Combining the iconic and the untamed, this unique journey showcases the dramatic diversity of a lost continent. Each destination dances for your camera with shimmering mountains, burning desert, famous cities, and volcanic wonders. A juxtaposition of shades and colors provide the backdrop while a compelling cast of residents offer a focal point. There's always a new angle as these 13-day Australia and New Zealand photography tour exemplifies the wonders of New Zealand and Australia.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to New Zealand
Auckland provides a sleepy welcome to the continent, with New Zealand's biggest city as tranquil as they come. You'll be picked up from the airport in a luxury sedan and transferred to your hotel. After getting settled, wander around the harbor and pick a route through the city's old colonial buildings, all the while settling into the country's enduringly laid-back atmosphere. This day is at your leisure, giving you the day to adjust to the time difference and slowly explore the cute city center.
What's Included:
Day 2
A Journey Through Hobbiton
Day 3
Geysers and Maori Culture in Rotorua
Day 4
Serene Beauty in Queenstown
Day 5
A Dazzling Journey into Milford Sound
Day 6
City Sights and City Lights in Sydney
Day 7
Winding Through the Blue Mountains
Day 8
Sydney From the Water and the Bridge
Day 9
Shimmering Sunset at Uluru
Day 10
A Desert Sunrise and Onwards to Melbourne
Day 11
Rolling Along the Great Ocean Road
Day 12
Kangaroos and Koalas in the Wild
Day 13
Departure
Trip Highlights
- Gasp in delight as you wander through Hobbiton, the famous movie set, even more evocative when experienced first hand
- Capture the volcanic landscapes of Rotorua and then switch to portrait mode as you're welcomed by an indigenous Maori tribe
- Document the dramatic Fjordlands National Park, first cruising through famous Milford Sound and then taking a helicopter across the glaciers
- Immerse yourself in the wonders of Sydney, including climbing the exposed archway of Sydney Harbour Bridge and taking a boat cruise through the city
- Attach the wide-angle lens as you discover the mystical haze of the Blue Mountains, a thousand juxtaposing colors dancing before your camera
- Journey to the red heartbeat of Australia, Uluru (Ayer's Rock), burning red as the sun begins to set, the Milky Way glowing white through the night, and Kata Tjuta shimmering at dawn
- Keep filling the memory cards as you weave along the Great Ocean Road, stopping at hidden bays, secluded beaches, and famous sights like the Twelve Apostles
- Soak up the charm of Melbourne as you finish your trip in this enchanting cultural hub
Detailed Description
Australia and New Zealand offer an untamed playground for your camera, their compelling landscapes providing a stage for a photographic adventure that exudes diversity. Multiple colors dance before your lens on this Australia and New Zealand photography tour. Dramatic geology provides a visual feast while the inimitable residents ensure a rich focal point. Keep the camera ready at all times as you journey through the finest landscapes the Southern Hemisphere can offer. Just driving to a destination offers innumerable opportunities to focus and click, while both countries revel in their ability to throw in a surprise. Some scenes are tailor-made for the camera; burning red Uluru in the desert, subalpine lakes and mountains around Queenstown, or capturing Sydney from any angle. Others provide intrigue and challenge, contrasting colors requiring a good eye and careful manipulation.
It all starts in New Zealand, the volcanic North Island providing the backdrop for the first three days. After flying into Auckland, you'll be journeying back in time, descending on Middle Earth and the hypnotic Hobbiton movie set. It's quite a journey with every angle offering the iconic New Zealand countryside. Geothermal activity rumbles beneath your feet, bursting out of prehistoric looking rock in the Maori town of Rotorua. Capture the sudden explosions of water before switching to portrait mode as a Maori tribe provides a traditional greeting and evening of entertainment. Ruggedness and drama shape the South Island's landscape, your camera tested by snow-capped peaks, thunderous waterfalls, and immense fjords. And that's just when you journey to Milford Sound. Helicopter over the Fjordlands and land on an exposed glacier, and later soak up the serene beauty of Queenstown.
After five days in New Zealand, you cross the Tasman Sea and take in the vibrant cityscape of Sydney. With the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and surfers on Bondi Beach, there are plenty of iconic scenes to keep you clicking away. Compliment the city exploration with a meandering trip into the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage Site that defies the eyes. Uluru at sunset is equally iconic, but your trip into Australia's red center comes with added surprise. Open the shutter and capture the incredulous night sky, and wake before dawn to see sunrise between the domes of Kata Tjuta and the world's biggest monolith.
Each day is packed with action and intrigue, picturesque scenes greeting you from every angle. There's also plenty of time to rest and relax, after all, these countries are famed for their indelibly laid-back rhythm. Completing the itinerary are three days of unique experiences around Melbourne. Weave along the Great Ocean Road, each corner bringing countless opportunities for award-winning photos. Enjoy the scenery with rainforest tumbling into the ocean, hidden sandy bays, and cliffs cast adrift in the ocean; it's a day of disbelieving sights. Then again, so is your trip into the bush and an intimate experience with wild koalas and bouncing kangaroos.
This lost continent and tailored itinerary will excite every photographer. Combining the iconic and the unknown, this Australia and New Zealand vacation hones your skills for capturing the images that make most of the world drool.
Starting Price
$5,300 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.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.86 stars based on 2582 reviews.
This was our first trip to Australia. Zicasso’s travel agent took time to get to know our family and how we like to travel. She gathered our interests and preferences, and carefully curated an itinerary that showcased Sydney, Melbourne, and Cairns/Port Douglas, all within our budget.
This travel agent was very responsive before and during our trip, and monitored our activities to make sure we were happy. In fact, during our stay, one of our excursions (kayaking in Cairns) was canceled due to weather and she was right on top of it. She was able to book us immediately on another expedition (whale watching) of our choice. We appreciated her responsiveness.
Overall, our entire family was extremely happy with our travel agent's arrangements and had a memorable trip to Australia.
Reviewed By Joyce T.
Zicasso's travel designer put together a trip that got us to the places we wanted to see, with companies that suited our abilities and desires. He offered excellent suggestions, was always available, and was a pleasure to work with.
Reviewed By Mark H.
We very much enjoyed our time in New Zealand and Australia. The tours were all very good. Zicasso's travel agent and our tour partner were very responsive and helpful throughout the planning phase and while we were on vacation.
The only feedback we have is that the hotels selected, other than the hotels in New Zealand, did not have the amenities we were hoping to get from four-star properties. We'll do a better job of indicating what we need in hotel selections moving forward, but we thought the hotels could have been a notch better than they were.
Reviewed By Tim G.
I would use our travel company again in a minute! Zicasso's travel consultant really “got me” and designed the perfect trip for us.
The highlights especially included picking perfect places for us to stay (close to most everything we were doing and in the heart of the cities). The tours, both private and small group, gave us not only what we asked for, but even more that we didn’t know existed.
The itinerary was as detailed as it could possibly be, describing the day, what to bring, names and phone numbers to call if there were issues, and who we needed to call to confirm future tour dates.
One of our highlights was the penguin experience. Our guide was great and our trip planner got us “plus” tickets, which I would definitely recommend. Finally, she provided us with the necessary info and guides (where necessary) for our amazing hikes.
Reviewed By Ellin A.
Zicasso's travel specialists were fantastic! They provided excellent and unique recommendations. As a traveler seeking adventure and outdoor experiences, they completely understood my needs. Additionally, all accommodations were high quality, communication was very clear, and pricing was reasonable. I would strongly recommend them to anyone traveling to Australia/New Zealand.
Reviewed By Emil S.
We absolutely loved so much of our trip! My kids’ (ages 11 and eight) favorite activities were luging in Rotorua, NZ, and the sunset camel ride in Uluru, AU, while my husband and I were enchanted by Hobbiton and enjoyed exploring a glowworm cave with the owner's father! We all loved Tasmania.
There were a few hiccups. However, we were very happy with all the support the Zicasso travel company's team provided in real time to help us get back on track.
The overall trip was fantastic. My husband and I appreciated having the team support our adventures, both the highs and the lows. The team members were detailed-oriented. This trip exceeded our expectations and we’re incredibly grateful for their expertise in curating such memorable experiences.
Reviewed By Sivly R.