Grand Tour of Australia with New Zealand add-on

Perth - Travelodge Perth

Darwin - Travelodge Mirambeena Resort

Kakadu National Park - Gagudju Crocodile Inn

Katherine - All Seasons Katherine Hotel

Alice Springs - Aurora Alice Springs Hotel

Ayers Rock - Outback Pioneer Hotel

Cairns - Cairns Queenslander Hotel

Sydney - Travelodge Wynward

Canberra - Mercure Hotel

Melbourne - Travel Inn

Warrnambool - Country Comfort

Warrnambool Hotel or similar

Barossa - Novotel Barossa Valley Resort

Adelaide - Grand Chifley Adelaide

All accommodation is comfortable medium grade with restaurant and bar. Rooms have private facilities, TV, tea and coffee-making facilities and air-conditioning. Most hotels also have a swimming pool.

In New Zealand you will stay at the Rendezvous Hotel in Auckland, the Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua in Rotorua, the West Plaza Hotel in Wellington, the Elms Hotel in Christchurch, the Heritage Gateway Hotel in Omarama, the Goldridge Resort or similar in Queenstown and the Heartland Hotel or similar at the Fox Glacier. Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

Amenities at the hotels include restaurant and bar. All bedrooms have private facilities, TV, telephone and tea/coffee making facilities. Meals are not included.

Day 1: UK via Singapore

Depart on your scheduled flight to Perth.

Day 2: Perth

Arrival in Perth. Transfer to the hotel for a four night stay.

Days 3 - 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: Darwin

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Darwin. On arrival you will be taken on an introductory city tour prior to arriving at the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 7: Kakadu National Park

Leave Darwin and drive to Kakadu National Park and experience its wealth of flora and fauna. See the waterbirds and crocodiles in their natural habitat on our included cruise on the famous Yellow Waters Lagoon. You will visit the National Park Headquarters and Nourlangie Rock. We have also included a ‘Jumping Crocodile Cruise’ on the Adelaide River, to witness giant crocodiles leaping from the water. The Adelaide River is also good for spotting an array of wildlife including magpie, geese, brolgas, kites and kingfishers. The river bank often has wild pig or buffalos darting through the tall grass. Overnight stay.

Day 8: Katherine

Leaving Kakadu National Park you will drive to Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park. Here we have included a cruise through Katherine Gorge. You will learn about the extensive plant and wildlife and see the ancient rocks and caves decorated with Aboriginal rock paintings. Overnight stay.

Day 9: Darwin

Return to Darwin for an overnight stay.

Day 10: Alice Springs

Morning transfer for your flight to Alice Springs. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel for a two night stay. 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).

Day 11: Alice Springs

Alice Springs is situated amid a vast area of natural springs and shimmering red desert. You can 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).

Day 12: Ayers Rock

Travel through the heart of Australia, stopping en route at a camel farm, where you may take a camel ride if you wish, before arriving at Ayers Rock. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the nearby hotel. During the afternoon an excursion will be made to the mysterious Olgas and we include a visit to the rock at sunset.

Day 13: Cairns

Up early to visit Ayers Rock for sunrise. There will also be a tour of the base to see the caves and Aboriginal rock paintings. Afternoon flight to Cairns, Accommodation here is for four nights.

Day 14: Cairns

Today 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. Go snorkelling amidst the marine life and colourful corals, visit an underwater observatory, take a cruise in a semi-submersible submarine, or even just relax on the sundeck with a drink - the choice is yours.

Meals: Lunch

Days 15 - 16: Cairns

Now that you are halfway through your tour it’s time to relax and soak up some sunshine! 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.

Day 17: Sydney

Early morning flight to Sydney with a city sightseeing tour included. Four nights’ accommodation has been arranged.

Sydney is Australia’s biggest and most exciting city. We include a half day sightseeing tour, featuring Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.

Days 18 - 20: Sydney

Optional excursions include a drive to the Blue Mountains and Wildlife Park, a harbour cruise and a tour of Sydney by night.

Day 21: Canberra

We leave Sydney by coach for the drive to Canberra. Your included city sightseeing tour features the government buildings and the Prime Minister’s Lodge. En route you will stop at a sheep station for a sheep shearing demonstration including BBQ lunch. An overnight stop in Canberra has been arranged.

Meals: Lunch

Day 22: Melbourne

Morning visit to the Australian War Memorial Museum. Drive to Melbourne for a three night stay and an included city sightseeing tour this afternoon.

Colonial style buildings, beautiful parks, wealthy garden suburbs, wide boulevards and trams make Melbourne the most European of Australia’s cities. On our included sightseeing tour you will see Captain Cook’s cottage and the old gaol where Ned Kelly was held prisoner.

Days 23 - 24: Melbourne

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

Day 25: Warrnambool

Depart Melbourne to start your journey along one of the most spectacular coastal routes in the world, the Great Ocean Road, and see the Twelve Apostles, the Arch and many other fantastic rock formations. You will enter Port Campbell National Park renowned for its ragged and spectacular coastal landscape. Continue to Warrnambool for an overnight stay.

Day 26: Barossa Valley

Complete your journey along the Great Ocean Road today. You will then drive to the Barossa Valley via Mount Gambier. On arrival transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 27: Adelaide

This morning you will have an included sightseeing tour of the Barossa Valley, famous for its wines. A visit to the famous Jacobs Creek visitors centre for wine tasting and lunch is included today. Continue to Adelaide for a two night stay. Enjoy an included sightseeing tour of Adelaide this afternoon.

Meals: Lunch

Day 28: Adelaide

Today is at leisure to explore the city at your own pace or do some last minute shopping.

Day 29: Adelaide / Auckland

Transfer to the airport for your 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 30: 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 31: Rotorua

Morning departure for Rotorua. Your journey will take you south through Ngaruawahia, home of the Maori Queen and Hamilton to the world-famous Waitomo Caves. Here we have included a guided tour.

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

Day 32: 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 33: 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 34: 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 35: 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 36: 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 37: 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 38: 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 39: 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 40: Christchurch

Today will be free for you to explore Christchurch.

Day 41: Christchurch

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Australia. You will depart Australia on your flight back to the UK.

Day 42: UK

Arrival in the UK.