Wonders of Australia and New Zealand

Day 1 Flight to Sydney (Australia)

Departure by scheduled flight to Sidney. Overnight on board

Day 2 In flight

Many flights spend this day in flight, although there are some flights arriving in Sydney this day in the evening. Check

Day 3 – Arrival in Sydney (Australia)

Arrival in Sydney. Private transfer to the hotel.
Time to rest and familiarize ourselves with this beautiful city.
Lodging.

Day 4 Sidney. Blue Mountains

Breakfast and lunch.
Regular small group tour (maximum 14 people) with English speaking driver guide and IPOD commentary in English, to visit Blue Mountains National Park.
Our first stop is at Calmsley Hill Farm, a sheep farm, also home to kangaroos, wallabies, emus, wombats and koalas. We will enjoy morning tea with time to observe the native animals.
From here we will ascend into the Blue Mountains with views of the Jamison Valley with stops at nice spots. We will stop at Eaglehawk with its viewpoint overlooking the Three Sisters, a rock particular to the park. The guide will tell the legend related to this rock.
Lunch (2 courses) in the village of Blackheath at the Hydro Majestic, with beautiful views. Tea and coffee (drinks not included).
In the afternoon we will proceed to Govetts Leap viewpoints overlooking the waterfalls that drop 180 meters to the base of the cliff. Stop briefly for a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice at the lovely Blue Mountains Botanic Garden (Mt Tomah) with views of Sydney on the return journey via Bells Line of Road, fruit growing area. Arrival at the hotel in the afternoon.
Accommodation.

Day 5 Sidney. Guided tour and harbor cruise

Breakfast and dinner.
In the morning we will have a half day tour with driver-guide in English and IPOD commentary in Spanish.
The tour includes a walk through the historic district The Rocks, origin of Sydney. Views of the Opera House, the Conservatorium of Music, Hyde Park or green lung of downtown, the beautiful St Mary’s Cathedral, the Parliament House, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Botanical Gardens, the Town Hall and the Sydney Tower, the Darling Harbour district. Stop at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for a panoramic photo with the bridge and Opera House in the background. Views of the Royal Australian Navy Base on Garden Island, then crossing the nightlife entertainment district Kings Cross, visiting the famous Bondi Beach and crossing the historic Paddington district, returning to the center via Chinatown.
Afternoon at leisure.
In the evening, Captain Cook cruise on Sydney Harbour with dinner (4 courses a la carte and sparkling wine, beer and soft drinks).
Accommodation.

Day 6 Sydney – Ayers Rock (flight)

In the morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ayers Rock. Arrival and transfer to the hotel by shared hotel shuttle.
The afternoon is free. It is possible to tour the resort, enjoy the hotel pool or Aboriginal activities, take a camel ride or go to the Field of Lights to see the desert night light display (any of these additional activities can be pre-booked).
Lodging.

Day 7 Ayers Rock. Kata Tjuta National Park: The Olgas and Uluru

Picnic breakfast and snack with sparkling wine or juice at sunset.
60′ before sunrise, we will depart on a small group excursion to Kata Tjuta National Park (max, 11 people, English speaking guide, IPOD commentary in English).
Pick up at the hotel. We will drive about 40 km through the desert to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). We will enjoy the serenity of the sunrise of this spiritual place while the sun’s rays change the color of the monoliths. We will walk to the best position to observe the 36 rocks at sunrise, then we will go to the west side of the rock where we will be served a typical picnic breakfast. We will then walk along the Walpa trail to the grotto, a sacred place for aboriginal ceremonies. As we walk among these huge rocks, the guide will explain about the geology of the site that has evolved over millions of years. Transfer back to the resort. Duration: 5 hrs.
Time for rest and another excursion in the afternoon.
Depart on a small group excursion to Uluru (max 11 people, English speaking guide, IPOD commentary in Spanish).
Pick up at the hotel. We will watch the sunset at Uluru. With the vehicle, we will drive around the base of the rock and then walk to Mutijulu Waterhole, a semi-permanent waterhole where the guide will explain the Aboriginal legends of the snakes Liru and Kuniya and the story of Tjukurpa (dreaming time) while contemplating the Aboriginal art on the rock and the sacred significance of this rock in the Aboriginal culture of the Anangu tribe, custodians of the place. Finally we will go to Talinguru Nyakunytjaku to observe from this viewpoint the changing color of the rock as the sun sets on the horizon. We will be served a glass of sparkling wine and canapés. Transfer back to the resort. Duration: 5 hrs.
Accommodation.

Day 8 Ayers Rock – Cairns (flight)

Breakfast and free morning to enjoy the resort’s free activities and explore the indigenous gallery. Optional helicopter flight or horseback ride at sunrise.
Transfer to the airport by resort shuttle. Departure by flight to Cairns. Arrival and private transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation.

Day 9 Cairns. Daintree National Park

Breakfast and lunch.
Excursion with English speaking driver/guide to the World Heritage Rainforest: Daintree National Park.
We will travel 75 kms north of Cairns, passing through sugar cane plantations. Entry to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, a crocodile farm, where you can feed cassowaries, see crocodiles jumping near you and meet Australia’s fearsome snakes and colorful tropical birds. Continue north to the Daintree River.
1 hour boat ride on the Daintree River during which we will see the interesting flora and fauna of the rainforest and their skillful survival in fresh and salt water. We will also spot estuarine crocodiles in their mangrove habitat. Lunch at Daintree Tea House Restaurant. Our host Richard will give us a tasting of tropical fruits. Tea/coffee/refreshing drink. Next we will visit the Mossman Gorge, of special significance to its custodians, the Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal tribe. With our guide we will walk along a series of elevated trails in the forest, which allow us to appreciate the diverse environment of tropical species of plants, birds and animals, without destroying this delicate ecosystem, considered the oldest surviving on the planet. Then we will have time to visit the Aboriginal art gallery of the Mossman Gorge Centre, with outstanding works by local artists. Parallel return to the Coral Sea at sunset, arriving at the hotel approx 17:00 hrs.
Accommodation.

Day 10 Cairns. Great Barrier Reef Excursion

Breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
Today we include a cruise on the Great Barrier Reef, the largest tropical marine park in the world.
Morning departure on Reef Magic cruise on a 90′ trip to Marine World, located on the Outer Barrier Reef at Moore Reef. Time in the reef marsh for activities and lunch.
Includes: snorkel gear and flotation vests, marine biologist presentation aboard ship on trip to the reef, semi-submersible boat ride and glass bottom boat ride, underwater observatory, fish feeding, hot and cold buffet lunch, tea/coffee and water throughout the day.
Optional guided snorkeling tour for beginners (30′) or advanced (50′), introductory diving or other activities.
In the afternoon, return trip to Cairns pier. Arrival at the pier.
Accommodation.

Day 11 Cairns – Melbourne (flight)

Breakfast.
Private transfer to the airport for flight to the beautiful and cosmopolitan city of Melbourne. Arrival and private transfer to the hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Accommodation.

Day 12 Melbourne. Guided tour

Breakfast.
City tour with driver/guide in English (maximum 11 paxs), to tour this cosmopolitan city of beautiful parks and gardens surrounding the center, and beautiful buildings of Victorian architecture, harmonizing beautifully with modern architecture.
We will see the Bourke St Mall and Collins Street, the financial center, Victoria Markets (visit, except Monday and Wednesday which is closed) St Paul’s Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral (visit) the Princess and Regent theaters, the Royal Exhibition Building, Federation Square. We will visit Fitzroy Gardens (where Captain Cook’s hut is located, entrance not included), pass by the MCG and the Rod Laver Arena, home of the Open Tennis Tournament. Stop at the War Memorial Basilica or stroll through the Botanical Gardens. View of the Southbank and its cafes facing the Yarra River and the state-of-the-art Crown complex and Las Vegas-style casino. Crossing the West Gate Bridge we will reach the St Kilda neighborhood and the waterfront, with panoramic views of downtown. Entrance to the Melbourne Sky Deck for a panoramic view of the city.
Afternoon at leisure. Overnight.

Day 13 Melbourne. Great Ocean Road

Breakfast.
Today we will take a full day tour in English to the Great Ocean Road (max 11 people; if at least 4 people can be done in English), known as the Shipwreck Coast.
We will pass through beautiful coastal villages and local summer resorts such as Torquay, Lorne, Apollo Bay. We will walk through the native forests of Otway National Park and photograph “The 12 Apostles” from the natural viewpoints at the edge of the cliff. These giant boulders are the result of erosion by sea and wind that began nearly 20 million years ago. The Great Ocean Road was built by almost 3,000 soldiers returning from World War I, in a project that lasted 14 years, and in tribute to the fallen compatriots in the war. Finally, we will stop in Port Campbell and return by the internal route via Colac, arriving in Melbourne at dusk, admiring the illuminated city as we cross the Westgate Bridge.
Accommodation.

Day 14 Flight Melbourne – Auckland (New Zealand)

Breakfast. Private transfer to the airport for flight to Auckland. Arrival and private transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation.

Day 15 Auckland. Guided tour and bus to Rotorua

Breakfast. Today we will have a guided tour of the city of Auckland with English speaking guide including the main areas of interest of the city: the University of Auckland, the Domain public park where you will visit the Auckland Museum with an important collection of Polynesian artifacts, wakas, marae, as well as natural history where you can see the skeleton of the Moa and a tuatara, a prehistoric reptile descendant of the dinosaurs. Continuation of the tour to Parnell, a downtown neighborhood with Victorian cottages converted into cafes, galleries and boutiques. Walk along Paritai Drive, with its luxury mansions overlooking the sea, and continue along the Tamaki waterfront to Mission Bay. The tour ends at the Sky Terminal to take the bus to Rotorua. Upon arrival at the Rotorua terminal, transfer to the hotel by shared shuttle.
Accommodation.

Day 16 Rotorua. Visit to Hobbiton Movie Set and Te Puia.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Regular guided tour in English to Hobbiton Movie Set. We will drive to the village of Matamata on a 2.5 hour tour of the 1250 acre Alexander Sheep Farm with spectacular views over the Kaimai Ranges. We will see how this farm was transformed into a film set for the movies Mr. of the Rings and The Hobbit, the hobbit “cottages”, the Green Dragon Inn, the Mill, etc. Return to the hotel in Rotorua. Lunch at the Party Marquee buffet. Return to Rotorua.
In the afternoon, transfer to Te Puia.
Guided tour of Te Puia including the school of wood and jade carving, view of the art gallery. Continue to Whakarewarewa geothermal valley, view of the Pohutu geyser that erupts several times a day, the bubbling boiling mud lake, see the kiwi bird in its nocturnal habitat, and visit a pre-European Maori village.
We will follow a fascinating Maori cultural show Te Po followed by a buffet dinner. Later transfer to Pohutu geyser for a hot chocolate while watching the geyser illuminated at night. Return to the hotel.
Lodging.

Day 17 Rotorua – Queenstown (flight)

Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Queenstown, the most fun city in New Zealand.
Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation.

Day 18 Queenstown. Visit of the city and Arrowtown

Breakfast and lunch.
In the morning, guided tour in English 3 hours shared with other people to tour the city and the picturesque mining town of Arrowtown.
(Possibility of guide in Spanish with supplement).
We will know the attractions of Queenstown and in Arrowtown, we can visit the small Lake District Museum or just walk through the streets “Wild West” style and visit the Chinese settlement (brought during the gold rush that turned Arrowtown into one of the richest sources of placer gold in the world). We will also stop at the Kawarau River Bridge to see the famous Bungy Jumping and see the Secret of Bungy tour that tells the origin of this New Zealand creation. Wine tasting in the wine region, with a visit to Gibbston Valley Winery and Cheese Factory, one of the “boutique wineries” of the Otago region.
Continue with a steamboat cruise on Lake Wakatipu and visit Walter Peak Farm, gourmet barbecue lunch at the Homestead Colonial.
Afternoon at leisure. Overnight.

Day 19 Queenstown. Milford Sound

Breakfast and lunch.
Today we will enjoy an excursion to Milford Sound. Regular excursion in English (commentary by headphones recorded in Spanish at certain points of interest), full day.
In the morning we will go by bus to Fiordland National Park, the largest national park in New Zealand. The tour starts along Lake Wakatipu and at the foot of the mountains, passing scenic valleys and finally arriving at Te Anau, where we will stop for a drink. Continue to Milford Sound crossing the Eglinton Valley with dense beech forests and waterfalls. Short stop at Mirror Lakes, continuing through the Hollyford Valley and the Homer Tunnel (1.2 km) built into the solid rock of the mountain.
Upon arrival in Milford, we will board the cruise ship to enjoy the wonderful scenery of mountains, native forests, the spectacular Sterling Falls, the rock walls rising vertically from the water at 1200 m and the silhouette of the famous Mitre Peak. Picnic lunch on board the cruise ship.
Return to Queenstown by bus (optional return by light aircraft).
Lodging.

Day 20 Queenstown – Mt Cook

Breakfast.
Transfer from the hotel by shared shuttle to Athol Car Park, pick-up point to start the Great Sights tour, for the regular guided transfer in English. We will start the trip crossing the valleys and panoramic views of the Southern Alps, passing through small fruit villages. Stop for 20′ in Omarama, where we will refresh ourselves, have a coffee, etc. until we reach the glacial Lake Pukaki. Here we will detour 50 kms to the village of Mt Cook, at the foot of the imposing Mount Cook, the highest mountain in the country.
Free time for lunch.
Free afternoon to hike the Hooker Valley Track and take panoramic photos of Mt Cook, or visit the Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre (museum, planetarium and 3D film).
Accommodation.

Day 21 Mt Cook – Christchurch

Breakfast.
Free morning at the foot of the highest mountain in the country. Optionally you can take a boat ride on the inner lake of Tasman Glacier (October to April) or in 8WD off road vehicles along the lakeshore to the glacier.
Continuation of the trip returning to the main road to Lake Tekapo.
Stop at Lake Tekapo, and view of the small Church of the Good Shepherd, which with the backdrop of the Alps and the turquoise lake behind, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful postcards of New Zealand.
Continuing through McKenzie Country, we will spot herds of red deer and thousands of sheep on the green hills, then enter the cultivated valley region of the Canterbury plains via the towns of Fairlie, Geraldine and Ashburton.
Arrival at the end of the afternoon to the city of Christchurch. Transfer from the bus terminal by shared shuttle to the hotel.
Accommodation.

Lodging.

Day 22 Flight Christchurch – Spain

Today we include the Attraction Pass to visit the city on your own.
Optionally we can include a city tour with English speaking guide, which includes the beautiful green gardens and parks of Christchurch, including the Mona Vale or Riccarton Bush garden, climb the hills to the Sign of Takahe or Sign of the Kiwi for panoramic views from these historic Port Hills outposts; walk along the waterfront of the waterfront neighborhood of Sumner with views of its residences perched on the hills. Walking tour of the Botanical Gardens (especially spectacular in spring and summer), the new Carton Cathedral and the remains of the Anglican church in the central square. At the end, return to the hotel.
At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for return flight to Spain. Overnight on board.