Trinity beach in Cairns, Australia

Hidden Gems of Australia & New Zealand for Seniors

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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, Uluru (Ayers Rock) & Kata, Darwin, Kakadu National Park...

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Suggested Duration

15 Days

On this adventurous 15-day vacation, you will do as the locals do, from listening to Aboriginal stories by the fire to tracking marsupials and vibrant city art. In Australia and New Zealand, you can venture off the beaten track to discover the authenticity of increasingly popular destinations. Handcrafted for senior travelers, this laid-back itinerary will help you connect with the soul of both Australia and New Zealand, from misunderstood pasts to the gregariousness of today.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Soak up Aboriginal stories during an evening of local history in Australia’s red outback
  • Lounge away an afternoon on a wonderfully off-the-beaten-track Coromandel beach, which is a spot that only locals know of
  • Experience Australia’s most untouched national park during a two-day Kakadu adventure tailored for senior visitors
  • Join the locals for a breathtaking day of Pacific sailing near Auckland
  • Experience the soul of Melbourne during an offbeat street art tour that connects the past with the present
  • Culminate your vacation with two days of wine tasting which will be led by winemakers and cellar masters in the Hawkes Bay vineyards
  • Discover Australia’s wildlife with a stunning day of encounters with kangaroos and koalas with expert guides who know where to look
  • Savor a day with a small Maori community, which is an authentic experience that helps you to cut through stereotypes and preconceptions
  • Slowly explore some of the region’s most delightful urban locales with time dedicated to Auckland, Darwin, and Napier

Detailed Description

Australia and New Zealand are both enormous countries. There is so much to do and see here, even if most itineraries stick to the same places and activities. Venturing off the beaten track is straightforward here and is an opportunity to discover an authenticity that most other visitors miss. During this adventurous 15-day vacation, you will explore a mix of well-known and lesser-known destinations, enjoying unique activities that will showcase the essence of these breathtaking nations. You will be able to partake in Aboriginal stories by the fire, tasting with winemakers, admiring wild kangaroos, and being immersed in the Maori way of life.

Everything over the 15 days is tailored to senior travelers. The pace is casual and laid-back with a new experience each day, but there are also no long days overly packed with activities. You can also set the pace of your discoveries, so that you are able to explore at a pace that is right with you. Handpicked hotels and lodges will ensure that you are comfortable while allowing you to bask in the charms of your destinations. A premium is placed on providing you with some of the countries’ best local guides. All your destinations can only be truly understood when you are in the hands of locals or people who can narrate the present and help you to experience the past.

You will begin your journey in Melbourne, where you will be immersed in city art and the charms of an incredibly cultural city. With three nights, you can rest after the flight and even venture out to Victoria’s wildernesses. Here, kangaroos will hop by you, koalas hang in trees, and you can experience Australia’s wildlife while staying in the city. Afterward, you will fly to Uluru for two nights of the desert and Aboriginal connections, which will be complete with burning red colors the dazzling Southern stars after dark. Darwin and Kakadu National Park will complete your Australian leg and are two destinations that are well known but have really preserved their off-the-beaten-track feel.

After flying to New Zealand, you will have two nights in Auckland with locals that will show you charming neighborhoods and Pacific waters. After a day of sailing, you will have two days on the Coromandel Peninsula, where off-the-beaten-track beaches will provide you with some downtime, and here, you can have intimate Maori connections. Napier and the nearby Hawkes Bay vineyards will prove to be a bucolic place to culminate your vacation, and your tour will include tasting with vineyard owners and savoring the landscapes. Like elsewhere in the country, you will find that you do not need to travel into the wild in order to venture off the beaten track and to enjoy incredibly authentic experiences.

Starting Price

$4,870 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

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

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