Hotel Rotorua.
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 14 Full Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- 2 Highlight Dinner (HD)
- 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
Cultural Immersion
- Your Te Po Experience at Te Puia includes hangi inspired cuisine, authentic cultural performance and spectacular thermal activity.
Fitness Requirement
- Low level of fitness required.
Flight information
- Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price. Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 12 noon into Melbourne AirportDay 15 – flights to depart anytime from Auckland Airport Return arrival and departure airport to hotel transfers are included. Internal-holiday flights IncludedPlease note that prices include land and internal-holiday airfares, which AAT Kings will book in order to fulfil the holiday itinerary: Day 3 – Melbourne to CairnsDay 6 – Cairns to SydneyDay 9 – Sydney to QueenstownDay 12 – Queenstown to Auckland
Local Connection
- From city life in Sydney to farm life in New Zealand, go behind the scenes while meeting passionate locals. How does a tour of the Opera House sound?
What to Bring
- Camera Comfortable walking shoes Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Warm layers in cooler months
World Class Nature
- Cairns is a place two World Heritage Sites meet: The Wet Tropics of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. Bring your sense of adventure to explore both.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House, a traditional hangi meal at Mitai Maori Village, and a visit to the National Kiwi Hatchery to learn about kiwi bird conservation efforts.
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What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes flights between major cities and scenic boat cruises, such as a high-speed catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef and a cruise across Lake Wakatipu.
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What type of accommodation can I expect on this tour?
You will stay in centrally located premium hotels, including Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne, Hilton Hotel Cairns, Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney, Millennium Hotel Queenstown, and Millennium Hotel Rotorua.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Meals are not included in the tour package unless specified otherwise.
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What optional activities are available during the tour?
Optional activities such as hot-air-balloon rides, guided walks, and wine tours are available but are not included in the tour package and may incur additional costs.
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Is travel insurance included in the tour package?
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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What is the starting and ending location of the tour?
The tour starts in Melbourne, Australia, and ends in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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