Experience New Zealand and Australia 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 starts in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, with 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. In Rotorua, tour the Te Puia thermal area with New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. Experience Maori culture by witnessing Maori warriors arriving on a war canoe followed by a traditional Hangi dinner. Then, fly to Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island for a visit to Fiordland National Park, New Zealand’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Park. Enjoy extraordinary scenic beauty as you cruise on Milford Sound and witness the sheer rock walls rising thousands of feet from the water’s depths. You also cruise Lake Wakatipu on a vintage steamship for dinner at Walter Peak. Finish the New Zealand portion of your vacation by traveling to New Zealand’s highest peak at Mount Cook National Park, then continue to Christchurch for an overnight and sightseeing tour. Fly across the Tasman Sea to Melbourne, Australia, for three overnights and a sightseeing tour including Fitzroy Gardens and one of Australia’s leading opal companies. Next, fly to Alice Springs to learn about life in the Outback and experience an Aboriginal Dreamtime Tour before traveling to fascinating Ayers Rock. A highlight of your Outback tour is the opportunity to ride a camel to watch the sunrise at Ayers Rock. After free time and a tour around the base of Uluru to learn about its significance in Aboriginal “Dreamtime” mythology, fly to Cairns for the highlight of your vacation—a full-day excursion to the Great Barrier Reef! The Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Take a cruise to Green Island, one of the many tropical islands on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Here, you have the opportunity to snorkel, take a glass-bottom boat tour, or walk through the cool rainforest. Back in Cairns, visit a Wildlife Park for a chance to meet Australia’s native animals and to take your picture with a koala. Finally, travel to the beautiful city of Sydney for a tour of the Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a cruise on Sydney Harbour. Throughout your trip, you have plenty of leisure time, especially in Melbourne, Cairns, and Sydney, to explore on your own or to join optional tours. A special farewell dinner overlooking Sydney Harbour, Sydney Opera House, and Harbour Bridge is the perfect finale for your amazing South Pacific vacation highlighting Australia and New Zealand.
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