The Complete South Pacific The Best of Australia & New Zealand
Feed a kangaroo, pet a wombat and pose with a koala, do it all on The Complete South Pacific, a 27-day journey to Australia and New Zealand, with two nights in Tasmania. Learn aboriginal traditions during the "Dreamtime Tour." Toast with champagne as the sun sets on Ayers Rock. Discover the colorful world of the Great Barrier Reef. Spend 2 nights in geothermal Rotorua. Explore New Zealand's Fjiordland and Milford Sound. Enjoy a home stay and dinner with a New Zealand family.
Learn about the education of the children in the Outback during a visit to the School of the Air. Take a Yellow Waters Cruise in Kakadu National Park where you are sure to see crocs and plentiful bird life. See a Tasmanian Devil during a visit to the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park and learn about the efforts to save these great creatures.
Highlights
Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Melbourne, Tasmania, Sydney Opera House, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mt. Cook, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua
Collette Experience
Details
- Tour Operator
- Collette Vacations
- Offer
- Offer valid through 2/28/2009
- Duration
- 27 Days
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Air 1 | Depart From Home | Depart from Home: Today you board your Qantas flight and begin the adventure of a lifetime to Australia and New Zealand. Crossing the International Dateline, you lose a full day. |
| Day 2 | Cairns | Cairns (Northern Beaches), Australia - Tour Begins: Your tour begins in the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the northern beaches of Queensland. Tonight, enjoy a special welcome dinner with your new mates. |
| Day 3 | Great Barrier Reef | Great Barrier Reef: |
| Day 4 | Cairns | Cairns: This morning you board the Skyrail Rain Forest Cableway for an unforgettable ride above the rain forest canopy. There are two stops where you may get off the cableway and experience the forest floor from specially designed boardwalks. The amazing diversity of plants, animals and birds will astound you. Return to Palm Cove for an evening at leisure to enjoy your tropical surroundings. |
| Day 5 | Ayers Rock | Cairns - Ayers Rock: Board your flight to Ayers Rock, located in the heart of the Australian Outback, where you will tour the base of "the Rock" and marvel at its changing hues during sunset. |
| Day 6 | Alice Springs | Ayers Rock - Alice Springs: Tour the sandstone domes of the Olgas before departing for Alice Springs, located in the heart of the Australian Outback. A sightseeing tour of the area includes the Old Telegraph Station and Anzac Hill. Gain insight into the educational system in the Outback with a visit to the School of the Air - you may even see a class in session! |
| Day 7 | Kakadu National Park | Alice Springs - Darwin - Kakadu National Park: Begin your day with a Dreamtime Tour. Experience the culture of the Australian Aborigines and learn about their ancient culture, folklore, customs and the concept of Dreamtime. You will have the opportunity to taste some of their traditional Aboriginal food. Later, board your flight to the northern tip of Australia and the city of Darwin. You then drive into the heart of Kakadu National Park. |
| Day 8 | Kakadu National Park | Kakadu National Park: Today you experience the beauty and culture of Australia's "Top End." Kakadu National Park is home to wallaroos and wallabies, monitors and lizards, birds of every imaginable color, and crocodiles. See ancient Aboriginal rock art at Nourlangie Rock and enjoy an audio-visual show at the Visitors Centre. During your afternoon Yellow Waters cruise you may see crocodiles as they bask in the sun, as well as waterfowl such as jabiru, egrets, herons and eagles. |
| Day 9 | Melbourne | Kakadu National Park - Darwin - Melbourne: Fly to the beautiful Victorian city of Melbourne. Enjoy a city tour which includes Fitzroy Gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance and Parliament House. |
| Day 10 | Melbourne | Melbourne: Your morning is at leisure to explore Melbourne on your own. You may visit the elegant parks and gardens in this friendly city, take a ride on a streetcar, or enjoy lunch at an outdoor cafe in the quaint Italian neighborhood of Carlton. This afternoon you will visit Phillip Island, a renowned nature reserve and home of the world's largest colony of Little Penguins. The Little Penguin is protected on Phillip Island and rangers diligently study them. View the Little Penguin Parade as hundreds of them waddle out of the sea and cross the beach to their burrows in the dunes. You will also visit the interpretation center where you will learn about the life of the Little Penguins and their significance to the area. Dinner is included at a favorite Phillip Island restaurant. |
| Day 11 | Hobart | Melbourne - Hobart: A flight to Hobart, Tasmania brings you to Australia's second oldest city. The rugged and pristine beauty of Tasmania provides the backdrop to your 2-night stay here. |
| Day 12 | Hobart | Hobart: |
| Day 13 | Sydney | Hobart - Sydney: Return to mainland Australia today and arrive in the bustling city of Sydney. |
| Day 14 | Sydney | Sydney: A city tour of Sydney, where modern-day Australia was born, highlights Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and the fashionable suburb of Paddington. |
| Day 15 | Sydney | Sydney: |
| Day 16 | Queenstown | Sydney - Queenstown, New Zealand: Travel to New Zealand, arriving in the gorgeous town of Queenstown. |
| Day 17 | Queenstown | Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown: Journey through beech forest into the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley via the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Enjoy a cruise of Milford Sound fjord. Following your cruise, you return to Queenstown. You may choose to return via a short optional flight, weather permitting, for spectacular views of New Zealand's Southern Alps. |
| Day 18 | Queenstown | Queenstown: A leisurely day in this charming village offers several options to enhance your vacation. An optional thrilling jet boat ride on the Shotover River, or the 'Safari of the Rings' adventure into the spectacular Tolkian landscape, are two favorite ways to spend time here. |
| Day 19 | Mt. Cook National Park | Queenstown - Mt. Cook National Park: Traveling through New Zealand's picturesque countryside you will learn about the 19th century gold rush when you stop in Arrowtown. Later today you will arrive at Mt. Cook National Park where you may take nature walks or, if weather permits, enjoy an optional flightseeing tour to the top of the rugged mountain range. |
| Day 20 | Christchurch | Mt. Cook - Christchurch: A drive through the Southern Alps, which line the western side of New Zealand's South Island, brings you to the beautiful English city of Christchurch. Located on the Avon River, Christchurch is considered to be "the most English city outside of England." Upon arrival, enjoy a sightseeing tour along the Avon River and view magnificent gardens, the Neo-Gothic Cathedral, and the downtown park district. |
| Day 21 | Christchurch | Christchurch: Today is yours to explore the historic city of Christchurch at your leisure. This afternoon you may choose to take an optional tour to the International Antarctic Centre, the gateway for expeditions to Antarctica. |
| Day 22 | Wellington | Christchurch - Wellington: Traveling north along the coast you'll pass scenic river valleys and vineyards. Arriving in Picton, you will ferry to the North Island on one of the most scenic trips the world has to offer. Cruising through the Marlborough Sounds and across the Cook Strait, your final destination is Wellington, the harbour capital of New Zealand. |
| Day 23 | Wellington | Wellington: According to Maori legend, Wellington Harbour was founded in the 10th century by the Polynesian navigator Kupe and first named Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui - or "head of Maui's fish." A tour of this city showcases the Beehive Parliamentary buildings and views from atop Mt. Victoria. Later, experience Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, New Zealand's national museum which has won worldwide acclaim for its innovative, exciting and diverse range of artwork and exhibitions which relay the captivating stories of the indigenous people. |
| Day 24 | Rotorua | Wellington - Rotorua: Depart for the center of Maori culture - the city of Rotorua. Here you'll see a unique landscape of bubbling and steaming geothermal springs. Tonight you will enjoy a home stay** and dinner with a New Zealand family. This is a great way to meet the Kiwis and perhaps form lifelong friendships. |
| Day 25 | Rotorua | Rotorua: This morning visit Te Puia, New Zealand's premier Maori cultural and geothermal experience. You'll be truly amazed by the landscape of erupting geysers, bubbling mud pools and other geothermal wonders. Here, the Maori keep their culture alive by teaching the tribal youth traditional carving, weaving and dancing. Learn about this unique culture as you partake in a demonstration about the importance of the Maori dress and the weaving process. Before leaving you will get to view the national bird - the Kiwi. A visit to the Agrodome will give you insight into how wool, one of New Zealand's premier products, is processed. You will also view a special sheep shearing demonstration. Later this afternoon, meet jade carvers and discover how jade is transformed to make beautiful jewelry. |
| Day 26 | Tour ends | Rotorua - Auckland - Tour Ends: Travel through the majestic countryside of the North Island, arriving in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, "The City of Sails." Your tour ends in Auckland. |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- Note
Tour prices are Land Only rates based on per person double occupancy. Please call for triple or child occupancy rates. Taxes and fees are additional for tours that feature a cruise; port taxes are not included in the prices shown. Some dates may feature various changes in hotels, sightseeing and inclusions. Please confirm your specific itinerary at the time of booking.
