Australia and New Zealand Panorama

Itinerary ▼

1. Day 1: Welcome to Melbourne

   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 popular restaurant on the Yarra River known for its modern pub fare. Dive in and raise your glass to the adventure. Cheers! Locations: Melbourne

2. Day 2: Discover the Magic of Melbourne

   Get out and see the sights today on a guided walk with your Travel Director discovering the little lanes, arcades, and cafe 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. Locations: Melbourne

3. Day 3: North to Sunny Cairns

   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. Locations: Melbourne, Cairns

4. Day 4: A Natural Wonder, the Great Barrier Reef

   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. Locations: Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns

5. Day 5: Time to Explore Tropical Cairns

   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 Railway 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 dinner at Ochre Restaurant for views of the inlet and mountains as you enjoy Australian cuisine featuring the best local produce. Locations: Cairns

6. Day 6: Set your Sights on Sydney

   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. Locations: Cairns, Sydney

7. Day 7: Sydney's Eclectic Sights

   Take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House and uncover the stories behind its iconic sails and world-renowned performers. Then head to Bondi for a behind-the-scenes visit to the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, where a local guide shares what it takes to patrol one of the world’s most famous beaches. Your Be My Guest experience is hosted at the Bondi RSL Club by a Surf Club member, with views of the beach and a chance to share stories over a meal infused with local flavour. Later, cruise Sydney Harbour to take in the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the water, a fresh perspective on the city’s most iconic landmarks. Locations: Sydney

8. Day 8: Sydney, It's All Yours Today

   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 dinner with your Travel Director. After so many incredible experiences in Australia, get excited for the next leg of your journey in New Zealand. Locations: Sydney

9. Day 9: Fly into Fun in Queenstown

   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. Locations: Sydney, Queenstown

10. Day 10: Say Hello to a local Farmer

    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 cafes. 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 dinner, piled high with local delicacies. After dinner, you'll be treated to sheep dogs showing off their skills. Locations: Queenstown

11. Day 11: Queenstown to Spend as You Wish

    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. Locations: Queenstown

12. Day 12: Fly to Auckland and Coach-it to Rotorua

    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, to immerse yourself in Maori history and culture. Locations: Queenstown, Auckland, Rotorua

13. Day 13: Culture Capital Rotorua

    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. Today’s visit to the Maori Village of Ohinemutu, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, offers an authentic insight into one of Rotorua’s most historic Māori communities. Welcomed through the traditional Whakatau process, guests experience warm manaakitanga (hospitality) as local hosts share geothermal sites, whakapapa (ancestral) stories, and the cultural and spiritual life of the village. Highlights include a visit to St Faith’s Church and scenic moments that support local livelihoods and the preservation of this living heritage.  This evening, delve deep into Māori traditions at the Te Po experience at Te Puia. Witness a moving Māori cultural performance in the beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. View the Pohutu Geyser, one of New Zealand’s geothermal wonderlands. Finish with a delicious buffet dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Locations: Auckland, Rotorua

14. Day 14: All that Glitters

    Rotorua Redwoods Treewalk Visit & Glowworm Grotto: Stand eye to eye with giant redwoods on the Redwoods Treewalk. Immerse yourself in the serene majesty of these 118-year-old trees from your 20-metre high perspective. Cross swing bridges and platforms** on your elevated path through Whakarewarewa Forest. You will then be transported to a different world within the forest, a cave where your way is lit by thousands of tiny blue and green glowworms.   **This award-winning, eco-tourism walk is suitable for families and accessible for all who can walk unaided. We also have purpose-built strollers available for guests to use (free of charge). Locations: Rotorua, Auckland

15. Day 15: Depart Auckland

    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). Locations: Auckland