Australia and New Zealand—a world away.
From Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the rugged Outback to New Zealand’s sheep-dotted plains and cliff-lined fjords, the South Pacific features a lineup of dramatic landscapes. In-between outdoor adventures, you’ll discover sophisticated, multicultural cities and an irresistible, carpe diem spirit on this tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Included highlights
- Melbourne
- Uluru
- Great Barrier Reef
- Mossman Gorge
- Daintree National Park
- Sydney Opera House
- Milford Sound
- Glowworm Caves
- Bob’s Peak
- Rotorua Skyline Gondola
- Traditional Māori village dinner
Itinerary
Cross the International Date Line in flight and “lose” a day.
Your flight continues to Australia.
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Australia! At an included welcome dinner, meet your fellow travelers.
Included meal: Breakfast
Set off on a guided tour to admire the city’s beautiful 19th-century architecture, historic landmarks, and sprawling parks.
- Explore Carlton Gardens, home of the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum
- Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Shrine of Remembrance
- Pass the Yarra River and the Sports and Arts Precinct, site of the Australian Open
- Stroll through Queen Victoria Market
Spend free time in Melbourne or add an excursion.
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in Melbourne or add an excursion.
Included meal: Breakfast
Fly to the Uluru region this morning, home to the iconic monolith which has been worshipped by indigenous Aboriginal tribes for 22,000 years. Here, journey through the desert to begin your exploration of the park.
- View Kata Tjuta, the weathered rock domes also known as the Olgas
- Watch the sunset over Uluru
Please note: Based on flight availability, the order of the itinerary is subject to change.
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a free morning in the Uluru region or add an excursion.
Return to magnificent Uluru National Park where you’ll enjoy free time to explore the Cultural Centre.
- Learn about the Anangu culture through the Centre’s exhibits featuring the best of Anangu arts and crafts on a self-guided tour
- Head out into the park and enjoy free time to walk the various trails (weather permitted)
Then, fly to Cairns, a coastal city in the state of Queensland, and transfer to your hotel in the Great Barrier Reef region upon arrival.
Please note: Based on flight availability, the order of the itinerary is subject to change. On some departures, visits to the Cultural Center may not be available.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Spend the day immersing yourself the northern coast’s lush landscapes and its aboriginal heritage.
- Head to the Mossman Gorge Rainforest for a private Dreamtime Walk with a local indigenous guide
- Walk along gentle trails through the surrounding rainforest as you visit cultural sites and pass traditional bark shelters
- Hear about the special bond the aboriginals have with the land as your guide points out food sources and traditional plants used for medicines
- Sit down for an included lunch before leaving Mossman Gorge
Afterwards, make your way to the UNESCO-listed Daintree National Park to discover a wealth of unique scenery and incredible wildlife.
- Cruise down the winding Daintree River in search of crocodiles and birds
- Relax and enjoy free time to try traditional afternoon tea while in Port Douglas or explore the area
- Head toward Rex Lookout point, the pristine viewpoint of Trinity Bay, and pairs as a perfect backdrop to any photo
Please note: Travelers should feel comfortable getting in and out of ferries and boats. We recommend wearing a sturdy pair of walking shoes, and dressing accordingly based on the weather. In the case of inclement weather during the rainy season, if flooding occurs, today’s schedule may be replaced with a visit to the Tablelands.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy a full day at the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system.
- Head to Cairns Marina to board a catamaran and enjoy a cup of tea as you sail to the Outer Barrier Reef
- Dock your boat at a floating platform and learn about the reef’s unique ecosystem from a marine biologist
- View the coral’s colors from the underwater observatory, glass-bottom boat, or semi-submarine—or hop in the water with a snorkel
- Sit down for an included tropical buffet lunch aboard the boat
- Sip on some tea as you make your way back to the mainland
Please note: Snorkeling equipment is provided.
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a free day in the Great Barrier Reef region or add an excursion.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a free morning in the Great Barrier Reef region or add an excursion.
Fly to Sydney today. After settling into your hotel, gather together for an included dinner this evening.
Please note: Depending on flight schedules, the Hot Air Balloon Ride excursion may be offered on during a previous morning while in the Great Barrier Reef region instead of the morning of day 11.
Included meal: Breakfast
Join your Tour Director for a guided tour of one of the world’s most pleasant cities.
- Pass Darling Harbour and the Royal Botanic Gardens
- See the Rocks neighborhood and stop at Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair to take in views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Soak in views of Bondi Beach and the Gap in Watsons Bay
- Enter the National Opal Collection
- Step inside the UNESCO-listed Sydney Opera House with a local guide
Spend a free evening in the city or add an excursion.
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a full free day to explore Sydney on your own, or add an excursion.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Say goodbye to Australia and fly to Queenstown, New Zealand this morning. Upon arrival, transfer to the town of Te Anau in the Fiordland National Park region.
Sit down for an included dinner this evening.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Depart early this morning to see the breathtaking scenery of Fiordland National Park.
- Pass through beautiful beech forests and by glittering mirror lakes
- Climb to the Homer Saddle and drive through Homer Tunnel
- Enjoy an included lunch as you cruise around Milfod Sound, in view of Mitre Peak
- Cruise across Lake Te Anau to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves
- Walk along subterranean boardwalks inside the caves to view glowworms
Please note: The order of activities is subject to change.
Included meal: Breakfast
Stop to explore the gold rush settlement of Arrowtown as you make your way to Queenstown.
Tonight, take the Skyline Queenstown Gondola 1,500 feet up to Bob’s Peak, which offers panoramic views of the landscape below. At the top, watch the sun set as you admire the Remarkables, Walter Peak, and Lake Wakatipu in the distance.
Included meal: Breakfast
Join your Tour Director as they introduce you to Queenstown this morning.
Spend free time in Queenstown or add an excursion.
Included meal: Breakfast
Fly to Rotorua, located in the heart of the North Island’s Māori country.
Later, enjoy a free evening in Rotorua or add an excursion.
Please note: Based on flight availability, some departures may fly from Queenstown to Auckland and then transfer to Rotorua by bus.
Included meals: Breakfast, Wine tasting, Tasting, Dinner
Spend the day exploring the highlights of the Rotorua region.
- Ascend to the top of Mt. Ngongotaha via the Skyline Gondola, admiring views of impressive Lake Rotorua and the city below
- Once at the top, head to the tasting room and enjoy a wine tasting featuring Volcanic Hills winery
- Visit the village of Whakarewarewa, which is home to thermal springs and bubbling hot pools
- Join a local Whakarewarewa guide to learn about the lifestyle and traditions of the Māori people, who live in harmony with nature in the village
- Explore Rotorua's Government Gardens, a public park and site of great historical importance to the local Māori people
Tonight, make your way to a traditional Māori village for a private home-hosted dinner experience.
- Begin the evening with a whakatau, or welcome ceremony, by men and women of the village
- Enjoy a delicious dinner featuring regional specialties cooked using the area’s geothermal steam
- Take time to get to know the villagers daily life, culture, architecture, aspirations, and so much more during cultural discussion after dinner
Please note: Travelers will need to remove their shoes during the Māori village visit.
Included meal: Breakfast
Drive from Rotorua to Auckland this morning. Then, get to know “The City of Sails” with your Tour Director in the lead where you’ll see the city’s iconic spots such as Mount Eden, the Sky Tower and the Auckland Domain.
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Enjoy a full free day in Auckland or add an excursion.
Later, celebrate your trip at tonight’s farewell dinner.
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to explore Fiji.
FAQ
- In order to enter Australia and New Zealand (and the Republic of Fiji on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
- U.S. and Canadian passport holders must purchase an individual visa from the Australian government’s Electronic Travel Authority mobile app. Alternatively, you can apply for an eVisa or traditional visa in advance. To do so, visit the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs and follow our walkthrough guide. For additional assistance, you may use a third-party provider like VisaCentral—however, these services charge a fee in addition to the cost of your visa.
- U.S. and Canadian passport holders must purchase an individual visa and pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy on the New Zealand government’s Electronic Travel Authority website nzeta.immigration.govt.nz prior to departure.
- U.S. and Canadian citizens are automatically issued a visa upon arrival in Fiji (on the tour extension).
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code AUN.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Melbourne and depart from Auckland (or Nadi on the tour extension).
- Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
- When you arrive in Melbourne, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
Physical Activity Level
This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a very fast-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- One 1-night stay
- Most days and evenings full of included activities (more if you add excursions) Most transportation by motor coach
- Some transportation by boat and commercial flight
- Daily bus time varies and can be lengthy
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day – this includes city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills
- Entry/exit from the Sydney Opera house requires 100 stairs each way
- Accessing the Glowworm Caves will include navigating multiple flights of steep stairs, wet pathways, and narrow catwalks
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour
Climate Considerations
- Travelers can expect a wide variety of climates on this tour from dry, desert-like climate in Uluru Region to cooler, rainy climates in Southern New Zealand
- Countries visited on this tour are in the Southern hemisphere so their seasons are opposite of those in North America
- Summer months are considered December- February, while winter is June – August
- The wet season in Fiji is from November-April. Days consist of brief but often heavy rains
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pace questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team. We’re here to help!
- This tour includes various modes of transportation, including boats, planes, and motor coaches. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
- Flights from Melbourne to the Uluru Region, the Uluru Region to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney, Sydney to Queenstown, and Queenstown to Rotorua, as well as a boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef and Milford Sound, are included in the price of your tour. (The tour extension also includes a flight from Auckland to Nadi.)
- All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
- Private motor coaches and boats may have steps required to board and often do not provide access to ramps or lifts.
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and included flights.
- A checked bag may not be included in your airline ticket.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at airports and hotels.
