Classic Australia & New Zealand

  • Discovery Australia’s distinctive cities:  iconic Sydney, with its historic waterfront, famous beaches, and array of sport activities, including climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge; and take in Melbourne’s mix of Victorian and contemporary architecture, its extensive tram network, gardens, museums, galleries and shops
  • Enjoy Kangaroo Island as you explore the vast wilderness of Flinders Chase National Park
  • Explore New Zealand’s South Island beginning with beautiful Christchurch and continue to Queenstown, where you savor a hot air balloon with views of Coronet Peak, Mount Aspiring and the Southern Alps
  • Savor time spent in some of New Zealand’s most celebrated and spectacular scenery – lakes, ancient forests, bush country, stunning coastlines, volcanic thermal regions and more
  • Stay in some of the most exclusive and luxurious lodges in the South Pacific that offer adventures ranging from star gazing, to jet boat journeys, to trekking and wildlife viewing
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COUNTRIES VISITED

Australia

New Zealand

STARTING AT..

Price starts at $1,000 Land per person, per day, double occupancy.

TOUR LENGTH

29

Tour Highlights/Full Description

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  • Discovery Australia’s distinctive cities:  iconic Sydney, with its historic waterfront, famous beaches, and array of sport activities, including climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge; and take in Melbourne’s mix of Victorian and contemporary architecture, its extensive tram network, gardens, museums, galleries and shops
  • Enjoy Kangaroo Island as you explore the vast wilderness of Flinders Chase National Park
  • Explore New Zealand’s South Island beginning with beautiful Christchurch and continue to Queenstown, where you savor a hot air balloon with views of Coronet Peak, Mount Aspiring and the Southern Alps
  • Savor time spent in some of New Zealand’s most celebrated and spectacular scenery – lakes, ancient forests, bush country, stunning coastlines, volcanic thermal regions and more
  • Stay in some of the most exclusive and luxurious lodges in the South Pacific that offer adventures ranging from star gazing, to jet boat journeys, to trekking and wildlife viewing

Day 1: Sydney, Australia
Upon arrival in Sydney, you will be met by your Big Five representative and transferred to your hotel. Stunningly situated overlooking Sydney Harbour in the historic Rocks district, a short walk from the city’s shopping and business centers, Four Seasons is vibrant and elegant, with dramatic harbor front views and a luxurious day spa featuring exclusive skincare and aromatherapy treatments. Stunning views distinguish the various guest rooms and suites. City-view accommodations overlook the Sydney skyline, George Street or Walsh Bay, while city harbor-view accommodations showcase the Opera House and Circular Quay. Full harbor-view accommodations overlook the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, the Opera House and Circular Quay. FOUR SEASONS SYDNEY King Harbour View Premier Room

Days 2/4: Sydney
These days at leisure to explore all that Sydney and environs have to offer. Explore your own interests in this sunny, stylish, and energetic city. It invites you to discover its famous harbor bustling with activity from ferries, to yachts, to jet boats. For opera lovers, there is likely no more iconic and eccentric house than the Sydney Opera House with its white sails. Our White Glove Service® guest assistance will gladly arrange for tickets to a performance in this famed music hall. Harbour Bridge is nicknamed the coat hanger bridge. The colonial sandstone warehouses of the lively Rocks district sit at the foot of tall glass towers and contrast with the modernity of neighboring Darling Harbour. Options include a cruise in the harbor; visits to Sydney Aquarium and Taronga Park Zoo; surfing lessons at famous Bondi or Manly Beach; shopping at Pitt Street Mall and Oxford Street Paddington; witnessing a performance at the famed opera house; a climb up Harbour Bridge; and a seaplane scenic flight. FOUR SEASONS SYDNEY – King Harbour View Premier Room

Days 5/6: Sydney
Check out of the Four Seasons and make your own way to the Shangri-La Hotel, the city’s leading deluxe hotel. Located in the historic Rocks District between the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the hotel offers 563 spacious and inspired luxury guest rooms and suites. Apart from a superb location, the hotel offers some of the city’s finest dining, including Altitude Restaurant, an award-winning contemporary restaurant, and Blu Bar on 36, each offering its own spectacular views of the city from level 36. Located on floors 30-35, the exclusive Horizon Grand Harbour View Suites offer panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, and a spacious and comfortable separate living room that is perfect for relaxing. This is a great location to explore local neighborhoods. SHANGRI LA HOTEL SYDNEY – Grand Harbour View Suite

Day 7: Sydney / Adelaide
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Adelaide. On arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel. InterContinental Adelaide is situated in one of the city’s finest locations, on the picturesque River Torrens. It forms an integral part of Adelaide’s spectacular new Riverbank promenade and is adjacent to the Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide casino and the Festival Centre.

Adelaide Airport is just a 15-minute drive from the hotel. The property features 367 rooms and suites, with separate walk-in shower and tub and generous work area with high-speed Internet access. The hotel offers a boutique health club, heated outdoor pool and a 4 km/2.49 mi exercise track along the banks of the River Torrens. INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL – King Intercontinental Suite (B)

Day 8: Adelaide / Kangaroo Island
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kangaroo Island. (Please note luggage restrictions below). Upon arrival, you are transferred to your lodge, Southern Ocean Lodge. The lodge aims to provide an outstanding accommodation experience on Kangaroo Island, and is designed to be a sanctuary of comfort, style and personal intimacy. Located at Hanson Bay on the island’s south west coast, the lodge site adjoins both the Flinders Chase and Cape Bouguer/Kelly Hill National Parks. Its offers stunning views, contemporary environmental design, locally sourced food and beverages, personalized interpretative activities and modern wellness spa will ensure its status as a South Australian icon. Set back from a cliff above the pounding surf the sensitive design showcases a full frontal panorama and is within easy reach of all of Kangaroo Island’s major attractions. Modern luxury and design integrity meld with Kangaroo island vernacular and an amazing coastal color palette, creating a unique eco chic style. SOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE – King Flinders Suite (L,D)  

Luggage restrictions: Luggage limit of 15 kg (33 lb) per person applies. Excess is charged at A$3.00/kg. Luggage storage is available with the airline for international guests at a fee of A$5.00 per bag paid directly. If storing excess luggage, please ensure luggage is pre-packed and labelled, ready to store.

Days 9/10: Kangaroo Island
Enjoy two full days here. Your lodge offers you a complete and personal Kangaroo Island experience. A selection of guided island excursions is designed daily based on our interests. The lodge’s guides introduce you to sea lions at Seal Bay. Explore the vast wilderness of Flinders Chase National Park. Take a journey through coastal flora along the limestone clifftops. The list of optional activities (some may involve additional cost paid directly to lodge) can take you to discover epicurean delights, visit local artists, or step off the beaten track to encounter amazing wildlife in Australia’s very own Galapagos. You can set out on trekking expeditions, go kayaking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, marine zodiac adventures, star gazing and night tours, beach fishing and more. Activities on Kangaroo Island may be shared in small groups. TBA (B,L,D)  

Day11: Kangaroo Island / Adelaide / Melbourne
Board your plane back to Adelaide where you are met and assisted in retrieving any stored bags before checking in for your onward flight to Melbourne. On arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Overlooking St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fitzroy Gardens and the mix of Victorian and modern architecture, Park Hyatt Melbourne offers an exclusive sanctuary in the heart of the city. The luxury hotel provides an unparalleled experience of elegant, contemporary luxury. Facilities include an award-winning ‘radii’ restaurant and bar, a Tea Lounge and Park Club Health & Day Spa, featuring an indoor aquamarine pool, spa, sauna, gym and private sun deck. THE PARK HYATT MELBOURNE – Club Deluxe King (B)

Days 12/13: Melbourne
These days are at leisure for you to be as active or relaxed as you choose. About 47 years after the first European settlement in Australia, Melbourne was founded by free settlers in 1835 as a pastoral settlement around the Yarra River. By the 1850s gold rush, it was the second largest in the entire British Empire. It remains a major center of commerce, industry and cultural activity. It is noted for its delightful mix of Victorian and contemporary architecture, an extensive tram network, gardens, museums, galleries and shops. Built in 1878, Queen Victoria Market is a vibrant crossroads of cultures. Phillip Island is fun at dusk when a parade of penguins return to burrows on the island. This evening a special treat – the Colonial Tram Car experience. You can opt for a fun dining experience with a mobile dinner aboard one of the most historical tram cars in Melbourne. THE PARK HYATT MELBOURNE – Club Deluxe King (B,D) 

Day 14: Melbourne / Christchurch, New Zealand
Transfer to the airport this morning for your flight to Christchurch, New Zealand. Upon arrival in Christchurch. You are privately transferred to your lodge on the outskirts of town. The head of a secluded valley on New Zealand’s South Island is home to a luxury accommodation that offers exemplary service and cuisine in an elegant, historic country estate. Otahuna was built in 1895 for Sir Heaton Rhodes, a high-profile pioneer of Canterbury, and his wife Jessie. Sir Heaton is remembered as a Victorian country gentleman and benefactor known for his enthusiasm for life and kindness to others. He was a long-term parliamentarian, a military officer, stockbreeder and keen horticulturist whose contributions are integral to the history of Canterbury. Otahuna was his home for more than 60 years. The hotel’s name comes from the Maori and popularly translates as “little hill among the hills.”

The homestead sits between the rocky outcrops of the Banks Peninsula, providing commanding views of the gardens and across the plains to the Southern Alps. The homestead is considered one of the best examples of unspoiled Queen Anne architecture in Australasia. Praised for its irregular shape, romantic rooflines, extensive use of New Zealand timber, and elaborate architectural detail, Otahuna is now protected by a Category One listing in the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. You will feel delightfully cosseted by the service and charmed by the ambient sense of history. OTAHUNA LODGE – Rhodes Suite (B,D)

Day 15: Christchurch
Today enjoy a private half-day tour of the Christchurch Botanical Gardens, showcasing some of the most exotic flora in New Zealand. Founded in 1863 with the planting of an English Oak tree, the Gardens now feature one of the finest collections of exotic and native plants found in New Zealand. Towering majestic trees, many more than 120 years old, dominate the gracious gardens, forming a striking backdrop to the extensive themed plant collections and sweeping lawns. A loop of the gently-flowing Avon River, crisscrossed by bridges, encloses a large part of the gardens. This afternoon is at leisure. TAHUNA LODGE – Rhodes Suite (B,D)

Day 16: Christchurch / Queenstown
This morning, you will be privately transferred to the airport, for your flight to Queenstown. Upon arrival in Queenstown airport, you will be welcomed and privately transferred to your accommodation. Azur Lodge is located on a hilltop in a private and secluded part of Queenstown. It is just a five-minute ride by complementary transfer to downtown. Azur is renowned for personalized friendly and professional service, nothing is too much trouble. It is hard to imagine a more perfect view than the one from Azur Lodge, with its uninterrupted views of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains. Azur offers nine identical free-standing villas and a main lodge that houses the lobby, breakfast and dining room and guest lounge. AZUR LODGE – Villa (B)

Day 17: Queenstown
Today you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airstrip for your private flight to Milford Sound through a fairytale landscape of unbelievable beauty. The fiord runs inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that surround it on either side. Lush rain forests cling precariously to these cliffs, while seals, penguins, and dolphins frequent the waters. The earlier arrival allows you to avoid the tour bus crowds that arrive from Queenstown in the middle of the day. Board your cruise and depart through the magnificent fjords. Following your cruise, return to your plane and fly back above the Olivine Ice Plateau and Barrier Range (weather permitting) to Queenstown. The balance of the day is at leisure. AZUR LODGE – Villa (B)

Please note the flight to and from Milford Sound is private while the cruise through fjords is shared. Timings may change based on weather and occupancy conditions.

Day 18: Queenstown
This morning you have an early morning yet very rewarding start to your day. Your sacrifice will be rewarded with an unforgettable sunrise over the lakes and mountains from the serenity of a hot air balloon (on a shared basis). You float gently with the breeze, enjoying incredible panoramic views including views of Coronet Peak, Mount Aspiring in the Southern Alps, and Mount Tutoko in Fiordland National Park. Return in late morning to your lodge. The balance of the day is left at leisure to explore Queenstown. Departure time from the lodge is approximately 6:00am; duration time of flight and champagne breakfast is up to 4 hours. Balloon flights are weather and wind dependent. AZUR LODGE – Villa (B)

Day 19: Queenstown / Blanket Bay
This morning, enjoy a scenic drive as you are transferred to Glenorchy and you lodge at Blanket Bay. The hour drive along Lake Wakatipu and towards Paradise Valley is simply stunning! The lodge at Blanket Bay sits in sprawling grounds on the bush-clad fringes of Lake Wakatipu. Built in the grand style of the finest alpine lodges and finished with native New Zealand timber and stone, the lodge is a sanctuary of comfort. The long driveway meanders across a green pasture where sheep graze. You also get views of Mount Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipu, and the Humboldt Mountain Range, over which cross the world famous Greenstone and Routeburn trekking tracks. The Routeburn is among New Zealand’s nine “Great Walks,” As you arrive at the lodge and disembark under the grand porte cochère, you will be greeted by our friendly staff, eager to make your stay enjoyable.

The setting is picture perfect – an alpine mountain lodge framed by majestic mountains and crystal clear lake. World class dining, a professionally equipped exercise facility, and a steam room and indoor spa, complement the extraordinary fishing, hiking, riding and water sports activities. Blanket Bay Lodge sets a new standard in New Zealand nature experience. BLANKET BAY LODGE – Lodge Suite (B,D)

Day 20: Blanket Bay
This morning you will be collected from the lodge for your Dart River Wilderness Safari. (Please note activities on this day are on a shared basis) The ‘Wilderness Safari’ is a diverse adventure exploring spectacular ‘World Heritage’ wilderness within Mt Aspiring National Park through a combination of exhilarating wilderness jet boating, informative guided ancient forest walk and back-country 4WD safari vehicle. Surrounded by awe-inspiring peaks and mysterious hidden valleys shrouded in native Beech forest, your specialist guides will bring to life the variety of landscapes, vegetation and wildlife within this unique area, as well the captivating stories of the original Maori and early pioneers. For the adventurer, take a jet boat on the area’s longest wilderness jet boat journey, complete with thrilling jet spins, and you navigate the ever-changing, shallow channels of the glacier fed Dart River’s braided river system, with your expert jet boat driver. you stop along the way to see highlights and discuss points of interest that make this unique area of natural and cultural importance. Take a guided Ancient Forest Walk to explore the unique vegetation and wildlife of this ancient native forest, with your professional wilderness guide sharing their intimate knowledge of the area and you will discover why New Zealand is in a very real sense the ‘Ark’ of the ancient super continent of Gondwanaland. Travel along a back-country route by 4WD safari vehicle to view some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery that has formed the epic backdrop for many international movies, including ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ BLANKET BAY LODGE – Lodge Suite (B,D)

Day 21: Queenstown / Hawke’s Bay
This morning, you are transferred to the Queenstown airport for your flight to Napier. On arrival, you are met and transferred to your lodge, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, located in the heart of Hawke’s Bay wine country. The cape is home to the world’s largest mainland gannet colony, New Zealand’s premier wine region and the vibrant Napier City, the Art Deco capital of the world. Dining can be enjoyed in one of many intimate and unique spaces throughout the lodge, all offering breathtaking views across Hawke’s Bay. The Spa at the lodge offers guests a range of treatments to rejuvenate and refresh.
The Farm At Cape Kidnappers – Ridge Suite (B,D)

Day 22: Hawke’s Bay
This morning, enjoy a private visit to the Hawke’s Bay Farmers Market held every Sunday. Hawke’s Bay enjoys a Mediterranean climate which provides a rich bounty from the land, sea and rivers. This is the food and wine capital of New Zealand, and locals shop here to meet the grower, producer or maker, and talk with them about their products. For golfers, we can arrange an afternoon tee time at the world-renowned golf course designed by Tom Doak. Green fees and carts included (clubs available on request as well as caddies). Playing high above the Pacific atop soaring cliffs, Cape Kidnappers offers challenging terrain and dramatic sea views, hailed as one of golf’s modern marvels. It has received numerous awards, including a ranking among the Top 50 golf courses in the world and is currently ranked the 33rd best golf course in the world by Golf Magazine. Many golfers have this course on their bucket lists. THE FARM AT CAPE KIDNAPPERS – Ridge Suite (B,L,D)  

Day 23: Hawke’s Bay / Taupo
This morning, you are met by private car and driver and transferred overland to Taupo. On arrival you are met and transferred to your lodge. Prior to European settlement,. In the upland heart of the North Island, Taupo is a place that owes its popularity as a resort area to the big lake of the same name stretching 40km/25mi south from the borough of Taupo to the town of Turangi. Some 40 rivers and streams, from bush country, forest and farmland, come tumbling into the lake. Lake Taupo offers some of the best trout fishing in New Zealand and is an ideal location for all kinds of water sports for the thousands of holidaymakers who visit here each year.

One of the most exclusive vacation destinations in the Southern Hemisphere, Huka Lodge provides standards of hospitality seldom achieved. The service is complete but unobtrusive, the cuisine and accommodation surpass all expectation and the location is idyllic. Originally developed as a fishing lodge in the 1920’s, Huka Lodge quickly established an international reputation for fine food and hospitality amidst great natural beauty. Huka Lodge is situated 300 meters/984 feet above Huka Falls and set within seven hectares of park-like grounds. The guest’s suites are all tucked along the riverbank for privacy and enclosed by towering trees. Within the lodge grounds there is a tennis court a hot pool and petanque court. The main lodge is a welcoming haven where guests gather in the evenings, warmed by blazing log fires. HUKA LODGE – Junior Lodge Suite (B,D)  

Day 24: Taupo / Kerikeri
This morning, you are met and driven to Rotorua. On the hour ride along the way, you enjoy some sightseeing and stop at Wai-O-Tapu. This thermal wonderland is one of New Zealand’s most colorful volcanic areas. Colors of every tint and hue are displayed in pools, lakes, craters, steam vents, mineral terraces and even the tracks you walk on. A self-guided walk takes you through stunning geothermal activity. Features include Primrose Terraces, over a hectare of naturally tinted, remarkably formed terraces, exquisite in their delicate lacework pattern, among the largest in the Southern Hemisphere since the world-famous Pink and White Terraces), Champagne Pool, a fifth of a hectare of bubbling, hissing water, with a beautiful ochre-colored petrified edge, and Bridal Veil Falls, a cascade of mineral water over a deep, terraced silica formation, changing color from glistening white and lemon to emerald green. Then, transfer to the airport for your flight from Rotorua to Kerikeri via a connection 

Upon arrival in Kerikeri airport you are met and transferred to your lodge at Kauri Cliff, less than half an hour’s drive. Set on 2428 hectares/6,000 acres near Matauri Bay, Northland, your lodge affords spectacular 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean as well as Cape Brett and the Cavalli Islands. KAURI CLIFFS LODGE – Suite (B,D)

Days 25/26: Kerikeri
These days are at leisure for you to enjoy your time at Kauri Cliffs. We can reserve a team time for you on this championship course. Green fees and carts included (clubs available on request as well as caddies). The real attraction at Kauri Cliffs is, in addition to the spectacular scenery, is the spa nestled at the edge of a totara tree forest overlooking a winding stream. Enjoy garden-inspired treatments al fresco and fireside. KAURI CLIFFS LODGE – Suite (B,D)

Day 27: Kerikeri / Auckland
Today,you are met by your private car with driver and transferred overland to your hotel in the city. Sprawling over the narrow isthmus between the Tasman and Pacific Oceans, Auckland’s waterside location and the sheer number of boats have led to the nickname the ‘City of Sails.’ Although Auckland lost its position as seat of Government in 1865, it is New Zealand’s trade capital and center of greatest population with a diverse mix of Polynesian, Asian, Maori and European cultures. Mollie’s has long been the benchmark for service and excellence in New Zealand. Thirteen magnificently appointed luxury suites offers their own balconies and unique interior features. MOLLIES LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL – Villa Suite (B)

Day 28: Auckland
This morning, explore this city. Highlights include the bustling downtown and waterfront areas and points of historic interest. Visit Mount Eden, an extinct volcano, for a 360-degree panoramic view of this sprawling city. Descend through the graceful Domain to Auckland’s War Memorial Museum, which houses one of the world’s finest collections of Maori artifacts. Pass through quaint Parnell Village and the affluent residential suburbs, then follow Tamaki Drive along the waterfront. Visit the pretty North Shore via the Harbor Bridge. Your tour end at Viaduct Harbour for lunch. In the afternoon, make your way to the marina for a sailing trip on one of the America’s cup yacht. Your two-hour sailing experience starts in the Viaduct Harbor where you meet the professional crew and are taken through a short safety briefing. The yacht then heads out of the America’s Cup Village past the syndicates and Super yachts. The sails are hoisted and passengers become the crew, encouraged to take the helm, exert energy on the grinders or simply sit back and enjoy the action as you sail down the beautiful Auckland Harbor. You make your own way back to your hotel. MOLLIES LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL – Villa Suite (B)

Day 29: Auckland / Depart
This morning you will be collected from your hotel and privately transferred to the airport, for your departure flight. (B)

 

Land price, per person, double occupancy: Per Diem: Price starts from US$1,000 per person per day

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