iExplore Australia and New Zealand Experience

Tour Description

Australians and New Zealanders are friendly, the lifestyle is relaxed and informal, the sun shines and the beaches are golden: "Down Under" is a vacation paradise, especially for family travelers. The seasons here are exactly opposite those of the U.S. or Canada, making Australia the perfect place to spend the "winter" holidays in summertime splendor. Our summer - Australia's winter - months of June, July and August are great times to explore the rainforests of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef or the central continent's Outback. Neighboring New Zealand offers the same seasonal patterns, with slightly lower temperatures overall.

Itinerary

Day 01 - ARRIVE AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

On arrival in Auckland you are met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Your room will be available for immediate occupancy and the remainder of your morning is at leisure to relax after your flight.

Auckland is a colorful, vibrant metropolis and the city's spectacular setting on the sparkling Waitemata Harbor gives rise to its title 'City of Sails'. Its most obvious landmarks are the Harbor Bridge, the Sky Tower and Rangitoto Island, the region's youngest volcano. Here t you can enjoy the magnificent harbor, walk and hike in the hills of bush where native flora and fauna abound or partake in the activities of the city.

In the afternoon, depart on a scheduled coach tour of Auckland. Your afternoon tour commences an exclusive Native New Zealand Encounter Show at the Auckland Zoo, where you will have the opportunity to view the native birds and reptiles that are so special to New Zealand. Enjoy a coffee cruise sailing on the spectacular waters of the Waitemata Harbor before concluding with a visit to the Sky Tower, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere at 328 meters (1000 ft) that was built to take you to an all time high.

Poised above the Viaduct Basin, The Heritage Auckland Hotel was once Auckland's grandest department store. Restoration of the original timbers, native matai floorings and beams compliment the art deco design. The 'suite style' accommodation offers luxuriously appointed rooms many of which are fully self-contained. There is a tennis court, Health Club and an indoor pool while restaurants, cafes and shops are within walking distance.

Heritage Auckland Hotel

Day 02 - AUCKLAND - WAITOMO - ROTORUA

Depart Auckland this morning on a scheduled coach tour heading south through the rich farmland of the Waikato and onto Waitomo. You will have a lunch stop at the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

After lunch begin your guided tour through the long galleries and lofty chambers of the caves. Your tour concludes with a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto, illuminated by thousands of tiny lights from the glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling. Board your coach and continue onto Rotorua.

Rotorua is New Zealand's cultural heartland. The earth's crust is so thin that it's molten heart bubbles and steams at the surface.

This evening enjoy a Maori Cultural Experience and feast at Mitai beginning with an entertaining performance with haunting melodies of Maori songs and the twirling poi (pompoms) while the men will perform a traditional Haka (war dance). Following the spine tingling melodies enjoy the Hangi meal, an authentic Maori feast, introducing you to a variety of their traditional food such as kumara (sweet potato), mussels and pork. At the conclusion of the performance you will be returned to your hotel.

The Millennium Rotorua is situated just a brief stroll from the edge of beautiful, mystical Lake Rotorua and only minutes from key tourist attractions. The public areas have a distinct Polynesian feel and guest rooms feature stunning marble bathrooms and a charming residential-style décor.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Millennium Rotorua Hotel

Day 03 - ROTORUA - QUEENSTOWN

After breakfast depart on a sightseeing tour of Rotorua and visit the Te Puia Thermal Reserve and Maori Arts & Crafts. After the tour concludes this afternoon you are transferred to the Rotorua airport for your scheduled flight to Queenstown. Please note that all flights are subject to change.

On arrival in Queenstown you are met and transferred to the Heritage Queenstown, your home for the next two nights. The balance of the day is at leisure.

Queenstown is situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by rolling farmlands and mountains. As well as being a base for countless outdoor activities, Queenstown is oriented towards visitors in its shopping and recreational facilities.

Standing above the shores of Lake Wakatipu with magnificent view of the majestic Remarkables Mountain Range, The Heritage Queenstown is just a short distance from the town center and is crafted from centuries-old schist stone and cedar, with the ambience of a European style alpine lodge. All the rooms reflect the hotel's high country heritage.

Breakfast

Heritage Queenstown

Day 04 - QUEENSTOWN - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN

Enjoy a full day scheduled Milford Sound Day Tour. Travel by luxury coach for your tour to the World Heritage listed Milford Sound. Your 290 kilometer drive is reputed to be one of the finest drives in the world. After morning tea at Te Anau the road passes stunning scenery: clear icy alpine lakes, a variety of outstanding forests, river flats and lupin-fringed meadows, pristine waterfalls, hulking granite peaks and permanent snowfields. Travel through the Homer Tunnel and then burst out into a breathtaking amphitheater of snow-covered peaks and precipices at the head of Cleddau Canyon before zigzagging steeply down through the rain forest to board your scenic cruise for lunch on spectacular Milford Sound.

Return to Queenstown by road, or if you have elected to take the optional scenic flight (extra cost) back to Queenstown, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight. (Should weather be inclement and not permit flying you will return by road).

Breakfast, Lunch

Heritage Resort

Day 05 - QUEENSTOWN - CHRISTCHURCH

Enjoy the morning at leisure in Queenstown.

Optional activities in the area include: golfing at Millbrook Resort, a cable car ride on the Skyline Gondola, parapenting, a private artists and vineyards tour, a private tour of Skippers Canyon by 4WD, an adrenaline pumping ride on the Shotover Jet or bungee jumping.

This afternoon, meet your local representative in the hotel lobby and transfer to the Queenstown airport for your scheduled flight to Christchurch. (Not included)

On arrival in Christchurch you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your accommodation.

Christchurch is known as New Zealand's "Garden City" and is the largest of the South Island's centers. The tree-lined Avon River meanders through its heart and the neo-gothic Christchurch Cathedral presides over "The Square", retaining something of the essentially English nature of its origins. The public spiritedness bequeathed by Christchurch's founders ensures that a third of the city is preserved in gardens, parks and nature reserves.

Located picturesquely in the heart of Christchurch overlooking its very own "Central Park," the George Hotel is a very individual boutique just a step away from all the key attractions including the tram, arts market, restaurants, theaters and gardens.

Breakfast

The George Hotel

Day 06 - CHRISTCHURCH - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Enjoy a half-day scheduled city tour of Christchurch. Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island and one of the most beautiful in New Zealand with its large public gardens, parks, rivers and the majestic backdrop of the Port Hills. Your morning tour takes you around the city's highlights and historic sites including the Canterbury Museum, a visit to the fascinating International Antarctic Center, the Christchurch Arts Center and Botanic Gardens, followed by the Port Hills for panoramic views across the Canterbury Plains. Your tour concludes at your accommodation.

Transfer to Christchurch International Airport to board your scheduled flight to Sydney, Australia. (Not included).

On arrival in Sydney, you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Sydney, the capital of the state of New South Wales, is Australia's most well known city. With its extraordinary icons both natural and man-made, this is a city that never fails to please the eye. Its magnificent natural harbor is spanned by the 'coat hanger', the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the man-made sails of the Sydney Opera House are just some of its most widely photographed views.

Located in the heart of Sydney, The Grace Hotel is housed in an elegantly restored 1930 Neo Gothic building complemented by charming Art Deco interiors. Fronting three of Sydney's most prominent streets, York, King and Clarence, you will enjoy this prime location only minutes from Darling Harbor, Cockle Bay and King Street Wharf.

Breakfast

The Grace Hotel

Day 07 - SYDNEY

Today's tour begins at Sydney's historic Rocks area known for its narrow cobbled streets and convict buildings. Continuing on visit the Sydney Domain and Royal Botanic Gardens and stroll out to view Mrs Macquarie's Chair for an unsurpassed view of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Rejoining your vehicle proceed along the shores of Sydney Harbour, past exclusive suburbs and stop at the beautiful Sydney Harbour National Park for morning tea.

Return to the city after visiting Sydney's famous Bondi Beach for your luncheon cruise. A commentator will point out the sites of the unsurpassed views of this beautiful harbor and its icons, the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge.

Breakfast, Lunch

The Grace Hotel

Day 08 - SYDNEY - AYERS ROCK

Transfer to the Sydney domestic airport to board your scheduled flight to Ayers Rock. (Not included)

On arrival in Ayers Rock you are met and transferred to your accommodation.

This afternoon, enjoy an Olgas and Dunes tour. The afternoon Olgas and Dunes tour introduces you to the Central Australian arid desert. Leaving mid-afternoon, the guide explains the nature of the desert and its development. A short walk to the dune lookout provides a spectacular panoramic view of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a very sacred place to the Aboriginal people.

Arriving at Olga Gorge, walk into the mystical place and hear how it has evolved over millions of years. The scale of the walls and the wind far above, add a sense of mystery. The blue sky deepens and the great domes of the Olgas flush red as the group retires to the sunset viewing area. Celebrate the fantastic color changes wrought by the sunset with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. Sit back and absorb the desert solitude or relax and chat to your guide about Australia's red center. The spectacle fades as you return to Yulara beneath a sky of brilliant stars.

Sails in the Desert provide comfort and luxury right in the heart of Central Australia. Relax in spacious, airy and exquisitely furnished rooms, enjoy a cocktail in the award winning park-like grounds, or sit back and relax under the magnificent white sails that give the hotel its name.

Breakfast

Sails in the Desert Hotel

Day 09 - AYERS ROCK - CAIRNS - PALM COVE

Beginning prior to sunrise, this 9.4 kilometers walk, including a light breakfast, will introduce you to the geology of Uluru and you will hear how plants and wildlife have adapted and survived in such a forbidding environment. Hear of the relationship of the Anangu people to Uluru, which provided shelter, water and a tangible link with their creation ancestors. On the walk around the base hear and see the creation time stories of these ancient people unfold, see where they lived and carried out ceremonies. From a distance Uluru is spectacular; from close up it is powerful and deeply moving.

Late morning transfer to the Ayers Rock airport to board your scheduled flight to Cairns. (Not included).

On arrival in Cairns you will be met and transferred to Palm Cove.

The Beaches of Cairns stretch for 26 kilometers along a beautiful coastline beginning north of the city. One of them is Palm Cove, just 20 minutes north of Cairns and considered one of the top ten beaches in Australia. Palm Cove's beach offers warm tropical water year round and a silky sandy beach lined with majestic palm trees with beautiful views of the Coral Sea. These are the ingredients for an idyllic tropical holiday; warm seas, watersports and uncrowded sand with a sweeping backdrop of rainforest mountains.

Sebel Reef House is a charming boutique hotel, capturing the essence of the tropics with natural Australian style and offering elegant superbly appointed accommodation, three swimming pools, spa and a choice of restaurants and bars.

Breakfast

Sebel Reef House

Day 10 - GREAT BARRIER REEF

Transfer to Marina Mirage for today's cruise to the Outer Barrier Reef. Board 'Quicksilver' and cruise to Agincourt Reef lying within the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This reef is renowned for its water clarity and coral formations. The Agincourt Reef lagoon is ideal for swimming and snorkeling and is amongst the best in the world. During the day enjoy a buffet lunch. Sunbathe, snorkel, dive or view the reef up close from the underwater observatory - the choices seem endless.

Breakfast, Lunch

Sebel Reef House

Day 11 - PALM COVE

Today is at leisure to enjoy optional activities. Options include: golf at a nearby course, swimming in the ocean, wander along the foreshore under the waving palm trees or have a massage or spa treatment at the hotel. Additional services booked are payable directly.

Breakfast

Sebel Reef House

Day 12 - PALM COVE - CAIRNS, DEPART

Transfer to Cairns International airport for your departing flight.

Breakfast

Departures

Depart any day! Contact an iExplore Adventure Consultant for details.

Pricing Information

2011 Prices- valid January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012

$4,829 per person double occupancy

$7,729 solo traveler

Above rates are not valid during Rugby World Cup- September 1 to October 25, 2011. Please contact iExplore for an exact quote for travel over this period.

Prices for your dates of travel may vary- please contact iExplore for an exact quote. Quoted prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of January, 2010. iExplore reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes received after prices are published, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. iExplore is under no obligation to give breakdown costs involved in any package.

Inclusions:

· Airport meet and assistance

· Accommodations as indicated in the itinerary; Heritage Hotel (Superior Room); Millennium Hotel (Standard Room); Heritage Resort (Deluxe Room); The George Hotel (Executive Room); The Grace Hotel - Sydney (Superior Room); Sebel Reef House (Verandah Room)

· Meals as indicated in the itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

· Services of licensed professional local guides for sightseeing excursions

· Airport transfers and sightseeing by private air-conditioned vehicle, except the following tours on a non-exclusive basis:

o Auckland "Must do Three" Tour

o Coach transfer to Rotorua via Waitomo Caves

o Mitai Cultural Experience and Feast

o Milford Sound Tour

o Christchurch City Tour

o Sydney City Sights Tour, including morning tea

o Sydney Harbor Luncheon Cruise

o Ayers Rock Tours

o Outer Barrier Reef Cruise

· Entrance fees while sightseeing

· 24-hour on the ground assistance

Exclusions:

· International airfare into Auckland, Christchurch-Sydney, and from Cairns

· Domestic flights from Auckland-Queenstown, Sydney-Ayers Rock-Cairns

· Scenic flight Milford Sound-Queenstown

· Airport taxes

· Meals, unless otherwise indicated

· Items of a personal nature

· All optional touring

· Gratuities and porterage

· Holiday surcharges

· Travel insurance

· Visas (if required)

All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.

Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

Options and Extras

Tour Notes