AAT Kings - Discover Australia and New Zealand Itinerary

A warm welcome to the gateway city of Tropical North Queensland – the launchpad for your epic adventure from north to south, through the untamed wilderness of the outback. Upon arrival, you’ll have time to relax before meeting your Journey Director this afternoon for a Welcome Reception with drinks and canapés.

Meet your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and privately hosted Be My Guest dinner at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.

Included Meals: Be My Guest dinner

Accommodation: Cairns - 3 Nights

Go beyond the ‘great’ and into an underwater wonderland – your cruise to discover the magic of the Great Barrier Reef will venture to Agincourt Reef on the Quicksilver wavepiercing catamaran, where you have a unique opportunity to soak up the pristine natural setting before you. Snorkel past iridescent coral formations and colourful marine-life – an undersea treasure-trove as far as the eye can see. Relax up on deck surrounded by the vivid blue of the Coral Sea, bask in the golden Australian sunshine and enjoy a tropical lunch on board before returning to Palm Cove.

Included Meals: Full Buffet Breakfast, Lunch

Today is a free day to do as you choose.

A great option is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda, be amazed as you travel over and through World Heritage rainforest, explore quaint Kuranda village and later board the Kuranda Scenic Rail for this historic rail journey.

If you’d prefer to spend the day relaxing by your hotel pool or sitting back at a local café you can do that too!

In the evening rejoin your travelling companions for a Be My Guest dining experience at Tjapukai Cultural Park. Hear dreamtime stories, witness a high impact dance performance and enjoy dinner with your local host to the sounds of the didgeridoo.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest Dinner

Fly from Cairns to Uluru. On arrival, join a local Aboriginal artist for an introduction to Western Desert art. Your Anangu artist will explain local totems, then help you complete your own painting to take home as a memento. Then enjoy a leisurely drive through the red desert plains to Kata Tjuta. View the majestic sandstone domes of Kata Tjuta as the outback sunsets over this ancient, mysterious landform.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Uluru - 2 Nights

View the magical Uluru sunrise, then gain an insight into the traditional owners of the land, the Anangu people, as you tour the base of the giant monolith. This evening, relax with sparkling wine as you witness an iconic Uluru sunset. Savor the flavors of an Aussie barbecue dinner in the shadow of Uluru, while a local expert shares insight into the wonders of the southern night sky

Included Meals: Full Buffet Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Depart the resort in total darkness for the short drive to Bruce Munro’s renowned Field of Light. Wander through the paths surrounding 50,000 hand-crafted frosted glass spheres of light, in colors of ochre, deep violet, blue and gentle white. Later, fly to Sydney where your evening is free to explore.

**internal flight to Sydney to be purchased in addition

Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast

Accommodation: Sydney - 3 Nights

A day of sightseeing in this stunning harbor city awaits you. Explore Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and put your feet in the sand on famous Bondi Beach. Then, take a sneak peek behind the scenes on a guided tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House. Later, take to the water for a lunch cruise on board one of the harbor’s premier vessels, enjoying a fresh seasonal menu while you glide past magnificent waterfront homes, beaches and parklands.

Included Meals: Full Buffet Breakfast, Celebration Dinner

The day is yours to explore this wonderful city. You may choose an optional experience to the spectacular Blue Mountains to see the majestic Three Sisters rock formation and visit a wildlife park. This evening, join your Travel Director for dinner on the Darling Harbor waterfront.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine

This morning say farewell to Sydney and fly to Queenstown, on arrival travel to the delightful gold rush village of Arrowtown situated on the Arrow River which was once one of the world’s richest rivers, later get a feel for Queenstown and surrounds on an orientation tour. This evening meet your travel director for a welcome reception and dinner at The Boatshed, set in the historic New Zealand Railways Shipping Office built-in 1936. Restored and relocated to its lakefront setting, The Boatshed, with its spectacular views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range, is the perfect setting for your highlight dinner with wine.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner

Accommodation: Queenstown - 3 Nights

Get the feel for real country life at a Be My Guest experience with your host, Southern Girl Laura, who was born and raised on a sheep farm in the deep south of New Zealand. Try your hand at sheep mustering, whip cracking as well as the chance to feed and pet the farm animals. Laura is sure you’ll leave feeling more like a local than a visitor.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest dinner

Explore Queenstown your way! Go wild with a jet boat ride or white water rafting. For the less adventurous there is a wine and garden tour, play a round of golf, or just enjoy wandering through the town and botanic gardens. 

This evening join your Travel Director for dinner at The Boatshed, set in the historic Railway Shipping Office built-in 1936. Restored and relocated to its lakefront setting, The Boatshed with its spectacular views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables, is the perfect venue for your Highlights dinner this evening.

Meals: Breakfast and Highlights Dinner

Join your Travel Director to discover the sights of the city, including panoramic views from the Auckland Sky Tower, 328 metres above the city.

After reaching Rotorua, we visit Te Puia, the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where students carry on age-old traditions of wood carving and weaving. A tour of Rotorua’s active geothermal fields follows.

After enjoying great views of Lake Rotorua settle down to enjoy a traditional Maori 'Hangi' Feast and Concert at the Tamaki Family Marae.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 nights

At Rainbow Springs Nature Park, you’ll get a glimpse of native fauna and maybe spot a shy kiwi. Continue to Whakarewarewa Living Thermal Village, where a Māori local guide will accompany you on a tour to see bubbling mud pools, steaming thermal springs, and New Zealand’s biggest geyser.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Discover a galaxy of twinkling glowworms this morning in the mysterious Waitomo Caves. Travel on to Auckland for a city tour, and a Farewell Dinner with your Travel Director.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night

Haere rā and Bon Voyage!

We are sure you will enjoy this tour and our promise is to make your travels through Australia and New Zealand as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with a memory card full of photos, and huge smiles on your faces when recalling your time Downunder! Have a great homeward journey, farewell, and hope to see you again soon.

Meals: Breakfast

Highlights

• Sydney Opera House Tour
• Explore Sydney's famous Bondi Beach
• Iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) & Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)
• Spectacular Sydney Harbour and the famous beaches
• The spectacular Great Barrier Reef on a cruise
• The 36 mystical domes of Kata Tjuta
• Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.
• Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef
• Toast an Uluru sunset with sparkling wine
• Uluru renowned Field of Light
• Traditional Maori Hangi Rotorua
• Waitomo Glowworm Caves
• Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve

What’s included

•  Quality accommodation
•  Travel in luxury coach
•  Experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
•  Airport Transfers (see flight information below)

Dining

• 14 Full buffet breakfasts 
•  1 Be My Guest dinner
•  2 Lunches 
•  2 Highlight Dinners 
•  2 Dinners with wine
•  1 Farewell Dinner

Fitness Requirements

• Moderate level of fitness required for walks at Uluru

** Required Internal Flights: are to be purchased in order to fulfill the itinerary and are NOT included in the land content price - please check with us on the flights required, we’re very happy to book these for you.

Flight Information

•  Day 1 – Flights to arrive prior to 2.00pm into Cairns Airport 
•  Day 15 – Flights to depart anytime from Auckland Airport
  
  Required Internal Flights listed below are to be purchased in order to fulfil the itinerary and are not included in the land content price
   
•  Day 4 – Cairns to Ayers Rock: Details TBA
•  Day 6 – Ayers Rock to Sydney: Details TBA
•  Day 9 – Sydney to Queenstown: Details TBA
•  Day 12 – Queenstown to Rotorua: Details TBA