National Geographic Journeys: Explore Australia & New Zealand (OAZNG)
Countries Visited: Australia, New Zealand
Trip Style: Information Not available
Service Level: Upgraded
All the adventure you want, with a softer landing Handpicked, character-rich accommodations with upgraded amenities services Upgraded and private transport, including flights to maximize time More included meals, activities and transfers
Physical Demands Rating: 2 - There'll be some light walking and hiking. Suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
Group Size: Max 16, Avg 12.
Meals Included: 22 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
Accommodations: Not Availaible
Highlights
Enjoy a sunset cruise on a private yacht, take an interpretive walk with an aboriginal guide, get an exclusive tour of a research aquarium, witness thousands of glowworms lighting up the scenery
Description
Why choose between Australia and New Zealands Experience both on an extraordinary 23-day adventure. Discover iconic Sydney, fashionable Melbourne, and welcoming Auckland; stand in the presence of sacred Uluru; explore ancient rainforests; and get your fill of city life, mountainscapes, glaciers, cultural moments, deserts, hot springs, and photo ops.
Trip Style: Information Not available
Service Level: Upgraded
Physical Demands Rating: 2 - There'll be some light walking and hiking. Suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
Group Size: Max 16, Avg 12.
Meals Included: 22 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
Accommodations: Not Availaible
Highlights
Enjoy a sunset cruise on a private yacht, take an interpretive walk with an aboriginal guide, get an exclusive tour of a research aquarium, witness thousands of glowworms lighting up the scenery
Description
Why choose between Australia and New Zealands Experience both on an extraordinary 23-day adventure. Discover iconic Sydney, fashionable Melbourne, and welcoming Auckland; stand in the presence of sacred Uluru; explore ancient rainforests; and get your fill of city life, mountainscapes, glaciers, cultural moments, deserts, hot springs, and photo ops.
Call (636) 978-5510 for more information or to book today! Mention code 15401690
- Tour Operator
- G Adventures
- Offer
- Offer valid through 3/31/2021
- Duration
- 23 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Sydney | Day 1 Sydney Please make your own way to the joining hotel. There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and enjoy exploring the city before joining the welcome meeting at 6pm. If you arrive early enough, youll have time to head into the city to visit The Rocks neighbourhood, the Australian Museum, Bondi Beach, or Darling Harbour. Additional Notes: Please try to arrive before 6:00pm for an important group welcome meeting where you can meet the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members. This is a busy trip with a lot of early mornings to catch connecting flights, enabling you to see as much of Down Under as possible. Want to start your Down Under adventure with an adrenaline rushs Add the Sydney Adrenaline Bundle or Sydney Bridge Climb extra to your tour. Get an incredible view of the iconic Sydney Harbour from the top of the Harbour Bridge, then zip through the waterways on a jet boat ride if you book the Adrenaline Bundle. PLEASE NOTE: if booking either of these extras a pre-night in Sydney is highly recommended as the Bridge Climb starts early in the morning on Day 1. Included Activities: Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting |
| Day 2 | Sydney | Day 2 Sydney (1B, 1D) Enjoy a traditional Aboriginal welcome and a walkabout around The Rocks area and Sydney Harbour to learn the history of the Aboriginal people's saltwater heritage and their spiritual connection to the area. In the afternoon, board a private yacht and enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise with a barbecue dinner. While navigating the bays and coves, sit back and enjoy views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Included Activities: Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming and Welcome Tour Transport: Metro |
| Day 3 | Port Douglas | Day 3 Sydney/Port Douglas (1B) We catch a very early flight to ensure we make the most of the day. Additional Notes: Please note that the max luggage allowance on domestic flights within Australia is 1 checked bag (20 kgs) and 1 carry on (7 kgs) per person. Any additional luggage is subject to airline fees and is not included. Included Activities: Aboriginal Interpretive Walk Transport: Taxicab (0.50-1.00 hours) Plane (3.00 hour(s)) Private Vehicle (1.00 hour(s), 70km) |
| Day 4 | Port Douglas | Day 4 Port Douglas (1B) Enjoy the colourful resort town of Port Douglas. Take time to stroll the main streets, enjoy the beach, or opt to go snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef. |
| Day 5 | Cairns | Day 5 Port Douglas/Cairns (1B) Return to the tropical city of Cairns. Take an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the James Cook University research aquarium, founded by marine biologist and National Geographic grant recipient Dr Jamie Seymour. Enjoy a private tour of the facility and get an up close look at some of these marvelous creatures. Well also hear about the latest research from Jamie or one of his colleagues. Included Activities: James Cook University Research Aquarium Transport: Private Vehicle (1.00 hour(s), 70km) |
| Day 6 | Cairns | Day 6 Cairns (1B) Enjoy a free day to relax at the beach. Opt to explore North Queensland's tropical rainforests or get your adrenaline pumping with whitewater rafting or bungee jumping. |
| Day 7 | Uluru | Day 7 Cairns/Uluru (1B) Get a good nights sleep as our flight could be quite early today. Included Activities: Sunset at Uluru Aboriginal Cultural Centre Visit Transport: Plane (3.00 hour(s)) Taxicab (0.50 hour(s)) |
| Day 8 | Uluru | Day 8 Uluru (1B) Awake before sunrise to watch the colours change over Uluru. Continue on with a guided Mala Walk around the base of Uluru, gaining insight into its significance to the local Aboriginal people. Later, take a walk in Kata Tjuta National Park and view the beautiful red-domed rock formations. The afternoon is at your leisure. Additional Notes: Between November and March, there is extreme heat with temperatures averaging between 43-46øC (109-115øF) in the middle of Australia, especially around Uluru. This can lead to heat exhaustion and potentially become very dangerous. Be sure to drink plenty of water and replenish electrolytes by drinking sports drinks, coconut water or water mixed with electrolyte powder packets. The Mala Walk at Uluru is not permitted if temperatures exceed 36øC (98øF). During these hot months, we try to offer all walks early in the day to avoid the midday sun. Our CEOs will monitor the weather conditions to gauge the safety of any included walks and may need to call off a given days walk due to extreme heat. Included Activities: Uluru Mala Walk Kata Tjuta National Park |
| Day 9 | Melbourne | Day 9 Uluru/Melbourne (1B) Enjoy another sunrise over Uluru before flying to Melbourne for the night. Additional Notes: Flight times today can very depending on airline schedules. Transport: Plane Taxicab (0.50-1.00 hours) |
| Day 10 | Melbourne | Day 10 Melbourne (1B) Enjoy a full free day in Melbourne. Opt to visit wineries, explore the Great Ocean Road, or discover hidden gems in the citys famous laneways. |
| Day 11 | Melbourne | Day 11 Melbourne (1B, 1L) Go on a guided foodie walk through the laneways of Melbourne with a local author and culinary storyteller for a three-course progressive lunch. Later, enjoy free time to explore Melbourne. Additional Notes: Occasionally Monique Bayer may not be available for the Melbourne Foodie Walk. In the event this happens, an equally qualified guide will lead the walk. Included Activities: Melbourne Foodie Walk |
| Day 12 | Auckland | Day 12 Melbourne/Auckland (1B) Fly to Auckland, New Zealand and enjoy free time in the city. Transport: Plane (4.00 hour(s)) |
| Day 13 | Auckland | Day 13 Auckland (1B) Enjoy a morning orientation walk before catching a ferry to Waiheke Island. Visit two local wineries to learn more about New Zealands burgeoning wine industry and the history of wine production in the country while sampling some of the local blends, of course. Included Activities: Waiheke Island Wineries Orientation Walk |
| Day 14 | Rotorua | Day 14 Auckland/Rotorua (1B) Rotorua sits over an active geothermal zone with bubbling mud pits and multi-coloured pools in different areas around the town. This is a fascinating region with Maori history and culture tied directly to the geothermal aspects of the land. Included Activities: Waitomo Cave Excursion Transport: Private Vehicle (6.00-7.00 hours, 300km) |
| Day 15 | Rotorua | Day 15 Rotorua (1B, 1D) Enjoy a free day in Rotorua which sits over an active geothermal zone with bubbling mud pits and multi-coloured pools. Opt to visit one of the geothermal sites, or go whitewater rafting. This evening visit Tamaki Maori Village and enjoy a private welcome and talk from a "Kaumatua" (an elder in Maori society). After, watch an extravagant performance about local myths and legends while dining on traditional Hangi cuisine. Included Activities: Meet a Maori Elder Tamaki Maori Village |
| Day 16 | Christchurch | Day 16 Rotorua/Christchurch (1B) With free time in Rotorua this morning, opt to relax in one of the hot pools fed by water coming directly from the natural springs. Included Activities: Orientation Walk Transport: Private Vehicle Plane (1.00-1.50 hours) |
| Day 17 | Franz Josef | Day 17 Christchurch/Franz Josef (1B) Transport: Train (2.50 hour(s)) Private Vehicle (3.00-3.50 hours, 240km) |
| Day 18 | Franz Josef | Day 18 Franz Josef (1B) Options are plentiful. Choose from a helicopter hike, ice walking on the glacier, or soaking in hot pools among stunning scenery. |
| Day 19 | Queenstown | Day 19 Franz Josef/Queenstown (1B) Early start to travel to the picturesque Lake Matheson. When the weather is right, you can get a great photo of the Southern Alps reflected in the lake. Follow the wild West Coast Road, through the rainforest before stopping for some short walks and waterfall visits. Transport: Private Vehicle (8.00-9.00 hours, 365km) |
| Day 20 | Fiordland National Park | Day 20 Queenstown/Fiordland National Park (1B, 1D) In the evening, enjoy a delicious three course buffet dinner prepared by our onboard chef and served in the dining saloon. Mingle with fellow travellers, savour some of the fine wines at our licensed bar (additional price) and if the skies are clear in the evening, spend some time on the upper deck gazing at the stars. Additional Notes: *Please note that the itinerary for this day varies in the winter: Winter Schedule 18 May - 20 Sept Fiordland National Park/Te Anau Drive the scenic route around Lake Wakatipu to the town of Manapouri. Travel by boat and bus to arrive at an eco cruise boat. Spend the afternoon cruising through Milford or Doubtful Sound, two of the most untouched, remote places in the world. Marvel at the steep cliff walls and cascading waterfalls. The boat offers excellent chances for wildlife viewing in the area. Dolphins, penguins, seals and a variety of birds are some examples of what you can hope to see. In the evening, head to Te Anau for the night. We take in a screening of the award winning `Ata Whenua - Shadowland` Fjordland on Film documentary at the local cinema before having a group meal. Included Activities: Fiordland National Park Overnight Wilderness Cruise Transport: Private Vehicle (3.00 hour(s), 250km) |
| Day 21 | Queenstown | Day 21 Fiordland National Park/Queenstown (1B) Enjoy early morning wildlife viewing along the fiord as we cruise back to port, then return to Queenstown. Transport: Private Vehicle (3.00 hour(s), 250km) |
| Day 22 | Queenstown | Day 22 Queenstown (1B) Enjoy a free day to explore on your own, visit a winery, or cruise on a historic steamship. Feeling a bit more adventurouss Opt to go bungee jumping, jet boating, skydiving, paragliding, or mountain biking. This evening enjoy a gondola ride with spectacular views of the city and surrounding landscape. Included Activities: Gondola Ride |
| Day 23 | Queenstown | Day 23 Queenstown (1B) For more time to explore Queenstown, we recommend booking post nights with your agent if you are interested in the countless adrenaline-packed activities in the town known as the "adventure capital of the world." Jet boating, bungee jumping, mountain biking, and sky diving are some of the activities available. Included Activities: Departure Day |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
Local Flights: All internal flights are included in this trip (including 1 flight between Australia and New Zealand) - Your CEO will give you your ticket on the day of flight. The max luggage allowance on domestic flights within Australia & New Zealand is 1 checked bag (20 kgs) and 1 carry on (7 kgs) per person.
Dossier Disclaimer:The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer: While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
