Tour Highlights

Day 01 - Jan 08, 2025:  Wed - FLYING TO NEW ZEALAND
The tour begins with a flight from Canada/USA into New Zealand. You will cross the International Date Line and lose a day. [IFM]

Day 02 -Jan 09, 2025:  Thu - LOSE THIS DAY
This is a lost day because of the International Date Line.  You will cross over the International Date Line once more and gain a day back on your return home.

Day 03 - Jan 10, 2025: Fri – AUCKLAND, NZ
This morning arrive Auckland and clear customs. Make your way to your hotel located in central Auckland, for a two night stay. Auckland is known as the “City of Sails” and New Zealand’s largest city.  [IFM]

Day 04 - Jan 11, 2025: Sat – AUCKLAND, NZ
A morning visit to the “Kelly Tarlton Underwater World” with its live penguin and killer sharks display. Drive to Davenport, across the bay from the city of Auckland, for lunch and time on your own. Take a ferry back to the city center and make your own way back to the hotel. Balance of the afternoon and evening is free to explore on your own. [B]

Day 05 - Jan 12, 2025:  Sun – AUCKLAND ~ QUEENSTOWN, NZ
Mid-morning flight from Auckland to Queenstown located on the South Island. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for a two night stay. This evening, enjoy a relaxing cruise on the historic coal-fired steamer, the “SS Earnslaw”, crossing to the “Walter Peak Sheep Station” for dinner and a sheep dog demonstration. Overnight in Queenstown for 2-nights.  [B/D]

Day 06 - Jan 13, 2025:  Mon – QUEENSTOWN, NZ
Drive through the wine region & visit a fruit stand in Cromwell.  A stop will be made at the home of the original Bungee Jumping site. Visit Arrowtown, made famous by the ‘gold rush’ in this region. Balance of afternoon and evening is free in Queenstown. [B]

Day 07 - Jan 14, 2025: Tue - QUEENSTOWN ~ TE ANAU, NZ
The journey today will follow along the shoreline of Lake Wakatipu and past sheep and deer farms on the way to Te Anau. From there, enter Fjordland's National Park, crossing over mountain passes and through scenic valleys enroute to Milford Sound.  Enjoy a luncheon cruise in this breath-taking fjord, watch for numerous fur seals sunning themselves on the rocks and also view numerous waterfalls.  Return to Te Anau for an overnight stay.     [B/L/D]

Day 08 - Jan 15, 2025: Wed - TE ANAU ~ DUNEDIN, NZ
Traveling towards the Gore area, you visit a local dairy located in the rolling countryside and have lunch before continuing unto the Scottish city of Dunedin for an overnight stay.  Known as the Edinburgh of New Zealand, Dunedin wears the country's Scottish heritage with pride. A visit to “Baldwin Street”, the world's steepest residential street with an opportunity to climb up the street if you so wish.  Dinner at the hotel this evening. [B/L/D]

Day 09 - Jan 16, 2025:  Thu – DUNEDIN ~ MT COOK REGION, NZ
This morning you will visit the "Moeraki Boulders", mysteriously spherical stones scattered across a beach, and each weighing several tonnes and some up to two metres high.  A microbrewery lunch and tasting before and visit to a local farm.  This afternoon we travel up the Waitaki River valley past the hydro lakes and irrigation schemes that have transformed the lower country from dryland to dairying. Flanked by the dry hills which are home to tens of thousands of sheep, this valley has also become a popular route for the many visitors cycling the Alps to Ocean cycle track (Mount Cook to Oamaru). We’ll make a short stop at a salmon farm in the hydro canal before arriving at hotel for the night. [B/L/D]

Day 10 - Jan 17, 2025:  Fri - MT COOK REGION ~ ASHBURTON, NZ
Visit the stunning aqua blue hydro lakes of Pukaki and Tekapo, the source of the majority of New Zealand’s electricity. Continue on to the Geraldine area, a beautiful, sub alpine village on the Canterbury Plains. Visit the “Tin Shed" with probably New Zealand's most extensive range of quality New Zealand-made merino woolen products for sale.  No trip would be complete without a visit to a local machinery dealership , before arriving at our hotel in Ashburton, for a two night stay. The Canterbury Plains, a major area utilizing irrigation farming and the bread bowl region of New Zealand.  [B/D]

Day 11 - Jan 18, 2025: Sat - ASHBURTON/CANTERBURY PLAINS, NZ
Visit a farm on the Canterbury Plains, the largest area of flat land in New Zealand, with approximately 500,000ha of irrigated land. Irrigation makes varied land-use possible - arable and vegetable cropping is found on the best soils, and many large-scale dairy farms are present on the lighter soils. Also visit a potato, seed and cereal producer and learn how this region regularly produces world-record wheat yields. Depending on conditions, perhaps a chance to see arable crops being harvested.   [B/D]

Day 12 - Jan 19, 2025: Sun - CHRISTCHURCH, NZ ~ MELBOURNE, AU
Travel to Christchurch with a tour of this beautiful city and a stroll through the Botanic Gardens. This afternoon take a flight to Melbourne, Australia. Upon your arrival, clear Australian Customs, and overnight at the airport hotel. [B/IMF]

Day 13 - Jan 20, 2024: Mon - MELBOURNE ~ BALLARAT, AU
Enjoy a city tour of Melbourne. After lunch, continue into the farming community of Ballarat and check into the hotel for a 2-night stay.  Ballarat is Victoria's largest inland city, a thriving hub of contemporary arts, events and food and wine, with a fascinating heritage backdrop.   [B/D]

Day 14 - Jan 21, 2025: Tue – BALLARAT, AU
Today’s farm visits will include a visit to a sheep sales yard, as well as a potato, corn farm.  Afternoon visit to a local company who make Australian sprayers. [B/L/D]

Day 15 - Jan 22, 2025: Wed – BALLARAT - BORDERTOWN, AU
Travel through the region, known as the “Victorian Wheat Belt”.   This afternoon visit to a carrot farm followed by a visit to a large scale  cereal grain operation. The small farming community of Bordertown is home base for the night.  [B/L/D]

Day 16 - Jan 23, 2025: Thu – BORDERTOWN - MANNAM, AU
This morning, visit a seed cleaning operation then continue into Murray Bridge. This afternoon, visit an onion processing facilities before arriving the quaint community of Mannam, a historic town on the west bank of the Murray River. [B/D]

Day 17 - Jan 24, 2025: Fri – MANNAM - BAROSSA VALLEY - ADELAIDE/GLENELG, AU
The Barossa Valley wine region is one of Australia's oldest and most premier wine regions. Unlike most of Australia whose wine industry was heavily influenced by the British, the wine industry of the Barossa Valley was founded by German settlers. The warm continental climate of the region promoted the production of very ripe grapes that was the linchpin of the early Australian fortified wine industry. Enjoy a tour and lunch at a local winery. This afternoon, travel onto Adelaide/Glenelg for the night. Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth largest Australian capital city. The city of Adelaide is surrounded by the hills on the east, and over 70 kilometers of coastline on the west. Glenelg is a beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. [B/L]

Day 18 - Jan 25, 2025: Sat – ADELAIDE/GLENELG ~ CAIRNS
Transfer to the Adelaide Airport for the flight to the tropical city of Cairns. Upon arrival transfer to hotel with the balance of the day free. [B]

Day 19 - Jan 26, 2025: Sun – CAIRNS, AU **Today is “Australia Day
Following breakfast, travel to “Freshwater Train Station” to board the “Kuranda Rail” for a scenic train journey up the mountainside to “Kuranda Station” and a visit to the Kuranda village.  The picturesque mountain village is surrounded by the “World Heritage Rainforest”.  Later, board the “Skyrail Rainforest Cableway”, the world’s longest gondola, for an epic aerial ride over the rainforest canopy as you make your way back down the mountain. This evening, take time to explore the foreshore promenade and shop at local markets, eat tropical fruits and seafood.  [B]

Day 20 - Jan 27, 2025: Mon – CAIRNS, AU
A fast 45 minute catamaran ride will take you to beautiful Green Island to enjoy this unique coral reef, which is situated on part of the “Great Barrier Reef" - one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.  Enjoy a glass bottom boat ride over the coral as well as a lunch on the island before returning back to Cairns.  [B/L] 
*Snorkeling equipment included*

Day 21 - Jan 28, 2025: Tue - CAIRNS ~ END OF TOUR
All good things must come to an end. Make your own way to the Cairns Airport for your return flight back to North America. [IFM]

Ask about extending your stay in Australia by adding a visit to: Sydney, Brisbane, Tasmania, Western Australia, Ayers Rock and/or Alice Springs.

PRICE Per Person, Double - from $15,874.00
Plus Air/Gov't Taxes of $984.00 per person

Single Occupancy - ADD $3,242.00
Airfare included from major North American gateways.
Initial Deposit - $3,000.00 per person at time of booking
Second Deposit of $2,000.00 per person is due before June 30, 2024
Final Payment per person is due before October 22, 2024

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