Adventure Down Under - Itinerary
Begin in Australia’s magnificent Melbourne and tour the Flagstaff Gardens and the reconstructed Victoria Market. Take an excursion to Phillip Island to watch the Fairy Penguins come home from the sea. In Cairns, witness the traditional dance of the Tjpukai dancers; and board the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail, weaving through 15 tunnels and past waterfalls as you ascend above the rainforest canopy. Take a high-speed catamaran to the Outer Barrier Reef and swim, snorkel, or drift through the coral in the Subsea Explorer. Sydney, Australia’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, boasts one of the most beautiful harbors in the world. Tour the famous Opera House or enjoy a luncheon cruise on Sydney Harbor.
In New Zealand, learn about the history of Christchurch, founded as a model English settlement in the 1840s. Cross the fertile Canterbury Plains to the country’s highest mountain, Mt. Cook. Travel along Te Anau/Milford Road where frequent heavy rainfall transforms the scenery and causes the mountainsides to come alive with hundreds of waterfalls that flow torrentially and then die as soon as the rain passes. Take in the Scottish flavor of Dunedin as you tour Larnach Castle, and spend the night with a local family on a farmstay experience.
The sequence of touring and days may be altered to adjust to religious holidays, special closings of sites, air schedule changes, etc. Hotels listed subject to availability. Meal inclusions may vary by departure.
DAY 1 - USA/MELBOURNE
We depart from Nashville and fly to Los Angeles where we connect with our Qantas Airways transpacific jet. Dinner and breakfast will be served aloft. (meals aloft)
DAY 2 - INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
Today we cross the International Date Line. (meals aloft)
DAY 3 - MELBOURNE
After arrival in Melbourne we are transferred to the Radisson Flagstaff Gardens Hotel. This afternoon we enjoy an afternoon tour of the city sights, seeing the Flagstaff Gardens, the reconstructed Victoria Market, the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens, City Square and the old Customs House before our overnight. (meals aloft)
DAY 4 - MELBOURNE
We have the morning at leisure at the hotel. This afternoon we travel out of Melbourne to see the Fairy Penguin Parade. Every evening at dusk the Fairy Penguins come home from the sea at Phillip Island. We witness this natural phenomenon and also see the penguin rookeries and look for koalas in their natural habitat. Afterward we enjoy a hot lobster dinner at Taylors Hollydene Restaurant before we return to the hotel for overnight. (B,D)
DAY 5 - MELBOURNE/CAIRNS
We transfer to the airport for our flight to Cairns. After arrival we travel to the Tjpukai Cultural Theme Park and witness the traditional dance of the Tjpukai dancers. A buffet lunch is also included. We then travel aboard the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail from Cairns to Kuranda as it weaves its way through 15 tunnels and past waterfalls on our ascent above the rainforest canopy to the village of Kuranda. In Kuranda itself there is free time to explore this “village in the rainforest.” Afterwards, we transfer via coach to the Oasis Resort Cairns for overnight. (B,L)
DAY 6 - OUTER REEF CRUISE
This morning we transfer by coach to Port Douglas and on arrival board the M.V. Quicksilver, a high speed catamaran, for a day tour to the Outer Barrier Reef. Arriving at the sheltered waters of Undine Reef in just 90 minutes, the Quicksilver moors over what experts rate as one of the most spectacular sections of the Great Barrier Reef. Morning tea is served on board. You may swim, snorkel, or drift through the coral in the Subsea Explorer and watch the marine life go by from the only underwater observatory on the outer reef. A smorgasbord luncheon will be served and afternoon tea is served on the return trip to Cairns. On arrival back at Port Douglas we will be transferred to our hotel. (B,L)
DAY 7 - CAIRNS/SYDNEY
We transfer to the airport for our flight to Sydney - the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia and the capital city of the state of New Wales, and site of a recent Olympics. One of the most beautiful harbors in the world is the setting for Sydney, the industrial and commercial focal point of the South Pacific. After arrival, we enjoy an orientation tour of Sydney including the Harbor Bridge, the historic Rocks district, the Opera House and the southern beaches, before being transferred to the Waterfront Restaurant for dinner. We continue to The Grace Hotel for overnight. (B,D)
DAY 8 - SYDNEY
After a full breakfast at the hotel we take a trip to Sydney’s northern beaches. We return to the Sydney Opera House and have a tour of this famous facility. Afterward, we make our way to East Pontoon Circular where we depart on our Majestic Cruises Luncheon Cruise on Sydney Harbor. Our cruise concludes at King Street Wharf and we have a short walk back to The Grace Hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. (B,L)
DAY 9 - BLUE MOUNTAINS
The Blue Mountains are an area of mountain wilderness, of ancient forests, of ferny glades and plunging waterfalls contrasting with towns and villages overlooking dramatic sandstone bluffs and jagged monoliths. This full day “adventure” by 4-wheel drive, air-conditioned vehicle introduces us to kangaroos in the wild and native bird life of all descriptions; we will even meet a koala. There is lunch at the Hillcrest Coachman Restaurant and a visit to the Australian Wildlife Park plus the stunning sites that the Blue Mountains offer - a very special tour. (B,L)
DAY 10 - SYDNEY/CHRISTCHURCH
Today we transfer to the airport for our flight to Christchurch. Founded as a model English settlement in the 1840s, Christchurch grew quickly as the Canterbury Plains were opened up to sheep production. Its neatly tended houses and gardens, the cathedral and square and the gentle, willow-lined river Avon all bring to mind an English provincial town. After arrival, we transfer to the Copthorne Central Hotel for overnight. (B)
DAY 11 - MT. COOK/QUEENSTOWN
We depart Christchurch and travel across fertile Canterbury Plains to arrive at New Zealand’s highest mountain - Mt. Cook. Here we enjoy a buffet lunch at the Hermitage Hotel. We depart Mt. Cook and continue to the “alpine resort” of Queenstown. Overnight is at the Copthorne Lakefront Hotel. (B,L)
DAY 12 - MILFORD SOUND DAY TRIP
This morning we follow Lake Wakatipu beneath the Remarkable Ranges to Kingstown and travel on to Lake Te Anau. The Te Anau/Milford Road climbs up through spectacular mountain scenery to the Homer Tunnel before winding down to Milford Sound. Heavy rainfall is common along the route and it transforms the scenery: the mountainsides come to life with hundreds of waterfalls which flow torrentially and then die as soon as the rain passes. A launch cruise to the Tasman Sea is included today to bring the massive scale of the fjord with the famous Mitre Peak and Bowen and Stirling Falls into true perspective. A buffet lunch is included during the cruise. After our cruise we return to Queenstown and our hotel. (B,L)
DAY 13 - QUEENSTOWN/DUNEDIN
After breakfast at the hotel we travel through the historic Central Otago region to arrive at the Scottish influenced city of Dunedin. We will have city sightseeing on arrival including a visit to Larnach Castle. Tonight the group will transfer to local homes for the farmstay experience this evening. (B,D)
DAY 14 - DUNEDIN/CHRISTCHURCH
This morning we travel north along the “east coast” of the South island to the “garden city” of Christchurch. After arrival, we have an orientation tour of the city on our transfer to the Copthorne Central Hotel. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner at Le Bon Bolli. (B,D)
DAY 15 - CHRISTCHURCH/AUCKLAND/USA
Today we board our domestic flight to Auckland and connect with our flight to the States. (B,meals aloft)
