Bucket List New Zealand and Australia

Departures & Pricing

Cabin grades, balcony upgrades and pre-cruise hotel options are quoted on enquiry — call 1300 414 198.

Itinerary

1. 1

   Arrive Auckland

   Kick off your bucket list New Zealand and Australia tour in Auckland, the City of Sails. After your arrival, team up with your Travel Director and the rest of the group before jumping into adventure with a tour of the city sights. Make your way around the waterfront from central city out to Mission Bay. Have your camera ready for the stop at Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial – it's the place to get stunning shots of Auckland, the North Shore and the Waitemata. Later, join your Travel Director for a tour briefing and welcome drink.

2. 2

   Auckland Your Way

   A little bit of leisure, a little bit of culture – and a lot of spots to explore today. Explore your way with Choice Experiences like a scenic cruise across the Hauraki Gulf on Auckland Harbour. Or, choose to learn what it takes to make, shape and be an All Black rugby player. You’ll have a blast channeling your inner athlete and testing your rugby skills in our hands-on, interactive zone.

3. 3

   Auckland - Rotorua

   Set off through Cambridge, ‘The Town of Trees and Champions,' on your way to Rotorua. Get your bearings before the ultimate New Zealand experience: a guided tour of the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, the leader in kiwi husbandry, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Learn about their work to save New Zealand’s national bird, watch kiwi eggs being incubated and even peek at the adorable newly hatched chicks. Later, another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - visit a Pounamu (Jade) workshop to see skilled artisans at work, and learn about the cultural significance of pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) in Māori tradition. Choice Experiences abound.

4. 4

   Rotorua Your Way

   Go big on nature wowing at the scenic wonders of the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. You could take a tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, where you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire, stroll around the 12-acre set past Hobbit Holes, the Mill and into the world-famous Green Dragon Inn, where you’ll enjoy Hobbit South-farthing beverage to end your own Middle-earth adventure. Or, relax with the magical two-hour restorative journey spa experience at Wai Ariki Spa. And don’t miss your chance to discover Rotorua’s spectacular lakes from a fully restored World War II amphibious vehicle accompanied by stories. This evening, you may choose to embark on the Te Pō Indigenous Experience at Te Puia. Experience a Maori cultural performance before you dig into hangi-inspired cuisine.

5. 5

   Rotorua - Queenstown

   Travel back to Auckland by coach on your bucket list New Zealand tour for your flight to Queenstown, adventure capital of the world. Wind around the shores of Lake Wakatipu and get your bearings for what’s to come. Perhaps choose tonight to use your included voucher at cult eatery Fergburger, famous for its mouthwatering gourmet burgers. Internal flight included Auckland-Queenstown.

6. 6

   Queenstown Your Way

   Thrill-seekers, foodies and outdoor enthusiasts are all in for a treat: today and tomorrow are all about taking in Queenstown and its world-famous adventures how you choose. Movie buffs can get the best of both worlds on a scenic tour of Glenorchy to discover iconic Lord of the Rings filming locations. Wine-lovers can join a Boutique Wine Tour of Queenstown, sampling Central Otago’s signature Pinot Noir and more at four vineyards. After a day of activity, choose to sit back and relax on an evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station, where you’ll sit down to a mouth-watering BBQ dinner and farm show at the Colonel's Homestead.

7. 7

   Queenstown Your Way

   The roll-call of activities you can sign up for is near endless. Tick a must-see South Island icon off your bucket list and join the day trip to the Fiordland National Park, cruising through the show-stopping Milford Sound. Make the most of the region’s great outdoors visiting the Kiwi Park wildlife sanctuary of over 20 species of native New Zealand wildlife. Adrenaline junkies will have their pick of the bunch, with jet-boat tours on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers, experiencing the famous 360 degree “Shotover Jet Turn”. Unwind grabbing a bite and raising a glass to another incredible day.

8. 9

   Tekapo - Christchurch - Sydney

   Get an early start to watch the sun rise over the lake or sleep in before heading north to Christchurch via Ashburton. In Christchurch, bid farewell to New Zealand and board your flight to Sydney, known for iconic landmarks, a dazzling harbor and beaches so famous they have their own TV shows (we’re looking at you, Bondi Beach). Internal flight included Christchurch-Sydney.

9. 10

   Sydney

   Wake up in Sydney with a free morning to settle in before the next leg of your adventures. Get the lay of the land on a city sights tour showing off the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, the headlands into Sydney Harbour and The Rocks area.

10. 11

    Sydney Your Way

    Excitement will be at an all-time high today with iconic optionals to choose from. Nature-lovers will be tempted by a day tour of the Blue Mountains National Park, an oasis of sandstone cliffs, rainforests, eucalyptus bushland and cascading waterfalls. See the Three Sisters, a towering rock formation significant to the local Aboriginal people or ride the world’s steepest passenger railway down to the valley floor at Scenic World. You could choose to take on the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb, rising to the summit, 134 metres above Sydney Harbour.

11. 12

    Sydney Your Way

    Make even more of your bucket list Australia a reality with your pick of Choice Experiences. You might choose to embrace the beach lifestyle with a surfing lesson at the iconic Bondi Beach getting the hang of paddling, catching waves and standing! Or take to the water on a Sydney Harbour Cruise gliding past the white peaks of the Opera House and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you’d rather stay on dry land, join The Rocks Pub Tour. Between watering holes, your guide will take you through the alleys and cobbled streets as they share the gossip and stories of convicts and locals of Australia's first European settlement.

12. 13

    Sydney - Uluru

    Jet off from Sydney to the rusty red home of Uluru. Be wowed by your first glimpses of the desert on a guided base walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole. Get up close to the ancient Aboriginal Rock Art and hear stories passed down through generations for thousands of years. Then it’s time for a classic sundowner as you kick back with sparkling wine or beer and nibbles while Uluru is lit up in brilliant red and orange. You can choose to end the day with a mouth-watering BBQ dinner plus salads and a tasty dessert. Your feast is paired with star talk as you gaze into the vast night sky. Internal flight included Sydney-Ayers Rock.

13. 14

    Uluru

    See Uluru your way today. Soar above the majestic rock by helicopter or plane. Or join a Guide for an outback walk to the Valley of the Winds getting the back story of the geology, history, and culture of Kata Tjuta’s rock domes. You can also choose to walk around the full base of Uluru seeing sacred sites and Aboriginal rock art. See a different side of Kata Tjuta at sunset as the rock domes change color moment to moment with the setting sun. And don’t miss your chance to dine under the stars at the Sounds of Silence Dinner.

14. 15

    Uluru - Cairns

    It’s a big day today as you wind down your time in Yulara before flying to Cairns. But before you leave, don't miss out on today's Choice Experience, the AAT Kings breathtaking Uluru Sunrise & Field of Light tour. You will never forget this once-in-a-lifetime sunrise over the Red Centre! Internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro is noted for his immersive site-specific installations that employ light to evoke emotional response, often in an outdoor context and on a monumental scale. His Field of Light, inspired by a trip to Uluru over 30 years ago, is installed in a remote desert area within sight of Uluru. It is his largest installation to date, with Munro and his team installing more than 50,000 slender stems crowned with radiant frosted glass spheres. The Uluru Field of Light is a magical sight to behold. In Cairns, surrounded by the ancient Daintree Rainforest and the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, it’s the perfect jumping off point for your next round of adventures. Internal flight included Ayers Rock - Cairns (AYQ/CNS).

15. 16

    Cairns

    See the best attractions in Cairns on an orientation tour along the Esplanade. Spot the site of the night markets where you'll have your pick of over 70 open-air stalls of local specialities. Breathe in the fresh sea air from the beachfront boardwalk and crystal-clear saltwater swimming lagoon, no doubt calling you back for a relaxing swim.

16. 17

    Cairns Your Way

    Today's Choice Experience is once-in-a-life-time. Sand, sea and sunshine await as you set sail by catamaran to one of the seven wonders of the natural world, on a Great Barrier Reef tour. Visit Moore Reef’s crystal-clear waters joining marine biologists, dive instructors and lifeguards. The world’s largest coral reef system, the reef is home to parrotfish, green turtles and clown fish in colorful coral. You can also pull on your snorkeling equipment to be blown away at this underwater oasis. If staying dry is more your thing, step aboard a spectacular glass bottom boat and underwater observatory for a front-seat to all the oceanic action. Feeling adventurous? Take your day to the next level with an optional scuba dive, Seawalker Helmet Dive or scenic helicopter flight above the picturesque reef.

17. 18

    Cairns Your Way

    It’s your final day together - and we’ve saved one of the best destinations for last! You might choose to visit the 'Village in the Rainforest', Kuranda. Journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, relaxing as this heritage train winds its way up the mountain framed by rainforest and waterfalls, before exploring the markets and stores at the top. The ride back down on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is just as thrilling, passing green landscapes, mountains, oceans, and Barron Falls. Or get to know the local wildlife with Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Wetlands cruise through the Melaleuca wetlands gasping at huge crocodiles and the world’s most venomous snakes.

18. 19

    Depart Cairns

    It’s been a grand journey of bucket list experiences in New Zealand and Australia. But all good things must come to an end - even down under. After breakfast, say a fond farewell to your travel mates.

Accommodation

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