Australia & New Zealand
October 9-27, 2024 (19 days, 18 nights)
Guide: Doug Beauchamp
$15,949 per person*
Deposit: $500 per person
Final Payment Deadline: 6/6/2024
Guide: Doug Beauchamp
$15,949 per person*
Deposit: $500 per person
Final Payment Deadline: 6/6/2024
- TOUR OVERVIEW
Melbourne, Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Bondi Beach, Sydney Opera House, Hobbit Village, and more!
PICK UP LOCATIONS
Departure from New Orleans Airport
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Air from New Orleans and all in-country flights (7 total
16 nights 4-star and 5-star Luxury Hotel Accommodations
All Ground Transfers and Ground Transportation
Breakfast Daily, 6 Lunches and 2 Dinners
All Sightseeing & Entrance Fees
All Taxes and Tips, Including Guide & Driver
PRICING*
Double - $15,949 per person
Single - $18,649
*Pricing is based on double occupancy. $500 per person is required to reserve space and is refundable until June 6, 2024, when full payment is due. All payments are non-refundable after final payment date. 3% surcharge on credit card payments. Valid passports with at least 2 "blank" pages. Must be valid for at least 6 months past return. A color copy of passport is required with your registration and must be received no later than the final payment deadline. Travel insurance is strongly recommended .
Highlights
- Melbourne
- Phillip Island
- Penguin Parade
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- Ayers Rock
- Kata Tjuta
- Bondi Beach
- Opera House
- Queenstown
- Milford Sound
- Hobbit Village
- Glow Worm Cave
- Te Puia
- Rainbow Springs National Park
This tour’s schedule includes some early mornings, a few late nights and multiple flights over the stretch of 19 days, including a15-hour flight home and back. Participants should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances and stand for various periods of time. - Day 1, Wednesday, Oct. 9–We depart from Baton Rouge.
Day 2, Thursday, Oct. 10 – We lose a calendar day crossing the International Date Line but we regain the day on return.
Day 3, Friday, Oct. 11– Melbourne, Australia – Arrive in Melbourne. On our way to our hotel, we'll enjoy a city tour with spectacular panoramic views of the city. See the Victorian Arts Centre, Captain Cook's Cottage in Fitzroy Gardens, the Melbourne Botanical Gardens and the Queen Victorian Markets, Shrine of Remembrance and St. Patrick's Cathedral. The rest of our day is at leisure. Overnight in Melbourne.
Day 4, Saturday, Oct. 12 - Melbourne-Phillip Island - Morning at leisure. This afternoon, we tour Phillip Island, an island adventure featuring wildlife reserves, wetlands and Australia’s most popular natural wildlife attraction, the Penguin Parade. At the Koala Conservation Centre, we'll see koalas close up in their natural habitat. Tonight, we'll enjoy an early dinner before experiencing the penguin parade, a special viewing of penguins returning home at sunset. Return to hotel late this evening.
Day 5, Sunday, Oct. 13 – Cairns - We fly from Melbourne to Cairns. Board private coach to hotel. Cairns is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The rest of your day is at leisure.
Day 6, Monday, Oct. 14 – Cairns-Kurunda Tour - Enjoy an incredible rail journey as we ride the historic Kuranda Rail, taking in incredible views, before we make our way to Rainforestation, a nature park with 40 acres of gardens and rainforest. Later, we board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, moving high over the canopy. Overnight in Cairns.
Day 7, Tuesday, Oct. 15 - Green Island and Great Barrier Reef - We enjoy a catamaran cruise to beautiful Green Island for an enjoyable tour of this unique reef and rainforest coral cay. We’ll then make our way to the Outer Great Barrier Reef where you’ll have options for swimming, snorkeling, visiting an underwater observatory, or just relax on the sundeck with a delicious buffet lunch. We’ll then make our way back to Cairns and our hotel for the evening.
Day 8, Wednesday, Oct. 16 – Cairns - Ayers Rock - This morning we transfer to the airport and fly to Ayers Rock and transfer to our hotel. Rest of day at leisure.
Day 9, Thursday, Oct. 17 - Ayers Rock - Today, we begin to experience Outback Australia. We will watch the sun rise and set over Uluru (Ayers Rock). We visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park where unique flora and fauna thrive - and see the Kata Tjuta (also known as the Olgas), a group of enormous domed rock formations. Rest of day at leisure.
Day 10, Friday, Oct. 18-Sydney – Morning flight to beautiful Sydney. On the way to hotel from airport, we visit the iconic Bondi Beach. Rest of day at leisure.
Day 11, Saturday, Oct. 19 – Sydney - Our full day excursion includes a tour of the famed Opera House (performance not included), Mrs. Macquaries’ chair and breathtaking view of the harbor. Enjoy an afternoon cruise on Sydney Harbour, perhaps the world’s most beautiful. We then make our way back to our hotel.
Day 12, Sunday, Oct. 20 - Sydney - Featherdale Wildlife Park - Today we travel by private coach through Sydney to Featherdale Wildlife Park, one of Australia’s largest private collections of Australian animals. Get up close and personal with a koala, see kangaroos and marsupials, and much more. Rest of day at leisure to explore this amazing city on your own.
Day 13, Monday, Oct. 21 - Queenstown, New Zealand - Today we say goodbye to Australia and make our way to New Zealand. Our flights will take us to Auckland, and then on to Queenstown, where we’ll enjoy three nights. After we arrive at our hotel, the rest of your day is at your own leisure to explore.
Day 14, Tuesday, Oct. 22 - Queenstown, New Zealand - Today you have a completely independent day to complete your adventure ‘to do’ list - go walking, sailing, hiking, fishing, boating, golfing or anything else you desire to do.
Day 15, Wednesday, Oct. 23 – Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown - Today we enjoy a day tour through beautiful mountain scenery with a day drive along the Milford Road, one of the finest alpine drives in the world with stops to take photos and short nature walks along the way. Then we'll sit back and take a cruise on the Milford Sound, past the iconic Mitre Peak and St. Annes Point Lighthouse. Overnight in Queenstown.
Day 16, Thursday, Oct. 24 - Rotorua, New Zealand – Today we fly to Rotorua where we will stay for two nights. Rotorua is New Zealand’s geothermal wonderland (their Yellowstone) and the center of the Maori (native) culture.
Day 17, Friday, Oct. 25 – Rotorua - A full day of sightseeing. We begin at Rotorua’s Te Puia for exposure to Maori life and culture. Visit Rainbow Springs National Park, renowned for its trout and wildlife. Also enjoy an entertaining look into farming at the New Zealand Farm Show. Our day ends at the Mitai Maori Village, where we enjoy a traditional Hangi meal.
Day 18, Saturday, Oct. 26 - Rotorua-Waitomo-Auckland - We stop at the Hobbit Village, made famous by the Lord of the Rings trilogy and then on to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, via their famed Glow Worm Cave. Ride through the caverns lit by millions of glow worms. After arriving in Auckland, we will be transferred to our hotel.
Day 19, Sunday, Oct. 27 - Auckland - Home - Morning tour of Auckland including its famous Queen Street, Karangahape Road, the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Auckland Domain, the city's oldest park and one of its largest. We will then transfer to the airport for our evening flight home, arriving the same day (regaining the day lost in coming).