The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia

An Eclectic Australia & New Zealand Tour: Nature, Culture & Gastronomy

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Australia, New Zealand

Places Visited

Melbourne, Daintree National Park, Sydney, Blenheim...

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Suggested Duration

18 Days

Australia and New Zealand are defined my so many different images and experiences that only come from the South Pacific: spectacular marine worlds, shimmering alpine landscapes, indigenous cultures, unusual wildlife, famous cities, tropical rainforests and a glowing desert. This luxury Australia and New Zealand tour seamlessly connects them all with a journey that dances with both iconicity and diversity. In less than three weeks,...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Explore the cultural charms of Australia's famous cities with nights spent in Melbourne and Sydney
  • Discover the evocative native wildlife with the observation of kangaroos and koalas in the wild and unusual tropical birds
  • Journey into the red center of Australia and watch Uluru change color at sunset; then travel across the white peaks of the Fjordlands and find New Zealand's alpine paradise
  • Intimately explore the marine wonders of Oceana, including a day at the Great Barrier Reef and a day of whale watching off the eastern coast of New Zealand
  • Connect with indigenous cultures by spending a morning in the bush with an Aboriginal guide and an evening in a traditional Maori community
  • See the two countries from the air with a unique hot air balloon ride over the Atherton Tablelands and a helicopter ride across the World Heritage Fjordlands
  • Feast your senses on the countries' best local produce, with wine tasting excursions and foodie tours
  • Relax and indulge as you cruise across a lake on a traditional steamer and soar along the Parramatta River

Detailed Description

Australia and New Zealand are two huge countries that could take lifetimes to explore fully. A single destination on the itinerary could be as diverse as cruising on a fjord combined with wine tasting at a country estate. The challenge is often which way to turn and how to fit it all in. There is always somewhere and something to grab your attention, another experience that seems to so quintessential for a vacation to these evocative South Pacific islands.

This 18-day New Zealand and Australia itinerary has been carefully tailored to incorporate an inspiring sweep of every famed experience that Australia and New Zealand's have to offer. Be immersed in nature and the wild, discover everything from the red desert to the white wonderlands of the South Island. Cities provide cultural tones and world-renowned skylines, while quaint towns symbolize the serene atmosphere of the continent. Tours take you deep into world wonders, from the delights of the ocean to the mystique of the fjords. From hot air balloon rides to sunset at Uluru, sublime beaches to the Maori haka, this eclectic tour ensures you connect all sides of these countries in less than three weeks.

Spend your first days in Australia with a loop around the country with direct flights from Melbourne to Uluru, then to Daintree before finishing in Sydney. Among the highlights are wild kangaroo mobs outside Melbourne, a lodge in the Daintree Rainforest, hot air ballooning above the rolling Atherton Tablelands, and an inspired food tour through Sydney. Also, enjoy the World Heritage sites, like the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta, the Sydney Opera House, and the Great Barrier Reef. All tours are private, and a series of luxurious hotels continue the immersion in all things Down Under.

Continue as you fly to New Zealand and the South Island showcases the sheer, natural indulgence and diversity of the country. Go wine tasting in rolling green landscapes, then explore the marine world to find six whale species. Rove across pristine alpine peaks, then cruise through the fjords and spend a day on a historic steamer ship on Lake Wakatipu. With your flight to the North Island, you have a couple of days to experience Maori culture, volcanic colors, and Middle Earth. While the itinerary incorporates a lot at each stop, travel time is rather short!  You usually spend three nights at a destination before a direct flight to the next stop. 

Starting Price

$5,845 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

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4.85 stars based on 822 reviews.

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