tauck luxury escorted tours - grand australia and new zealand tour

Grand Australia and New Zealand Tour

Tauck’s ultimate 20-day New Zealand and Australia tour includes desert Outback, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, glacier-capped mountains, dramatic fjords, and cosmopolitan cities. Bring plenty of film to capture the amazing sights of the Great Barrier Reef, the dramatic waters of Milford Sound, and the setting sun on Uluru (Ayers Rock). From koalas to kangaroos, jet boat rides to formal garden tours, elegance in the Outback, and a Maori cultural experience, you get a full sampling of Down Under culture – plus private charter flights throughout New Zealand!

Itinerary

Day 1 Melbourne and the start of your Australia tourTauck’s Australia tour begins at 6:00 PM at the InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto.  A transfer is included from Melbourne Airport to the InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto. Welcome to Tauck’s grand Australia tour, where friendly g’days greet you from arrival to departure! Join us for a welcome dinner tonight.Meals: Dinner

Lodging: InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto, Melbourne, Australia
Day 2 Melbourne’s Victorian charmsYou’ll see a lot of Melbourne on a sightseeing tour of the city, including the High Victorian architecture of Parliament House, the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens and the ANZAC War Memorial – the Shrine of Remembrance. The city is also home to the oldest tram network in the world; experience it up-close tonight when you dine aboard the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant as it travels around the city.Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Lodging: InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto, Melbourne, Australia
Day 3 All about Ayers Rock, a highlight of any Australia tourFly to Alice Springs en route to Uluru (Ayers Rock) for an two-night stay. Settle into your Outback resort and join us for a “silver service” champagne party at Uluru; while the celebration by itself is very special, wait until you experience it under the setting sun when the light bathes the mystical rock with a palette of ever-changing color.Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Lodging: Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock, Australia
Day 4 Aboriginal adventures in the OutbackAboriginal traditions define life in the Outback, especially at Uluru. Learn about the “dreamtime” legends associated with this massive monolith on a guided tour. Nearby, the many-headed Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) awaits your discovery; hear stories about the 36 gigantic rock domes that are found here and explore mazes and crevasses steeped in local lore.Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Lodging: Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock, Australia
Day 5 Off to QueenslandSpend a free morning at Uluru where you’ll have an opportunity to do some more exploring. Your Australia tour continues with a flight north from the red desert to the tropical rainforests of Queensland. Arrive in Cairns and continue on to your resort in Port Douglas.Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Lodging: Peppers Beach Club, Port Douglas, Australia
Day 6 Life at The Great Barrier ReefSpend a full day exploring one of earth’s most incredible “living” sites, the Great Barrier Reef, on an eco-cruise accompanied by a marine biologist. Marvel at the colors and beauty of the coral and fish while swimming, snorkeling, or riding on a glass bottom boat or a semi-submersible watercraft that features enormous viewing windows.Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Lodging: Peppers Beach Club, Port Douglas, Australia
Day 7 Tauck’s Australia tour takes you to the rainforestYour resort is close to many natural wonders, including a mist-shrouded tropical rainforest. Ride a gondola through the lush jungle landscapes to the mountain village of Kuranda, before returning to the resort for some free time.Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Peppers Beach Club, Port Douglas, Australia
Day 8 Optional balloon ride and on to SydneySoar over the Atherton Tablelands on an optional early morning balloon ride* (additional cost of $165 per person applies) or spend the morning at the resort at your leisure. Everyone takes off for Sydney late this morning for a four-night stay in the heart of the city. Your hotel is within walking distance of the Botanic Gardens, shopping and restaurants.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: InterContinental, Sydney
Day 9 Sightseeing in SydneyOne of Australia’s most famous iconic sights takes center stage today when you visit the Opera House on a personally guided tour. A luncheon cruise on Sydney Harbour is a fabulous way to unwind and relax, while getting a good look at some of this extraordinary city’s landmark sites from the water. City sightseeing continues as you view The Rocks, Kings Cross and surfing heaven at Bondi Beach.Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Lodging: InterContinental, Sydney
Day 10 Breakfast with KoalasHave breakfast with the koalas this morning at the Featherdale Wildlife Park, before heading off into the Blue Mountains National Park. A scenic wonderland surrounds you here, chronicling life that began centuries ago in ancient ferns and fossils, like the Dinosaur Tree, thundering waterfalls and forested canyons. Champagne with the kangaroos celebrates today’s outdoor adventures in style!Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Lodging: InterContinental, Sydney
Day 11 Sydney your way, all dayThere is so much to see in Sydney, and so many ways to do it, that the entire day is free to explore and dine as you please – Sydney’s got it all. From museums to shopping, from Aboriginal art to an array of Australian and international dining options, you’ll find many ways to spend the day and make it memorable!Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: InterContinental Sydney, Australia
Day 12 Farewell to the Australia tour, hello to New ZealandYour grand Australia tour comes to an end as you bid a final farewell and board a flight across the Tasman Sea for your grand New Zealand tour! First stop is Auckland, the City of Sails, where your hotel is located in the heart of the city. Dine at the hotel’s award-winning Partingtons restaurant, voted the best in the city.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: The Langham, Auckland, New Zealand
Day 13 Wonders of Waihekeisland tour includes a close-up look at sugar-sand beaches, fertile farmland and some of the region’s top wineries. A special lunch at Mudbrick Vineyard entices with a taste of the vine. The remainder of the day is spent on your own back in Auckland.Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Lodging: The Langham, Auckland, New Zealand
Day 14 A day of Maori traditionsTravel to Rotorua today, rich in geologic history and Maori traditions. Have lunch at a working farm and country garden to experience an authentic glimpse of daily life and spend the afternoon at the Te Puia Maori Cultural Center. A private welcome presentation includes poi dancing and a moving rendition of the haka. Stroll through an array of cultural arts exhibits amidst bubbling mud pots and thermal geysers.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay, Rotorua, New Zealand
Day 15 Mussels on Marlborough SoundsFeel like a privileged member of the jet set today as Tauck puts a private plane at your service. Tauck’s private charter flight takes you first to Blenheim and the Marlborough Sounds on New Zealand’s South Island. Besides producing great wine, this island boasts delectable freshly caught seafood, including green-lipped mussels. Sample them on a luncheon cruise that celebrates the bounty of land and sea before flying off to Wellington on Tauck’s exclusive private charter. Stay two nights at an ideally located waterfront hotel.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Copthorne Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand
Day 16 Historic WellingtonYour New Zealand / Australia tour continues in a city known for its scenic beauty and its amazing five-story national museum. Touring the Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum is like actually experiencing thousands of years of New Zealand’s history in person as motion simulators and interactive exhibits include you in the journey. The remainder of the day is free to make your own history.Meals:  Breakfast

Lodging: Copthorne Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand
Day 17 Fly to QueenstownWeather permitting, glimpse Mt. Cook from aboard Tauck’s private charter as you fly to Queenstown. One of the benefits of flying on our private plane is the ability to circle sights you want to see; if feasible, our pilot will soar close to the mountain for you to get a better look. Your Queenstown hotel enjoys a premier city-center address overlooking Lake Wakatipu.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Crowne Plaza Queenstown, New Zealand
Day 18 From jet-boating to sheep-shearingEven if you’re not all that adventurous, today’s thrilling high-speed jet-boat ride down a river carved through the narrow, rocky gorges and canyons of Shotover River Canyon will be a highlight of Tauck’s New Zealand / Australia tour! Catch your breath on a leisurely cruise to Walter Peak Country Farm. Afternoon tea and a sheep-shearing demonstration round out the day’s activities.Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Crowne Plaza Queenstown, New Zealand
Day 19 Milford Sound and Christchurch as you pleaseTauck’s early morning charter flies you to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a scenic drive and luncheon cruise on Milford Sound. Soul-stirring scenery includes rainforests with cascading waterfalls, glacier-carved inlets and an occasional sunbathing seal. This afternoon’s flight takes you to the garden city of Christchurch, where gracious willow trees line the banks of the Avon River. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight as we say hooray (goodbye) to the lands down under.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Millennium Hotel Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
Day 20 So long to the lands down underTauck’s New Zealand and Australia tour ends in Christchurch. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Millennium Hotel Christchurch to Christchurch International Airport. Please allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport.Meals: Breakfast

 

Price Guide

January – March;
September 15 – December		 Land Price On-Tour Air
(8 flights)		 Total
per Person
Double $6480 $2110 $8590
Single $8088 $2110 $10,198
Triple $6024 $2110 $8134

 

April – September 14 Land Price On-Tour Air
(8 flights)		 Total
per Person
Double $6100 $1890 $7990
Single $7791 $1890 $9681
Triple $5606 $1890 $7496

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

About The Tauck Luxury Escorted Tours Experience