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24 Days Down Under Discovery W/ Fiji Ext Tour Package
Duration: 24 Days / 23 Nights
Priced From: $5,679 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Jan - Dec, Jan - Mar
Experience the best of the South Pacific on this unforgettable vacation! Your Down Under journey offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, cultural experiences, and the adventures of Australia’s and New Zealand’s cities. Your trip begins with three nights in the tropical paradise of Fiji before continuing to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. In Auckland, enjoy a sightseeing tour and sweeping views of the city from the observation deck of the Sky Tower, the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand. Then, en route to Rotorua, see the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves and enjoy the serene atmosphere as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling.
Tour Itinerary
Days 1-2
Board your transpacific flight and skip a day as you cross the International Date Line.
Day 3 Arrive in Nadi, Fiji
Welcome to Fiji! Upon arrival, transfer to the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa. This afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the island. Visit VISEISEI VILLAGE, where the Fijian people first landed centuries ago, and the GARDEN OF THE SLEEPING GIANT to see a stunning private collection of tropical orchids. Then, stroll through a LOCAL MARKET to see the various crops grown on the island before visiting the largest Hindu temple in Fiji.
Days 4-5Fiji
Two full days at your leisure. Your Local Host will have suggestions for optional activities. (B)
Day 6 Fiji
Today, transfer to the airport to board your flight to New Zealand
Stunning views in New Zealand. (B)
Day 7 Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand - The City of Sails–Waitomo–Rotorua
The Rotorua Museum of Art and History in New Zealand
Leave Auckland and travel through the green pastoral region of Waikato to the famous WAITOMO GLOWWORM CAVES. Experience a guided tour through the limestone chambers and passages of the cavern. Enjoy a silent boat trip through Glowworm Grotto as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling. In the afternoon, continue over the Mamaku Ranges to Rotorua. Enjoy a traditional HANGI DINNER this evening followed by an authentic MAORI CONCERT. (B,D)
Day 8 Rotorua
This morning, experience TE PUIA, Rotorua’s most prominent thermal area with New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. Continue on to the AGRODOME to learn more about one of the country’s major industries—sheep! Then, on to RAINBOW SPRINGS to view native bush and wildlife, including a walk through the Kiwi enclosure. The afternoon is at your leisure. You may wish to enjoy a wonderful fusion of relaxing hot spring pool bathing, sumptuous spa, and massage therapies at picturesque Polynesian Spa or to be entertained by a New Zealand family at dinner in their home. (B)
Day 9 Rotorua–Queenstown
A flight takes you to Queenstown on the South Island, home base for discovering every type of adventure sport imaginable. See the sights of this popular resort town, nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Southern Alps. (B)
Day 10 Queenstown. Cruise on Milford Sound
Milford Sound – New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination
More beautiful scenery today as you travel into FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK
Fiordland National Park through the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Boasting some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, this region of New Zealand has the elite status of belonging to UNESCO's World Heritage Parks
The World Heritage List includes over 800 properties with cultural and/or natural heritage of global significance. CRUISE on the fiord with sheer rock walls rising thousands of feet from the water’s great depths. (B,L)
Day 11 Queenstown
A full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Consider an optional visit to a local vineyard and sample some of the prize vintages, or maybe a thrilling jetboat ride on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers. Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you plan your day to explore, shop, and enjoy optional activities. This evening, enjoy breathtaking scenery in every direction as you CRUISE Lake Wakatipu on board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw. On arrival at Walter Peak you will be served dinner at Colonel’s Homestead. (B,D)
Day 12 Queenstown–Mount Cook–Christchurch
Motor north to magnificent MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK
Mount Cook National Park, named after New Zealand’s highest peak. Stop at the SIR EDMUND HILLARY ALPINE CENTER for a unique insight into the history and culture of this region. Weather permitting, you may choose an optional ski-plane flight that actually lands on the 18-mile-long Tasman Glacier—or a thrilling helicopter ride. Later in the day, leave this alpine wonderland and drive to Lake Tekapo to view the Church of the Good Shepherd. Cross the patchwork Canterbury Plains to Christchurch, the “Garden City.” (B)
Day 13 Christchurch–Melbourne
The illuminated city of Melbourne at night, Australia Off the coast of Australia
Sightseeing starts with a drive up the winding Summit Road for views of Lyttelton Harbor, then past Christchurch’s old stone buildings, the charming Avon River, and acres of green parks. On the way to the airport you have the option to visit the International Antarctic Centre, designed to give a “firsthand” experience of Antarctica, before your flight across the Tasman Sea to Melbourne, Australia. (B)
Day 14 Melbourne
G’day and welcome to Australia Story aboutAustralia
Aussies may celebrate the foundation of their country every January 26th with sophisticated fireworks displays and picnics, but the actual event was a more dubious and chaotic affair. On that day in 1788, some 700 shady characters from Britain’s most miserable slums were offloaded from eleven reeking transport ships – today honored as the “the First Fleet” – onto the shores of Sydney Cove. Unlike other new immigrant societies, the pioneer settlers of Australia happened to be petty criminals and their guards, and they had been sent to a virtually unknown land: the east coast of Australia had only been visited by a single European explorer beforehand, Captain James Cook, in 1770.
! Today’s sightseeing includes landmarks such as Parliament House and the Shrine of Remembrance, a tribute to Australia’s war heroes. Visit beautiful FITZROY GARDENS, then drive past the lush Royal Botanical Gardens. You’ll soon discover the different architectural influences of this city as you see the Victorian Arts Centre and other buildings of significance. We also stop at one of the country’s leading OPAL COMPANIES to discover how the beautiful gems are mined. Then, enjoy a unique lunch experience on board a HISTORIC TRAMCAR RESTAURANT as it winds its way through the streets of Melbourne. Tonight’s optional excursion to see the world-famous Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is highly recommended. (B,L)
Day 15 Melbourne
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this multicultural and cosmopolitan city on your own. Dine at a local restaurant and immerse yourself in Melbourne’s passionate food and wine scene or walk along Chapel and Brunswick Streets, famous for great shopping. Take a trip outside of town to sample award-winning wines in the Yarra Valley or drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the “Twelve Apostles.” (B)
Day 16 Melbourne–Alice Springs
Today we fly to the Outback. Here, visit the ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE and the SCHOOL OF AIR to appreciate how medical and education services are provided to those living in remote regions. Then, on to Anzac Hill, a tribute to Australia and New Zealand’s war heroes. You will also visit the historic OLD TELEGRAPH STATION to discover the history of how early settlers developed communications. 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 17 Alice Springs–Ayers Rock
Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, is sacred to the Aboriginal people
Today, experience an ABORIGINAL DREAMTIME TOUR and learn more about this important native culture from your Local Guide. Later, fly to “The Center of Australia.” Travel to a popular lookout to enjoy views of the magnificent Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a geological splendor of some 30 brilliant monoliths. There is time to take photos before returning to “Sunset Strip” for a drink and the changing colors of the Rock. (B)
Day 18Ayers Rock–Cairns
Your Outback adventure continues this morning. For an unforgettable experience you may choose to rise early for an optional camel ride to watch the sunrise at Ayers Rock. Then, enjoy a TOUR around the base of Uluru Story aboutAyers or Uluru?
Almost everything has two names in the Outback these days. Ayers Rock, the symbol of the Red Center, is now more correctly known by its traditional Aboriginal name, Uluru. The famous monolith sprouting from the desert had been given its stolid English title in 1873 by the first European explorer to clap eyes on it in 1873, Ernest Giles, in honor of his dull British benefactor, Sir Henry Ayer. But for all of 20,000 years before that, the local inhabitants had called it Uluru (apparently after one of the ancient clans in the area) and regarded it as a sacred site., learning of its significance in Aboriginal “Dreamtime” mythology. For an even more amazing view of Ayers Rock, perhaps take an optional aircraft ride. Later, fly to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. (B)
Day 19 Cairns. Great Barrier Reef Excursion Story aboutGreat Barrier Reef
For nature-lovers, a visit to the Great Barrier Reef is a quasi-religious experience. The 1600 mile long organism, which can even be identified from space, is actually a web of 2,900 self-contained reefs that lie between 40 and 100 miles off Australia’s north-east coast. From a plane, the Reef looks like a giant blue rash, but beneath its placid waves lie canyons of brilliant coral, each one a mini-galaxy of sea life, including wildly colored fish and anemones, giant turtles, moray eels, sharks and manta rays so large they can blot out the sun’s light as they pass overhead. The clarity of the water, the intensity of color, even the quality of the antipodean light are like nowhere else on earth.
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. This afternoon, your Tour Director can assist you with a variety of optional activities, including crocodile spotting. Tonight, join a unique dinner event at TJAPUKAI ABORIGINAL CULTURAL PARK for an interactive, entertaining portrayal of the culture, dance, and folklore of this indigenous tribe. (B,D)
Day 20 Cairns
A full day at leisure in this tropical paradise. For a truly amazing experience, consider our optional trip to Kuranda via the old scenic rail route. See magnificent scenery from the comfort of a restored, historic mountain train. For the return journey you may choose to take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, or you many choose to spend the day in the magical Daintree Rainforest, thought to be the planet’s oldest surviving tropical rainforest. (B)
Day 21 Cairns–Sydney
(Mon.) This morning offers a special treat as we visit CAIRNS TROPICAL ZOO for your chance to meet Australia’s native animals. You’ll also enjoy breakfast in the park, a talk by a wildlife keeper, and have the opportunity to have your picture taken with a koala! Later, fly to Sydney, Australia’s largest city. (B)
Day 22 Sydney
Explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Visit the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
Sydney’s famed Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
The World Heritage List includes over 800 properties with cultural and/or natural heritage of global significancefor a guided tour of its interior and theaters. Travel to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair in the city’s BOTANICAL GARDENS for a great photo opportunity and sweeping views of the harbor, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. Tour the world-famous BONDI Story aboutBondi Beach
As the Harbor stretches its turquoise tentacles into every inner suburb of Sydney, the 70 beaches that lace the city’s edges have created a hedonistic surf culture on a par with Rio and Waikiki. The most beloved of the urban beaches is Bondi (pronounced Bond-eye). Here, between sandstone headlands at the eastern fringe of the city, the long glassy rollers of the Pacific Ocean thunder onto a half-mile of golden powdery sand. In the 1920s, Bondi was a modest version of Coney Island, where city dwellers in need of fresh air would travel here by a rattling tram to cool off with an ice cream or cheap fish-and-chips by the sea. In the 1950s, the surf craze arrived from Hawaii, luring thousands with their boards into the crashing surf. And since the 1990s, Bondi has gentrified, attracting millionaires and movie stars. SURF BATHERS’ LIFE SAVING CLUB and enjoy a lifesaving demonstration! See some of the city’s suburbs and the historic Rocks area, home to Sydney’s original convicts. For a truly memorable experience, enjoy lunch as you CRUISE on Sydney Harbour Story aboutSydney HarborFew visitors realize that Sydney’s most iconic landmark, the Opera House, was almost never completed. The radical design by Danish architect Jørn Utzon was chosen from an international competition in 1957, even though engineers at the time had no idea how to build it. Within five years, the prototype sails had to be taken down and totally recommenced. Budget blowouts dogged the project until the perfectionist Utzon resigned over cost-cutting measures. Construction continued anyway, with the interior design modified. The embittered Utzon, however, refused to visit Sydney again, and has still never seen the finished building hailed regularly as one of the seven architectural wonders of the modern world. A recent reconciliation occurred when an interior annex was completed to Utzon’s original design, but the architect was too old to visit; he sent his son to the Opera House instead. . (B,L)
Day 23 Sydney
Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Perhaps join our optional excursion to the Blue Mountains
The majestic Three Sisters peaks in the Blue Mountain Rangefor a wilderness experience or to Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s leading wine-growing regions. You can even climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge! Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you make the most of this exciting city. This evening your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant overlooking Sydney Harbour, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. (B,D)
Day 24 Sydney
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)
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Contact : Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
3/11
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