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Day 1: Los Angeles : This evening
board your flight bound for New Zealand (D)
Day 2: In Flight :
Cross the international dateline and ‘lose’ a day.
Day 3: Arrive Auckland: Arrive in
Auckland today and be met on arrival at the airport. Transfer to your hotel and
enjoy some free time to relax and settle in. Tonight enjoy a delicious Welcome
Dinner with your fellow travelers and Tour Director at The Observatory
Restaurant atop Sky Tower, offering incredible views of Auckland. Two Night
Stay: Auckland, Skycity Hotel (B,D)
Day 4: Auckland at Leisure :
Enjoy a day at leisure to discover the City of Sails for yourself. Perhaps
wander down to the harbor, or explore the shops and restaurants of the city.
Alternatively, you could join an extended day trip to Rotorua, the centre of
Maori culture and renowned for its geothermal activity (own expense).
(B)
Day 5: Auckland Sightseeing, Fly to Queenstown, Walter Peak
Dinner: This morning after breakfast, enjoy some time
at leisure to relax or further explore Auckland. Then join your flight to
Queenstown. Tonight, cruise aboard the vintage steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, to
the Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak High Country Farm for a delicious carvery
dinner. Three Night Stay: Queenstown, Copthorne Lakefront Resort
(B,D)
Day 6: Milford Sound Cruise :
Today travel one of the most scenic alpine drives into World Heritage-listed
Fiordland National Park. Here, take a cruise along the full length of Milford
Sound. Relax and enjoy the view as your boat glides past towering Mitre Peak,
cascading waterfalls, dense rain forest and rugged mountains.
(B,L)
Day 7: Queenstown at Leisure:
Today is free for you to explore Queenstown for yourself. Perhaps go shopping in
one of the local boutiques, take a jetboat ride on the Shotover River or board a
thrilling helicopter ride. Or perhaps you may like to play a round of golf or
enjoy a winery tour to sample the local vintages (all at own expense).
(B)
Day 8: Mt Cook, Christchurch View
spectacular alpine scenery today as you journey into the national park to New
Zealand’s highest peak, Mt Cook. Here, the huge Tasman Glacier, 17 miles long
and two miles wide, flows down Mt Cook’s eastern slopes towards the Mackenzie
Basin. Perhaps take a ski plane flight over the region, including a landing on
the glacier (weather permitting, own expense). Continue on to the lovely city of
Christchurch. Check in to your hotel and relax with the evening at leisure.
Stay: Christchurch, Copthorne Central (B)
Day 9: Christchurch, Sydney: This
morning take a tour of Christchurch, New Zealand’s Garden City. Later, board a
flight to Sydney, Australia and on arrival enjoy the afternoon at leisure to
relax or start exploring the harbour city. Three Night Stay: Old Sydney Holiday
Inn (B)
Day 10: Sydney Sights and Opera House Tour:Today
see Sydney’s famous sights on a tour of the city. Cruise on Sydney Harbour, see
the Harbour Bridge and enjoy a guided tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Later, learn about opals and other gemstones before visiting Sydney Wildlife
World. Here you’ll see koalas, kangaroos and other native animals. This evening,
enjoy 360° views of the city as you enjoy a gourmet dinner at the renowned
Sydney Tower Restaurant) (B,D)
Day 11: Sydney at Leisure
Today is yours at leisure in Sydney, allowing yo to
discover the sights for yourself. Perhaps join an optional trip to the wine
region of the Hunter Valley or visit the Blue Mountains to see the Three Sisters
rock formation (both at own expense). (B)
Day 12: Cairns, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park:
This morning after breakfast, join a flight to Cairns - the stunning gateway to
Far North Queensland. Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or begin exploring
this tropical paradise for yourself. Later this afternoon, visit Tjapukai
Aboriginal Cultural Park and enjoy the opportunity to learn about the unique
culture and traditions of Australia’s Aboriginal people. Three Night Stay: The
Hotel Cairns (B)
Day 13: Great Barrier Reef Cruise:
Enjoy a full day to discover the beauty of the World
Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, composed of more than 2,800 individual
reefs. Board a catamaran cruise out to the Moore Reef and take advantage of the
opportunity to swim or snorkel among the brilliantly colored coral, giant clams,
tropical fish and other marine life. You’ll also enjoy a tropical buffet lunch
as you relax on board. (B,L)
Day 14: Cairns at Leisure: Today
is free for you to explore the delights of Queensland’s tropical north at your
own pace. You can simply relax on the pristine white sandy beaches, unwind by
the hotel pool or go shopping. There are also some optional day tours available
such as a trip to Kuranda, a village deep in the heart of the rainforest. Here,
perhaps ride the Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over the rain forest, visit
the local markets or embark on a unique journey aboard the Kuranda Scenic
Railway - passing over 40 bridges and through 15 tunnels, travelling in tropical
rain forest and past rushing waterfalls (all at own expense). This evening
gather with your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner.
(B,D)
Day 15: Depart Cairns: Your tour
concludes after breakfast this morning with an included transfer to the airport.
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