Highlights of the South Pacific (PK)

17 Day Tour from Auckland to Sydney

2019 Tour Details View 2020 Tour Details »

Experience the best of Australia and New Zealand on an unforgettable tour filled with fascinating wildlife, dramatic scenery, and the region’s favorite cities.

In New Zealand, float by boat through the Waitomo caves under the brilliance of thousands of glowworms, visit the picturesque farm that brought the Hobbit on movie set of The Lord of the Rings trilogy to life, and find inspiration from the majestic beauty of Fiordland National Park, where you’ll cruise the stunning Milford Sound to experience its pristine natural setting just as the Maori and European explorers did hundreds of years ago. Visit Te Puia, home to New Zealand’s largest geyser, bubbling mud pools and silica terraces and experience all that Queenstown offers as the “Adventure Capital of the World.”

From Cairns, a full-day excursion takes you to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel or to take a semi-submersible watercraft tour of the famous underwater world that explodes with color and marine life. You’ll also visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures for a guided tour to see native animals, including Cassowary, Wallaby, Quoll, and Crocodiles. Go behind the scenes at the world-famous Opera House in Sydney and enjoy a spectacular harbor cruise.

Throughout this Australia and New Zealand tour, Globus has also arranged out-of-the-ordinary adventures to make your vacation unique. For example, learn about the Maori culture during a special Hangi dinner and Maori cultural performance Or how about a wine-tasting and tour on beautiful Waiheke Island near Auckland?

From the South Pacific’s must-sees to its hidden gems, this Australia and New Zealand tour is a dream vacation!

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 Destinations & Sightseeing

AUCKLAND
Orientation; excursion to Waiheke Island with Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite winery visit and lunch
WAITOMO
Visit Waitomo Glowworm Caves
MATAMATA
Visit the Hobbiton movie set from The Lord of the Rings trilogy
ROTORUA
Visit Te Puia and Rainbow Springs; enjoy a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Maori cultural performance and Hangi dinner
QUEENSTOWN
Gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak for scenic dinner; visit Fiordland National Park and cruise on Milford Sound
MELBOURNE
Sightseeing tour; visit Fitzroy Gardens
CAIRNS
Visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures; Great Barrier Reef cruise with choice of activities
SYDNEY
Sightseeing tour; visit the Opera House, botanic gardens, and Manly Beach, ferry ride through Sydney Harbour; farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant overlooking Sydney Harbour

Headsets while in Australia

Notes:

  • Departure January 17, 2019 will be in Melbourne during the Australian Open, a tennis tournament held annually in Australia since 1905. Tickets are not included to the event but may be purchased in advance through the Australian Open website. 2020 dates are still to be determined.
  • Departures March 7, 2019 will be in Melbourne during the Australian Grand Prix, a motor race held annually in Australia since 1928. Tickets are not included to the event but may be purchased in advance through the Australian Grand Prix website. 2020 dates are still to be determined.

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:

  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Sydney Opera House
  • Te Wahipounamu
  • Wet Tropics of Queensland

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

American breakfast daily, 3 lunches, 4 dinners including a traditional Hangi dinner in Rotorua, and a farewell dinner in Sydney

 Itinerary

Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.

Day 1 ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Kia Ora—welcome to New Zealand! Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in. Please schedule flights to arrive by 4:30 pm in order to attend this evening’s welcome briefing.

NOTE:
Early check-in does not include breakfast. You may purchase breakfast directly from the hotel at an additional cost.

Day 2 AUCKLAND. EXCURSION TO WAIHEKE ISLAND

This morning, enjoy an orientation tour of Auckland, the “City of Sails.” See bustling Queen Street, the city’s oldest park, Auckland Domain, and the historic Parnell Village. Then, take a ferry to beautiful Waiheke Island, where we’ll visit a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite WINERY for a tour, tasting, and lunch. The remainder of the day is yours to explore more of Auckland.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 3 AUCKLAND–WAITOMO–MATAMATA–ROTORUA

This morning, depart 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. Take a silent boat trip through Glowworm Grotto as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling. Next, stop at a picturesque farm near Matamata that was transformed into the HOBBITON MOVIE SET from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. During your visit, see the hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, and other structures built for the movies. Continue on to Rotorua for a 2-night stay.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 ROTORUA

This morning, visit TE PUIA, Rotorua’s most prominent thermal area with New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. Next visit RAINBOW SPRINGS to view native bush and wildlife including the shy Kiwi bird. This evening, enjoy a traditional HANGI DINNER, followed by an authentic Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite MAORI CULTURAL PERFORMANCE.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 5 ROTORUA–QUEENSTOWN

Fly to Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.” Tonight, take a scenic GONDOLA RIDE to the top of Bob’s Peak. Take in the spectacular mountain views and the lights of Queenstown below as you dine in the Skyline Restaurant.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 6 QUEENSTOWN. EXCURSION TO MILFORD SOUND

Today, travel into 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 been honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. CRUISE on the fiord, with sheer rock walls rising thousands of feet from the water’s great depths.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 7 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 take a thrilling jetboat ride on the Dart River. Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you plan your day to explore, shop, and enjoy optional activities.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 QUEENSTOWN–MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

This morning, board your flight across the Tasman Sea to Melbourne.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 MELBOURNE

Today’s sightseeing tour 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 Botanic Gardens. You’ll soon discover the different architectural influences of this city as you see the Victorian Arts Centre and other buildings of significance. Tonight’s optional excursion to see the world-famous Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is highly recommended.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 10 MELBOURNE

Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this multicultural and cosmopolitan city. 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 out of town to sample award-winning wines in the Yarra Valley or drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the “Twelve Apostles.”

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 11 MELBOURNE–CAIRNS–PORT DOUGLAS–CAIRNS

Today, fly to Cairns, the “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.” Enjoy a special visit to the HARTLEY’S CROCODILE ADVENTURES for your chance to meet Australia’s native animals. Continue to Port Douglas, a beachside town surrounded by rainforest and the Coral Sea. Enjoy time at leisure before returning to Cairns for a 3-night stay. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 12 CAIRNS. EXCURSION TO THE OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF

Today, prepare for the experience of a lifetime when you board a catamaran and CRUISE to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Explore this underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of color and brilliance. Choose to SNORKEL, take a semi-submersible WATERCRAFT TOUR, or attend a presentation by a marine biologist.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 13 CAIRNS

A full day at leisure. You may wish to take a trip into the Daintree Forest, the world’s oldest living rainforest and to beautiful Cape Tribulation. Other activities include hiking, relaxing by your resort’s pool, or window shopping at the unique boutiques and art galleries in Cairns, where you are sure to find a favorite souvenir.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 14 CAIRNS–SYDNEY

Today, fly to Sydney, the largest city in Australia.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 15 SYDNEY

Explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Visit the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a guided tour of its interior and theaters. Travel to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair in the city’s BOTANIC GARDENS for a great photo opportunity and sweeping views of the harbor, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. Visit world-famous MANLY BEACH with time to explore the shops or perhaps go for a stroll on the beach. Afterward, take a FERRY back to Sydney Harbour and enjoy some of the city’s best views. Make sure to have your camera ready!

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 16 SYDNEY

Enjoy a full day at leisure. Perhaps join our optional excursions to the Blue Mountains or to the 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 help you make the most of this exciting city. Tonight, enjoy a special farewell dinner at a WATERFRONT RESTAURANT overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 17 SYDNEY

Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

JULIET HUDSON

Escorting tours for more than 10 years

“Passionate about sharing the best of what Australia and New Zealand has to offer and ensuring that each of our guests experience the trip of a lifetime is why I love being a Tour Director. I enjoy finding ways to showcase and immerse our guests in the destinations we visit, bringing the itinerary to life, and adding special touches with "meet the locals" experiences, morning "power walks," "local wine tastings," and "where to eat" menu boards. I love sharing my destination knowledge and helping guests, with beaming smiles on their faces, make wonderful holiday memories.”

Tour Director - JULIET HUDSON

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Queenstown

Queenstown

Upgrade One-Way Flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown

Upgrade One-Way Flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown

After your cruise of Milford Sound, take a scenic flight back to Queenstown.

Price Range: $$$$

Station to Station Bike Ride

Station to Station Bike Ride

The perfect half day - an independent cycling trip experiencing the best that Queenstown has to offer. Enjoy a Spirit of Queenstown cruise with incredible views, a bike ride along country roads and through farmlands, followed by a buffet lunch at Walter Peak farm. Return to Queenstown on the vintage steamship, TSS Earnslaw. A perfect way to see the best of Queenstown!

Price Range: $$$$

 Know Before You Go

These Know Before You Go travel tips are designed with you in mind, with helpful hints to help you prepare for and enjoy your escorted vacation. They are your guide to getting ready and contain general information on travel documentation, customs, and the country/countries you will be visiting, including budgeting, transportation, climate, languages, and much more. With Globus, you benefit from our experience.



* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Globus).