Day 1
Arrive in Melbourne
Today you’ll arrive in Melbourne where you’ll meet with your tour guide and group. You’ll enjoy a reception dinner in a riverside restaurant. It's a great opportunity to get to know everyone in a unique setting.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Melbourne (dinner with wine included)
Day 2-3
Melbourne
Across days two and three you’ll explore Melbourne firstly taking a walking tour around the main sights of the city before enjoying some free leisure time where you can take it in at your own pace. You can go on optional excursions including a trip to a winery in the Yarra Valley, take a trip along the Great Ocean Road to see the famous Twelve Apostles monoliths or simply relax and experience some of Melbourne's well known food and culture.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Melbourne (two breakfasts included)
Day 4
Uluru
The rust-red landscapes of Uluru beckon as you depart Melbourne for Ayers Rock Resort, where you’ll experience the rugged desert terrain and learn about Australia’s geological history. In the heart of the country, Uluru has been home to the Anangu people for millennia, and you’ll discover their deep connection to the land. At sunset, arrive at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to watch the shifting colours transform the desert. Follow your guide to the perfect vantage point to photograph Uluru as the last light of day fades, glass of bubbles in hand (of course).
Not ready to call it a night? Speak to your Travel Director about elevating your evening with an optional experience: the exclusive Uluru Barbecue Dinner.
Overnight: Desert Gardens (Breakfast)
Day 5
Uluru/Kata Tjuta
The only reason to get out of bed before dawn? A magical Uluru sunrise. This is a deeply spiritual place, and as you tour the base you’ll hear the stories of the Anangu, the caretakers of this remote, arid landscape, in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience. It’s the countryside that First Nations artists immortalise in their paintings, so try your hand at creating one during an introduction to Western Desert Art, another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience.
The red desert follows you to Kata Tjuta, where nature humbles as you walk among the towering domes of this ancient rock formation. Cheers to the end of another amazing day with sunset drinks at Kata Tjuta.
Overnight: Desert Gardens Hotel, (two breakfasts included)
Day 6
Uluru/Cairns
On your last day in Uluru, you have the opportunity to glimpse the kaleidoscopic Field of Light installation by artist Bruce Munro on an optional experience: 50,000 glowing spindles of light blanketing the desert. Clamber to the top of a sand dune to marvel at the morning unfolding over this very special part of the world. Later, head to your next stop, tropical Cairns.
Overnight: Hilton Hotel Cairns (breakfast)
Day 7
Cairns
Cruising with crocs or riding a scenic railway into World Heritage-listed rainforest? Today the choice is yours, with a range of optional experiences. Travel by historic train across bridges and through tunnels to Kuranda, a village set in the tropical rainforest and full of colourful arts and crafts. Then return to the lowlands on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, soaring over and through some of the oldest rainforest on Earth.
Overnight: Hilton Hotel Cairns (breakfast and dinner)
Day 8
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef, the largest living structure on Earth, never fails to dazzle. Board a catamaran and head out to discover a kaleidoscope of colour. The reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, 215 species of birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species and 30 species of whales and dolphins. Slip on a snorkel and dive in, or stay dry and enjoy the underwater observatory and semi-submersible craft. A tropical buffet lunch is served onboard before you sail back to Cairns.
Overnight: Hilton Hotel Cairns (breakfast and lunch)
Day 9
Cairns/Sydney
Touch down in Sydney, and spend time at leisure in this buzzing metropolis. You decide how best to enjoy this bustling city of delights.
Day 10
Sydney
Bring your stamina, because today is packed with highlights. Begin with a tour of the Sydney Opera House, where you’ll uncover the architectural and performance secrets behind this world-famous landmark. Then see the city from the water on a Sydney Harbour lunch cruise, with a menu showcasing local food and wine.
From one icon to another: this afternoon, the world’s most famous beach beckons. Stroll along the sand at Bondi and soak up the atmosphere alongside Sydney’s beautiful people.
Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel Sydney (Breakfast and lunch)
Day 11
Sydney free time
The hardest decision you’ll face today: explore more of Sydney, or book an optional experience and head to the Blue Mountains? This World Heritage-listed wilderness spans 11,400 square kilometres, with sandstone escarpments that seem to fall away at the edge of the Earth and waterfall-cooled rainforest valleys that look like they’ve slipped from the pages of a fairytale. Your Travel Director can help you organise the trip or point you in the right direction if you’d rather explore on your own.
Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel Sydney (Breakfast)
Day 12
Sydney Sightseeing
This morning is yours, so you might choose to sleep in or take an early walk around Circular Quay for one last look at the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Later, stroll through the Royal Botanic Garden to the Art Gallery of NSW for a guided tour and lunch. The gallery’s collection includes spectacular First Nations art alongside contemporary and classic works, and your tour will focus on First Nations and Australian pieces.
Afterwards, enjoy a Be My Guest lunch infused with native Australian flavours. Talk about ending on a high.
Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel Sydney (Breakfast and lunch)
Day 13
Auckland
All you have to do today is sit back and enjoy the view as you cross the Tasman, bound for your next adventure. Join your travelling companions at The Grill, a celebration of Aotearoa’s culinary treasures. Expect the finest grass-fed steaks from suppliers that are 100% New Zealand owned and operated, alongside sustainable line-caught fish.
Overnight: Horizon by SkyCity Auckland (Breakfast and dinner)
Day 14
Auckland
After a relaxed start, turn your attention to New Zealand’s national passion: rugby. The interactive All Blacks Experience introduces the sport and shows how deeply it runs through Kiwi culture. Then get your bearings on a city sightseeing tour, with stops at Mission Bay, Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial, which honours New Zealand’s first Labour Prime Minister. Wander past the sunken pool and landscaped gardens, where sweeping views of Waitemata Harbour and the North Shore open up before you.
Overnight: Horizon by SkyCity Auckland (Breakfast)
Day 15
Rotorua
Get ready for a much-anticipated visit to the charming village of Hobbiton. Once you arrive, set off on a guided tour of the 12-acre film set, with plenty of time to snap photos at the interactive hobbit hole and the Mill. After a stop for lunch, travel on to Rotorua.
This evening, immerse yourself in the Te Po experience at Te Puia. Discover Maori history and culture on a guided journey that includes a cultural performance in Te Aronui a Rua, a finely carved meeting house. Then watch the Pohutu Geyser, one of New Zealand’s geothermal wonders, and settle in for a dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine.
Overnight: Millennium Hotel Rotorua (breakfast and dinner included)
Day 16
Rotorua-Auckland-Queenstown
Your morning in Rotorua begins at the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, where a Local Specialist will lead you on a guided tour. Find out how conservationists are working to save this rare native bird, and get close to kiwi eggs in the incubators, watch the hatching process unfold and meet newly hatched chicks at a national leader in kiwi husbandry. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience is as enjoyable as it is eye-opening, offering real insight into New Zealand’s national bird.
The feel-good vibes follow you all the way to Queenstown, the self-proclaimed adventure capital of New Zealand. Once you arrive, it’s easy to see why: ski fields, white-water rivers and bungy-strung bridges are everywhere you look. Then there’s the dining scene, with some of the country’s most awarded restaurants calling Queenstown home. Whether you’re craving bulging burgers or lakeside tapas, just ask us for recommendations on this leg of your Queenstown, New Zealand tour.
Overnight: Millenium Hotel Hotel (breakfast)
Day 17
Milford Sound Cruise
Bring your stamina and sense of adventure, because today gets a little wild. Nature takes centre stage as you follow the shores of Queenstown’s gleaming Lake Wakatipu and cross the Devil’s Staircase to Te Anau, the alpine gateway to World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park. Stop to take in the drama at Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat, Hollyford Valley lookout and Cleddau Valley, and it won’t take long to see why Rudyard Kipling dubbed this the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’.
Better still, Bowen Falls and Milford Sound/Piopiotahi are yet to come. Your Milford Sound/Piopiotahi cruise is made all the richer by an eagle-eyed guide, who shares the region’s immense geological history and points out sun-baking fur seals and playful dolphins along the way.
Overnight: Millenium Hotel Hotel (breakfast and lunch included)
Day 18
Queenstown Free time
Take today’s Queenstown tour at your own pace. If you’re craving adventure, feel the rush of the wind in your hair on a thrilling jet boat ride. Prefer something a bit more relaxed (and with a glass of wine in hand)?
Glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a guided farm tour, followed by a morning or afternoon tea in a stunning alpine setting. Wherever your day takes you, make sure to save room for tonight’s Highlight Dinner at Postmasters Café, a charming historic cottage in Arrowtown complete with a picket fence and Instagram-worthy gardens.
Overnight: Millennium Hotel Queenstown (breakfast and highlight dinner)
Day 19
Depart Queenstown - Lake Takapo
Today your New Zealand tour heads for lovely Lake Tekapo, with a stop along the way in Cromwell, on the banks of Lake Dunstan. Call in at the Jones Family fruit stall to sample the town’s juicy stone fruit, including apricots, nectarines, peaches and plums.
Is it Michael Schumacher’s Benetton F1 car or the $4.2-million Aston Martin Vulcan that draws the crowds to the Highlands Motorsport Museum? Step inside this extraordinary space and you’ll meet some of the rarest cars in New Zealand motorsport history. You needn’t be a petrolhead to appreciate them, as these machines look impressive from every angle. It’s little wonder that many have starred in films and TV shows over the years.
Next, stop at the quaint, lakeside Church of the Good Shepherd, where a friendly bronze sheepdog statue keeps watch. As evening falls, join a guided stargazing experience in the world-renowned UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Pick out the famous Southern Cross, Magellanic Clouds and Milky Way, then get a closer look at these sparkling wonders through a powerful optical telescope.Overnight: Peppers Bluewater Fesort (Breakfast included, Dinner with wine)
Overnight: Peppers Bluewater Resort Lake Tekapo
Day 20
Lake Tekapo - Christchurch
Arrive into the beautiful English city of Christchurch for a guided visit. Marvel at the mind-bending Transitional Cathedral, made largely of cardboard, and Turanga, the gold-clad central library.
Overnight: Distinction Christchurch (breakfast)
Day 21
Christchurch and Surrounds
Journey north through rolling countryside to Hurunui Hills for a Be My Guest experience with the Bamford family. Enjoy warm Kiwi hospitality from Scotty and the team, whose family has farmed at Hurunui since 1884. Across six generations, they have built a reputation for premium Merino sheep, wool and Angus cattle. Maria will share her stories in the woolshed, and you’ll watch a sheepdog demonstration in action.
Next, continue to the local vineyard, Waipara Springs Winery, for a wine tasting and a platter-style lunch among the vines. A big day deserves a big evening, so join your Travel Director for a celebratory dinner featuring produce from the Canterbury region.
Overnight: Distinction Christchurch (Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner)
Day 22
Farewell from Christchurch
Your tour ends today
(Breakfast included)
