Australia with New Zealand add-on

In Australia you will stay at the Perth Ambassador Hotel or similar in Perth, the Outback Pioneer Hotel or Desert Gardens Hotel in Ayers Rock, the Aurora Alice Springs or Lasseter’s Hotel & Casino in Alice Springs, the Cairns Queenslander Hotel in Cairns, the Travelodge Wynward in Sydney, the Olims Hotel in Canberra, and the Travel Inn in Melbourne.

All hotels have a restaurant and bar and most hotels also have a swimming pool. Rooms have private facilities, TV, tea and coffee making facilities and are air-conditioned.

In New Zealand You will stay in the Rendezvous Hotel in Auckland, the Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua or Distinction Hotel in Rotorua, the West Plaza Hotel in Wellington, the Elms Hotel in Christchurch, the Heritage Gateway Hotel in Omarama, the Aspen Hotel or similar in Queenstown and the Heartland Hotel or similar at the Fox Glacier.

Day 1: UK

Depart on your scheduled flight to Australia.

Days 2 - 3: Perth

Arrival in the beautiful city of Perth, for a four night stay.

Days 4 - 5: Perth

Experience has shown us that our clients appreciate the opportunity to relax and rest after their flight, so we have allowed plenty of time for this and also to explore the delightful surroundings of Perth.

Perth is the ideal first stop for our Australian extravaganza! This beautiful city, with its neighbouring port of Fremantle, is one of the most envied locations in the world in which to live. The golden beaches, superb restaurants, lush green parks, stunning broad expanses of the Swan River and lovely warm climate give the visitor a fine introduction to the relaxed, contented lifestyle of modern day Australia.

A half day sightseeing tour is included during your stay. There are also plenty of fascinating optional tours. You can take a cruise on the Swan River in Fremantle and a full day drive to the gigantic Wave Rock.

Day 6: Ayers Rock

Morning transfer for your flight to Ayers Rock. During the afternoon an excursion will be made to the mysterious Olgas, a nearby range of 28 spectacular rock domes.

Ayers Rock, situated in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, is one of the world’s most remarkable sights. This gigantic sandstone monolith remains the property of the Anangu tribe of the Northern Territory. The rock is two miles long, 1,000ft high and six miles around the base. It changes colour dramatically with the light and is quite a wondrous sight at sunrise and sunset. We are at Ayers Rock for both these awe-inspiring moments, with sunset included today.

Day 7: Alice Springs

Up early to visit Ayers Rock for sunrise. There will also be a tour of the base to see the caves. During the afternoon you will travel through the heart of Australia, stopping en route at a camel farm, where you may take a camel ride if you wish. Early evening arrival in Alice Springs where two nights’ accommodation has been arranged for you.

Days 8 - 9: Cairns

Alice Springs is situated amid a vast area of natural springs and shimmering red desert. A half day sightseeing tour is included, showing you the Flying Doctor Base, the Old Telegraph Station and the famous School of the Air (when open) to see the children being educated over the wireless. You can also join an optional excursion into the spectacular MacDonnell Range of mountains to see the Standley Chasm. There will also be an opportunity to take a dawn balloon flight over the outback (weather permitting).

Afternoon flight on Day 9 to Cairns, a lively seaside resort situated on the Great Barrier Reef, for a four night stay.

Day 10: Cairns

Today has to be a highlight in this holiday of highlights! We include a trip by catamaran to the Outer Great Barrier Reef with lunch also included. The Great Barrier Reef is variously described as the world’s largest living thing, the eighth wonder of the world and the marine equivalent of Ayers Rock. It is a stupendous 1,400 mile wonderland of breathtakingly beautiful coral and colourful marine life, studded with unspoilt tropical islands.

Our journey takes us right to the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll feel like the only people in the world as you take part in the abundance of activities available. Go snorkelling amidst the marine life and colourful corals, visit an underwater observatory, take a cruise in a semisubmersible submarine, or even just relax on the sundeck with a drink - the choice is yours! Lunch is included today.

Meals: Lunch

Days 11 - 12: Cairns

Now that you are halfway through your tour it’s time to relax and soak up some sunshine! Cairns enjoys an idyllic location, sandwiched between the deep blue ocean and lush green tropical forests. There are plenty of excursion possibilities. The most popular is a visit to the Atherton Tablelands, featuring a ride on the Kuranda Railway which is widely regarded as one of the world’s most spectacular rail journeys. The track burrows through 15 tunnels and traverses 40 bridges as it clings to the rock face along a narrow coastal strip.

Day 13: Sydney

Early morning flight to Sydney for a four night stay. On arrival, you will have an included city sightseeing tour. Sydney is Australia’s biggest and most exciting city. The centre is surprisingly compact and can be explored easily on foot. The world-famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House dominate the vast and picturesque harbour. We include a half day sightseeing tour, featuring Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.

Days 14 - 16: Sydney

Free to enjoy the exciting atmosphere and sheer beauty of Australia’s premier city. Optional excursions include a drive to the Blue Mountains and Wildlife Park to see the koalas, possums, wombats and kangaroos, which you may well have already seen in the wild whilst in the outback. You can also enjoy a harbour cruise and tour Sydney by night.

Day 17: Canberra

We leave Sydney by coach for the drive to the beautifully landscaped capital city, Canberra for an overnight stay. Your included city sightseeing tour features the government buildings and the Prime Minister’s Lodge. En route to Canberra you will stop at a sheep station for a sheep shearing demonstration.

Meals: Lunch

Day 18: Melbourne

Morning visit to the outstanding Australian War Memorial Museum. It houses a huge collection of relics, models and paintings and is a must for every visitor to Canberra. You will then drive to Melbourne for a three night stay. This afternoon you will enjoy an included city sightseeing tour.

It is the home of Australian Rules Football, the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the Melbourne Cup. And here you can enjoy the finest restaurants in Australia. On our included sightseeing tour you will see Captain Cook’s cottage and the old gaol where Ned Kelly was held prisoner.

Days 19 - 20: Melbourne

Free in Melbourne for individual sightseeing and shopping. Optional afternoon visit to Philip Island for the remarkable Penguin Parade.

Day 21: Melbourne / Auckland, New Zealand

Transfer to the airport for you flight to Auckland. Rest of the day at leisure. You will stay here for two nights. The North Island was shaped originally by the fire of volcanoes. Today you’ll find a subtropical climate, thermal springs and geysers, rich farmland, glorious national parks, luxuriant forests and stunning lakes.

Day 22: Auckland

This morning a sightseeing tour of Auckland is included. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the 'City of Sails'.

Day 23: Rotorua

Morning departure for Rotorua. Your journey will take you south through Ngaruawahia, home of the Tuheitia Paki Maori King.

Continue to Rotorua, the focal point of New Zealand’s thermal springs region. Accommodation has been arranged here for two nights.

Day 24: Rotorua

Morning included visit to Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve to view the extraordinary boiling mud pools and spouting geysers. Optional afternoon excursion to the Agrodome to see a display of working sheep dogs and a visit to Rainbow Springs to view the rare Kiwi Bird.

During the evening there will be an opportunity to visit a Maori Hangi and concert.

Day 25: Wellington

Depart Rotorua and travel south through the Wairakei Valley and then past the spectacular Huka Falls to Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest freshwater lake. You will then continue to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. On arrival you will be taken on a city tour. Overnight accommodation has been arranged.

Day 26: Christchurch

Today you will sail from the North Island to the South Island. The crossing takes approximately three hours and sails through the picturesque Cook Strait to Picton. Here you will board the coach for your drive south along the Kaikoura Coast to the famous city of Christchurch for an overnight stay.

The beguiling South Island is a complete contrast to the North. It’s a land of mountains, glaciers and spectacular fjords. Its sparse population of just one million people shares the island with 60 million sheep! Here amongst the grandeur of the snow-capped peaks, still fjords and rugged coastline you’ll find a welcome and generosity towards strangers reminiscent of a bygone era at home in Britain.

Day 27: Omarama

Christchurch is known as the most English city outside England with its olde worlde charm, leafy parks and flower gardens. Morning sightseeing tour of Christchurch before continuing into the heart of the South Island. You will see Lake Tekapo, travel across Burkes Pass and then past Lake Pukaki before arriving at Mount Cook. At 12,000ft it is the highest mountain in New Zealand. You will also have the opportunity to take an optional scenic flight before continuing to Omarama for an overnight stop.

Day 28: Queenstown

Depart Omarama and travel through the Lindus Pass to the lakeside resort of Wanaka. Then continue to the historic township of Arrowtown, before arriving in Queenstown. Here two nights' accommodation has been arranged for you.

Day 29: Queenstown

Join our exciting full day optional excursion to Milford Sound, one of the most beautiful locations in New Zealand. The tour takes you to Te Anau, the gateway to Fjordland National Park. You then continue through the lush beech forests of the Eglinton Valley and the eroded glacial canyons of the Hollyford Valley, before arriving at Milford Sound itself. There will be an included cruise (weather permitting) on the sound before returning by coach to Queenstown.

Day 30: Fox Glacier

Depart Queenstown and drive to the west coast and then along one of the most exciting and scenic roads ever built. You cross the Haast River Bridge and Clark Bluff to the renowned Fox Glacier before transferring to the hotel for an overnight stop.

Day 31: Christchurch

Return to Christchurch via Arthur’s Pass National Park. You also have the option to take the Tranz-Alpine express train, one of the most spectacular train journeys in New Zealand. On arrival in Christchurch transfer to your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 32: Christchurch

Today will be free for you to explore Christchurch.

Day 33: UK

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.