Australia and New Zealand Signature Journey

Your trip begins by landing into Sydney International Airport where you’ll be welcomed by a private transfer to your accommodation in the city. You’ll have the remainder of the day to yourself, perhaps resting up after your long flight. If you have the energy, you’ll find lots to explore. There’s a hop-on, hop-off bus that will provide an excellent preview of the attractions or you might stretch your legs by walking around the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Botanic Gardens. In addition to colourful photo-ops, it hosts a number of restaurants and cafes, and there are plenty of eateries nearby too.

This morning your private guide will lead you on a walking tour while providing insight into the places you’ll visit, starting with a stroll through the Royal Botanical Gardens, passing the famous opera house before exploring the Art Gallery of New South Wales. See Australia’s oldest park, Hyde Par, and then marvel at the ornate 19th-century town hall. This evening you’ll take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sydney Opera House, learning insider secrets about its construction and history. That will be followed by a tasting experience at the al fresco Opera Kitchen, renowned for its fantastic gastronomic delights and spectacular view over Sydney Harbour.

Travel west with your private driver/guide for the 50-minute drive to Blue Mountains National Park. The “blue” comes from the mist of evaporating oil that emanates from the many eucalyptus trees. Upon your arrival to this lush destination with steep gorges, you’ll take a guided, approximately two-hour hike that brings breath-taking views of the unusual Three Sisters rock formation. This magnificent landmark towering above Jamison Valley represents three sisters who, according to Aboriginal legend, were turned to stone.

Echo Point Katoomba

Park, a verdant region with steep gorges that are frequently enveloped in a blue haze due to the mist of evaporating oil emanating from the many eucalyptus trees. Meet your private driver for the approximately 50-minute drive and then embark on a guided hike that takes about two hours complete. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of sheer cliffs and the unusual Three Sisters rock formation – it towers above the Jamison Valley overlooking eucalyptus forests and has cultural significance to the Aboriginal people. Stop to enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.

Leaving Sydney this morning, private transfer will bring you back to the airport where you’ll catch your flight to Cairns in the tropical Far North of Queensland. Upon your arrival, a private driver will bring you to your accommodation in the sophisticated beach resort town of Port Douglas, just over an hour north. It’s not only home to the stunning golden sands of Four Mile Beach but a wide range of eateries from casual bites like pizza and gelato along Macrossan Street to fine dining restaurants focused on mouth-wateringly fresh seafood.

A short drive will bring you to Daintree National Park where you’ll hop onto a vessel for a private cruise along the still, mirror-like waters of Daintree River. Cruising alongside the riverbank, keep an eye out for pythons, the vibrant blue Ulysses butterfly, king fishers and more. Meeting up with a local guide afterward, you’ll enter the heart of Daintree Rainforest, the oldest surviving rainforest in the world, filled with rare fauna and flora, including beautiful tropical flowering plants. Your tour concludes at the Alexandra Range Lookout with an awe-inspiring panoramic view of the Daintree River, Snapper Island, and if the weather allows, Port Douglas too.

You’ll have most of the day to enjoy the stunning tropical beauty of Port Douglas, with a sunset cruise to look forward to this evening. We recommend spending time at Four Mile Beach with its dazzling crystal-clear turquoise water. The town itself is also fun to wander through with its enticing cafes and unique boutiques. Afterward, get ready for your cruise on the Coral Sea, boarding a luxurious catamaran where you’ll enjoy a welcome drink from the bar alongside tasty canapes. Relax and enjoy the salty sea breeze as the sun splashes its colours of the northern Queensland mountains- don’t forget your camera!

After checking out of your hotel in Port Douglas, take private transfer to Cairns where you’ll board your flight to Melbourne. Upon your arrival, a private driver will transfer you to your hotel in Australia’s cultural capital. A popular foodie destination, its renowned for its wide range of delicious eats. Queen Victoria Market is a great place to sample some of it, a local traditional here since the late 19th-century. Enjoy the artisan cheese, smoked meats and much more, and perhaps check out the handcrafted items which make great gifts and souvenirs. The Flinders Street Station is another popular spot with shops and restaurants.

Get to know Melbourne on a half-day private guided tour. Your driver/guide will pick you up and you’ll travel through East Melbourne to see the historic Treasury Building, the State Parliament House, Melbourne Museum, Royal Exhibition Building and Windsor Hotel. Continue to Brunswick Street in the suburbs, lined with live music venues, trendy cafes and alternative clothing stores before enjoying tea in the Botanical Gardens. Afterwards, your guide will show you the site of the 1956 Olympic Games and historic Station Pier before driving alongside Port Phillip Bay to St. Kilda, home to beautiful beaches and a spectacular view of the city skyline.

An exciting day trip begins by traveling with your private driver/guide to Phillip Island, linked by bridge to the mainland. It’s teaming with wildlife, including birds like black swans, herons and spoonbills that can be seen along the shoreline. Get up close to wild wallabies and koalas at the Koala Conservation Center and then enjoy breath-taking views stretching over Bass Strait and Mornington Peninsula. At dusk you’ll get to witness the penguin parade, with little tuxedoed creatures coming ashore each night by the thousands, returning to the burrows after a day of feasting in the sea. Enjoy dinner in Rhyll before returning to Melbourne.

Leaving Melbourne, your private driver will transfer you to the airport where you’ll catch your flight to Queenstown, New Zealand. The country’s adventure capital sits along the shores of Lake Wakatipu among dramatic mountain ranges and will truly take your breath away. After taking private transfer to your hotel, you might want to enjoy gorgeous lake views by walking the paved path that follows the lake or hitch a ride on the Skyline Queenstown Gondola. It will bring you straight up to Bob’s Peak, with jaw-dropping vistas the entire way. You can return by zooming down on a luge or riding the gondola.

Referred to by Rudyard Kipling as the “eighth wonder of the world,” today you’ll get to experience Milford Sound by air and by water. Soar above in the fjord, gazing down at the and sheer cliffs rising vertically from the dark waters and the forest-covered mountains laced with magnificent waterfalls, some as high as 3,300 feet. Upon landing, possibly on a glacier, you’ll embark on a cruise for a close look at the stunning landscape while watching for seals, dolphins and penguins in Fiordland National Park. After returning to Queenstown, you might relax in one of the Onsen Hot Pools.

New Zealand has become internationally renowned for its outstanding wine, and the rolling hills of Central Otago are one of its top wine regions. Your private driver/guide will pick you up for a wine tour, that begins with tastings of various varietals at four of the best wineries in Cromwell, Gibbston and Bannockburn. At the award-winning Carrick Winery, enjoy a gourmet lunch platter and then stroll through Old Cromwell Town. Provided weather and time allows, you’ll drive through Kawarau Gorge where the rushing turquoise waters of the Kawarau River flow through to learn about the region’s gold rush history too.

It’s time to head to the North Island for the final destination of your trip, Auckland. Returning to Queenstown’s airport via private transfer you’ll catch the just under two-hour flight. After transferring to your hotel in the city, join a local guide for a private walking tour through its heart. You’ll not only hit the top sightseeing spots but get a glimpse of daily local life with a visit to Princes Wharf. This former commercial wharf has been transformed into a popular hub for dining and nightlife. Explore the NZ Maritime Museum, the Viaduct Harbour entertainment district, the Wynward Quarter and more.

Venture to Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, the city’s largest which lies less than 20 miles from downtown Auckland. It feels like worlds away, a place where you’ll be immersed in tranquil nature. You’ll visit the Arataki Center which sits atop a ridge providing panoramic vistas that include the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean. Marvel at traditional Maori carvings and walk one of the bush tracks in the lush rainforest among the giant tree ferns to see the country’s famed kauri trees. You can swim beneath a waterfall or relax alongside it before heading to the coast to enjoy a beautiful black sand beach.

It’s rarely easy saying goodbye to such a spectacular part of the world, but after 14 nights your holiday through Australia and New Zealand comes to an end. After checking out of your Auckland hotel, you’ll be met by your driver for the final transfer of the trip, to Auckland International Airport to catch your flight home.