Highlights:

Cairns ● Great Barrier Reef ● Sydney ● Sydney Opera House ● Mount Cook National Park ● Queenstown ● Arrowtown ● Milford Sound

 15 Days ● 20 MealsDAY 1 – DAY 2 – DEPART FROM HOME
Board your flight and begin the adventure of a lifetime. Crossing the International Dateline, you skip a day ahead.DAY 3: ARRIVE CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA – TOUR BEGINS
Your tour begins today in Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Don’t forget to look up at the Southern Hemisphere’s stars this evening after you join your mates for a welcome dinner. (D)DAY 4: CAIRNS
Today visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center. You’ll see traditional Aboriginal dances, learn about the Aboriginal lifestyle, and even throw a boomerang or play a didgeridoo, a traditional instrument. Browse the renowned art gallery and visit the interpretation center, which houses a collection of interesting artifacts. This afternoon a great experience awaits as you search for crocodiles in their natural habitat during a visit to Hartley’s Croc Farm! Boardwalks take you on a path of adventure through rainforests and woodlands to see animals such as wild birds, reptiles and wallabies. While visiting you also have the chance to meet some of the local koalas and have a private talk with a wildlife naturalist to learn more about these cuddly creatures. Then, enjoy an exciting cruise in the lagoon looking for crocodiles before enjoying a delicious Aussie barbecue. (B/D)

DAY 5: GREAT BARRIER REEF
Board a high speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. This is an immense series of 2,800 coral reefs which are home to amazingly diverse marine life. From your base on Green Island, you are able to explore the reef in many ways. Enjoy a glass bottom boat ride*, a stroll on the walking trail to take in the rainforest, relax on the beaches, snorkel or just watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier. For a more adventurous encounter with the reef, optional scuba diving and an outer reef tour are also available. Whichever way you choose, you’ll see some of the world’s most fascinating marine and plant life. (B/L)DAY 6: CAIRNS – SYDNEY
Morning is at leisure for independent exploration. Later today, fly to the bustling city of Sydney. (B)

DAY 7: SYDNEY
This morning enjoy a city tour of Sydney where the English explorer James Cook first dropped anchor in 1770. Highlights of your tour include Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens and the fashionable suburb of Paddington. Then, discover one of the world’s most fascinating architectural wonders during a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. Next, enjoy a unique opportunity to learn first-hand how raw opals are transformed from the dark mine shafts to beautiful works of art. This evening is free to explore Sydney at your leisure. Maybe try one of Sydney’s eclectic restaurants! (B)

DAY 8: SYDNEY
A leisurely day to explore Sydney your way. Your tour manager will be on hand to offer suggestions. Tonight, experience the best of Sydney. As you say your farewell to Australia, chat with new friends and take in the sights during a delightful dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour. The cruise takes in the beauty of Sydney’s skyline and passes by Australia’s two most famous icons: the renowned Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. (B/D)

DAY 9: SYDNEY – CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
Leave Australia behind and fly to New Zealand and the historic city of Christchurch. Christchurch is known as “the most English city outside of England,” dotted with magnificent gardens and an elegant park district that earned the city the moniker of “the Garden City.” Make yourself right at home this evening when a New Zealand family welcomes you into their home for dinner! This is sure to be an unforgettable evening during which you will make new friends, learn about the customs of the “Kiwis” and enjoy a home-cooked meal. (B/D0

DAY 10: CHRISTCHURCH – MT. COOK REGION
This morning you will have some leisure time to explore Christchurch on your own. You may wish to visit the International Antarctic Centre to learn about the 7th continent. Later, depart for the Mt. Cook region. En route, visit a Canterbury farmyard for a fantastic opportunity to learn how a New Zealand family farm operates. You may even catch a sheep shearing demonstration! Next, traverse the spectacular countryside to New Zealand’s most famous national park, Mt. Cook. Mt. Cook is one of the most impressive mountains in the world with jagged contours and nearly vertical slopes. (B/D)

DAY 11: MT. COOK REGION – QUEENSTOWN
This morning, if the weather permits, you may choose to view the massive glaciers and extensive snow-covered mountain top terrain on an optional glacier flightseeing tour. Or, perhaps enjoy nature during free time in Mt. Cook National Park. Then, depart for Queenstown, one of New Zealand’s loveliest cities and a top adventure destination. En route, stop at a local fruit stand to gain an inside look at the produce of New Zealand. (B)

DAY 12: QUEENSTOWN – ARROWTOWN – QUEENSTOWN
Enjoy a leisurely touring day as you set off for the beautiful turn-of-the-century Gold Rush town of Arrowtown. Take time to explore independently and stroll its quaint, historic streets. Next you will explore the Central Otago region where many of New Zealand’s best wines are grown and produced. During a stop at a local winery you visit their storage cave for a wine tasting of some of their famous wines. After the tasting, enjoy an exquisite lunch – complete with wine, of course! (B/L)

DAY 13: QUEENSTOWN – MILFORD SOUND – QUEENSTOWN
En route to Milford Sound, enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley. You’ll travel through beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. During a cruise of the breathtakingly beautiful Milford Sound you’ll see why this fjord is one of the most visited sights on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet on either side, the scenery will take your breath away. Following your cruise, you return to Queenstown. You may choose to return via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. (B/L)

DAY 14: QUEENSTOWN
A leisurely day in Queenstown offers several options to enhance your vacation. Shop or people watch in the village or perhaps take the optional “Journey through Middle Earth” tour, which takes you through the majestic Remarkable Mountains and the breathtaking Queenstown countryside showcasing many of the spots where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed. This evening, take in the city of Queenstown from above and soak in the breathtaking views during a gondola ride to dinner at the Skyline Restaurant overlooking Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountains. (B/D)

DAY 15: QUEENSTOWN – TOUR ENDS – Your tour ends today. (B)

Cairns- 3 nights / Sydney-3 nights / Christchurch – 1 night / Mt. Cook Region – 1 night / Queenstown – 4 nights

Dates of travel: BOOK BY 12/31 and receive $400 off per person plus $100 Visa Gift Card compliments of us!

Effective March 2014 with monthly departure $3,299  – $3,399
for travel through April 2015  (per person double occupancy)