27-DAY SOUTHERN EXPLORER: FIJI, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA
Immerse yourself in the cultural and scenic attractions of Fiji, Australia and New Zealand with this stylish 27 day holiday. Begin on the tropical Island of Fiji before exploring New Zealand with its natural beauty and spectacular scenery with highlights including a cruise along Milford Sound. Once in Australia enjoy a wonderful insight into this diverse continent. The highlight of this incredible journey is found on board The Ghan from Alice Springs to Adelaide.

INCLUDED FEATURES:

• Enjoy a full day of sightseeing on the tropical island of Fiji
• Take a city tour of Auckland
• Enjoy a Maori Hangi feast and cultural performance in Rotorua
• Tour geothermal Te Puia Thermal Reserve
• Ride the award-winning TranzAlpine train
• See majestic Franz Josef Glacier
• Explore the resort town of Queenstown
• Cruise the full length of Milford Sound
• Take a cruise over the Great Barrier Reef
• Tour the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock)
• Visit the giant domes of Kata Tjuta (Olgas)
• Stay three nights at the Outrigger on the Lagoon in Fiji
• New for 2010! Stay at Te Waonui Forest Retreat in Franz Josef
• Overnight at The Hermitage, Mt Cook
• Three nights at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney
• Stay at Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock Resort
• Two nights at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
• 24 Breakfasts (B), 3 Lunch (L) and 13 Dinners (D) including
• Traditional Maori Hangi feast
• Sydney Harbour Luncheon CruiseSpend a full day on this amazing island. Discover its natural beauty and Australia’s wildlife - kangaroos, koalas and much more. Includes return flights from Adelaide and travel in 4WD vehicles
• Must be booked at time of booking tour
• Contact Us for further details
• International flight from Lax and domestic flights

DAY TO DAY ITINERARY

Day 1. Los Angeles: Board your evening flight to Auckland, New Zealand. Dx1

Day 2. In Flight

Day 3. Arrive Nadi, Fiji:  Transfer to the Outrigger on the Lagoon, surrounded by 40 acres of tropical gardens. The rest of day is at leisure. Three Night Stay: Fiji, Outrigger on the Lagoon

Day 4. Day of Leisure, Fiji: After breakfast, relax on the beach or explore the island on a day tour. Perhaps take a bamboo raft down the Navua River and see a Fijian village, cascading waterfalls, authentic dancers and Fijian warriors (own expense).  Bx1

Day 5. Coral Coast, Fiji: Enjoy a full day of sightseeing with a guided tour. Visit Fiji's capital Suva, hub of the South Pacific and Fiji's political and administrative capital. Enjoy sightseeing, shopping and a buffet lunch in the city centre. Experience the heritage of the region at the Fiji Museum, including relics from the HMS Bounty. Drive past Government buildings, Parliament House, the University of the South Pacific, the Presidents Residence and Albert Park where Kingsford Smith landed his aircraft in his 1928 epic trans-Pacific flight. BxL   Lx1

Day 6. Fiji, Arrive Auckland: Depart Fiji and fly to New Zealand. You will be met on arrival in Auckland and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a city tour and visit Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World. Join your fellow travelers at our Welcome Dinner. Stay: Auckland, Crowne Plaza Hotel
Bx1 Dx1

Day 7. Rotorua, Maori Hangi Feast: This morning you will journey to the Waitomo Caves for a tour of the limestone caverns and glow-worm grotto. Then continue to Rotorua, a region rich in Maori heritage. Here tonight you will enjoy a traditional Hangi feast and Maori cultural performance of song and dance.
Two Night Stay: Millennium Rotorua  Bx1 Dx1

Day 8. Rotorua, Te Puia Thermal Reserve: Today visit the Agrodome and see the entertaining Sheep Show to learn the farming industry. Then head to Te Puia Thermal Reserve to see the power of geothermal energy first-hand. See boiling mud pools, exploding geysers and hot springs. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore or relax as you choose. A Country Homestay option is available tonight. Bx1 Dx1

Day 9. Rotorua, Fly to Christchurch: Enjoy free time in Rotorua today before flying to Christchurch. On arrival, enjoy free time to explore discover why Christchurch is known as the Garden City.  Stay: Christchurch, Crowne Plaza Hotel. Bx1 Dx1

Day 10. Southern Alps, Franz Josef: Board the TranzAlpine train for one of the top rail journeys in the world. Disembark and continue down the rugged West Coast to Franz Josef. Stay: Franz Josef, Te Waonui Forest Retreat. Bx1 Dx1

Day 11. Franz Josef, Queenstown, Dine Around Dinner: Journey over Haast Pass and along the shores of lakes Wanaka and Hawea to Queenstown. Tonight, perhaps choose to cruise on the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for dinner, or select from many other restaurants.  Two Night Stay: Queenstown, Crowne Plaza Hotel. Bx1 Dx1

Day 12. Milford Sound Cruise: Absorb the majesty of Fiordland National Park on the journey to Milford Sound. On arrival, enjoy a cruise along the sound. Return to Queenstown by coach, or perhaps take a scenic flight back (own expense).  Bx1 Lx1

Day 13. Queenstown, Mt Cook: Enjoy some free time this morning before travelling to World Heritage-listed Mt Cook National Park, home to Australasia’s highest mountain.  Stay: Mt Cook National Park, The Hermitage
Bx1 Dx1

Day 14. Fly to Sydney, Australia: Travel via Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo, Burkes Pass and the Canterbury Plains before arriving in Christchurch in the afternoon. Later, board a flight to Sydney. Tonight enjoy an evening at leisure to dine and explore at your own pace. Three Night Stay: Sydney, Shangri-La Hotel. Bx1

Day 15. Sydney Sights, Sydney Harbour Cruise, Opera House Guided Tour: This morning, step inside the Sydney Opera House during a guided tour. Learn about this unique Australian landmark, which was designed by Denmark’s Jørn Utzon in 1957 and is considered a truly remarkable piece of architecture. Then board a luncheon cruise on Sydney Harbour, viewing the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House from a different perspective. Later, discover Hyde Park and the famous Bondi Beach on a guided city tour. Bx1 Lx1

Day 16. Sydney at Leisure: Enjoy this vibrant city at your own pace today. Perhaps take an optional sightseeing tour to the Hunter Valley, or visit the Blue Mountains (own expense). Bx1

Day 17. Sydney, Fly to Cairns: This morning, fly to Cairns. Settle in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore this tropical city. Three Night Stay: Cairns, Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina. Bx1 Dx1

Day 18. Great Barrier Reef Cruise: Cruise out to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef in a glass-bottom boat. View the colorful coral and diverse range of marine life of Moore Reef, and maybe go for a snorkel or a swim. Afterwards, visit your boat’s underwater observatory before enjoying a tropical lunch of local. specialties. Bx1 Lx1

Day 19. Skyrail, Kuranda, Wildlife, Cairns: Today, tour Cairns before riding on the Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda. Visit a wildlife park and perhaps have your photo taken with a koala (own expense). After seeing a performance by the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers, ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway back to Cairns. Bx1

Day 20. Cairns, Fly to Uluru (Ayers Rock), Uluru Base Tour, Sounds of Silence Dinner: This morning, fly to Uluru from Cairns. Here, take a tour of Uluru’s base, viewing ancient caves and traditional Aboriginal rock art. Walk to Mutitjulu waterhole and hear Aboriginal stories and legends. See Aboriginal artists at work at the Maruku Arts and Crafts Gallery. Tonight enjoy the Sounds of Silence dinner, where you’ll dine under the stars then hear a talk about the outback night sky. Stay: Ayers Rock Resort, Sails in the Desert. Bx1 Dx1

Day 21. Kata Tjuta (Olgas), Alice Springs: (Optional to fly instead) Today, visit Kata Tjuta (Olgas), and walk through the domes to the majestic Walpa (Olga) Gorge. Later, re-board your coach and travel to Alice Springs. Stay: Alice Springs, Crowne Plaza Hotel. Bx1

Day 22. Alice Springs Tour, The Ghan: Enjoy a tour of Alice Springs, visiting the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base and Anzac Hill. Then transfer to the railway station and travel from Alice Springs to Adelaide aboard The Ghan on a luxury rail journey through the Red Centre.  Stay: The Ghan, travel in Gold Kangaroo class
Bx1 Dx1

Day 23. The Ghan, Adelaide: Enjoy breakfast aboard The Ghan as you travel south. On arrival into Adelaide early this afternoon you will be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure before dinner in the hotel tonight.  Two Night Stay: Adelaide, Sebel Playford. Bx1 Dx1

Day 24. Adelaide at Leisure: With today free, perhaps take an optional excursion to the Barossa Valley or Kangaroo Island (both at own expense). Bx1

Day 25. Adelaide, Fly to Melbourne, City Tour: Transfer to the airport and fly to Melbourne. On arrival, join a city tour then head to the Dandenong Ranges.  Two Night Stay: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. Bx1

Day 26. Melbourne at Leisure: Today perhaps see the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island or drive the Great Ocean Road (both at own expense). Bx1

Day 27. Depart Melbourne: After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your flight home.Bx1

PRICE: From $10950 per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement fee applies. Taxes extra.

DEPARTURES 2010: July 08, Sept. 09, 30: Oct. 17: Nov 04, Dec. 12:  2011: Jan 13, Feb. 03, 20: Mar 06, 17, 24

HOTELS: First class hotels listed above