The Best of Oz and NZ Itinerary

Considered one of "The World's Most Liveable Cities", friendly Melbourne is the perfect place to begin your Australian self-drive adventure.

This compact, diverse metropolis is begging to be explored after settling into your comfortable accommodation. There are hidden charms around every corner, beautiful Botanic Gardens and chic city squares where you can soak up the atmosphere to your heart's content. Lose yourself in cobbled laneways lined with tempting coffee shops, chic boutiques and cosy bars, admire the always-evolving street art covering every inch of Hosier Lane. 

Grab a bite to eat at Queen Victoria Market (the largest market in the Southern Hemisphere!) or choose from a dizzying array of restaurants & eateries. You are in Australia's foodie capital. ake a tram to St Kilda beach's historic esplanade or make a sporting pilgrimage to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Accommodation: Melbourne - 2 Nights

Discover amazing coastal scenery, adventure and wildlife on a full day coach tour along the famous Great Ocean Road.

Great Ocean Road - One of the World's Greatest Drives

Experience and enjoy the breathtaking Great Ocean Road: every twist and turn exposes you to stretches of broad, uninterrupted beaches, dramatic coastlines and the lush rainforest of the Otway Ranges. This remarkable scenery provides an amazing backdrop for a day that will be etched in your memory forever.

Visit Australia’s oldest surviving lighthouse at Apollo Bay, enjoy a typical Aussie BBQ lunch, take a rainforest walk in the Otway Ranges and see the world famous limestone rock stacks — the 12 Apostles – at the western end of the Great Ocean Road.

There are plenty of opportunities to see the native wildlife in its natural habitat including koalas and a variety of Australian birdlife.

Bid farewell to the city and fly to Australia's Red Centre for your first glimpse of magnificent Ayers Rock, or Uluru as it is also known.

Ayers Rock stands 348 metres above the ground and reaches over 700 metres underground. Uluru is also home to the World Heritage listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is of extreme importance to the local Aboriginal people.

Settle into your self-catering apartment at Ayers Rock Resort and prepare to witness the most epic sunset you can imagine over Uluru: it's a moment the whole family will remember forever.

Accommodation: Ayers Rock - 2 Nights

Uluru (Ayers Rock) Scenic Flight
Experience the beauty of Uluru on a dramatic scenic flight. Soaring over Uluru and the incredible rock formations of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) gives you amazing views of the area from a whole new perspective.

The Magical "Field of Light"
The experience begins with a convenient hotel pick-up and short transfer to the remote desert location with majestic views of Uluru.

You’re welcomed at an exclusive dune top just after the sun has set on the horizon. Savour a selection of outback canapes with sparkling wine or beer as your host provides insight into the light installation that awaits you. As darkness falls, 50,000 glass spheres gently come to life. Covered under a sky brilliant with stars, Field of Light beckons you to explore and lose yourself momentarily in the rhythms of coloured light. 

Fly onwards to Sydney, the oldest and grandest of Australia's big cities. Blessed with a glorious natural harbour, golden beaches and a blissful climate, this incredible metropolis offers a stunning introduction to East Coast Australia.

Sydney Harbour Dining Cruise
Tonight's Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Harbour shows off Sydney in style. Sparkling wine in hand, enjoy spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as you dine.

Accommodation: Sydney - 2 Nights

Enjoy some free time to discover Sydney in depth, at your own pace.

Take a ferry to Manly for a laid-back beach day, or cruise to Taronga Zoo, where both animals and visitors alike can enjoy jaw-dropping harbour views.

Adventurers can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge or tackle the Bondi to Bronte walking trail along the rugged sandstone cliffs.

Foodies will love visiting the Sydney Fish Market, where you can pile your plate high with freshly caught & cooked seafood and take your haul outside to eat on the pier.

However you choose to spend your day, Sydney is guaranteed to win your heart.

Situated amongst a cluster of extinct volcanic cones, next to a large harbour that bustles with life, both on water and on land. The Auckland isthmus straddles a slim piece of land with coastline facing both the Pacific Ocean, and, on the wild West Coast, the Tasman Sea.

After checking into your hotel, relax your New Zealand North & South Island Tour officially starts tomorrow. Take a stroll around our beautiful city, explore the highly acclaimed Waterfront Restaurant Quarter or choose one of the many activities available to give a more in depth understanding of Auckland and the surrounding area. Visit the iconic Sky Tower, join a whale and dolphin cruise, visit nearby Waiheke or Rangitoto Island.

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night

Feeling refreshed today - collect your rental car and take to the green rolling landscapes of the Waikato region, as you drive south of Auckland, forming some of the most fertile land in New Zealand. 

The caves at Waitomo are one of New Zealand's most commanding wonders, the moment you enter this subterranean wonderland you'll discover an ancient underground labyrinth of limestone caves and grottos, and you'll marvel at the amazing stalactites and stalagmites 'decorations' created by Mother Nature.  As you enter this galaxy of tiny living lights, you will glide silently through the starry wonderland of this Glowworm Grotto, your way lit by a myriad of tiny glowworm lights, glittering, glimmering and reflecting off the water. This small group personalized tour allows you to spend 40 minutes under glow worms. 

Continue on to Rotorua, set in a tranquil Lakeland with significant Maori culture and awesome geothermal activity. 

Sir David Attenborough: “An Astonishing Cave” And “one of natures most Magical Illuminations!”

Approximate Distance: 225 kms | 140 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 Nights

Wai-O-Tapu

"The closest thing to hell existing on earth" Bernard Shaw. This is an eerie landscape and once you have seen the boiling mud, the roaring geysers of hot boiling water, enormous steaming craters and sink holes and of course the offensive sulfuric odour  -  quite clearly spells Hell! Yet Wai-O-Tapu has become one of the most visited attractions in New Zealand and houses some of the world’s most incredible geothermal forces. Walk through it and observe the world famous champagne pool, catch the daily eruption of the Lady Knox geyser that spurts out boiling liquid at 10.15 am daily to a height of 20 meters.

Maori Cultural Evening - Village, Hangi & Music

Spend an evening sharing and feasting on a selection of foods cooked the traditional Maori way - on hot stones in an authentic earthen oven (a Hangi). This Maori Cultural Evening helps you understand the spiritual significance of the moko (facial tattoo) as warriors demonstrate with tools made of fine bird bone and sharpened greenstone and then perform a concert including the world famous ‘Haka’. An educational and enlightening experience, coupled with a ‘good feed’ and sing-a-long makes for a unique and entertaining experience and a must on any New Zealand North & South Island Tour.

Depending on your preference, you could easily choose to stay in Rotorua and explore the region further, opting to take one of the evening flight to Queenstown.

Recommended excursions in and around Rotorua:

Queenstown: located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps, is New Zealand’s most celebrated destination.  Offering a wealth of experiences to be enjoyed from adrenaline activities such as bungee jumps and sky diving, adventurous excursions like jet-boating and hiking through to superb golf, gourmet food and wine tours or romantic hot air ballooning.

Accommodation Queenstown - 3 nights

Today, board a twin engine aircraft for your scenic 35 minute flight to Milford Sound in the famed Fiordland National Park. During your flight, there are panoramic views of the spectacular alpine scenery including glaciers, rivers, lakes and rainforest.  On reaching Milford Sound, enjoy a full-length cruise of the fiord in modern, purpose built vessels. The vessels offer excellent viewing of waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife with large windows, spacious decks and comfortable lounges. At the completion of your cruise, return to Queenstown by plane.  Transfers are provided to and from your accommodation to Queenstown airport.

This morning collect your rental vehicle and experience the beauty of Queenstown exactly as you want to. From relaxing vineyard tours or boat cruises to extreme adventure activities, Queenstown has it all. For the adventurous, don’t miss a thrilling Wilderness Jet Boat Ride on the beautiful and isolated Dart River. The Botanic Gardens and lakeside walkways offer a myriad of opportunities for relaxing strolls, while the boutique shops offer kiwi shopping at its best. Queenstown’s stunning location means that however you choose to spend your day you’ll enjoy being surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery.

Mt Cook National Park is a Fantasy Land of Ice and Rock. Mt Cook National Park, known for its exquisite alpine beauty and is home to the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mt Cook. Its Maori name, ‘Aoraki’ means ‘cloud piercer’ and at 12,016ft (3,755m) it towers above the surrounding snow-covered peaks in the park. Tonight enjoy a star gazing tour - this area also has World Heritage status as a Dark Sky Reserve for the purity and lack of light pollution.

Approximate Distance: 265 kms | 165 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Mt Cook - 1 Night

Tasman Glacier
Embark upon a unique guided experience to get alongside a rather large iceberg!. Transfer by bus to the beautiful Tasman Valley for a short walk before boarding a MAC boat to explore the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake. This Tasman Glacier Adventure Tour is 4 hours duration with plenty of time left to travel via the Pleasant Point to Christchurch.

Approximate Distance: 330 km | 206 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Enjoy a relaxed morning reflecting on your New Zealand/Australia holiday before heading to Christchurch airport to begin your journey home.