Australia and New Zealand Panorama
Australia and New Zealand Panorama
Australia and New Zealand Panorama
15 Days Starting in Melbourne (VIC) and ending in Auckland
Visiting: Melbourne, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Sydney, Queenstown, Auckland, Rotorua
Tour operator:
Tour code:
QPACA26
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Just how many legendary Antipodean attractions can you tick off in one journey? This comprehensive Melbourne to Auckland tour does both Australia and New Zealand justice. There’s the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics of Queensland, Sydney Opera House, electric Melbourne lanes, Queenstown’s Remarkable Range, Rotorua’s steamy thermals and Auckland’s just-as-hot restaurants, just to name some highlights… whew!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
We recommend arriving early in Melbourne – there’s so much to see in the Victorian capital before you meet your fellow travel companions.
Day 2: Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Today, reach for rainbows in Melbourne’s eye-popping street art. Follow the lead of a local to discover alleys emblazoned with murals by some of the world’s greatest aerosol artists. Take note of the hidden bars and restaurants you pass – we can help you make a booking for tonight.
Day 3: Melbourne - Cairns
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation Name: Hilton Hotel Cairns
Koalas, birds, wallabies, crocodiles – oh my! They all live side by side at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures in Cairns, as you’ll discover on a boat cruise you’ll with a private guide through this wilderness reserve. The Daintree Rainforest here is part of the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics of Queensland, and you’ll help protect it on a restoration project.
Day 4: Great Barrier Reef
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Accommodation Name: Hilton Hotel Cairns
Did you know that the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef is home to 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents? Get ready for an experience of a lifetime when you board a high-speed catamaran and cruise to the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Strap on a snorkel and mask to view this marine menagerie up close and personal.
Day 5: Cairns Free Time
Location: Cairns
Accommodation Name: Hilton Hotel Cairns
If you’re in the habit of getting up early now, you may wish to begin your day with a horizon-bending hot-air-balloon ride over the Atherton Tablelands. Prefer to stay grounded? Sign up for a guided walk through the Daintree Rainforest, or surround yourself with nature riding the Scenic Railway to Kuranda returning on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Tonight, join your companions for dinner, with native ingredients highlighted at Ochre Restaurant on the waterfront.
Day 6: Cairns - Sydney
Location: Cairns
Accommodation Name: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney
Fly from Cairns to Sydney. The rest of the day is yours to do as you wish. You could walk to the Art Gallery of NSW or to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair for a panoramic views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Ask your Travel Director for evening dining suggestions.
Day 7: Sydney
Location: Sydney
Accommodation Name: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney
You might have seen the Sydney Opera House from the outside, but have you ventured within? This incredible architectural feat holds many secrets, as your local guide will reveal. Now take to the water on a Sydney Harbour sightseeing cruise, enjoying million dollar views. If there was ever a place that slipped from the pages of a fairytale, Wendy’s Secret Garden at Lavender Bay is it. Overlooking Sydney Harbour, this pocket of floral paradise is explained by a local volunteer – did you know this was once unused wasteland? Your visit provides a contribution to the ongoing maintenance of the enchanting garden.
Day 8: Sydney Free Time
Location: Sydney
Accommodation Name: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney
You could spend weeks exploring Sydney. Months even. But you have today, so get set for a wild ride. Your agenda is completely up to you, but we have more than a few ideas. Perhaps a bird’s-eye perspective of the city on a Sydney BridgeClimb? Maybe a ferry to Manly for fish and-chips on the beach? This evening, celebrate Sydney at dinner beside the harbour.
Day 9: Sydney - Queenstown
Location: Sydney
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
New Zealand's adventure capital, Queenstown, awaits. Explore the alpine village and stunning Lake Wakatipu, then enjoy walkable bars and restaurants. Ask your Travel Director for tips.
Day 10: Queenstown
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
Flying over New Zealand, the first thing you’ll notice is that there’s a lot of farmland. It’s fitting, then, that one of the first people you’ll meet is southern girl Laura, who will introduce you to the sheep farm she was born and raised on. Think sheep mustering and whip cracking as well as the chance to feed and pet the farm animals. Then you'll think you've stepped back in time when you arrive in the former gold-mining village of Arrowtown. Come dusk, cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw; the only thing more inspiring than the peaks of the Remarkables that surround is the festive atmosphere welcoming you to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where a gourmet barbecue Highlight Dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead awaits.
Day 11: Queenstown Free Time
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
You could spend a long time in and around Queenstown. But on your free day, we highly recommend either venturing into the end-of-the-Earth wilderness that is Milford Sound, to cruise past sheer cliffs, white-capped peaks and waterfalls. Or blissing out on an obligatory wine tour of the Otago region. It’s a difficult decision.
Day 12: Queenstown - Auckland
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Horizon by SkyCity Auckland
Touching down in Auckland, you’ll immediately understand why it’s known as the ‘City of Sails’ – New Zealand’s largest city has two lovely yacht-filled harbours, which you can explore at your leisure this afternoon.
Day 13: Auckland - Rotorua
Location: Auckland
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Today is set to sparkle – quite literally – as thousands of bright green and blue glowworms light up your next destination: the cavernous Waitomo Caves. This evening, explore Te Puia’s geothermal valley, and learn about Māori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes a dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in a finely 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: Rotorua
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Cute and cuddly, NZ’s national bird, the kiwi, is also endangered. Go behind the scenes on a working kiwi nursery and hatchery to learn how breeding programs are helping the population thrive. The natural drama reaches boiling point at Whakarewarewa, a geothermal reserve and the country’s only living Māori village, home to famous Pohutu Geyser and the bubbling beauty of mud pools. Cap off your day at a Farewell Dinner with your Travel Director and companions.
Day 15: Farewell From Rotorua And Auckland
Location: Rotorua
Two countries, multiple adventures, an abundance of new friends… Just how do you say goodbye to a journey like this?
What's Included
What's Not Included
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Meals
Meals are not included in the tour package unless specified otherwise.
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Optional activities
Optional activities such as hot-air-balloon rides, guided walks, and wine tours are not included in the tour package.
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Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and tips are not included in the tour package.
Mode of Transport
Travel includes flights between major cities and scenic boat cruises, such as a high-speed catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef and a cruise across Lake Wakatipu.
Accommodation
Stay in centrally located premium hotels including Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne, Hilton Hotel Cairns, Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney, Millennium Hotel Queenstown, and Millennium Hotel Rotorua.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a variety of unique experiences such as an exclusive backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House, a traditional hangi meal at Mitai Maori Village, a visit to the National Kiwi Hatchery to learn about kiwi bird conservation, and a cruise to the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef.
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see during the tour?
You can expect to see a diverse range of wildlife including koalas, birds, wallabies, and crocodiles at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures in Cairns. Additionally, the Great Barrier Reef is home to 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world's seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales.
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Are there any cultural experiences included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes several cultural experiences such as a traditional hangi meal at Mitai Maori Village, a guided experience at Te Puia's geothermal valley to learn about Maori history and culture, and a visit to Whakarewarewa, a geothermal reserve and the country's only living Maori village.
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What kind of activities are available during free time in Cairns?
During your free time in Cairns, you can choose to go on a hot-air-balloon ride over the Atherton Tablelands, take a guided walk through the Daintree Rainforest, or ride the Scenic Railway to Kuranda and return on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
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What can I do during my free day in Sydney?
On your free day in Sydney, you have several options including a Sydney BridgeClimb for a bird's-eye view of the city, taking a ferry to Manly for fish and chips on the beach, or exploring the city's numerous attractions and dining options.
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What is included in the visit to Queenstown?
In Queenstown, you will visit a sheep farm to experience sheep mustering and whip cracking, explore the former gold-mining village of Arrowtown, and enjoy a cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw. The day ends with a gourmet barbecue dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm.
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What are the highlights of the Rotorua visit?
In Rotorua, you will visit the Waitomo Caves to see thousands of glowworms, explore Te Puia's geothermal valley, and learn about Maori history and culture. You will also visit a working kiwi nursery and hatchery to learn about kiwi bird conservation and explore Whakarewarewa, a geothermal reserve and living Maori village.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.