Overview Itinerary Dates & prices Reviews Hotels, flights & FAQ

Australia & New Zealand

with Fiji extension

Duration: 22 or 25 days
Group size: 15-35
Reviews: 293

Australia and New Zealand—a world away.

From Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the rugged Outback to New Zealand's sheep-dotted plains and cliff-lined fjords, the South Pacific features a lineup of dramatic landscapes. In-between outdoor adventures, you’ll discover sophisticated, multicultural cities and an irresistible, carpe diem spirit on this tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Your tour package includes

19 nights in handpicked hotels
19 breakfasts
1 lunch
5 dinners with beer or wine
13 guided sightseeing tours

Included highlights

Melbourne
Uluru
Great Barrier Reef
Sydney Opera House
Glowworm Caves

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Day-by-day itinerary

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Overnight Flight2 nights

Day 1: Travel day

Cross the International Date Line in flight and “lose” a day.

Day 2: Travel day

Your flight continues to Australia.

Melbourne3 nights

Day 3: Arrival in Melbourne

Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to Australia! At an included welcome dinner, meet your fellow travelers.

Day 4: Sightseeing tour of Melbourne

Included meal: Breakfast

Set off on a guided tour to admire the city’s beautiful 19th-century architecture, historic landmarks, and sprawling parks.

Explore Carlton Gardens, home of the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum
Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Shrine of Remembrance
Pass the Yarra River and the Sports and Arts Precinct, site of the Australian Open
Enter the National Opal Collection
Stroll through Queen Victoria Market

Spend free time in Melbourne or add an excursion.

Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 5: Free day in Melbourne

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Melbourne or add an excursion.

Yarra Valley Winery via Steamtrain

Excursion (additional cost)

Alice Springs1 night

Day 6: Flight to Alice Springs

Included meal: Breakfast

Fly to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory to learn about many institutions that date back to the country’s colonial days.

Stop at Anzac Hill and take in sweeping views of the town and countryside
Visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service, School of Air, and the old Alice Springs Telegraph Station

Uluru Region1 night

Day 7: Transfer to Uluru Region & sunset at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Included meal: Breakfast

Take a scenic ride through the Outback, and spend free time in the Uluru region or add an excursion.

Please note: On some departures, the excursion may be offered on the morning of day 8 instead of the morning of day 7.

Then, journey through the desert to Uluru to begin your exploration of the park on a guided tour.

View Kata Tjuta, the weathered rock domes also known as the Olgas
Watch the sunset over Uluru

Uluru Scenic Plane Ride

Excursion (additional cost)

Great Barrier Reef Region3 nights

Day 8: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Included meal: Breakfast

Return to magnificent Uluru, the monolith that’s been worshipped by indigenous Aboriginal tribes for 22,000 years. Then, fly to Cairns, a coastal city in the state of Queensland, and transfer to your hotel in the Great Barrier Reef region upon arrival.

Day 9: The Great Barrier Reef

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy a full day at the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system.

Head to Cairns Marina to board a boat out into the Coral Sea
View the coral’s colors from the underwater observatory, glass-bottom boat, or semi-submarine—or hop in the water with a snorkel
Enjoy an included buffet lunch

Day 10: Free day in the Great Barrier Reef Region

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in the Great Barrier Reef region or add excursions.

Please note: Depending on flight schedules, the Sunrise Ballooning excursion may be offered on the morning of day 11 instead of the morning of day 10.

Australian Hot Air Balloon Ride

Excursion (additional cost)

Kuranda Village Aboriginal Park & Rainforest

Excursion (additional cost)

Sydney3 nights

Day 11: Flight to Sydney

Included meal: Breakfast

Fly to Sydney this morning. Then, enjoy free time in the city or add an excursion.

Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 12: Sightseeing tour of Sydney

Included meal: Breakfast

Join your Tour Director for a guided tour of one of the world’s most pleasant cities.

Pass Darling Harbour and the Royal Botanic Gardens
Stop at Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair to take in views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
See the Rocks neighborhood, Bondi Beach, and the Gap in Watsons Bay
Step inside the UNESCO-listed Sydney Opera House with a local guide

Day 13: Free day in Sydney

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a full free day in Sydney or add an excursion.

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Featherdale Wildlife Park

Excursion (additional cost)

Fiordland National Park Region2 nights

Day 14: Flight to the Fiordland National Park Region

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Say goodbye to Australia and fly to Queenstown, New Zealand this morning. Upon arrival, transfer to the town of Te Anau in the Fiordland National Park region.

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Day 15: Lake Te Anau cruise, Glowworm Caves & Milford Sound cruise

Included meal: Breakfast

Depart early this morning to see the breathtaking scenery of Fiordland National Park.

Cruise across Lake Te Anau to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Walk along subterranean boardwalks inside the caves to view glowworms
Pass through beautiful beech forests and by glittering mirror lakes
Climb to the Homer Saddle and drive through Homer Tunnel
Sip on a glass of wine as you cruise around Milford Sound, in view of Mitre Peak

Please note: Travelers on tour from May through September will visit the Glowworm Caves in the morning. The Milford Sound cruise will take place in the afternoon.

Queenstown2 nights

Day 16: Queenstown via Arrowtown & Bob's Peak

Included meal: Breakfast

Stop to explore the gold rush settlement of Arrowtown as you make your way to Queenstown.

Tonight, take the Skyline Queenstown Gondola 1,500 feet up to Bob’s Peak, which offers panoramic views of the landscape below. At the top, watch the sun set as you admire the Remarkables, Walter Peak, and Lake Wakatipu in the distance.

Day 17: Sightseeing tour of Queenstown

Included meal: Breakfast

Join your Tour Director as they introduce you to Queenstown this morning.

Spend free time in Queenstown or add an excursion.

Walter Peak: Lake Cruise & Lunch

Excursion (additional cost)

Walter Peak: Lake Cruise & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Rotorua2 nights

Day 18: Flight to Rotorua

Included meal: Breakfast

Fly to Rotorua, located in the heart of the North Island’s Māori country.

Later, enjoy a free evening in Rotorua or add an excursion.

Māori Village & Hāngi Feast

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 19: Rotorua Region

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Spend the day exploring the highlights of the Rotorua region.

With a local guide leading the way, learn about the region’s indigenous birds at the Kiwi Wildlife Park
Visit the village of Whakarewarewa, which is home to thermal springs and bubbling hot pools
Join a local Whakarewarewa guide to learn about the lifestyle and traditions of the Māori people, who live in harmony with nature in the village
Visit Rotorua's Government Gardens, a public park and site of great historical importance to the local Māori people

Tonight, join a local Kiwi family for a home-hosted dinner of regional specialties.

Auckland2 nights

Day 20: Sightseeing tour of Auckland

Included meal: Breakfast

Drive from Rotorua to Auckland this morning. Then, get to know Auckland, “The City of Sails,” with your Tour Director in the lead.

Take an elevator to the top of the 1,076-foot-high Sky Tower
Stop at Viaduct Harbour and take a short walk to soak in views of the Auckland Harbour Bridge

Day 21: Free day in Auckland

Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Enjoy a full free day in Auckland or add an excursion.

Later, celebrate your trip at tonight’s farewell dinner.

Waiheke Island

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 22: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to explore Fiji.

Extension to Fiji

Conjure up your fantasy of paradise on earth: you’re probably imagining Fiji. Gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, crystal-clear lagoons, colorful coral reefs, lush tropical rainforests, and majestic mountains—that’s what makes this island nation in the South Pacific one of the most enticing places on Earth. Paradise aside, perhaps the true allure of Fiji lies with the warmth of the people and the fascinating blend of cultures that has endured for centuries.

Fiji3 nights

Day 22: Flight to Fiji

Included meal: Breakfast

Fly to Nadi, Fiji, where you will be taken to your seaside hotel.

Day 23: Free day in Fiji

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a full free day on Denarau Island or add an excursion.

Tivua Island Sailing & Snorkeling

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 24: Free day in Fiji

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Spend another free day on Denarau Island or add an excursion.

Then, sit down for an included dinner featuring local seafood this evening.

Fiji Village Visit: Indigenous Culture & Traditions

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 25: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Spend the afternoon relaxing in a dayroom, then transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

4.8 average

Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

Wonderful experiences in wonderful places with a fabulous tour director, Tim Reed.

11/13/2019 by 2nd time traveler Jean S.

We had a wonderful time on our 21 day Australia and New Zealand adventure. The destinations were packed with wonderful experiences, the hotels were at least 3.5, the food all along the way was at least a 3.5, but what took it over-the-top was our TOUR DIRECTOR, TIM REED. Tim with enthusiastic, wel...

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Exceptionally great tour

11/13/2019 by 2nd time traveler Kuldev S.

This tour showed us cities and iconic places worth visiting. Mr. Tim, our tour director is a great person with vast knowledge of each of the areas we visited. He was very communicative of the itineraries of the day by providing printed sheets day before and discussing its contents with the group on ...

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10/28/2019 by 5th time traveler Walter M.

Overall tour was very good. Sally did a great job with everything running extremely smooth. Highlights were Great Barrier Reef (we booked a second day on our own vs tours optional excursion, Melbourne, Sydney (dinner cruise worth the $ as food very good and views of Opera House and Bridge fantastic)...

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Super Adventure

10/28/2019 by 4th time traveler Diane G.

This trip to the southern hemisphere was a dream come true! Our small group experienced every ecosystem with its unique beauty in plants, animals, and culture. The itinerary was perfect, weather awesome, and commentary by Sally and coach drivers so educational, and entertaining. I cannot imagine tr...

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Amazing adventure!

10/28/2019 by 2nd time traveler Lane L.

This great adventure started with superb customer service over the phone when I first inquired about this tour. The tour guide was organized, thoughtful, fun, and full of knowledge about all the places we visited. Luke (guide) handed out schedules everyday for the next day's events. He gave us id...

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Hotels, flights & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Vibe Savoy Hotel Melbourne

You will love the convenience of staying in the very heart of all the action in the Melbourne city center. Blending the zest of the Vibe Hotel brand w...

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DoubleTree By Hilton Alice Springs

This majestic hotel is located within walking distance of downtown. Guests enjoy a fitness center, heated pool, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Si...

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Desert Gardens Hotel

This scenic hotel is located within view of Uluru. Guests enjoy an art gallery, sprawling gardens, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find scenic lookouts...

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Rydges Esplanade Resort Hotel

This contemporary hotel is located on the Cairns Esplanade. Guests enjoy free WiFi, a spa, and 24-hour room service. Nearby, you'll find Cairns Esplan...

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The Sydney Boulevard Hotel

This centrally located hotel is found in Woolloomooloo, Sydney. Guests enjoy free WiFi, 24-hour room service, and a gym. Nearby, you'll find Hyde Park...

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Distinction Luxmore Hotel Lake Te Anau

This comfortable hotel is located in Te Anu. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness center, and hotel bar. Nearby, you'll find the waterfront and Fiordlan...

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Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown

This scenic hotel is located on the lakefront. Guests enjoy free WiFi, a restaurant, and room service. Nearby, you'll find Saint Omer Park, Ben Lomond...

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Millenium Hotel Rotorua

This eco-friendly hotel is located next to Lake Rotorua. Guests enjoy a heated pool, spa, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find geothermal parklands, Te...

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Stamford Plaza Auckland

This comfortable hotel is located downtown. Guests enjoy free WiFi, a recreation center, and spa. Nearby, you'll find the New Zealand Maritime Museum,...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

Local weather

Alice Springs, Australia

Weather averages

Today
High 71°F Low 42°F

Auckland, New Zealand

Weather averages

Today
High 59°F Low 53°F

Melbourne, Australia

Weather averages

Today
High 55°F Low 43°F

Queenstown, New Zealand

Weather averages

Today
High 42°F Low 33°F

Rotorua, New Zealand

Weather averages

Today
High 53°F Low 42°F

Sydney, Australia

Weather averages

Today
High 58°F Low 46°F

FAQ

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Passport & visa requirements

In order to enter Australia and New Zealand (and the Republic of Fiji on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
U.S. and Canadian passport holders must purchase an individual visa from the Australian government’s Electronic Travel Authority website eta.immi.gov.au prior to departure.
Effective October 1, 2019, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must purchase an individual visa and pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy on the New Zealand government’s Electronic Travel Authority website immigration.govt.nz/nzeta prior to departure.
U.S. and Canadian citizens are automatically issued a visa upon arrival in Fiji (on the tour extension).
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for about 1 hour daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved roads and gravel paths, with few hills.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Melbourne and depart from Auckland (or Nadi on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
Flights from Melbourne to Alice Springs, the Uluru Region to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney, Sydney to Christchurch, and Queenstown to Rotorua, as well as a boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef and Milford Sound, are included in the price of your tour. (The tour extension also includes a flight from Auckland to Nadi.)
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
The Australian sun is very hot. Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Bug repellent is also useful, as there can be flies in the Outback certain times of year.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to any of the countries on this tour.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
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 lifeguards’ orders, and always swim between the marked flags.
Travelers prone to seasickness may want to take special precautions for the boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Australian menus emphasize high-quality steaks and lamb chops, though meat pies are also popular. Regional specialties include shellfish (such as Sydney rock oysters and crabs) and smoked sausages brought to South Australia by German settlers. The national beverage is beer, and a visit to an Aussie pub is a popular pastime, but the country’s wines are also superb.
In New Zealand, there are many good local varieties of fish and seafood, excellent lamb and fresh fruits, including kiwi and passion fruits. For lunch, tea rooms serve savory meat pies, quiche, and desserts.
On the tour extension, Fijian cuisine is traditionally healthy and fresh, incorporating local seafood, coconut, pineapple, and tubers such as taro.

Electricity & air conditioning

Australia and New Zealand (plus Fiji on the tour extension) operate on the standard 220-240 volts and use Types I plugs with three large, flat pins set on an angle.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The majority of the hotels on this tour will have air conditioning.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

You’ll travel through Australian Central Standard Time (14.5 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time) and Australian Eastern Standard Time (15 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time).
New Zealand is 17 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.
Fiji is 16 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 1:30am in the Uluru Region, 2am in Cairns, 3am in Melbourne, and 5am in Queenstown (plus 4am in Fiji on the tour extension).

Currency

You will use the Australian dollar and the New Zealand dollar (plus the Fiji dollar on the tour extension).
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

Tour Director on extension

Please note that you will have a different Tour Director for your tour extension in Fiji than on your main tour.

Dates & prices

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201920202021

Starts

Ends

Price

Availability

2019

Australia & New Zealand

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