New Zealand, Sydney, and the

Great Barrier Reef - 14 Days

Days 1, 2
Journey to Australia. Board your overnight flight and arrive in Cairns two days later.

Day 3
Arrive in Australia!

Head to the Rainforest! We will take a high through the Rainforest and swim at a waterfall. Visit The Boulders, a creek where you might see a platypus!

Day 4
Today we will head out by boat to the breath-taking Great Barrier Reef! Spend the afternoon snorkeling, swimming, or just sun-bathing. Lunch included on the Reef. Enjoy a walking tour of the Esplanade following the cruise.

Day 5
Free time in the morning to enjoy the beach and local shops.

This afternoon we will visit an animal park to observe many unique animals only found in Australia! Cuddle a Koala Bear, feed kangaroos, and check out the Crocodiles! Those wishing to scuba dive for a full day may visit the Kuranda Wildlife Experience the following morning. Shopping at the Night Markets in the evening.

Day 6
Depart in the morning for the picturesque mountain retreat of Kuranda Village. Visit Kuranda’s shops and markets with their exotically handcrafted goods, Aboriginal artifacts, restaurants and coffee shops. Optional visit to the Kuranda Wildlife Experience to see more koala bears, kangaroos, and other Australian wildlife.

Depart in the afternoon for the Outback! Arrive in time for an Outback dinner and evening activities around the campfire. Evening activities may include a sing-a-long, nature talk, Aussie heritage show, bush poetry, slide show, nocturnal spotlighting walk etc. Tonight we will sleep under the stars of the great Australian Outback.

Day 7
Today we will take part in a variety of optional educational activities including a geology and ecology tour of the famous lava tubes and take part in bush walks and other guided activities. Free time at the pool and for self-guided hikes. Depart in the afternoon back to Cairns.

Day 8
Depart for Christchurch, New Zealand. Morning tour of New Zealand’s Garden City. Our tour will include the cathedral, canals, and free time for shopping in the city square.

Afternoon departure for Arthur’s Pass. Cross the Southern Alps arriving at the Tasman Sea late in the afternoon.

Day 9
Morning optional activity of black water rafting. Float through a galaxy world of glow-worms on subterranean lakes, experiencing the splendor and roar as you slide down underground water-falls and slides!

Depart after lunch down the coast bound for the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Along the way we will stop in Hokitika and at Pancake Rocks and the famous blow holes!

Day 10
This morning we will take a guided tour on the Franz Josef Glacier. Our guided tour on the ice will allow us to see up close the amazing ice masses as they crawl down the mountainside.

Today we will cross back over the Southern Alps as we pass through the breath-taking Haast Pass. Stopping at scenic lakes along the way, our journey will take us along Lake Hawea and down into Wanaka. Free time along the lake surrounded by the same mountains used in Lord of the Rings. Continue to Queenstown.

Day 11
Tour of Queenstown, situated next to Lake Wakatipu and provides stunning backdrops. Free time for shopping and exploring.

Day 12
Additional touring in the morning before departing for home from Queenstown or Christchurch!