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Exploring Australia Holidays

The essence of Australia and New Zealand

Your Itinerary

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Day 1 - G'Day Australia

Welcome to Sydney! Upon arrival at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, you will be privately transferred to your hotel. We have nothing prepared for you today so you can get accustomed to your new surroundings. (The Old Clare Hotel, Connell Room)

book Sydney Bridge Climb

Day 2 - Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Today we make sure you start your holiday in Australasia the right way, with a Sydney Bridge Climb. You are taken on an immersive historical and cultural journey to the summit of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Once at its summit, 134 m above sea level, you will enjoy uninterrupted panorama views of Sydney and its surroundings.

Royal National Park Sydney Day Tour

Day 3 - Wilderness & Aboriginal Tour

Today, we will take you on a guided tour by bus, foot and boat through Australia’s second oldest National Park wilderness, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The tour features West Head Lookout, a discovery cruise through the untouched wilderness of the park’s waterways, indigenous interpretation at several ancient Aboriginal sites, and a gourmet bush tucker lunch. (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday only)

Roar and Snore Sydney

Day 4 - A day at leisure in Sydney

This morning, check out of your hotel and spend the day at leisure. In the afternoon, make your way to Taronga Zoo where you will spend the night with the park’s wildlife. You will learn about its inhabitants, fall asleep to the sounds of wild animals and wake up to the views of Sydney’s iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge. (Tent incl. dinner and breakfast)

Uluru

Day 5 - Sydney - Uluru

This morning, you will be privately transferred to Sydney airport for your flight to Ayers Rock. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will be picked up to see Uluru at sunset. Experience the many moods of Uluru at sunset with an uninterrupted view. Admire the immensity of Uluru as you immerse yourself in the environmental changes of this world-renowned icon. Relax with a glass of sparkling wine as the sun sets in the west. (Voyages Sails in the Desert, Superior Room)

Alice Springs

Day 6 - Uluru - Alice Springs

This morning, you can either sleep in or take a plunge into the hotel pool. At lunch time, you will be picked up and transferred to Alice Springs by coach. Travel through interesting desert scenery, while your driver / guide will provide comprehensive commentary of your surrounds as you pass through the beautiful rugged scenery of the ‘outback’. View Atila (Mt. Conner) along the way. Travel north along the Stuart Highway as the sun begins to set in the west. (DoubleTree by Hilton, Guest Room)

Adelaide

Day 7 - Alice Springs - Adelaide

This morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Adelaide. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. The evening is yours to enjoy in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. (Adabco Boutique Hotel, Premium King)

Swimming with dolphins Australia

Day 8 - Swimming with dolphins

We have planned something exciting for you today: swimming with dolphins. Make your way to Glenelg, 15 minutes from Adelaide CBD and board the vessel that will take you to swim with the many dolphins of the area. Guests can usually spot about 40+ dolphins per trip and sometimes even over 200 dolphins. Because there are so many dolphins along Adelaide’s coastline, it is pretty much guaranteed to spot dolphins, then hop into the water for a play with those curious creatures – an adventure of a lifetime.

Great Ocean Road

Day 9 - Great Ocean Road

Pick up your rental car this morning and drive towards the Great Ocean Road. Your first stop is Robe (350km), a picturesque seaside town. The Robe Obelisk is a local icon – it’s 12 metres tall and visible 20 kilometres out to sea. Robe’s Long Beach is a great family beach with gentle surf. (Robe House, Apartment)

The Loch Ard Gorge, Great Ocean Road, VIC

Day 10 - Robe to Warrnambool

Drive for 320km today. Your destination is Warrnambool, but the drive is the real experience you are getting today. The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most scenic drives. Along the way  you will see spectacular beauty and the wild of the raw Southern Ocean. (Flagstaff Hill Lodge, Lodge Room)

Twelve Apostles

Day 11 - Warrnambool to Apollo Bay

Drive approximately 160km today to Apollo Bay. In between Warrnambool and Apollo Bay, visit the spectacular 12 Apostles. Apollo Bay is the gateway to the Otways National Park, home to many of Australia’s favourite locals including kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, platypus, koalas, seals, penguins and even migrating Southern Right Whales. (Comfort Inn The International, Standard Room)

Day 12 - Apollo Bay to Melbourne

Drive to Melbourne today and visit the famous Bell’s Beach on the way to see some of the world’s best surfer in live action. In Melbourne, return your rental car and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (The Lyall, Super Deluxe Suite)

Day 13 - Melbourne

Explore Melbourne on your own today. This bustling city is constantly voted the world’s most livable city. To get a first impression, you might want to take the free Circle Tram, trundling along a loop around the city. Meander the city’s many markets, hit the shopping malls, visit the countless art galleries, enjoy a picnic in the Royal Botanical Gardens or take a tram to St. Kilda and wander along the sea front promenade.

Day 14 - Melbourne - Queenstown

This morning, you will be privately transferred to the airport for your flight to Queenstown, New Zealand.

Welcome to New Zealand! Arrive in Queenstown in the late afternoon. Pick up your hire car at the airport and drive the short distance to your accommodation. Enjoy the long light evenings of the South Island with a stroll into town along the lakeshore and a visit to one of the many fabulous restaurants that Queenstown has to offer.

Day 15 - Queenstown

Explore at your own pace. A drive over the impressive Crown Range to the relaxed lakeside town of Wanaka is one option or winding your way along the Gibbston Valley visiting cheese and wine producers along the way. There are many lovely vineyards only a short drive from Queenstown with great food and wine. If you are keen to do a guided tour with driver then this is easily arranged. If you enjoy biking then there are many easy off-road trails to enable you to explore the wonderful landscape.

Day 16 - Day trip to Milford Sound

Depart Queenstown by coach and travel along the shores of Lake Wakatipu through rolling countryside to Te Anau. Continue along the spectacular Milford Road through impressive alpine scenery. Upon reaching Milford Sound, board a nature cruise for a leisurely cruise the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea. View spectacular alpine scenery including waterfalls, rainforest and towering peaks and keep a look out for wildlife including seals, dolphins and penguins. Following the cruise, transfer to Milford Airport and board a twin-engine aircraft for a return flight to Queenstown. During the 35 minute flight, enjoy panoramic views of glaciers, rivers, lakes and rainforest. This is a full day tour of around 10 hours.

Day 17 - Queenstown

NZ is famous for it’s jet-boating; a great way to experience an adrenaline rush without going too far out of your comfort zone!
A scenic drive takes you along the edge of Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy where you will board a Dart River jet boat for a 1 and a 1/2 hour journey through the Dart River’s ever-changing braided river system. You will be thrilled by the jet boat’s capabilities (including jet spins) and awed by your surroundings of breathtaking snow-capped mountains, ancient native forest, waterfalls, and glacier valleys frozen in time. The jet boat ride is followed by an easy 30-40 minute guided walk through ancient native Beech forest. The tour finishes with a journey by 4WD safari vehicle along a back-road route while hearing stories about the surrounding countryside and stopping to view scenery that has formed the epic backdrop for many international films, including ‘The Lord of the Rings’.

Day 18 - Queenstown - Lake Tekapo

Say goodbye to Queenstown and head for the Lindis Pass – the highest road in NZ before dropping down onto the other side of the Southern Alps. It is around a 3 hour drive plus stops to Lake Tekapo. There are plenty of scenic look outs along the way and you may get some good views of Mt Cook near the town of Twizel. There plenty of picture postcard lakes with the most dazzling blue-coloured glacial water along the road. Spend the night in Tekapo. This is a small town famous for star-gazing. It is in one of the few Dark Sky Reserves in the world and on a clear night the views of the milky way are mesmerising. There is an astronomical observatory here where you can do night tours. Or just sit outside with a glass of wine or a hot chocolate and enjoy.

Day 19 - Lake Tekapo - Christchurch

Make your way north to the garden city of Christchurch. Drive along the edge of the Southern Alps, through small rural towns, and down onto the fertile Canterbury Plains. Arriving in Christchurch in the early afternoon you should make time to get out and take a walk around this beautiful city; either under the huge trees of Hagley Park, or into the centre of the city which was devastated by the 2011 earthquake but is now rejuvenated and bustling. The Re:Start Container Mall and the Cardboard Cathedral are some excellent examples of the city bouncing back.

Day 20 - Farewell New Zealand

Drop off your rental car today at Christchurch airport before it is time to bid farewell to beautiful New Zealand. Safe travels!

What's included?

INCLUDED
  • Prices start from £3,170 per person
  • Accommodation as per itinerary (excluding breakfast)
  • Transfers and excursions as per itinerary
  • Rental cars in Australia and New Zealand as per itinerary including unlimited kilometres (tolls and petrol are not included)
  • Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
  • Swimming with dolphins in Adelaide
  • Milford Sound day trip (Coach, cruise, fly)
  • Dart River Wilderness Jet Boat
  • Local taxes
  • All trips are ATOL protected or ABTA bonded to ensure you are fully covered
Make a booking

This combined itinerary shows you the very best of Australia and New Zealand. We have included some pretty epic experiences for you along the way.

Highlights:

  • Climb up the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge
  • Spend a night at Taronga Zoo and wake up to the views of Sydney Opera House
  • See the sun set behind Uluru
  • Swim with dolphins in Adelaide
  • Drive along the Great Ocean Road
  • Explore Melbourne
  • Discover beautiful Queenstown
  • Cruise on the breathtaking Milford Sound
  • Experience the thrill of Jet-boating
  • Marvel at the Milky Way in Lake Tekapo

Please remember that this is a sample itinerary; we specialise in creating tailor-made holidays that are unique to you and your style.

Sydney – Uluru – Alice Springs – Adelaide – Great Ocean Road – Melbourne – Queenstown – Milford Sounds – Lake Tekapo – Christchurch.

Sydney
The capital of New South Wales and one of Australia's largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Explore the famous coastal beaches like Bondi, Bronte, Coogee and Palm Beach. Explore the jungles of Sydney Harbor National Park, dine in world-class restaurants, visit Blue Mountai
Melbourne
Melbourne is the coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria. Explore the hidden halls and rooftops of Melbourne, Federation Square cultural hubs, bars, boutiques and restaurants, as well as the iconic MCG. Visit St Kilda, Royal Botanic Garden, Brunswick Street bohemian style, and the Spring Horse Carnival.
Cairns
Located in the tropical Far North Queensland, Cairns is considered the gateway to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Stunning beaches, spectacular hinterland, local and organic produce, delightful cafes and bars, a hustle and bustle market and its friendly and relaxed community make Cairns a favorite holiday destination.
Perth
The capital of Western Australia, Perth, is known for its exquisite beaches. However it also has bustling city areas filled with amazing shopping, nightlife and dining. Discover stylish bars in Northbridge or visit theater along streets of Subiaco.
Brisbane
Brisbane is Queensland's vibrant and elegant capital and gateway to major tourist destinations. It's a large city on the Brisbane River and is a blend of cultural institutions and South Bank restaurants with riverside parks and lagoons.
Uluru/ The Red Centre
The Red Centre is an extraordinary landscape of desert plains, weathered mountain ranges, rocky gorges and some of Aboriginal Australia's most sacred sites, including Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa. The only town of sizable population is Alice Springs.
Adelaide
Adelaide is South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital. Its ring of parkland on the River Torrens is home to renowned museums and culture. It's known as the city of the Australian festival. Spacious boulevards and lush gardens in Adelaide are becoming an event of endless excitement.
Great Barrier Reef
Explore the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, stretching over 2,000 kilometers along the Queensland coastline. Snorkel, dive, or cross-reef flight. Sail to Whitsundays, trekking the Daintree Forest or relax on tropical islands like Hayman and Lizard.
Whitsundays
The 74 Whitsunday Islands lie between the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef, a massive stretch of coral teeming with marine life. Most of the islands are uninhabited.
Byron Bay
Byron Bay is a lovely coastal town in the southeastern Australian state of New South Wales. It’s a popular holiday destination, known for its beaches, surfing and scuba diving.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, off Australia’s eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island, stretching over 120km. Panoramic viewpoints include Indian Head, a rocky outcrop on the island's easternmost tip, and the Cathedrals, a cliff famous for sculpted ribbons of coloured sand.
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is a renowned wine-producing region northeast of Adelaide, in South Australia. The area encompasses towns such as Tanunda, Angaston and Nuriootpa, and an array of high-profile wineries offering tours and cellar-door tastings.
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island lies off the mainland of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide. Over a third of the island is protected in nature reserves, home to native wildlife like sea lions, koalas and diverse bird species.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, an Australian resort town on Queensland's Whitsunday Coast, is a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.
Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a town on the Coral Sea in the tropical far north of Queensland, Australia. It's known for its beach resorts and as a base for visits to both the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system, and Daintree National Park, home to biodiverse rainforest.
Darwin
Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory and the gateway to famous Kakadu National Park. Its popular waterfront area has several beaches and green areas like Bicentennial Park.
Ningaloo Reef
Ningaloo Reef is a World Heritage Site located in the north west coastal region of Western Australia along the East Indian Ocean. It's Australia's largest fringing coral reef and the only large reef positioned very close to a landmass.
Alice Springs
Alice Springs is a remote town in Australia’s Northern Territory, halfway between Darwin and Adelaide. It’s a popular gateway for exploring the Red Centre, the country's interior desert region.

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Itineraries & Destinations