Bucket List New Zealand & Australia

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. Continue the fun toasting to what’s to come at a welcome reception at your hotel. Cheers!

A little bit of leisure, a little bit of culture – and a lot of spots to explore today. After breakfast, choose to explore Auckland’s waterfront precincts or take a cruise out to Waiheke Island for a day of indulgence. This Gourmet Food & Wine Tour puts you right in the middle of pristine beaches, world class wines and fantastic cuisine. Visit an olive oil mill and two vineyards trying treats such as oysters straight from Te Matuku Bay, wild honey, the famous local green herb spread and artisan cheeses before a platter lunch at one of our top vineyard restaurants. Or 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.

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. 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. Unforgettable encounters continue at tonight’s Te Pō Indigenous Experience. Dig into locally sourced cuisine with an authentic Māori twist before a thrilling cultural performance including a traditional Māori welcome and music. You’ll even get to see one of New Zealand’s mind-blowing dramatic geysers and bubbling mud while cozied up on natural heated rock-seating, steaming hot chocolate in hand.

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 in your own hot mineral private pool at the Polynesian 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.

Travel back to Auckland on your bucket list New Zealand and Australia 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. Your Travel Director points out the steamer wharf for tomorrow’s trip to Walter Peak Station before taking you to your centrally located hotel. With anticipation building, speak with your Travel Director about dining recommendations for tonight. They’re always eager to help!  Internal flight included Auckland – Queenstown AKL/ZQN

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, sit back and relax on an evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard New Zealand's oldest steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, to Walter Peak Station where you’ll sit down to a mouth-watering BBQ dinner and farm show at the Colonel's Homestead.

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 taking an E-Bike Wine Tour or visiting the Kiwi Birdlife Park wildlife sanctuary of over 20 species of native New Zealand wildlife. Adrenaline junkies will have their pick of the bunch, with a guided zipline adventure on Bob’s Peak and 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.

Set your course to the Mackenzie region with a stop in Cromwell to taste stone fruit at a stall belonging to a local orchard. Get your cameras ready for views across the waters of Lake Tekapo framed by rugged hills and snow-capped mountains. In Tekapo, see the Church of the Good Shepherd and the bronze statue of a collie dog, the touching tribute to the sheepdogs which helped develop the Mackenzie Country. Later, take your pick of ways to explore to take in the stunning region. See Mount Cook National Park from the air soaring over New Zealand's highest peak and on to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Tonight, choose to view Tekapo's world renowned UNESCO Aoraki McKenzie International Dark Sky Reserve viewing amazing constellations that can only be seen in the southern hemisphere, including the Southern Cross, with a local astronomy guide.

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 CHC/SYD.

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. After getting comfortable in your hotel, join your Travel Director and group for a celebratory dinner to kick off your adventures in Australia.

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 Bridge Climb, rising to the summit, 134 metres above Sydney Harbour. You can also see it all from the air on a Sydney Heli Scenic flight, dazzling you with views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Manly Cove and the Harbour and city skyline.

Make even more of your bucket list Australia a reality with your pick of Optional 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.

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 the Uluru is lit up in brilliant red and orange. You could choose to end the day with a mouth-watering BBQ dinner plus salads and a tasty dessert. Your feast is even paired with star talk as you gaze into the vast night sky. Internal flight included Sydney - Ayers Rock SYD/AYQ.

See Uluru your way today. Soar above the majestic rock by helicopter or plane. Or join a Guide for an outback sunrise 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.

It’s a big day today as you wind down your time in Yulara before flying to Cairns. Take advantage of an easy morning to sleep in or enjoy lounging poolside. 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.

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 specialties and the Reef Terminal where the boats set off for the Great Barrier Reef. 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.

Sand, sea and sunshine awaits 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.

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. Food fanatics will want to join a boutique food and wine experience tasting some of the best of the Atherton Tablelands. 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. Join your group for dinner at Ochre Restaurant where you’ll watch the boats come in over the Harbour Lights’ boardwalk and enjoy Australian cuisine.

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.