Begin your incredible 22-day Australia and New Zealand tour in the natural areas of Australian cities Cairns, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. Then, travel to the more populous cities in beautiful Australia and New Zealand. Your guided tour is sure to give you a whole new understanding of the cultures of Australia and New Zealand.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Fly to Australia

Board your flight to Australia.

Day 2 - Fly to Australia

"Lose" a day as you cross the International Date Line.

Day 3 - Cairns

Arrive in Cairns. Meet your group at tonight’s included dinner. (B in flight, D)

Day 4 - Cairns

Spend the day exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s biggest coral reef and the largest structure made by living organisms on earth. Your tour the reef by boat features an underwater observatory and plenty of snorkeling opportunities. (B, L)

Day 5 - Cairns

Today is free to explore Cairns and the nearby beaches on your own, or join an optional excursion into the Kuranda Village and Rainforest. (B)

$119 USD

Kuranda Village and Rainforest Travel deep into the heart of the tropical rainforest aboard the Cairns Scenic Railway. After lunch, you'll ride the sky rail over the treetops for an amazing view of the rainforest.

Day 6 - Alice Springs

Fly from Cairns into the rural Outback. (B)

Day 7 - Alice Springs

Learn about the Aborigines on this morning’s optional Aboriginal Dreamtime excursion. A local guide then leads a tour of colonial-influenced Alice Springs. (B)

$85 USD

Aboriginal Dreamtime *A Go Ahead Favorite excursion!* Journey into the bush to learn about the culture, stories and history of Australia's Aboriginal tribes. Enjoy tea and "damper," play the didgeridoo and throw a boomerang!

Day 8 - Ayers Rock

After an optional early morning balloon ride over the “Red Center,” travel to the Ayers Rock area. A local guide leads a tour of the Olgas, a geologically intriguing cluster of rock domes. (B)

$235 USD

Sunrise ballooning Sail through the gentle morning air high above the desert surroundings of Alice Springs on this breathtaking sunrise excursion. Upon landing, enjoy breakfast accompanied by champagne.

Day 9 - Melbourne

On a guided tour, explore the red-hued monolith of Ayers Rock. Next, fly to Melbourne. (B)

Day 10 - Melbourne

View the 19th-century architecture of Melbourne on this morning’s guided tour, including views of Flinders Street Station, Southbank, Town Hall and Melbourne Park, site of the annual Australian Open. Tonight, opt for an excursion to Summerland Beach on Phillip Island to view the famous “penguin parade.” (B)

$135 USD

Fairy Penguin Parade Arrive on Phillip Island to bask in a sunset on Summerland Beach, where you'll see the procession of hundreds of tiny "fairy penguins" emerging from the sea.

Day 11 - Melbourne

Opt for an excursion on board a steam train to the Yarra Valley, home of celebrated Victorian wines and rare wildlife. (B)

$155 USD

Yarra Valley Winery via steamtrain Enjoy a delicious lunch in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley vineyards, along with a wine-tasting event to sample the region’s vintages.

Day 12 - Sydney

Fly to Sydney.  Tonight, opt to take a Sydney Harbor cruise where you'll enjoy spectacular views of the city. (B)

$115 USD

Sydney harbor cruise and dinner Take a relaxing cruise through Sydney Harbor, offering stunning views of the surrounding city and Harbor Bridge.

Day 13 - Sydney

Today's guided sightseeing tour of Sydney includes the Opera House, the Rocks district and Darling Harbor. (B)

Day 14 - Sydney

Explore Sydney on your own, or join a full-day optional excursion to the Blue Mountains. (B)

$145 USD

The Blue Mountains Enjoy a visit to The Edge Cinema, the Three Sisters rock formation and the Megalong Valley Heritage Centre. Lunch is included, followed by a visit to a koala park.

Day 15 - Christchurch

Fly to Christchurch, New Zealand. (B)

Day 16 - Christchurch

Absorb Christchurch’s British flavor during today’s guided tour. This evening, experience Kiwi culture firsthand as the guest of a local family at a home-hosted dinner. (B, D)

Day 17 - Queenstown

En route to Queenstown, view beautiful countryside, including Lake Tekapo. (B)

Day 18 - Queenstown

Travel by gondola up Bob’s Peak. This evening, join an optional excursion to the Walter Peak Sheep and Cattle Station. (B)

$85 USD

Walter Peak Enjoy a scenic steamship cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak. This original homestead is one of New Zealand’s most famous sheep and cattle stations.

Day 19 - Queenstown

On a full-day excursion to Milford Sound, view the spectacular fjords and harbors of coastal New Zealand. (B)

Day 20 - Rotorua

Fly north to Rotorua. Upon arrival, enjoy a sumptuous Hangi feast of traditional food and expressive Maori dancing (time permitting). (B, D)

Day 21 - Auckland

Travel to Auckland, where you'll have free time to explore on your own today. (B)

Day 22 - Auckland

Take a guided tour of Auckland, the City of Sails. If you are continuing on our tour extension, board your flight to Fiji. Otherwise, fly home, regaining your "lost" day as you recross the International Date Line. (B)

Protect your investment with affordable travel protection

Basic Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Protect yourself in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Or choose one of the comprehensive packages below, and receive a discounted rate!

TravelSafe Plus — For one low price, you’ll receive:

• Trip cancellation & interruption protection
• Medical & accident protection
• Baggage & property protection

TravelSafe Gold with Flight Cancellation Protection
Take advantage of the best possible deal for your investment dollar. For $60 USD more, you’ll get all of the above plus additional coverage (up to $1,000 USD) if the flight to your tour is cancelled due to reasons beyond your control.

Purchase your travel protection package early and receive an added benefit!
Purchase one of the above TravelSafe packages within 14 days of reserving your tour, and you’ll automatically receive AnyTime Travel Protection at no additional charge. This means you can cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to the departure of your initial flight and still protect your investment. You will be provided with a credit voucher towards your next Go Ahead tour.

What’s unique about these protection plans?

• Most primary travel protection companies don’t cover international travel.
• Under the AnyTime Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and your investment is protected in the form of a credit voucher.
• Efekta travel protection covers lost or stolen cash while on tour.
• Efekta travel protection covers the cost towards replacement of valuable documents—such as passports, airline tickets and visas while on tour.
• In the event that your roommate cancels for a reason covered under the policy, you will be reimbursed for the single supplement fee, should you still choose to travel.
• The following policies are also available to be purchased separately:
  • Medical & Accident: $70 USD
  • Baggage & Property: $60 USD

Extended Protection Plan
The Extended Protection Plan allows you to purchase extended coverage for any travel you do before or after meeting up with your Go Ahead Tours tour group (with flights arranged by Go Ahead Tours).

For more detailed descriptions of the benefits available under Efekta Insurance International LTD's Travel Protection Plans please call 1-800-597-0350 or download a PDF copy of the Efekta Travel Protection booklet here.

Passport & Visa

In order to enter Australia and New Zealand (as well as the Republic of Fiji, on extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return home.

A visa is also required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to enter Australia. Travelers must obtain an individual visa prior to departure by either visiting http://www.eta.immi.gov.au directly or through one of our recommended providers:

U.S. Citizens: Zierer Visa Service (1-866-788 1100; www.zvs.com/home.aspx?login=73041. If you get to a page requiring a log in, please use code 73041.)

Canadian Citizens: Visa Connection (1-416-506-8787; www.visaconnection.biz)

When entering Fiji, U.S. and Canadian citizens are automatically issued a visa upon arrival.

If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact the relevant embassies as soon as possible for your specific entry requirements.

Health

Health risks in Australia and New Zealand are not much different than in the United States. Travelers should be take particular care of sun exposure and drink plenty of liquids.

If you choose to go swimming, be careful of powerful surf.

Make sure to obey signs and lifeguard orders, and always swim between the well-marked flags.

It is advisable to check with your health-care provider for the latest health updates and overseas travel requirements.

Transportation / Walking on tour

Round-trip flights arrive in Cairns (after a stop in Sydney) and leave from Auckland (or Nadi on the extension). Flights are also included from Cairns to Alice Springs, Alice Springs to Melbourne, Melbourne to Sydney and Sydney to Christchurch. All other transfers are serviced by private motorcoach (bus and tram in Christchurch). In your free time, you may wish to explore the locations via public transport.

In Melbourne, the Met (M) transportation system covers tram, train and bus travel. The tram is an easy way to see the city. You can purchase tickets in singles or in bulk at shop vendors, Flinders Street Station and Melbourne Central Station.

In Sydney, buses run frequently. One of the best ways to see Sydney and the harbor is by ferry. For ferry travel, go to the Circular Quay near the Opera
House. Sydney also features a monorail that runs from the city center to Darling Harbor.

Christchurch is easily accessed by bus and is also ideal for cycling. While in Aukland, transportation by ferry, rail and bus is now connected by the new Britomart interchange, completed in 2003.

Clothing & Packing Tips

In the tropics, lightweight clothing is suitable yearround. Farther south in Australia, although the days are often warm during the southern summer
(December-February), a jacket is needed for the evenings. During the southern winter (June- August), warm clothing is advised, as is rainwear for
the South Island of New Zealand. Sneakers are advised for exploring reefs and beaches, as are sun hat and sunscreen. There will rarely be an occasion for formal attire.

Please note: When you check your luggage at the airport, make sure that all of your baggage is checked through to Cairns as your final destination—not Sydney.

Be sure to visit www.travelsmith.com, official outfitter for Go Ahead Tours. Please enter JY9220 in the field for Catalog Key Code when creating your account!

Currency

The units of currency you will be using on your tour are the Australian and New Zealand dollars. Better rates of exchange are found in those countries. We recommend taking a combination of ATM/bank cards, credit cards and travelers checks, which can be exchanged for local currency as needed. All are widely accepted. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.

Tipping

At the end of your tour, it is customary to offer your Go Ahead Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We suggest $2 per person per day for your driver and $4 to $6 per person per day for your tour director. If applicable, we also recommend $1 per local guide. Tips can only be paid in cash.