23-Nights Best of the South Pacific: Ultimate Australia & New Zealand - Classic from $8,749

Itinerary Details

G Adventures: Best of the South Pacific: Ultimate Australia & New Zealand

Day 1: Sydney
Arrive at any time. Join your CEO for a welcome meeting.
There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore your surroundings.

Day 2: Sydney/Manly Beach
Sunny Sydney welcomes you and hit the road right away with your CEO to dive into exploring this stunning city. Set off on a walking orientation tour of some of the city's well known landmarks. Slowly make your way to Circular Quay, where you'll hop onto a ferry to cross the harbor to Manly beach. Your CEO will point out some must do's while you're in Manly, like the coastal walk to Shelly beach, and some places to grab some local food. You can't go wrong with some fish and chips by the sea. In the evening, join your CEO and fellow travelers for a meal together at a local restaurant.


Day 3: Sydney
Today is yours to spend as you see fit. There is quite literally too much choice in Sydney, so use your time wisely. Choose from exploring on foot the Rocks neighborhood, which is also home to the city's Museum of Contemporary Art. The cafe on the roof is a great spot for lunch or a famous Aussie coffee. Or get the blood pumping by booking a jet boating tour or climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge.


Day 4: Sydney/Yulara
Board a flight bound for Yulara, the gateway to Uluru and the Red Centre. Spend the afternoon getting straight out there and exploring, starting first with Kata Tjuta National Park and the Walpa Gorge walk. Catch the sunset at Uluru before making your way to the tented camp. Enjoy an outdoor meal cooked at camp with lots of local ingredients.


Day 5: Yulara/Kings Canyon
Sunrise over Uluru is not to be missed, so rise early and catch sunrise over Australia's most iconic indigenous landmarks. This morning, take the time to explore Uluru on foot on a guided walk through some of the most culturally significant areas of the site. These sacred spaces are some of the oldest on the planet, and understanding the interpretation behind them makes them even more impactful. Later, head to the Kings Canyon region overland, to your next tented camp in the bush.


Day 6: Kings Canyon/Alice Springs
The mornings in the desert offer cooler temperatures, so head out early to hike throughout Kings Canyon. Choose between the harder 3 hour hike and a more approachable one hour option. The Rim walk is a 6km walk along the upper rim of Kings Canyon. The most difficult part of the hike is the very beginning with a 500 step ascent, but the landscapes and views you are rewarded with are more than worth the effort. You won't even remember the effort it took to get up there. (Sort of!) If you prefer to take it easy, enjoy a 2km hike through canyon valley. Later on, rest up on a drive East to Alice Springs.


Day 7: Alice Springs/Melbourne
In addition to its rich Indigenous history and culture, Alice Springs is home to the Telegraph Station that linked Australia top to bottom in the 19th century. This telegraph connection also integrated Australia into the wider network within the British Empire, allowing Australia to be connected to the outside world in a matter of hours, versus days. Take a moment to learn about some of the troubling history that took place not too far in the distant past when the station ceased to operate as a telegraph station and became a boarding house for Indigenous children.
In the afternoon, grab a flight to quirky, cool, Melbourne and settle in with an optional dinner with your CEO.

Day 8: Melbourne
Melbourne is one of the easiest cities to traverse on foot and by public transport, so you will be getting your steps in today. Start the morning off by exploring the Queen Victoria markets with your CEO, before jumping into a guided tour where you will be led through some of the famous and off the beaten track-spots in Melbourne's famous laneways. Choose from one of dozens of lunch spots for a bite to eat and catch your breath, before ending the afternoon at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne, a sprawling 38 hectares of green space housing over 800 species of plants from the world over.


Day 9: Melbourne
Another Australian city with tons to do, so a day at leisure gives you plenty of time to craft the perfect day. You may want to take a trip out to see the Phillip Island Penguin Parade or embark on a full day tour out along the Great Ocean Road.


Day 10: Melbourne/Auckland
Say goodbye to Australia and fly south to the adventure capital of the world, New Zealand. After arrival, enjoy a free day in Auckland. Explore the city, go up into the Sky Tower, take a ferry to Waiheke, the island of wine, or rest on one of the many beaches surrounding the city.


Day 11: Auckland/Rotorua
Drive to the lakeside town of Rotorua, situated over an active geothermal zone and known for its volcanic features and rich Maori heritage. Stop en route at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Take a boat ride through this spectacular underground realm to see thousands of flickering glowworms light up in the dark.


Day 12: Rotorua
Visit Rotorua and opt to check out the geothermal area or go whitewater rafting. In the evening visit a Maori village for traditional ceremonies, a Hangi meal and entertainment.
Rotorua sits over an active volcanic zone with bubbling mud pits and multi-coloured pools in different areas around the town. Opt to visit one of the sites, or go whitewater rafting nearby.

Day 13: Rotorua/Wellington
Take in the ever-changing scenery of the North Island and travel to the capital, Wellington.


Day 14: 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 15: Wellington/Kaikoura
Fly to the South Island and travel to the seaside town of Kaikoura, known for its diverse marine life. Stop en route for a wine tasting at a local winery.


Day 16: Kaikoura/Hanmer Springs
Enjoy a free morning in Kaikoura. Opt to go on a whale watching tour and search for giant sperm whales. Or head out on a tour to swim in the open ocean in a place often visited by wild dolphins. In the afternoon, travel to Hanmer Springs. Opt to take a soak in the hot springs.


Day 17: 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 18: Franz Josef
Enjoy a free day to explore the area around Franz Josef. Opt to explore the glacier with a heli hike.
There are plenty of optional activities in the area to suit just about any budget and preference. Try heli hiking, scenic helicopter flights, skydiving or lake kayaking.

Day 19: 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 20: Queenstown
With free time here, opt to go bungee jumping (in its birthplace), jet boating (also born here!), skydiving or hiking. Or take it a little slower and travel by gondola to the top of a local peak.
Opt to pre-book the "Queenstown Jet Boating" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

Day 21: 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 22: Queenstown to Tekapo
Travel north through the centre of the South Island to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, named after New Zealand's highest peak. Spend the afternoon hiking the region, taking in the alpine scenery. Learn more about mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary at the Visitor's Centre, before a short but scenic journey to Tekapo Village.


Day 23: Tekapo to Christchurch
Continue on to Christchurch and take in an orientation walk with your CEO. Enjoy one final night together with the group.
Travel to the Garden City of Christchurch, a little piece of England in New Zealand, still recovering from a devastating earthquake.

Day 24: Christchurch
Depart at any time.