The following duplicates the itinerary that was provided by Vantage Luxury Travel. As might be expected, the effusiveness quotient is quite high.
Day 1: Monday, March 13, 2023
Depart for Melbourne, Australia
Board your overnight trans-Pacific flight to Australia
Day 2: Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Cross the International Date Line
Your journey will take you across the International Date Line today. Your excitement builds as you begin imagining the adventure to come.
Day 3: Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Arrive in Melbourne, one of Australia’s most beloved cities
Arrive in Melbourne, regularly called one of the world’s most livable cities. What makes it such a great place to be? Perhaps its pastiche of cultural influences — from Greek and Lebanese to Chinese and Italian — blended with the Australian spirit. The result is a vibrant, cosmopolitan, fun-loving city, and a true pleasure to explore. After time on your own this afternoon, join your group for an orientation tour, followed by a Welcome Briefing and Dinner at your hotel.
Included meals: Dinner
Pan Pacific Melbourne or similar
Day 4: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Get to know Melbourne on a tour of its highlights
Embark on a city tour of Melbourne, including a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens. We take a stroll amidst the beautiful blooms and majestic arbors of this splendid site before continuing our tour at the Parliament House and the Anzac Memorial, which honors those who sacrificed their lives at the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I. You’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and have the afternoon at leisure. Dinner is on your own this evening.
Included Feature:
- Melbourne city tour
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Pan Pacific Melbourne or similar
Day 5: Friday, March 17, 2023
Venture from Melbourne to Uluru/Ayers Rock, the heart of Australia’s “Red Center”
We fly to Australia’s “Red Center” today and check in to our hotel. You’ll enjoy the day at leisure before we venture to witness the UNESCO-listed star of the show — Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine as the sun paints the sky and this red sandstone behemoth in dazzling colors. Return for dinner at the hotel this evening.
Included Feature:
- Uluru sunset viewing, with wine
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Sails in the Desert or similar
Day 6: Saturday, March 18, 2023
Venture from Melbourne to Uluru/Ayers Rock, the heart of Australia’s “Red Center”
Your day begins at Talinguru Nyakunytjaku — the best area to watch the sun rise over the desert expanse. As the light spreads across the massive, 1,100-foot rock that is Uluru, the ever-changing colors will enchant you. You can then embark on a base walk to see some of the many sacred Aboriginal sites along the way, including ancient rock art. You’ll have lunch at the hotel before enjoying the rest of your day at leisure.
Included Features:
- Uluru sunrise viewing
- Guided Uluru base walk
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Sails in the Desert or similar
Day 7: Sunday, March 19, 2023
Venture to Cairns, the Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
Enjoy a morning at leisure before making your way to the airport for your flight to Cairns. The sunny heart of Australia’s Queensland province, the city is best known as the jumping off point for exploring one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders: the Great Barrier Reef.
Included meals: Breakfast
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns or similar
Day 8: Monday, March 20, 2023
A Dreamtime tour and exploration of Mossman Gorge
After breakfast, you’ll head to Daintree National Park, home to the Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people. This lush rainforest supports mind-boggling biodiversity, with an extraordinary array of bird species. Explore its incredible beauty by foot during a guided Dreamtime walk with a local Aborigine, visiting important cultural sites and learning about the special relationship between the Kuku Yalanji people and this unique tropical environment. Then, try your hand at lawn bowling, one of Australia’s most popular sports.
After an included lunch, return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner is at your hotel this evening.
Included Features:
- Guided Kuku Yalanji “Dreamtime” walk
- Tour of Mossman Gorge
Cultural Discovery:
- Try lawn bowling
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns or similar
Day 9: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
The Great Barrier Reef: Up close and personal with a Natural Wonder of the World
Today, we embark a wave-piercing catamaran for a 90-minute cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, a less frequently visited stretch of this 1,500-mile-long living organism and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival at our observatory, we have the chance to swim, snorkel, or watch the colorful fish and coral from the underwater viewing platform. Lunch is included. During our visit, we meet a marine biologist who will share his expertise about the fragile state of the Great Barrier Reef during a fascinating onboard lecture. After a full and rewarding day, we return to the mainland, where dinner is at your leisure.
Included Feature:
- Full-day Great Barrier Reef excursion, with included lunch
Cultural Discovery:
- Presentation about the Great Barrier Reef by a marine biologist
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns or similar
Day 10: Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Step into a magical rainforest realm at Kuranda
Make sure you have your camera ready for today’s full-day tour. Picturesque Kuranda is a tableland village and the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland — a spectacular rainforest habitat containing some of the most primitive flora and fauna on the planet.
From Cairns, you’ll ride on the 132-year-old Kuranda Scenic Railway, enjoying the view as you journey to top of the mountain range through 15 hand-cut tunnels and past spectacular waterfalls. In Kuranda, visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and admire the 1,500 resident tropical butterflies that dance around freely. You’ll enjoy an included lunch, as well as some free time to do your own exploring. Kuranda was first settled in 1885, and is today a bohemian retreat known for its markets, arts and crafts galleries, and street performances.
Next, you’ll board the 4.6-mile Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and glide across the rainforest canopy, stopping en route to walk through the rainforest and take in jaw-dropping views of Barron Falls. Your excursion ends at Caravonica Lakes, where you’ll be taken back to your hotel. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own.
Included Feature:
- Full-day tour of Kuranda and its surrounding rainforest
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns or similar
Day 11: Thursday, March 23, 2023
Travel to Sydney, one of the world’s most iconic cities
After breakfast, we have the morning at leisure. Then we fly to Sydney, Australia’s free-wheeling and cosmopolitan capital of New South Wales. Upon arrival, we transfer to our Deluxe hotel near the harbor and the soaring “sails” of the Sydney Opera House.
You’ll have a free afternoon to explore your new neighborhood before meeting back at the hotel for dinner.
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth or similar
Day 12: Friday, March 24, 2023
Discover Sydney’s charms
Get acquainted with beautiful Sydney on our morning excursion. We begin at the Altmann + Cherny showroom to learn about opal, Australia’s national gemstone, before heading to the world-famous Sydney Opera House for a guided tour of this breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, a tour of the city’s highlights takes you to the peninsula of Mrs. Macquarie’s Point, where a chair carved for the first governor’s wife overlooks the harbor. Continue to the mid-19th-century Garrison Church, Dawes Point, Darling Harbor, and Chinatown. You’ll also visit Bondi Beach and see for yourself why this stretch of sand and surf ranks among the most spectacular beaches in the world. The rest of the afternoon is free, with lunch on your own. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in bustling Circular Quay.
Included Feature:
- Panoramic tour of Sydney
Cultural Discovery:
- Opal demonstration
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth or similar
Day 13: Saturday, March 25, 2023
Explore the ancient, majestic Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains, bordering metropolitan Sydney, were formed about a million years ago and are so named for the blue haze that tinges the mountains and valleys along the range. Today, the entire area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you’ll explore its highlights on a full-day tour.
Your day begins with a drive to Featherdale Wildlife Park, where you’ll meet cuddly koalas, spry kangaroos, and other Australian native wildlife. En route to the town of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, savor an included lunch before boarding the Scenic Railway — the steepest passenger railway in the world! — down into the Jamison Valley for a walk through the forest, surrounded by the enchanting calls of bell miners, lyrebirds, and more. The Scenic Skyway, suspended 886 feet above the ravines, then bestows you with 360-degree views of the Three Sisters, Jamison Valley, and other iconic landmarks. Back in Sydney, enjoy dinner on your own.
Included Feature:
- Full-day Blue Mountains tour, including Featherdale Wildlife Park
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth or similar
Day 14: Sunday, March 26, 2023
Cruise Sydney Harbor and explore The Rocks
This morning will be an invigorating one, as you enjoy a sightseeing cruise on Sydney Harbor! This is your opportunity to view the gorgeous homes and capture fabulous shots of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge. Following the cruise, our Adventure Leader guides a walk of The Rocks and the Sydney Harbor area, pointing out some little-known sites and sharing local stories and lore. You’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then have the rest of the day to explore the city on your own. Dinner is at your leisure this evening.
Included Feature:
- Sydney Harbor cruise
Cultural Discovery:
- Orientation walk of The Rocks and Sydney Harbor
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth or similar
Day 15: Monday, March 27, 2023
Fly to the Adventure Capital of the World: Queenstown
Following breakfast this morning, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Queenstown. This city, nicknamed the “Adventure Capital of the World,” is set along picturesque Lake Wakatipu and against the backdrop of the mountain range aptly named the Remarkables, besides being one of the South Island’s most impressive cities. Your evening is at leisure, with dinner included at the hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Hilton Queenstown or similar
Day 16: Tuesday, March 28, 2023
What a day: Views from Bob’s Peak, Arrowtown, and a winery tour
The South Island is starkly different than its northern neighbor, and we’ll experience its unique brand of beauty today. We’ll set off on a half-day tour that will take us soaring over the city on a gondola to Bob’s Peak, where we’ll be rewarded with remarkable views of Queenstown. The mountain draws adventure lovers to its zip line, bungee jumping, and hiking and biking trails. So, along with breathtaking vistas, we get a true sense of the Kiwi love of the outdoors. We’ll also visit the former mining hub of Arrowtown, preserved as the heart of the 19th-century Otago Gold Rush. New Zealand is renowned for its wines, and you’ll get the chance to visit a local wine producer: the Gibbston Valley Winery, home of New Zealand’s largest wine cave and today’s lunch spot.
Included Features:
- Half-day tour with gondola ride to Bob’s Peak
- Visit Arrowtown
- Wine tour and lunch at Gibbston Valley Winery
Cultural Discovery:
- Taste New Zealand wine at Gibbston Valley Winery
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Hilton Queenstown or similar
Day 17: Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Experience the idyllic beauty of UNESCO-listed Milford Sound
Today, we visit one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. We set out on a full-day excursion to spectacular Milford Sound, the Southern Hemisphere’s longest fjord and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our long transfer to the far reaches of Fiordland National Park is rewarded with a luncheon cruise through astonishing vistas of rocky peaks, glassy waters, and silvery waterfalls cascading from great heights into the sound. Dinner back in Queenstown is on your own.
Included Feature:
- Full-day excursion to Milford Sound
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Hilton Queenstown or similar
Day 18: Thursday, March 30, 2023
Free time in the mountain-fringed town of Queenstown
Today is free for you to explore more of Queenstown at your leisure. Perhaps you’ll join in the adventurous spirit of the locals and arrange a mountain biking or bungee-jumping expedition. If a walk in the woods is more your speed, then you might hit some nearby trails to go “tramping,” the local term for hiking. This evening, enjoy a “family-style” shared meal at your hotel
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Hilton Queenstown or similar
Day 19: Friday, March 31, 2023
Fly to Auckland, the “City of Sails”
We’ll arrive in Auckland, on New Zealand’s North Island today. Check into your hotel upon arrival, then gather later for dinner at the hotel with your fellow travelers.
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Pullman Auckland Hotel or similar
Day 20: Saturday, April 1, 2023
Explore Auckland on a panoramic tour
We begin our Auckland explorations with a panoramic excursion that takes in the best of the city. At Bastion Point, overlooking the blue waters of Waitemata Harbor, we pay a visit to the site of the Maori protests of the 1970s. We continue to the Auckland War Memorial Museum, a beautiful neoclassical building, and one of the nation’s most important historical and natural history repositories. During our visit, we glimpse a bit of Maori tradition and custom as we attend a lively Maori concert. This afternoon and evening, take the opportunity to see Auckland’s landmarks at your own pace and seek out a spot for lunch at your leisure. Your Adventure Leader will have plenty of recommendations! Dinner will be at a local restaurant.
Included Feature:
- Panoramic tour of Auckland and museum visit
Cultural Discovery:
- Attend a Maori concert at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Pullman Auckland Hotel or similar
Day 21: Sunday, April 2, 2023
Head to Waiheke Island to visit a winery and an olive oil estate
Join a Waiheke Island tour today. We’ll explore this island just a short ferry ride from Auckland, delving into the local culture, built around art, food, and wine. We’ll savor a delicious lunch as well as a wine tasting and tour at Stonyridge Vineyard, one of the island’s oldest and most well-respected winemakers. From there, we venture to Rangihoua (meaning “Day of the Renewal” in Maori), home of award-winning olive oils that we’ll get to sample. We then hop on the ferry back to Auckland.
It’s easy to see how this cultural capital, flanked by two magnificent harbors, earned the nickname “City of Sails.” About 135,000 yachts and launches are registered here. Perhaps you’ll check out the America’s Cup yachts, formal gardens, and statues in Albert Park. Or browse the shops along Queen Street, the city’s trendy commercial district. Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers for the group’s Farewell Dinner.
Included Feature:
- Full-day tour of Waiheke Island
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Pullman Auckland Hotel or similar
Day 22: Monday, April 3, 2023
Depart for home
Transfer to the Auckland airport and begin your journey home.
Included meals: Breakfast
Post-Trip Extension
Monday, April 3, 2023
Nadi, Fiji
The mere mention of Fiji inspires sun-soaked daydreams filled with powdery sands, aquamarine seas, and gently swaying palms. You’ll enjoy a relaxing three night resort stay in this multicultural town, where you’ll enjoy lush landscapes, dazzling reefs, thundering waterfalls, and warm, friendly people. You’ll enjoy six Included Features and Cultural Discoveries, including a traditional meke performance and kava ceremony. When you’re not participating in a tour, relax at your Superior First-Class resort, featuring a private beach, pool, international health spa, and more. This special Pacific island resort stopover is the perfect way to extend your Fijian journey before heading home.
Extension Day 1: Monday, April 3, 2023
Fly from Auckland to Nadi, Fiji
Fly to Nadi, Fiji, today and transfer to your resort hotel. After checking in, you’ll be treated to a Welcome Drink before spending the rest of the day at leisure. The hotel’s private beach or swimming pool may beckon, or perhaps you’ll wish to avail yourself of the on-site spa.
Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa or similar
Extension Day 2: Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Discover the culture of Fiji on a Nadi tour, including a village visit
Fiji is renowned for its Edenic beauty — the name itself evokes visions of paradise. The island also has a vibrant, fascinating culture and friendly people, which we’ll experience firsthand on a sightseeing tour to Sabeto Village the includes a visit to a village school. Enjoy an afternoon at your leisure before dinner at the hotel this evening.
Included Feature:
- Half-day sightseeing tour of Nadi and Sabeto Village
Cultural Discovery:
- Visit a village school during your tour
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa or similar
Extension Day 3: Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Indian temple, lunch in an Orchid Garden, and a choir concert
Today you’ll stop at an Indian temple before savoring a light lunch at the South Sea Orchid Garden and enjoying some Fijian entertainment in the form of the traditional meke dance. After returning to the hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Included Feature:
- Photo stop at Indian Temple
Cultural Discovery:
- Traditional Fijian meke performance
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa or similar
Extension Day 4: Thursday, April 6, 2023
Soak in the Fijian culture and participate in a kava ceremony before flying home
You’ll enjoy one last experience today: a cultural visit to a Fijian village, where you’ll learn about Fijian history and lifestyle before the introduction of Christianity. You’ll be welcomed by warriors in traditional dress before a local guide shows you around different bures (traditional wood-and-straw huts), the chief’s home, and a cultural gallery. You’ll witness how traditional food is cooked in an underground oven called a lovo. You’ll also be invited to participate in a kava ceremony — a vital custom when visiting any village. Your cultural tour concludes with a delicious lovo buffet lunch!
Following the tour, you’ll return to the hotel for a leisurely afternoon of rest and relaxation. You’ll have a late check-out before transferring to the airport in the evening to begin your journey home and reflect on a remarkable experience in the South Pacific.
Included Feature:
- Cultural tour to a Fijian village
Cultural Discovery:
- Participate in a traditional kava ceremony
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch