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, Rotorua, Auckland
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Cultural, Eco Conscious, Foodie and Wine Tours, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Australia and New Zealand Panorama" tour, a captivating journey through the vibrant cultures and stunning landscapes of these two remarkable countries. Begin in Melbourne, exploring its rich heritage and stylish streets, before heading to Cairns for a wildlife adventure at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures and a breathtaking cruise on the Great Barrier Reef. In Sydney, enjoy a tour of the iconic Opera House and a scenic harbour cruise. Fly to New Zealand's Queenstown, where you'll experience the charm of Arrowtown and a cruise on Lake Wakatipu. Discover Maori culture in Rotorua, visit the National Kiwi Hatchery, and explore the enchanting Waitomo Caves. Travel in luxury coaches, stay in top hotels, and enjoy a mix of guided tours and free time, making this an unforgettable cultural adventure.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza
Begin your Australia and New Zealand tour discovering the style and spirit of Melbourne, your launch pad to an epic adventure through Australia and New Zealand (flights to arrive prior to 12pm). On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel on the Yarra River before celebrating the beginning of your journey at a Welcome Reception at The General Assembly restaurant. Located on the Yarra River, this restaurant is known for its modern pub fare. Dive in and raise your glass to the adventure. Cheers!
Day 2: Discover The Magic Of Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza
Meals Included: Breakfast
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. Now make a positive impact while you learn about Koorie peoples, cultures, and communities on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience tour and walk. You’ll love discovering the importance of Koorie peoples as part of a broader 21st century community. With a vison to ensure the rich cultural heritage, history and knowledge systems of First Peoples are valued, celebrated and an active part of society, the Koorie Heritage Trust is an organization you’ll be happy to support. Afterwards, the day is yours to relax back at your hotel, go for a scenic stroll, do a little souvenir shopping, or find a spot on the banks of the Yarra River to grab a drink. Or choose to venture outside of the city on an optional experience such as the viewing of the incredible Little Penguins on Phillip Island. On this rare wildlife viewing experience you’ll watch the tiny, adorable penguins make their daily trek from the sea to burrows on the beach.
Day 3: North To Sunny Cairns
Location: Cairns
Accommodation: Hilton
Accommodation Name: Hilton
Meals Included: Breakfast
From city life to sunshine state of mind, today you’ll fly to laid-back Cairns. Get right into the action and meet your Local Specialist for a private wildlife journey at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures. Your boat cruise will take you through the woodlands and rainforest that provide sanctuary to koalas, tropical birds and, of course, crocodiles. See what critters are out today as your local guide shares their in-depth knowledge of the wildlife that call the sanctuary home. Continue your exploration of wildlife and wild places taking part in a Rainforest Restoration project to protect the natural wonder of Notophyll Vine Forest. Join in and plant a tree knowing that your visit is part of a larger scale effort to restore the rainforest since the land was cleared and overgrazed. Your contribution to the revitalization of this rare dry rainforest will help to bring back its native plants and birds. After a big day, enjoy an evening dining in one of the many restaurants in the nearby Cairns Marina. Or, pop into the Cairns Night Markets, choosing your favourite dinner option from over 70 local vendors.
Day 4: A Natural Wonder, The Great Barrier Reef
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Accommodation: Hilton
Accommodation Name: Hilton
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
On a bucket-list, day-long excursion, immerse yourself in Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef boarding a high-speed catamaran for this underwater wonderland and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The choice is yours on how to explore: view the iridescent coral formations and colourful marine-life from your semi-submersible craft or get your feet wet and have an up-close encounter snorkelling with a rainbow of fish and coral (equipment provided). Whichever you chose, you’ll enjoy a full day of wildlife, insights from your local guide, and a tropical buffet lunch as you bask in the glorious Australian sunshine. You’ll return to Cairns after a day of sun and fun with a greater appreciation for this beautiful and fragile part of the world.
Day 5: Time To Explore Tropical Cairns
Location: Cairns
Accommodation: Hilton
Accommodation Name: Hilton
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend the day soaking up the sun discovering Cairns on your own terms. Relax in town or at the hotel pool or consider joining an Optional Experience such as the Scenic Rail journey to Kuranda to explore the remote and fascinating 'village in the rainforest'. All aboard as your day begins taking a historic train through the rainforest rich with gorges and waterfalls to Kuranda. The views alone are worth the trip, but you’ll also have time to explore this village’s unique shops and markets or experience more of this World Heritage rainforest taking to the trails or visiting a wildlife sanctuary. Return to the lowlands on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway though and above some of the oldest rainforest in the world. Tonight, join your travel mates for a Regional Dinner at Ochre Restaurant for views of the inlet and mountains as you enjoy Australian cuisine featuring the best local produce.
Day 6: Set Your Sights On Sydney
Location: Sydney
Accommodation: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Accommodation Name: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast
Say farewell to Cairns and fly to Sydney this morning for the next leg of your Australia and New Zealand tour, you’ll have a free afternoon and evening. You could soak up the incredible city views from Circular Quay and Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, or wander around the Royal Botanic Garden.
Day 7: Sydney's Eclectic Sights
Location: Sydney
Accommodation: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Accommodation Name: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Meals Included: Breakfast
Kick off your Sydney exploring day with a Sydney Opera House Tour with a Local Specialist before experiencing the beauty of the city aboard a Harbour Cruise sailing past Circular Quay, Shark Island, magnificent homes, beaches and parkland and the iconic white sails of the Opera House. After free time for lunch, visit Urban Winery Sydney for a tour and tasting of wines from around the state. Unlock the art of winemaking on your Be My Guest tour as the head winemaker shares the art of the wine making process before tasting a selection from different wine regions of NSW. The evening is yours to check out the sites of the inner city or relax before another big day.
Day 8: Sydney, It's All Yours Today
Location: Sydney
Accommodation: Millennium
Accommodation Name: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Meals Included: Breakfast
Get your final fix of Sydney with a full day to explore. Consider joining an Optional Experience to discover the spectacular Blue Mountains for fresh mountain air and stunning natural scenery. Animals lovers will not want to miss a visit to the Sydney Zoo to see some of Australia's unique native animals. Or get your adrenaline racing with an Optional Experience thrilling climb up (and over) the Sydney Harbour Bridge. On your last night in town, enjoy one last walk around the harbour before sitting down to a Regional Dinner with your Travel Director. After so many incredible experiences in Australia, get excited for the next leg of your journey in New Zealand.
Day 9: Fly Into Fun In Queenstown
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation: Millennium
Accommodation Name: Millennium
Meals Included: Breakfast
New Zealand’s adventure capital beckons as you fly to Queenstown this afternoon for the next leg of your journey. Get your bearings around town, including your first views of stunning Lake Wakatipu which frames the town. Reminiscent of alpine village, you’ll love the mountain-town vibe of this adventure hub. Lucky for you the evening is free to explore the many walkable bars and restaurants before resting up in the cosy and contemporary central Millennium Hotel.
Day 10: Say Hello To A Local Farmer
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation: Millennium
Accommodation Name: Millennium
Meals Included: Breakfast
Get a taste of country life combined with good old fashioned southern hospitality on this Be My Guest experience as you meet a ‘Southern Girl’ local farmer at Real Country. Have demonstrations of Horse communication and Working sheep dog mustering. Now it’s your turn to have some fun as you 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. After this fun insight into the real New Zealand, you'll be ready for a scenic afternoon, starting in gorgeous, quaint Arrowtown, a riverside town that boomed during the gold mining era of the mid-1800s. You’ll feel like the clocks been turned back as you stroll among the pioneer-constructed cottages, churches, as well as the boutique shops, art galleries, and cafés. Be sure to have a look at the Chinese Settlement at the edge of the Arrow River made of restored shelters and buildings originally constructed in 1868. From land to water, sit back on a scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw before arriving at Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue Regional Dinner, piled high with local delicacies. After dinner at this historic homestead, learn how it all comes together watching the sheep dogs in action before cruising back to your Queenstown hotel.
Day 11: Queenstown To Spend As You Wish
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation: The Grand by SkyCity
Accommodation Name: Millennium
Meals Included: Breakfast
Good morning, Queenstown! You have a final day in New Zealand's adventure capital and the choice is yours on how to spend it. Nature lovers can take advantage of an Optional Experience on a cruise of breathtaking Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. Experiencing this world heritage listed national park and majestic fiord carved by glacial ice will bring you up close to sheer cliffs, white-capped peaks, and waterfalls. Each turn of the boat will have you “oohing” and “aahing” at this dramatic landscape but be sure to keep an eye out for fur seals basking on the rock. If you’d prefer to stay on dry land sample flavours of this world-renowned wine region, join an Optional Experience touring three premium boutique vineyards in the Otago region. You’ll enjoy vineyard and barrel hall tours complete with early history and, of course, tastings of the area’s famous Pinot Noir, and other local varieties paired with a platter lunch.
Day 12: Fly To Auckland And Coach-It To Rotorua
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation: Millennium
Accommodation Name: Millennium
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you’ll say farewell to Queenstown as you fly north to Auckland. After touching down, you'll board your coach for the drive to Rotorua, New Zealand's cultural capital, where you will immerse yourself in Maori history and culture.
Day 13: Culture Capital Rotorua
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation: Millennium
Accommodation Name: Millennium
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin the day visiting the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa for a tour with a Local Specialist. You’ll love this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, learning all about New Zealand’s national bird and the work being done by this leader in kiwi husbandry to save the iconic creature. See kiwi eggs being incubated, the hatching process, and newly hatched kiwi chicks as you get an insider’s look at this fascinating bird. Next up Dive Into Culture at the Living Māori Village 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. You’ll gain an even deeper insight into the lives of the Māori and the special bond they share with this ancient land. You’ll learn about the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people who have lived on top of a volcanic crater since 1886. Explore the trails winding through geothermal fields past steaming lakes. This evening you'll Dive Into Culture and Maori traditions at the Te Po experience at Te Puia. Your Regional Dinner, succulent meats and vegetables inspired by hangi cuisine, is served while you overlook the spectacular geothermal valley. Witness a moving Māori cultural performance in the beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. 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: All That Glistens
Location: Auckland
Accommodation Name: Horizon by SkyCity
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enter the starry wonderland of the Waitomo Caves. Your underground exploration begins joining a Local Specialist to descend into the cave past limestone formations and crystal tapestries as you listen to the distant waterfalls. In the cave, you’re enveloped in a galaxy of twinkling green and blue glowworms lighting up the walls - a dazzling and unforgettable experience you’ll carry with you outside of this magical cave. 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 tour at a Farewell Dinner with your Travel Director and companions at The Grill, celebrating Aotearoa's culinary treasures.
Day 15: Depart Auckland
Location: Auckland
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your Australia and New Zealand tour concludes this morning after breakfast. Savour one hearty breakfast in this beautiful place and say farewell to your newfound friends before your transfer to Auckland Airport for your onward flight (flights to depart anytime).
What's Included
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver are included in the tour.
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Accommodation in cherry-picked, trusted hotels is included.
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Porterage where hotels provide this service
Porterage is included where hotels provide this service.
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Daily breakfast and up to half of your evening meals are included.
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras are included in the tour.
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All land transport shown. All transfers shown
All land transport and transfers shown in the itinerary are included.
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi or alternative transportation is included.
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Optional Experiences and free time
Optional experiences and free time are part of the tour.
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A Trafalgar bonus - all Intra-Air Flights: Melbourne to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney, Sydney to Queenstown, Queenstown to Auckland
All intra-air flights between Melbourne, Cairns, Sydney, Queenstown, and Auckland are included.
What's Not Included
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International Flights
International flights to and from the starting and ending locations are not included in the tour.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included in the tour.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and beverages are not included in the tour.
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Optional Experiences
Optional experiences mentioned in the itinerary are not included in the tour.
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Visa Fees
Visa fees and other travel documentation costs are not included in the tour.
Dining Summary
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- 14 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- 4 Regional Dinner (RD)
- 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
Dive Into Culture
- Rotorua: Visit Whakarewarewa Living Village for insights into the lives of the Maori community and their special bond they share with their country, Aotearoa.
- Rotorua: Visit Te Puia for the Te Po experience, an evening of Maori culture and connection. Dine on traditional Hangi-inspired cuisine, followed by a captivating cultural performance.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes travel in luxury air-conditioned coaches with Wi-Fi, and all intra-air flights between Melbourne, Cairns, Sydney, Queenstown, and Auckland.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, breakfast is provided daily and up to half of your evening meals are included. Additionally, there is a Welcome Reception, a tropical buffet lunch during the Great Barrier Reef excursion, and several Regional Dinners.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect on this tour?
You will stay in cherry-picked, trusted hotels including Crowne Plaza in Melbourne, Hilton in Cairns, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Millennium in Queenstown and Rotorua, and The Grand by SkyCity in Auckland.
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a variety of unique experiences such as a visit to the Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery in Melbourne, a private wildlife journey at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures in Cairns, a Sydney Opera House tour, and a visit to the National Kiwi Hatchery in Rotorua.
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Is there an opportunity to learn about local cultures during the tour?
Yes, the tour offers several cultural experiences including learning about Koorie peoples in Melbourne, a Maori cultural performance in Rotorua, and a visit to the Whakarewarewa Living Village to gain insights into Maori community life.
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Are there any optional experiences available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional experiences available such as viewing the Little Penguins on Phillip Island, a Scenic Rail journey to Kuranda, and a thrilling climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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