Australia & New Zealand
February 3 - March 5, 2009
31 days
Fly to Melbourne for city tour, Queen Victoria Market, Yarra River cruise and Dandenong Mountains. Free day in Melbourne. See spectacular coastal scenery on a Great Ocean Road tour (along Shipwreck Coast): Otway National Park, Port Campbell National Park, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, Twelve Apostles, rainforests. Visit Koala Conservation Center and Philip Island Nature Park - view kangaroos and koala bears.
A joey (young kangaroo) looks out from its mother's pouch
Visit the Nobbies, home to Australia's largest fur-seal colony. At dusk, witness penguins waddling from the sea to their chicks in the burrows at the Penguin Reserve. Drive to Ballarat to visit the Wildlife and Reptile Park where you'll have the opportunity to interact with kangaroos and koalas and view strange creatures, including the Tasmanian Devil.
See the tasmanian devil?
Relax and shop downtown after a city tour. Step back in time at Sovereign Hill Park (sight of a gold rush) enjoying the evening meal, and the sound and light show of battle at Eureka Stockade. Head through undulating agricultural and pastoral country to Canberra. Cross the Murray River. View Tucker’s Box. Tour Canberra Parliament House, National Botanic Gardens, diplomatic embassies. Drive to Sydney. Cruise Sydney Harbour, have a walking tour of Sydney Opera House, take group photos with Sydney Opera House as backdrop, then tour the city’s highlights & surf beaches. Spend a free day in Sydney.
The Sydney Opera House
Travel to Hunter Valley to visit wineries and sample wonderful local wines. Drive to the Blue Mountains to ride the Scenic Railway, stroll the Walkway through rainforest vegetation. Ride the Scenic Flyway, a 720 meter journey 270m above ancient ravines and rainforests with 360 degree view revealing the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls, Mount Solitary and Jamison Valley. Drive the Pacific Highway along the coast to Taree and Coffs Harbour.
Shirley Sunflower does a split banana at Coffs Harbour
Drive north along the Pacific Highway to tour the Tropical Fruit World & Research Park. Stay at the Twin Waters Resort, Sunshine Coast. Fly to Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef for an incredible day. Snorkelling and water activities are included. Enjoy a free day at the Twin Waters Resort. Tour the Steve Irwin Australia Zoo. Drive to Brisbane for a city tour and then take a flight to Christchurch, New Zealand.
New Zealand has more sheep than people
Tour Christchurch city and Botanical Gardens. Drive to Tekapo Lake, Twizel, through a fantastic alpine area, to Queenstown. Drive south and west through breath-taking scenery to cruise on Milford Sound: Cruise the full length of the fjord to the Tasman Sea. Free Day in Queenstown, New Zealand.
View from the gondola at Queenstown, New Zealand
Depart for Clyde Dam in Cromwell Gorge, Palmerston and Moeraki Boulders, Oamaru. Drive to North Otago & through South Canterbury farm land en route to Christchurch. Fly to Wellington. Tour Tongarewa: The Museum of New Zealand. Drive north through volcanic area to Waiouru, stroll by lake at Taupo. Tour New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve.
Maori warrior
Ride the Skyline Skyride Gondola and the Luge. Attend Agridome Sheep Show and Exhibition. See trout and live kiwis at Rainbow Springs. Evening farewell dinner: Traditional Maori Hangi and Concert. Free day to shop, pack, and explore.
Fly back to Canada from Aukland.
Contact us for a full itinerary, for price information or about any other questions you may have.
Photo Credits: Koala by Different on Flickr, DSC_20546 (joey) by ciamabue on Flickr, tasmanian devil by nicolas.boullosa on Flickr, Sydney Opera House by heybales on Flickr, Shirley Sunflower - 14 by Dale Gillard on Flickr, Whitecliffs, Canterbury, New Zealand, 16 May 2006 by PhillipC on Flickr, View from the top of the gondola by Fred Hsu on Flickr, Haka by JSilver on Flickr.