Day 1 : Depart the USA

Following our included flight to Los Angeles International Airport, we meet our Tour Director and board an Air New Zealand flight bound for New Zealand. Enjoy attentive service and included, tasty meals en route to to Auckland.

Day 2 : New Zealand Bound

When we cross the International Date Line, we lose a calendar day.

Day 3 : Auckland

This morning we arrive in Auckland, the largest Polynesian city in the Southern Hemisphere. After clearing customs we enjoy a guided city tour including America’s Cup Village, lively Queen Street and the Harbor Bridge. We visit SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium to view the world’s largest sub-Antarctic penguin colony display and the magical Seahorse Kingdom, then take an underwater journey to discover a diverse collection of aquatic life up close. We then take a pleasant countryside drive to the riverside city of Hamilton, one of the country’s fastest growing cities.

Day 4 : Hobbiton™ & Lake Taupo

We travel to Alexander Sheep & Cattle Farm in Matamata, a working sheep farm and home to Hobbiton™, The Shire™ from Middle-earth™. Our visit includes a drive through the picturesque 1,250-acre farm with spectacular views across the Kaimai Ranges and a guided tour of the Hobbiton™ Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. The set has been completely rebuilt and remains as it was seen in these films. During our tour we see Hobbit Holes™, The Green Dragon Inn™, the mill, the double-arched bridge, and other structures and gardens built for this beloved imaginary world. For lunch, we enjoy a traditional New Zealand pasture-to-plate meal at The Red Barn, a 500-acre working dairy farm. Later, we arrive in the town of Taupo that sits at the edge of New Zealand’s largest lake. Taupo is the home to award-winning attractions, activities, and breathtaking lake and mountain views. Our lodging features spacious rooms overlooking the thermally heated pool.

Day 5 : Orakei Korako & Māori Performance

We begin with a visit to Orakei Korako Thermal Park, where we walk through Hidden Valley to see silica terraces, boiling pools, geysers, and a geothermal cave. After lunch at leisure in Taupo’s town center, we enjoy a Huka Falls River Cruise on the Waikato River and witness impressive Huka Falls, New Zealand’s most visited natural wonder. Tonight, we enjoy an authentic Māori hangi feast, a customary cooking method that prepares food in an underground pit oven, followed by a powerful cultural performance of song and dance.

Day 6 : Gateway to Fiordland

This morning we fly to South Island to Queenstown and motorcoach through the sheep-filled farming land to Te Anau, the “Gateway to Fiordland” and closest town to Milford Sound. This town is nestled on the shores of beautiful Lake Te Anau, with a spectacular backdrop of Mt. Luxmore and the Murchison Mountains. The serene deep water of the largest lake on the island is bordered on its western shore by virgin forest.

Day 7 : Milford Sound Cruise

Today we travel deep into Fiordland National Park where the beech forests reach the road’s edge and snowcapped peaks tower above. We journey through beautiful Eglinton Valley to Homer Tunnel before descending through the spectacular Cleddau Canyon to reach Milford Sound. Our cruise takes us past Mitre Peak, rising over 5,500 feet, as well as the phenomenal Stirling and Bowen Falls. Cascading at more than 500 feet, these falls flow from valleys formed by receding glaciers. Watch for sea lions and a variety of birds. We return to Te Anau and continue our journey crossing pasturelands to the Millennium Hotel Queenstown. Queenstown sits on the rippling shores of the South Island’s Lake Wakatipu, set against the dramatic 7,000-foot Remarkables mountain range.

Day 8 : Queenstown

Enjoy a private homemade breakfast featuring local produce at the Kiwi & Birdlife Park. After breakfast, we have the rare opportunity to meet New Zealand’s most iconic bird , the kiwi, in specially designed nocturnal houses that allow us to view the kiwi during the day. Later, we visit the historic and picturesque “gold rush” settlement of Arrowtown, then see the Kawarau River suspension bridge, home of the first commercial bungee jumping site in the world. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy New Zealand’s adventure capital with jet boating, golf, picturesque walks, and abundant restaurants and shops in one of the most scenic settings in the world.

Day 9 : Southern Alps

This morning we travel across the fruitlands of Central Otago, famous for the production of summer fruit - apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums. We travel over Lindis Pass and through the tussock-covered plains of Mackenzie Country towards Mount Cook National Park. The park has some of the most spectacular peaks in the Southern Alps. We drive along Lake Pukaki to Lake Tekapo, nestled among snowy peaks. The glacial blue waters of this lake are one of the most photographed sights in New Zealand. We stop to view the Church of the Good Shepherd and view the iconic bronze statue of a sheep dog. Then we cross the picturesque farmland of the Canterbury Plains en route to our overnight accommodations.

Day 10 : Australia

Today we bid farewell to New Zealand and fly to Sydney, Australia’s most vibrant city. On arrival we transfer to our comfortable accommodations.

Day 11 : Sydney Sights & Opera House

This morning we explore Sydney with an expert local guide to the famous Harbor Bridge, the longest single span bridge in the world, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park, bustling Kings Cross, and popular Bondi Beach. We tour the famous Sydney Opera House, considered by many to be one of the wonders of the modern world. During our luncheon at Sydney Tower, we see panoramic views of the harbor and city. Later there’s time to visit the attractions of Darling Harbor, Sydney’s favorite destination for leisure and entertainment, with numerous restaurants, cafes, museums, parks, theaters, and specialty shops.

Day 12 : Harbor Cruise & The Rocks

We enjoy Sydney’s sparkling waterfront during a delightful harbor cruise. Gain a glimpse of the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge, sail past pristine parks, golden beaches, and charming harborside neighborhoods. Later we visit The Rocks, a significantly historic and affluent area in Sydney with its restored houses and buildings, spectacular views across the harbor, shops, and cobbled streets and pathways.

Day 13 : Tropical Cairns

Today we fly to tropical Cairns in Far North Queensland. Our hotel is adjacent to the waterfront and esplanade. This stunning five-star hotel features three restaurants and bars, glass swimming pools, and the Eléme Day Spa and Wellness Center.

Day 14 : Kuranda Scenic Train & Skyrail

Enjoy one of the most spectacular rail excursions in the world on the Kuranda Scenic Railway. As we ascend, our journey provides unsurpassed views of wondrous World Heritage rainforest, steep ravines, and picturesque waterfalls within Barron Gorge National Park. Later, we visit the award-winning Kuranda Koala Gardens and have an opportunity to hold a koala and hand-feed tamed kangaroos and wallabies. After lunch at Frogs Restaurant, we visit Birdworld Kuranda, home to over 60 different native species that roam the unique rainforest exhibit. There’s time to visit the Kuranda Heritage Markets before we descend the MacAlister Range on 4.7-mile Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. While gliding in your gondola, enjoy spectacular views of the rain forest, the Coral Sea, and the lush Cairns Highlands.

Day 15 : Great Barrier Reef & Scenic Helicopter Ride

Today we experience one of the highlights of our tour, a visit to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest living organism and one of Australia’s greatest national treasures, stretching more than 1,200 miles along the coast. We view vividly colored tropical fish and coral from the reef viewer, underwater observatory, and glass-bottom boat. Learn about the fish and marine life that inhabit this underwater world. Enjoy breathtaking sights of the Great Barrier Reef on an included scenic helicopter flight. Swim, snorkel, or just relax in this beautiful marine setting.

Day 16 : Melbourne

We fly to the charming Victorian capital of Melbourne, renowned for its lovely parks and gardens. The remainder of the day is free to wander along Southbank’s waterfront and Crowne Casino precinct or Melbourne’s famous hidden laneways and pedestrian arcades.

Day 17 : Penguin Parade & Wildlife Park

This morning we travel to Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery to watch chocolatiers create over 150 different types of chocolate and indulge in a few samples. Later, we visit Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, home to over 200 species of Australian birds, mammals, and reptiles in a natural setting. Next we go to Phillip Island, a sanctuary for seals and birds. Our day concludes with perhaps our most unique wildlife encounter as we witness the world-famous penguin parade. As the sun sets over this beautiful landscape we’ll get an up-close view of the Little Blue Penguins, the world’s smallest penguins, as they return home to one of the largest penguin colonies in Australia.

Day 18 : Melbourne Star & Mitre Tavern

Today our guided city tour of Melbourne includes Fitzroy Gardens, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Queen Victoria Market, and a view of the impressive Parliament House. During the city tour, we visit the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne which houses over 8,500 species of plants from around the world.

Day 19 : Los Angeles

We bid farewell to Australia. Cross the International Date Line and regain a day arriving early in the afternoon.

Day 20 : Arrive Home