23 Days Cruising The South Pacific Tour Package
Duration: 23 Days / 22 Nights
Priced From: $4,229 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Nov - Dec/08, Jan/09 

Experience the best of Australia and New Zealand—by land and sea— on this in-depth Cruise & Tour vacation. Arrive Down Under in Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, where you’ll cruise aboard a catamaran to one of the Great Barrier Reef’s many tropical islands. Next, fly to the Outback, where Ayers Rock, the magnificent Olgas, and an Aboriginal “Dreamtime” tour await. See how Outback locals live in Alice Springs, and visit Anzac Hill, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and a camel farm. Then, fly to Sydney, with guided sightseeing including a cruise on Sydney Harbour and a visit to the world-famous Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club. Here you will embark your Holland America cruise ship and set sail for Melbourne and then New Zealand with a stop in Burnie, Tasmania. Continue to Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park; Dunedin, Christchurch, and Picton—gateway to New Zealand’s largest wine-producing region. Then, cruise to Wellington, capital of New Zealand and home of areas featured in the Lord of the Rings films. On to Napier and Tauranga, and disembark in Auckland, the “City of Sails,” where you’ll enjoy a city tour and lunch at a local winery, a wonderful ending to a fantastic journey.

Itinerary

Days 1-2 Fly to Australia
Board your transpacific flight and skip a day as you cross the International Date Line on your way Down Under for the adventure of a lifetime.

Day 3 Cairns, Australia
G’day and welcome to Australia! Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special welcome dinner. (D)

Day 4 Cairns
Great Barrier Reef Cruise. Board a fast catamaran for a cruise to Green Island, one of the many tropical islands on Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef. Here you can choose to snorkel, take a glass bottom boat tour, or walk through the island’s cool rainforest. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. You may want to join the optional tour to Tjapukai Aboriginal Park this evening. (B,L)

Day 5 Cairns–Alice Springs
Today we fly to the Outback. Visit the historic old telegraph station to discover how the locals live in this remote area and to learn about the history of the early settlers who explored the region and developed communication. On to Anzac Hill, a tribute to Australia’s and New Zealand’s war heroes. Then visit the royal flying doctor service to appreciate how medical service is provided to those living in remote regions. A highlight of your day is the opportunity to ride a camel, the transport of the desert, at the camel farm. This evening, enjoy a truly unique Aussie experience, an outback barbeque that features a meal of typical campfire fare, fascinating tales of the Outback, and Aboriginal folklore. (B,D)

Day 6 Alice Springs–Ayers Rock
Today, experience an aboriginal “dreamtime” tour and learn more about this important native culture from your Local Guide. Later, fly farther into the Outback to “The Centre of Australia.” In the afternoon, travel out past Uluru (Ayers Rock) to the magnificent kata tjuta (the olgas), a geological splendor of some 30 brilliant monoliths. There is time for a walk to Olga Gorge before returning to “Sunset Strip” to stop for a drink in the Outback as you witness the changing colors of the Rock. This evening, consider dining under the stars among the desert dunes at the famous “Sounds of Silence.” (B)

Day 7 Ayers Rock–Sydney
This morning your Outback adventure continues as you enjoy a tour around the base of Uluru, learning of its significance in Aboriginal “Dreamtime” mythology. For an even more amazing view of Ayers Rock, perhaps take an optional aircraft ride. Later on, leave the Outback and fly to Australia’s largest city, Sydney. (B)

Day 8 Sydney
This morning, explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Sightseeing includes a sydney harbour cruise that highlights the natural wonder of this magnificent bustling waterway, and explore the sydney opera house on a guided tour of its amazing interior and theaters. Travel to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, located on the edge of the city’s botanical gardens, for a great photo opportunity offering sweeping views of the harbor, Sydney Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. Feel like a local while touring inside the world-famous bondi surf bathers’ life saving club and enjoy a lifesaving demonstration! See some of the city’s original suburbs and the historic Rocks area, home to Sydney’s original convicts. Stop at one of the country’s leading opal companies to discover how the beautiful gems are mined. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant overlooking Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. (B,D)

Day 9 Sydney (Embarkation)–Cruise
Most of today is free for your own exploration. This afternoon, transfer to the harbor and say goodbye to your Tour Director as you embark your Holland America cruise ship. (B,D)

Day 10 Cruising At Sea
Take advantage of the onboard activities and facilities. (B,L,D)

Day 11 Cruising: Melbourne
Explore the Victorian city of Melbourne. A selection of optional shore excursions is available including a city tour and a wildlife park where you will see koalas and kangaroos, followed by wine tasting in the Yarra Valley. (B,L,D)

Day 12 Cruising: Burnie, Tasmania
Enjoy the day in “Tassie.” Perhaps take an optional shore excursion to Cradle Mountain National Park or a local wildlife park to see famed Tasmanian Devils. (B,L,D)

Days 13-14 Cruising: At Sea
Take advantage of the onboard activities and facilities. (B,L,D)

Day 15 Cruising: Milford Sound, New Zealand
Today, cruise on stunning Milford Sound in fiordland national park, a unesco World Heritage Site. Immerse yourself in some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world as you are surrounded by sheer rock walls and majestic waterfalls. (B,L,D)

Day 16 Cruising: Dunedin
Take in the Scottish influences and heritage in Dunedin. Choose from a list of optional shore excursions including a sightseeing tour, a wildlife cruise to see penguins, and a ride on the scenic Taieri Gorge Railway. (B,L,D)

Day 17 Cruising: Christchurch
Enjoy a day in the “Garden City” with its old stone buildings and the charming Avon River. Take an optional tour of the city or visit the International Antarctic Centre depicting life on the frozen continent. (B,L,D) NOTE: On the 0111 departure the port of call will be Timaru, New Zealand, south of Christchurch.

Day 18 Cruising: Picton
Enjoy time in Picton, the gateway to Marlborough, the largest wineproducing region in New Zealand. Take an optional tour that visits several wineries and taste some of the finest wine the “Kiwi” have to offer! (B,L,D)

Day 19 Cruising: Wellington
Spend the day in the capital of New Zealand. Perhaps take an optional city tour or join a knowledgeable guide as you visit some of the sites where they filmed the Lord of the Rings trilogy. (B,L,D)

Day 20 Cruising: Napier
Spend the morning in Napier, where the main street displays some of the best Art Deco architecture in the world. (B,L,D)

Day 21 Cruising: Tauranga
Spend the day in the port town of Tauranga on the Bay of Plenty. Choose from a list of optional shore excursions including a tour to kiwifruit country, a day trip to geothermal Rotorua, and a visit to the spectacular Waitomo Glowworm Caves. (B,L,D)

Day 22 Cruising: At Sea
Take advantage of the onboard activities and facilities. (B,L,D)

Day 23 Auckland
Your cruise ends this morning upon arrival in the “City of Sails.” Upon disembarkation from your Holland America cruise ship, enjoy a city tour of Auckland followed by lunch at a local WINERY. Then, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B,L)

Alice Springs
Sightseeing tour; visit the Old Telegraph Station, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and a camel farm; Aboriginal Dreamtime Tour; Outback barbeque

Ayers Rock
Sightseeing tour around the base of the rock; Olgas tour; sunset toast

Sydney
Sightseeing tour; Sydney Harbour cruise; visit the Opera House, botanical gardens, and Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club; Farewell Dinner

Cruising
14-night Holland America cruise to Melbourne, Tasmania, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, and Auckland

Auckland
Lunch at a local winery

All Intra-Tour Flights

Inside Visits
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

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