Best of Australia and New Zealand
Best of Australia and New Zealand
Best of Australia and New Zealand
15 Days Starting in Melbourne, Australia and ending in Rotorua, New Zealand
Visiting: Melbourne, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Queenstown, Auckland, Rotorua
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 35
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, Foodie and Wine Tours, Gardens & Nature Tours, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable 15-day adventure through Australia and New Zealand with the "Best of Australia and New Zealand" tour. Begin your journey in Melbourne, exploring its vibrant art scene and boutiques, before heading to Sydney to marvel at the iconic Opera House and relax on Bondi Beach. Experience the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef on a catamaran cruise and discover the glowworm-lit Waitomo Caves. In New Zealand, explore Auckland's volcanic landscape, enjoy a barbecue at Walter Peak High Country Farm in Queenstown, and immerse yourself in Maori culture with a hangi buffet dinner at Te Puia in Rotorua. Enjoy superior accommodations, daily buffet breakfasts, and guided tours, all while traveling in air-conditioned modern vehicles and domestic flights.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Melbourne (Arrival) (-/-/Dinner With Wine)
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Australia! Upon arrival at the Melbourne International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace or relax.
Overnight in Melbourne
Day 2: Melbourne (B/-/-)
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, after breakfast, reach for rainbows in Melbournes eye-popping street art. Follow the lead of a local to discover alleys emblazoned with murals by some of the worlds greatest aerosol artists. Take note of the hidden bars and restaurants you pass – we can help you make a booking for tonight.
Overnight in Melbourne
Day 3: Melbourne – Cairns (By Flight) (B/-/-)
Location: Cairns
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, after breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred to the Melbourne International Airport for your flight to Cairns. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Koalas, birds, wallabies, crocodiles – oh my! They all live side by side at Hartleys Crocodile Adventures in Cairns, as youll discover on a boat cruise youll with a private guide through this wilderness reserve. The Daintree Rainforest here is part of the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics of Queensland, and youll help protect it on a restoration project.
Overnight in Cairns
Day 4: Great Barrier Reef (B/L/-)
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading out to your tour.The Great Barrier Reef, the largest living thing on earth, never ceases to amaze. Set off on a catamaran to discover a kaleidoscope of colour, which is home to more than 1,500 types of fish, 215 bird species, 3,000 mollusks, six of the seven species of marine turtles in the world, and 30 distinct species of dolphins and whales. Get ready for an experience of a lifetime when you board a high-speed catamaran and cruise to the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Strap on a snorkel and mask to view this marine menagerie up close and personal.
Overnight in Cairns
Day 5: Cairns (B/-/D)
Location: Cairns
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Spend the day at leisure or pre-book one of the following optional tours.
Overnight in Cairns
Day 6: Cairns — Sydney (By Flight) (B/-/D)
Location: Sydney
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, at the arranged time, you will be picked up and transferred to the Cairns Airport for your flight to Sydney. Upon arrival in Sydney, you will be transferred to the hotel. Tonight, you enjoy a front-row seat on a sunset cruise that takes you bast the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge. Talk about a mesmerizing way to end a day.
Overnight in Sydney
Day 7: Sydney (B/L/-)
Location: Sydney
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Be prepared to meet the top makers, bakers and brewers in Sydneys inner-west today on a culinary tour that takes you to some of the citys most forward-thinking producers. First stop is Newtown, where the parade of street art and achingly-cool restaurants leads you to Marrickville then Dulwich Hill. Here, youll pop in on Dear Delicious café, where farm-to-table dining is in the spotlight thanks to owner Greg. Enjoy a Be My Guest lunch made the veggies and herbs he grows himself. Around the corner is Batch Brewery where youll meet owner Andrew. Take part in a masterclass and learn how they combine creatively inspired limited release batches with sustainable practices.
Overnight in Sydney
Day 8: Sydney (B/-/D)
Location: Sydney
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, start your day in Sydney! If there was ever a place that slipped from the pages of a fairytale, Wendys Secret Garden at Lavender Bay is it. Overlooking Sydney Harbour, this pocket of floral paradise is explained by a local volunteer – did you know this was once unused wasteland? Your visit provides a contribution to the ongoing maintenance of the enchanting garden. Dinner tonight is beside Sydney Harbour.
Overnight in Sydney
Day 9: Sydney – Queenstown (By Flight) (B/-/-)
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, at the arranged time, you will be picked up and transferred to the Sydney Airport for your flight to Queenstown. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Queenstown
Day 10: Queenstown (B/-/D)
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. The first thing you'll notice when flying over New Zealand is how much agriculture there is. You will met a guide who will show you around the sheep farm. Consider the opportunity to feed and pet farm animals, as well as sheep mustering and whip cracking. The only thing more inspirational than the surrounding Remarkables peaks at dusk is the joyful atmosphere greeting you to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where a fine barbecue at the Colonel's Homestead is waiting. Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw.
Overnight in Queenstown
Day 11: Queenstown (B/-/-)
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend the day at leisure or pre-book one of the following optional tours.
Overnight in Queenstown
Day 12: Queenstown – Auckland (By Flight) (B/-/-)
Location: Auckland
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
have breakfast at the hotel. After that, at the arranged time, you will be picked up and transferred to the Queenstown Airport for your flight to Auckland. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Auckland
Day 13: Auckland – Rotorua (B/-/D)
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Today is set to sparkle – quite literally – as thousands of bright green and blue glowworms light up your next destination: the cavernous Ruakuri Cave at Waitomo. From overhead attractions to those below the ground. Tonight, we experience Te Puia's world-famous hāngī buffet dinner. Enjoy spectacular geothermal views while dining on a range of delicious New Zealand flavours. The menu is smartly sophisticated – infusing Māori flavours, with an array of global cuisines and cooking styles. After dinner you will get to enjoy a cultural performance that will take place in their beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Witness a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. The evening culminates with hot chocolate and steamed pudding surrounded by steam and the geyser terrace bathed in coloured light.
Overnight in Rotorua
Day 14: Rotorua (B/-/D)
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today you will start your day with breakfast at the hotel. New Zealand's adorable and cuddly national bird, the kiwi, is also in risk of extinction. Visit a functional kiwi nursery and hatchery behind the scenes to discover how breeding initiatives are promoting the population's health. The last remaining Mori village in the nation and geothermal reserve Whakarewarewa, which is also home to the famous Pohutu Geyser and the bubbling beauty of mud pools, is where the natural drama achieves its climax.
Overnight in Rotorua
Day 15: Rotorua (Departure) (B/-/-)
Location: Rotorua
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, at the arranged time, you will be picked up and transferred to the Rotorua International Airport for your flight back home.
What's Included
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14 nights accommodation
14 nights accommodation on a twin sharing basis at superior hotels or similar.
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Daily buffet breakfasts
Daily buffet breakfasts are included.
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01 Lunch at local restaurant
One lunch at a local restaurant is included.
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04 Dinners with Wine
Four dinners with wine are included.
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02 Highlight Dinners
Two highlight dinners are included.
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01 Farewell Dinner
One farewell dinner is included.
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01 Be My Guest Lunch
One 'Be My Guest' lunch is included.
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All Arrival and departure airport transfers
All arrival and departure airport transfers are included.
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All Transportation in AC modern vehicles
All transportation in air-conditioned modern vehicles is included.
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Services of English-speaking guide
Services of an English-speaking guide during the tours are included.
What's Not Included
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Personal expenses
Items of a personal nature, tips, and gratuities are not included.
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Visa fees
Visa fees, if applicable, are not included.
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Items not mentioned as included
Items not mentioned as included are excluded.
Mode of Transport
All transportation is provided in air-conditioned modern vehicles, including domestic flights between Melbourne, Cairns, Sydney, Queenstown, and Auckland, as well as a regional flight from Sydney to Queenstown.
Accommodation
Enjoy 14 nights of accommodation on a twin sharing basis at superior hotels or similar, ensuring comfort and convenience throughout your journey.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of transportation is provided during the tour?
All transportation is provided in air-conditioned modern vehicles, including domestic flights between Melbourne, Cairns, Sydney, Queenstown, and Auckland, as well as a regional flight from Sydney to Queenstown.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect on this tour?
You will enjoy 14 nights of accommodation on a twin sharing basis at superior hotels or similar, ensuring comfort and convenience throughout your journey.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, daily buffet breakfasts, one lunch at a local restaurant, four dinners with wine, two highlight dinners, one farewell dinner, and one 'Be My Guest' lunch are included in the tour package.
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Will there be a guide during the tour?
Yes, the services of an English-speaking guide during the tours are included.
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Are airport transfers included in the tour package?
Yes, all arrival and departure airport transfers are included in the tour package.
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What activities are included in the tour?
The tour includes various activities such as exploring Melbourne's street art, visiting Hartley's Crocodile Adventures in Cairns, a catamaran cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, a sunset cruise in Sydney, a culinary tour in Sydney, a visit to Walter Peak High Country Farm in Queenstown, and a tour of the Waitomo Caves illuminated by glow worms.
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Are there any optional tours available during the trip?
Yes, there are optional tours available on certain days, such as Day 5 in Cairns and Day 11 in Queenstown, which you can pre-book.
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What is the final destination of the tour?
The final destination of the tour is Rotorua, New Zealand, where you will be transferred to the Rotorua International Airport for your flight back home.
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Are entrance fees to attractions included in the tour package?
Yes, all entrance fees as per the detailed itinerary are included in the tour package.
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What is the highlight of the visit to Rotorua?
In Rotorua, you will witness a cultural performance and enjoy a hāngī buffet dinner at Te Puia, visit a functional kiwi nursery and hatchery, and explore the geothermal reserve Whakarewarewa, home to the famous Pohutu Geyser and mud pools.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but only in case it was previously agreed by both sides and arranged by us.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our e-document package includes all local contact details, daily itinerary, airline e-ticket information, service vouchers, and travel tips which should be everything you require to go on your trip.
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If I need one, who is responsible to obtain my visa?
You are responsible for obtaining the proper travel documents for the destinations on your itinerary, including having a passport that is valid for at least 6 months before the date of departure and a visa if required. Please check the Visa section in the Know Before You Go document for the countries you will be visiting.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
No, not as standard. Solo travellers can book and occupy their own room for a supplement.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We have been organizing unforgettable trips since 2001.
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Can I arrange flights via Indus Travels, too?
In some cases, yes. Indus Travels can provide flights from/to selected departure points in the USA. If you would like a quote inclusive of flights, please let us know and we'll be happy to check the details for you!
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
Changes to an existing reservation up to the Final Payment Date, whatever the cause, will incur a $100 per person amendment fee, potential loss of any supplier fees (such as non-refundable event tickets, park permits, and sea cruise reservations) plus any costs for replacement services. On/ after the Final Payment Date, the $100 change fee is no longer valid, instead cancellations terms apply.
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Low Deposit
Indus Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 45 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of indus travels charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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