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Independent Australian & New Zealand Explorer 2027 - 16 Day Package from Sydney to Auckland

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Independent Australian & New Zealand Explorer 2027

16 Day Package from Sydney to Auckland



Tour Description:

Upon visiting Australia, Oprah Winfrey remarked the locals in Sydney, “You’re so darned friendly, you must go to friendly class!” But you don’t need to be a celebrity to get the star treatment and warm welcome of Aussies. Experience the meaning of “G’day, mate!” on this 16-day Globus Independent Australia & New Zealand vacation. We’ve arranged your hotel reservations, daily breakfast, sightseeing, and private transfers to/from the airports from/to your hotels for your intra-vacation flights. Plus, a one-of-a-kind feature: the Globus Local Host®, someone who is available throughout your stay (in Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, and Queenstown) to ensure your vacation runs smoothly and to help you make the most of your vacation. This Globus Independent tour packs plenty of free time to explore, relax, and discover on your own.

Your vacation begins the moment you arrive. Globus can pick you up at the airport and whisk you seamlessly to your selected hotel. Your Local Host will greet you with a smile and information to help you get settled. The next day, after your included breakfast, we’ll pick you up at your hotel for a guided sightseeing tour with a local expert. You’ll hear inside stories behind the must-see sights, like the Opera House and Bondi Beach. And never fear...we’ve scouted the city for the best place to capture a photo of Sydney’s famous Harbour Bridge. In Melbourne, your guided sightseeing with an expert Local Guide includes the Royal Botanic Gardens and Queen Victoria Market. On the third day in each city, you have a free day to explore on your own (with your Local Host support, of course). You may want to follow in Oprah’s footsteps in Sydney and climb to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge; explore the cobblestone streets of the Rocks, the harborside area where the first convicts settled; or participate in a game of lawn bowling. In Melbourne, you can visit one of Australia's leading opal companies or take an excursion to see the little penguins emerge from the sea and waddle across the beach in the world-famous Penguin Parade.

It's not just the big cities you'll experience on this Australia vacation. In Cairns, we’ll take you to the Outer Great Barrier, where you can snorkel, take a semi-submersible watercraft tour, or attend a presentation by a marine biologist. You'll be amazed by the clarity of the water and the variety of fish that will swim all around you. You may even see a green sea turtle glide by! You will also have a day at leisure so perhaps take an excursion via the Kuranda Scenic Railway to the quiet mountain village of Kuranda or explore one of the markets to try locally grown mangoes and bananas.

After seeing the highlights of Australia, fly over the “ditch” to Queenstown, New Zealand, the “Adventure Capital of the World.” We’ll take you on what will undoubtedly be a highlight of your trip: a cruise on Milford Sound which boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. Continue to Rotorua where you’ll visit the Agrodome to learn about New Zealand’s sheep industry and Te Puia to explore a geothermal wonderland. End your vacation in vibrant Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.

Treat yourself to a tour that is exclusively yours with free time, me time, and optional adventures that speak to your independent spirit!

Map for Independent Australian & New Zealand Explorer 2027 - 16 Day Package from Sydney to Auckland
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Dates & Pricing

Start Dates Listed Below are US departure dates, please verify specific dates with your Pavlus Travel Planner

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Wednesday 06 Jan 27 — Saturday 23 Jan 27Starting at $6,269 Get a Quote
Wednesday 13 Jan 27 — Saturday 30 Jan 27Starting at $6,269 Get a Quote
Wednesday 20 Jan 27 — Saturday 06 Feb 27Starting at $6,269 Get a Quote
Wednesday 27 Jan 27 — Saturday 13 Feb 27Starting at $5,899 Get a Quote
Wednesday 03 Feb 27 — Saturday 20 Feb 27Starting at $5,929 Get a Quote
Wednesday 10 Feb 27 — Saturday 27 Feb 27Starting at $5,929 Get a Quote
Wednesday 17 Feb 27 — Saturday 06 Mar 27Starting at $5,929 Get a Quote
Wednesday 24 Feb 27 — Saturday 13 Mar 27Starting at $5,929 Get a Quote
Wednesday 03 Mar 27 — Saturday 20 Mar 27Starting at $6,539 Get a Quote
Wednesday 10 Mar 27 — Saturday 27 Mar 27Starting at $5,929 Get a Quote
Wednesday 17 Mar 27 — Saturday 03 Apr 27Starting at $5,939 Get a Quote
Wednesday 24 Mar 27 — Saturday 10 Apr 27Starting at $5,959 Get a Quote
Wednesday 31 Mar 27 — Saturday 17 Apr 27Starting at $5,919 Get a Quote


Destination & Sightseeing

Your Globus Independent tour gives you the freedom to explore as you please with all the perks you'd expect from the expert travel planners at Globus. We take care of the details with included accommodations, daily breakfasts, select guided sightseeing, transportation, transfers between each tour city, and a knowledgeable Local Host in Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, and Queenstown to assist you when needed. We’ll also handle flight arrangements and airport transfers at the beginning and end of your tour, if you wish!
Notes:
During the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season, certain activities may not be available. A different activity may be substituted, or a refund offered if your included activity is not available. Intra-tour flights not included.

ITINERARY

Day 1 ARRIVE IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
• Welcome to beautiful Sydney, Australia’s largest city. The remainder of the day is at your leisure for independent activities. Your Globus Local Host will make contact with you to discuss your vacation, answer questions, and give suggestions to make the most of your stay

Day 2 SYDNEY
• Enjoy a morning guided sightseeing tour that includes photo stops at the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Visit stunning Bondi Beach, considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in Sydney. (B) INSIDER PICKS The remainder of the day is yours to explore this vibrant city. Your Local Host will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, dining, and shopping
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Day 3 SYDNEY
• Enjoy a full day at leisure in this beautiful city. Choose from our selection of optional excursions, including a cruise on Sydney Harbour and a climb to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge. (B) INSIDER PICKS Spend the day in Hunter Valley, sampling some of Australia’s best wines; or join a guided backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House. Other options include exploring the restaurants of Spice Alley, exploring the Rocks District on the Rocks Pub Tour, or learning how to surf at nearby Bondi Beach
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Day 4 SYDNEY–CAIRNS
• Fly to Cairns, “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef,” for a 3-night stay in this tropical paradise. The remainder of the day is yours to start exploring. (B)
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Day 5 CAIRNS. EXCURSION TO THE OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF
• Prepare for the experience of a lifetime when you board a catamaran and cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Explore this underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of coral and sea life. Choose to snorkel, take a semi-submersible watercraft tour, or attend a presentation by a marine biologist. Late this afternoon, return to Cairns. (B,L)
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Day 6 CAIRNS
• A full day at leisure. (B) INSIDER PICKS Take a trip into the Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest living rainforest, and to beautiful Cape Tribulation. Other activities include relaxing by your resort’s pool, a ride on the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, or shopping for a special souvenir at the Cairns Night Markets
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Day 7 CAIRNS–MELBOURNE
• Transfer to Cairns Airport for your flight to Melbourne, the cosmopolitan heart of Australia. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
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Day 8 MELBOURNE
• Morning guided sightseeing tour includes Federation Square, St. Patrick’s Park, Queen Victoria Market (when open), Albert Park Lake, the Shrine of Remembrance, and St. Kilda Beach. Your tour ends at the Melbourne Skydeck for awe-inspiring views of Melbourne from the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform. (B) INSIDER PICKS The remainder of the day is at your leisure. You may wish to visit the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia’s largest, oldest, and most visited art museum. Other options include window shopping on Bourke Street, a tour of the Old Melbourne Goal, once home to Australia’s notorious outlaw, Ned Kelly, or just relaxing at one of Melbourne’s famous coffee cafes
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Day 9 MELBOURNE
• Enjoy a full day at leisure for independent activities. (B) INSIDER PICKS Join an optional excursion to Phillip Island to watch the world-famous Penguin Parade, travel on the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the magnificent 12 Apostles or explore the hidden lanes and arcades of the city
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Day 10 MELBOURNE–QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
• Fly to Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.” The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Your Local Host is available for sightseeing, shopping, and dining suggestions. (B)
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Day 11 QUEENSTOWN. EXCURSION TO MILFORD SOUND
• Enjoy a full-day excursion to Milford Sound. First, travel by motorcoach along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park. View the Mirror Lakes as you pass through Eglinton Valley. From the Homer Tunnel, emerge into Cleddau Valley. Join your Milford Sound cruise for an unforgettable experience. Be on the lookout for wildlife such as dolphins and penguins and enjoy the breathtaking waterfalls and scenery. Return to Queenstown late this evening. (B)
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Day 12 QUEENSTOWN
• Enjoy a full day at leisure in beautiful Queenstown. (B) INSIDER PICKS Choose an optional thrilling jet boat ride on the Shotover River, visit a local winery, or tour some of the sites used to film The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Hike, bike, or get on the water. Your Local Host will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining
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Day 13 QUEENSTOWN–ROTORUA
• Fly to Rotorua on New Zealand’s north island. The rest of the day is at your leisure. (B)
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Day 14 ROTORUA
• Guided sightseeing includes a visit to the Agrodome, where you’ll learn about New Zealand’s sheep industry, the National Kiwi Hatchery, and to Te Puia, where you’ll explore this geothermal wonderland. (B) INSIDER PICKS Choose to join our optional Māori (indigenous Polynesian people) cultural performance and Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones). Other options include a relaxing soak in one of the therapeutic pools at the Polynesian Spa, a magical treetop walk through the Redwoods, or a helicopter tour to see this scenic region by air
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Day 15 ROTORUA–HOBBITON–WAITOMO–AUCKLAND
• Head north and tour the Hobbiton movie set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. Then on to Waitomo, where you will take a boat trip through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Continue to Auckland where your evening is at leisure. (B,L)
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Day 16 AUCKLAND
• Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. You may also choose to extend your time in Auckland and explore more on your own. Extra nights are available for purchase. (B)

Accommodations

SydneyCairnsMelbourneQueenstownRotoruaAuckland
Swissotel Sydney
Deluxe

Hotel as shown or similar

68 Market Street Sydney NSW Australia

The Swissotel Sydney is surrounded by Sydney's most exclusive shopping centres, such as the beautiful Queen Victoria Building and iconic Westfield Sydney and is within walking distance to all of Sydney's famous landmarks and cultural attractions. Enjoy a seasonally inspired dinner menu at JPB or delight in a unique buffet high tea at Crossroads Bar. The hotel offers a wide choice of treatments at the Day Spa as well as a gym, heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi.