Day 1. Depart your hometown. Today you depart for the West Coast. After introductions and meeting your escort (who will be travelling with you all the way) we fly overnight across the Pacific with the award winning Qantas Airways, the Spirit of Australia.

Day 2. Cross International Dateline. We lose a day which will be regained on our return trip.

Day 3. Arrive Auckland. Haere mai - welcome to New Zealand. We arrive this morning in Auckland, the City of Sails. We will be met by you'r local representative and transferred to our hotel. An afternoon tour of Auckland includes the bustling downtown and waterfront areas, a 360 panorama of the city from the summit of Mt Eden, quaint Parnell village and the pretty North Shore via the Harbour Bridge. Tonight a "Welcome to New Zealand" dinner cruise on Auckland's spectacular harbour.

Day 4. Auckland to Rotorua. Today we travel south to Waitomo and enjoy a guided underground excursion to the world famous Glow Worm Grotto. Afterwards we continue through rich farming country across the Waikato River to Rotorua. Tonight a local Maori will transfer us to a Marae where we will enjoy a traditional Maori Hangi feast and concert.

Day 5. Rotorua sightseeing. This morning we visit the Thermal Reserve and see the renowned geothermal activity including boiling mud pools, gentle hot springs and violent geysers. See a sheep demonstration followed by a visit to Rainbow Springs to experience the new Kiwi Encounter. This afternoon is at your leisure.

FREE OPTION (must be pre-booked): You can choose to be guests of a "Kiwi" family tonight. Your hosts will meet you and take you to their home for a traditional home-cooked meal. After a hearty breakfast the next morning, you will rejoin our group.

Day 6. Rotorua to Queenstown. We leave the thermal wonderland and fly south to the exciting alpine resort town of Queenstown. Tonight we'll ride the gondola to Bob's Peak for a breathtaking view of the snow-capped mountains and Lake Wakatipu including a delicious dinner at the Skyline Restaurant.

Day 7. Milford Sound. We begin our trip to Te Anau and Milford Sound by travelling along the shores of New Zealand's prettiest lake, Lake Wakatipu. We arrive into Fiordland National Park, one of the world's largest national parks with spectacular hanging valleys, towering precipices and raging torrents. The road continues through the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound which was once described as the "eighth wonder of the world". Our cruise takes us past mile-high Mitre Peak, majestic mountains, ancient rainforests and thundering waterfalls before returning to Queenstown.

Day 8. Queenstown at leisure. A full day to relax or take part in the incredible variety of activities Queenstown has to offer.

Day 9. Queenstown to Christchurch. Travelling past Lake Wanaka and over historic Lindis Pass, we stop to view majestic Mount Cook, known by the Maori people as "Cloud Piercer". We then cross the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch, renowned as the "most English city outside of England".

Day 10. Christchurch to Cairns. This morning enjoy an orientation tour of Christchurch before transferring to the airport for our flight to Cairns. Welcome to Australia.

Day 11. Rainforest & Aboriginal Experience. A very special breakfast this morning at the "Freshwater Connection" theme restaurant. You then board the Kuranda scenic train "Royal Champagne Service" for a spectacular narrow gauge ride to charming Kuranda. Travel into the towering rainforest on an amphibious army duck. We enjoy an Aussie barbeque lunch and an authentic Aboriginal cultural performance under the canopy of the rainforest. Experience a "Dreamtime" walk with an Aboriginal guide. Throw a boomerang and see if it will come back! You will also see Australian native animals including koalas, wombats and kangaroos. You'll even get the chance to meet Matilda or Walter, our  adopted Koalas. Tonight enjoy an Australian seafood buffet.

Day 12. Great Barrier Reef. Today we depart Cairns and journey to Green Island for some free time before exploring the Great Barrier Reef for approximately 3 hours. Non-snorkellers may remain at Green Island and either snorkel from the shoreline or enjoy an excursion in a glass bottom boat.

Day 13. Cairns to Ayers Rock. This morning we fly into the "Outback" to Ayers Rock. The afternoon is spent visiting the Olgas and later we view the spectacular setting sun light up the Rock, the world's largest monolith. This evening absorb the sounds of the didgeridoo and dine on true Outback cuisine as we enjoy our Sounds of Silence Dinner under the stars.

Day 14. Ayers Rock to Alice Springs. All morning is spent exploring the fascinating Rock. We'll hear some of the Aboriginal legends about the sacred land. In the afternoon we coach through the semiarid desert that is known as the "Red Centre" to Alice Springs.

Day 15. Alice Springs to Adelaide. Start the morning with a unique experience as we take a camel to breakfast. Feel like one of the original explorers riding these "Ships of the Desert" through the Outback. A tour of Alice Springs follows including Anzac Hill, and Royal Flying Doctor Service, where a light lunch is served before continuing to the Old Telegraph Station. We then transfer to the airport for the flight to Adelaide and enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Ghan Option (must be pre-booked): You may opt to travel aboard the legendary Ghan train overnight from Alice Springs to Adelaide.

Day 16. Adelaide at Leisure. A full day to relax, visit the wineries or perhaps fly to Kangaroo Island for a guide tour of the wildlife.

Day 17. Adelaide to Melbourne. Today we travel to the Mount Lofty Ranges and at Hahndorf we have time to explore the quaint village before transferring to the airport for our flight to Melbourne.

Day 18. Melbourne sightseeing. Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia with a rich multicultural identity, classic buildings, beautiful parks and gardens, sophisticated dining and enviable shopping. This morning's tour includes the Royal Botanic Garden, St. Paul's Cathedral and Parliament House. Morning tea is traditional Aussie style in a private home or in the Botanical Gardens. The balance of the day is free.

Day 19. Melbourne to Sydney. This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Australia's most cosmopolitan city. On arrival we transfer to our hotel.

Day 20. In Sydney. This morning enjoy an orientation tour of the city and out to the beautiful southern beaches including the famous Bondi. You also have the chance to try a traditional Aussie "Meat Pie". We then take a guided tour of the world-famous Sydney Opera House, home to Australia's renowned opera, ballet and theatre companies. This afternoon we transfer to Darling Harbour where we board our cruise vessel to explore Sydney's splendid harbour.

Day 21. In Sydney. A full day at leisure to further explore Australia's most cosmopolitan city or perhaps to do some shopping. Tonight we enjoy dinner at the famous Sydney Tower with spectacular views of the city and harbour.

Day 22. Sydney to home. At leisure with some time for last minute shopping. We transfer to the airport for our flight to Los Angeles where you connect to your flight home.