Itinerary
SATURDAY Depart your hometown and fly across the International Date Line, losing a day – but don’t
worry, this will be regained on your homebound trip.
MONDAY Arrival in Sydney, Australia where you will be greeted by your hosts and escorted to your luxury hotel overlooking the world-famous Sydney Harbour. Distinguished by the 1851 Treasury Building’s sandstone façade, the Intercontinental is a National Trust landmark. The Art Gallery of New South Wales and Sydney Aquarium are nearby. Enjoy all of the facilities of the hotel - restaurant, cafe, health club, swimming pool, massage and beauty salon. Once you have settled in, there are many ways to spend your first day in Sydney. Sydney, Australia’s oldest and largest settlement, is a vibrant city built around one of the most spectacular harbors in the world. The city is instantly recognizable by the unique architecture of the famous Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. Sydney also boasts attractions such as the historic Rocks, Victorian-era Paddington and excellent beaches such as Bondi and Manly.
TUESDAY This morning commence independent arrangements by ferry from the city to Taronga Park Zoo. At the Zoo you will have the opportunity for an exclusive journey of Australian Discovery led by a Zookeeper on a tour that is designed to encourage interaction between visitors, Australian animals and the Zoo family, enabling you to have a hands-on, behind the scenes experience. Firstly visitors receive an introduction to Australia's unusual wildlife including excellent photo opportunities with koalas, kangaroos and echidnas. Next, venture into the wilderness of the Australian bushland where you will enter the underground world of the endangered Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat and discover some of the mysteries of the platypus. Your Keeper will explain the special adaptations of our unique Aussie animals, which enable them to live in harmony with the Australian environment. This tour is perfect for visitors who are interested in the environment and the world around them. Tours are daily from 10.00am and include a visit behind-the-scenes in the Australia's Nightlife house, a round trip on the Sky Safari cable car and a morning tea.
This afternoon you will be met at your hotel by your guide and vehicle for a half day small, shared introductory tour of this cosmopolitan and vibrant city! Explore the charming Rocks area and enjoy a stroll around this historic district with its quaint old cottages, pubs and churches. Travel along Macquarie Street, the seat of government for New South Wales, the Mint and Hyde Park Barracks and St Mary’s Cathedral. Visit Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for an unsurpassed view of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Bridge. Continuing along the shores of Sydney Harbour, you will travel through Kings Cross, Double Bay and Rose Bay. Enjoy morning tea in the beautiful Sydney Harbour National Park before traveling to South Head, with its breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and the city. Take a short stroll along the cliff tops before continuing to Bondi Beach and finally returning to your hotel.
WEDNESDAY The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia’s most well known and photographed landmarks. It is the world’s largest (but not the longest) steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 meters (440 feet) above Sydney Harbour. Fondly known by the locals as ‘The Coathanger’, the Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrated its 75th birthday in 2007, after its official opening in March 1932. One of the great icons of the city and the country, its running mate, the Sydney Opera House is also nearby. The Pylon Lookout is at the southern eastern end of the Bridge (The Rocks end) and visitors can go and see an exhibition about the Bridge and well as see the spectacular 360 degree view from the top of the pylon. This three and a half hour adventure will take you to the top of the bridge, following a comprehensive briefing and demonstration of the safety equipment. Feel the thrill of making your way over the catwalk to the pylon, then setting out across the arch to the summit where before you lies a spectacular view of one of the world’s greatest harbours and cities. You will be escorted by trained guides throughout this experience. Spend the afternoon at your leisure, exploring Sydney or relaxing at your hotel.
THURSDAY Today you will be met at your hotel and transferred to Sydney Airport for your flight to Cairns. Upon arrival in Cairns, you will be met by private car and transferred to your hotel, The Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel. With accommodation stunningly positioned overlooking Four Mile Beach and only a minute’s walk from Port Douglas town centre, the Peninsula Hotel has a great location. Picturesque Port Douglas attracts visitors to its old fashioned charm, wide tree-lined streets and superb holiday attractions. Located one hour’s scenic drive north of Cairns, Port Douglas offers visitors superb accommodation, restaurants and attractions. The Great Barrier Reef is just 9 miles off-shore offering some of the world’s best snorkeling and diving opportunities. There are over 1,000 islands in the Great Barrier Reef and the best are accessible from mainland Tropical North Queensland.
Relax in one of the 34 spacious one bedroom suites with private balconies and an ocean view. Immerse yourself in the freshwater pool. Indulge in a cocktail whilst sitting on the café deck overlooking the Coral Sea. Step outside the door and explore the reef and rainforest. This beachfront property represents a unique concept with the comfort and facilities of a hotel, but the friendliness and personal service that only a small property can provide. Your hosts, Sheryn and Phil, along with their select staff will ensure you have an authentic Port Douglas tropical experience... and an adult escape, as the hotel does not cater for children under 16 years of age. The restaurant is the only licensed restaurant overlooking Four Mile Beach. The modern Australian cuisine features fabulous seasonal produce. The bar adjacent to the restaurant is open all day and into the evening - time spent here is the essential ingredient to your holiday. Savor a well known Australian sauvignon blanc or boutique beer whilst chatting to one of the knowledgeable staff about the region.
FRIDAY This morning you will be met at your accommodation by your car and driver and transferred to the Port Douglas Marina for your full day sail to the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy a leisurely two-hour sail to the outer Great Barrier Reef on board your vessel, which carries a maximum of twelve passengers. You may visit Tongue Reef, Rudder Reef or Chinaman Reef as your skipper will choose the best location for the day. At the Reef it is not uncommon to come across turtles, schooling fish, hundreds of varieties of colorful reef fish, sea cucumbers, starfish and bright orange and pink soft coral at the Reef. On board enjoy morning tea and BBQ lunch; your snorkeling tuition and equipment are included today as well. Upon return to Port Douglas you will be met by your car and driver and transferred to your hotel.
SATURDAY This morning you will be met at your accommodation by your guide and driver for a small, personalized tour including Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Skyrail and Kuranda village in the rainforest. At Tjapukai, the Aboriginal Culture Park, you can experience the rich cultural dance and skills of the Aboriginal Australians, as well as other Tjapukai attractions such as the History Theatre and craft demonstrations. Try your hand at boomerang and spear throwing. After lunch take Skyrail, the world's most beautiful rainforest ride, to Kuranda, the village in the rainforest. Your gondola trip takes you above the canopy of this World Heritage National Park with stops along the way in the rainforest canopy. Upon arrival at Kuranda you will be met by your guide and escorted to the village. Kuranda has a market, boutique stores and art galleries. You will have an hour of free time to discover the charm of this quaint village and buy authentic Aborigine artwork or even a didgeridoo. After returning to the vehicle, you will visit the mighty Barron Falls lookout before continuing on to Port Douglas via the beautiful northern beaches.
SUNDAY This morning you will be met and transferred to the airport to meet your international flight to Auckland - it takes 4 hours, 45 minutes. On arrival in Auckland you will be met by your local guide and transferred by private vehicle to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. En route you will enjoy a private half day sightseeing tour of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. Highlights include a scenic drive along the unique waterfront, the quaint Victorian village of Parnell, and a visit to Mt Eden, an extinct volcano, for panoramic views over the city. Your guide will ensure that you gain a thorough insight into this vibrant waterfront city. At the conclusion of the tour, your guide will transfer you to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Hyatt Regency Auckland is a European style hotel located in the historic belt of Auckland overlooking Albert Park in the grounds of Auckland University. The hotel is two blocks from downtown Auckland shopping, and within 1 mile of Sky Tower, the Auckland Art Gallery and the Viaduct waterfront area. The well appointed hotel rooms and suites offer unsurpassed views of the Auckland harbour, the city and parklands. The Hyatt Regency Auckland has a full-service health spa offering a range of health and beauty treatments, as well as a swimming pool and fitness centre.
MONDAY This morning you will be transferred by taxi to the waterfront to catch the ferry to your Waiheke Island Experience: Since the late 1970's Waiheke's benign Mediterranean climate has seen the growth of a flourishing wine industry. A "small is beautiful" philosophy yields low quantities of extremely high quality fruit, which is made into international award-winning wines. The big Bordeaux-style reds of Stony Ridge and Peninsula Estate are now appreciated by wine lovers all over the world, and more than 30 vineyards have followed in the footsteps of the original two. You can visit these and others of your choice including Kennedy Point Vineyard, Mudbrick Vineyard and Te Whau Vineyard where you can have lunch and sample some of the owner's 500+ classic and local vintages. A great day to explore both the fabulous wines and food, including the olive oil estate and Waiheke’s own grown oysters on the island.
TUESDAY Today is at your leisure to explore Auckland and try one of these optional activities:
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•America’s Cup Sailing: Enjoy a two hour America’s Cup Sailing Excursion. Board your America’s Cup Class yacht, built for the 1995 America’s Cup in San Diego. No experience is necessary – either sit back and enjoy the ride, take to the helm, or exert energy on the grinders. This is a unique opportunity to get behind a grand prix racing machine.
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•Visit Devonport: Devonport is a charming historic seaside village on the northern shores of Auckland City. It is only 10 minutes by ferry and 15 minutes by car from Auckland City centre. Experience Devonport's unique heritage, wide range of restaurants, cafes, beaches, art galleries, shopping and warm welcomes. Enjoy the spectacular views of the city and gulf from North Head and Mt Victoria. Admire the colonial timber architecture and walk along streets of enchanting homes. Step back to an era when it was easy and personal. Relax and enjoy the friendly village atmosphere.
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•West Coast Beaches: Enjoy a guided day trip to the Westcoast Beaches. A classic kiwi experience including the magnificent Waitakere Ranges, Auckland’s largest regional park, and a visit to KareKare beach, the location for the award winning movie “The Piano”. You will be captivated by the sight of native birds, black sand and unspoiled native bush.
WEDNESDAY This morning you will be transferred from your hotel to Auckland Airport to fly direct to Queenstown - thisflight takes just under 2 hours. Upon arrival into Queenstown, you will be transferred to your hotel, the Dairy Private Luxury Hotel. Once a 1920s general store, The Dairy has grown beyond a simple B&B and is now a small, boutique hotel. Bedrooms are beautifully decorated and there are excellent social spaces, including a roaring fire and reading room. Best, your hostess Elspeth will spoil you with delicious afternoon tea scones. Always a well-loved spot just a one-minute walk from the town, yet private and exclusive. This delightful property has recently been refurbished. It has 13 private ensuite bedrooms with wonderful views, a lounge with a private library, spa and breakfast room. You will be staying in a Deluxe Room, with views of the magnificent mountains or Lake Wakatipu and a king bed. Spend the day at leisure exploring the town. For dinner this evening, we recommend the Wai Waterfront Restaurant and Wine Bar located on the lakefront, which specializes in seafood and Central Otago wines.
THURSDAY Today, start in Glenorchy where you will enjoy a Dart River Jet Boat Safari. You will have a one hour scenic drive to the head of Lake Wakatipu where you will meet your jet boat. The longest and most scenic jet boat ride in the region, this exhilarating safari offers three hours skimming through the braided channels of the magnificent Dart River with an optional short walk to hidden rock pools deep within in the spectacular Mount Aspiring National Park, a World Heritage area. Following your jet boat adventure, you will be transferred back to Queenstown by road, a scenic one hour drive along the edge of Lake Wakatipu. This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy Queenstown. Perhaps take out the Dairy’s own mountain bikes or head up to the gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak for an amazing view of the sea.
FRIDAY At your leisure. You may like to enjoy one of the following optional activities: Historic Arrowtown: Enjoy a visit to the nearby historic gold mining village of Arrowtown, purveying a combination of historic buildings and quiet charm. The growing café culture means there are great cafés and restaurants to choose from. Being an artistic town, there is artwork ranging from traditional to contemporary on exhibit in the many homestead studios surrounding Arrowtown. Or explore the most famous movie set of all time with the Lord of the Rings’ Sites 4WD Safari: Four wheel drive into the heart of New Zealand’s high country, the embodiment of the Middle-earth of Tolkien’s imagination. Enjoy a spectacular look at several of the specific sites where filming took place.
SATURDAY This morning, after breakfast you will depart for your flight back to Sydney. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred back to the Intercontinental Sydney hotel for a final night’s stay.
SUNDAY This morning, you have a chance for some final souvenir shopping and lunch in Sydney before your flight back to the USA, having experienced the trip of a lifetime - including everything from ancient culture, to rare wildlife to great natural wonders and vibrant cities.
