New Year's Eve in Australia & New Zealand

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

Your flight continues to Australia.

Welcome to Sydney! Transfer to your hotel and then gather with your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner this evening.

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
• See the Rocks neighborhood and stop at Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair to take in views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Soak in views of Bondi Beach and the Gap in Watsons Bay
• Step inside the UNESCO-listed Sydney Opera House with a local guide

Enjoy a free evening in Sydney or add an excursion.

Enjoy a free day in Sydney or add an excursion.

Tonight, enjoy a celebratory dinner and a Champagne toast to welcome the new year.

Fly to Cairns, a coastal city in the state of Queensland, and then transfer to your hotel in the Great Barrier Reef region.

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

• Head to Cairns Marina to board a catamaran and enjoy a cup of tea as you sail to the Outer Barrier Reef
• Dock at the Marine World Platform and learn about the reef’s unique ecosystem from a marine biologist
• View the coral’s colors from the underwater observatory, glass-bottom boat, or semi-submarine—or hop in the water with a snorkel
• Sit down for an included tropical buffet lunch aboard the boat
• Sip on some tea as you make your way back to the mainland

Please note: Snorkeling equipment is provided.

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

Fly from Cairns to Uluru and visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Take in incredible views of Kata Tjuta, the weathered rock domes also known as the Olgas, and watch the sun set over Uluru, the magnificent monolith that’s been worshiped by Aboriginal tribes for 22,000 years.

Spend a free morning in the Uluru region or add an excursion.

Then, return to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to learn about Uluru's significance to the Aboriginal people. Join your Tour Director for a panoramic tour of the area or enjoy free time to explore the park on your own.

Later, transfer to Alice Springs, stopping en route to view Mount Conner.

Take a guided sightseeing tour of Alice Springs 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 and the School of Air

Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Melbourne.

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

Enjoy a free afternoon in Melbourne or add an excursion.

Enjoy a free day in Melbourne or add an excursion.

Then, sit down for an included dinner this evening.

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 and enjoy an included dinner.

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.

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.

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

Spend free time in Queenstown or add an excursion.

Fly to Rotorua, in the heart of the North Island’s Māori country. Later, enjoy a free evening in Rotorua or add an excursion.

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

Please note: For an additional cost, you can book a tour of the Hobbiton movie set through your Tour Director.

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

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

Enjoy a free day in Auckland or add an excursion. 

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

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