Ultimate Australia and New Zealand

We don’t just label any tour as “ultimate”. But when you’re 40 days in length and loaded with the best experiences Australia and New Zealand have to offer, well, that’s the only word that’ll do this level of adventure justice. Starting in Melbourne, you’ll make your way to the beaches of Victoria, Grampians National Park, the Daintree Rainforest, the Blue Mountains, Fiordland National Park, and a traditional Maori village — and that’s not including a million-ish other places in between. If you’re looking for the total Down Under experience, this is it.

Day 1 Melbourne
Arrive at any time.

Day 2 Melbourne
Tour Melbourne's iconic laneways and learn more about coffee culture, and pick up some great pointers for your free afternoon of exploration.

Day 3 Melbourne/Mornington Peninsula
Continue your exploration of Australia's cultural capital before travelling to the Mornington Peninsula. Stop to see Brighton's brightly coloured bathing boxes, miniature beachfront cabins that are unique to the beaches in Port Phillip Bay.

Day 4 Mornington Peninsula
Enjoy a free day in the Mornington Peninsula. Opt to visit a winery or hit one of the many incredible beaches in the area.

Day 5 Mornington Peninsula/Port Campbell
Hop on a ferry to Queenscliff before spending the day travelling along the Great Ocean Road. Pass world-famous surf beaches, enjoy views of the 12 Apostles, and walk through the rainforest in Great Otway National Park.

Day 6 Port Campbell/Halls Gap
Travel inland to Grampians National Park, known for its sandstone mountain range and impressive rock art.

Day 7 Halls Gap
Trek through the forest, lush with vegetation and wildlife. Visit the culturally significant MacKenzie Falls for a short hike. Walk to the stunning Balconies, then spend the afternoon relaxing with the locals - our resident wild kangaroos and emus.

Day 8 Halls Gap/Adelaide
Travel to Adelaide. Your CEO will point out important highlights of the city while driving in, before free time to explore the city.

Day 9 Adelaide
Today is a free day to enjoy Adelaide, capital of South Australia and famed for its churches and gardens. Opt to stroll the city streets, hop on a tram to the coastal village of Glenelg, take in a full day wine tour of the famed Barossa Valley, or for the truly adventurous, take a day trip to Kangaroo Island.

Day 10 Adelaide/Uluru
Board your flight to Yulara, in the heart of Australia's Red Centre and only a short distance to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. Experience a colourful sunset at Uluru with a glass of bubbly in hand.

Day 11 Uluru
Enjoy the Mala Walk at Uluru to learn the importance of the rock to the Indigenous people that live in the area.

Day 12 Uluru/Cairns
Fly to the oceanside city of Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 13 Cairns/Cape Tribulation
Head north to Cape Tribulation. Stop en route to explore Mossman Gorge and take an interpretive walk through the Daintree Rainforest.

Day 14 Cape Tribulation
With a free day, opt for a trip to the Great Barrier Reef or to explore Daintree National Park.

Day 15 Cape Tribulation/Cairns
Return to Cairns in the afternoon with free time to explore this laid-back city. En route, stop by Port Douglas and opt to have lunch at a local market.

Day 16 Cairns/Airlie Beach
Depart early for a full day of travel to reach Airlie Beach, enjoying scenic views along the way.

Day 17 Airlie Beach
Set sail for a day in the Whitsunday Islands, visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Opt to swim or snorkel, and hike to an island lookout over Whitehaven Beach, known for its stunning white sand. Return to Airlie Beach for the night.

Day 18 Airlie Beach/Byron Bay
Fly to Brisbane and transfer to Byron Bay for two nights in this "hippie" paradise.

Day 19 Byron Bay
Spend the day wandering the town or taking part in a multitude of optional activities like skydiving, visiting Cape Byron Lighthouse, or relaxing on the beach.

Day 20 Byron Bay/Port Macquarie
Tour an organic farm in the heart of Byron Bay before sitting down to a delicious lunch featuring local produce. Head to the coastal township of Port Macquarie, featuring all the beauty of the beach set alongside gorgeous national parks. Enjoy an evening in Port Macquarie.

Day 21 Port Macquarie/Blue Mountains
En route to the Blue Mountains, opt to stop at the Koala Hospital to learn about vital wildlife conservation work in the area.

Day 22 Blue Mountains
Travel to the majestic Blue Mountains and experience the natural beauty of this World Heritage Area. Explore the area around Leura and Katoomba and view the Three Sisters. Take a guided tour of Jenolan Caves, filled with striking limestone rock formations.

Day 23 Blue Mountains/Sydney
This morning, take a walk in Jamison Valley, and ride on the Scenic Railway, the steepest railway in the world. Continue to Sydney and head out for an orientation walk. With some free time, opt to rent a bike, stroll the botanical gardens, or visit the iconic Opera House.

Day 24 Sydney
Get a feel for the city. Relax seaside at Bondi Beach. Enjoy an optional final night out with the group.

Day 25 Sydney/Auckland
Say goodbye to Australia and hop on a flight to Auckland, New Zealand. After transferring from the airport, enjoy some free time to explore this vibrant city.

Day 26 Auckland
Enjoy a free day to explore Auckland. Visit the Maritime Museum, walk the waterfront, or even take the ferry to Waiheke Island.

Day 27 Auckland/Hahei
Depart early for the stunning Coromandel Peninsula. Take a walk to Cathedral Cove or opt out in favour of sea kayaking. If the tide is right, grab a shovel and dig a natural jacuzzi in the sand on Hot Water Beach.

Day 28 Rotorua/Maori Village
Visit Rotorua and opt to check out the geothermal area or go whitewater rafting. Later, enjoy a cultural overnight in a Maori village featuring a traditional hangi dinner and show.

Day 29 Rotorua/Wellington
Take in the ever-changing scenery of the North Island and travel to the capital, Wellington.

Day 30 Wellington
Enjoy the atmosphere in this relaxed but lively city. After an orientation walk, enjoy a free day to explore. Opt to visit the Te Papa Museum or take the cable car up to the botanical gardens.

Day 31 Wellington/Kaikoura
Fly to the South Island, then travel to the seaside town of Kaikoura, known for its diverse marine life.

Day 32 Kaikoura/Hanmer Springs
Opt to swim with dolphins or go whale watching during a free morning in Kaikoura before travelling to Hanmer Springs, stopping en route for a wine tasting at a local winery. Opt to take a soak in the hot springs.

Day 33 Hanmer Springs/Franz Josef
Take in the stunning scenery while travelling across the Southern Alps to the rugged and remote West Coast, before staying in the rainforest near the world's fastest moving glacier.

Day 34 Franz Josef
Enjoy a free day to explore the area around Franz Josef. Opt to explore the glacier with a heli hike.

Day 35 Franz Josef/Queenstown
Continue to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. With beautiful scenery and tons of activities, there's something for everyone. Enjoy the great night life.

Day 36 Queenstown
With free time here, opt to go bungee jumping (in its birthplace), jet boating (also born here!), skydiving, paragliding, hiking or mountain biking. Or take it a little slower and travel by gondola to the top of a local peak.

Day 37 Queenstown
Enjoy the stunning scenery of Fiordland National Park and Doubtful Sound on a day cruise. Take in the waterfalls and wildlife, then return to Queenstown for the night.

Day 38 Queenstown/Twizel
Head through the centre of the South Island to Twizel, near New Zealand's highest peak, Mt Cook. Visit Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and spend the afternoon hiking the region, taking in the alpine scenery. Learn more about mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary at the Visitor's Centre.

Day 39 Twizel/Christchurch
Continue on to Christchurch and take in an orientation walk with your CEO. Enjoy one final night together with the group.

Day 40 Christchurch
Depart at any time.