|
2008
Australia
&
New Zealand
Adventure
| Depart: |
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 |
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 |
| Return: |
Saturday, October 18, 2008 |
Saturday, October 25, 2008 |
| Tour No. |
ANA-1001-8 |
ANA-1008-8 |
|
(waitlist only) |
|
Tour Price per person: $5195 twin; $5055 triple; $6695 single
Day 1 – Wednesday, 01 October
HONOLULU
/
AUCKLAND
We assemble at
Honolulu
International
Airport
in the evening for our Air New Zealand flight to
Auckland
.
Day 2 – Thursday, 02 October EN ROUTE
We lose a day as we cross the International Date Line
Day 3 – Friday, 03 October
AUCKLAND
/
SYDNEY
,
AUSTRALIA
We arrive in
Auckland
and continue our flight to
Sydney
. Upon arrival at
Sydney
, the capital city of
New South
Wales
, we are welcomed by our Australian representative. We head east on our own privately chartered motor coach for our tour of
Sydney
’s beaches and bays. We view the
Pacific Ocean
and the world famous
Bondi
Beach
. We proceed to the city through historic Paddington, visit the Rocks,
Sydney
’s birthplace, surrounded by early colonial architecture, unique shopping and vistas of the magnificent
Sydney
Harbour
. We gain superb views of two of
Sydney
’s famous icons, the
Sydney
Harbour
Bridge
and the Sydney Opera House from Mrs. Macquarie’s Point and Chair before transferring to our centrally located accommodation for two nights in the
Darling
Harbour
area. Join your escort on a walking tour, explore and discover historic Paddy’s Market, the many shops, restaurants, and entertainment center of the multicultural neighborhood.
Day 4 – Saturday, 04 October
SYDNEY
We continue our discovery of the vibrant,
Sydney
. We visit the
Ferndale
Wildlife
Park
and see
Australia
’s unique wildlife in a natural bush setting. Get up close and personal by hand feeding a kangaroo, wallaby, or emu. Enjoy face-to face encounter with one of the friendly koalas, or touch a scaly, cold-blooded reptile. See the native dingo, native birds, Tasmanian devil, and even get a chance to take your own pictures of the tiny penguins. We then proceed to
Darling
Harbour
to board a catamaran for a sumptuous seafood lunch buffet. Feast your eyes on the highlights of stunning
Sydney
Harbour
cruise with full commentary as we sail on the still blue waters, under the
Harbour
Bridge
to the Circular Quay. A short walk takes us to the world famous
Sydney
Opera House,
Australia
’s most recognizable, architectural icon, with its gleaming white sails, against the backdrop of the harbour. Our private guide gives us insight of this fascinating cultural center of performing arts as we have opportunities to enter the different venues of the magnificent complex.
There is ample time to explore the city independently, or with your escort: linger awhile at the Circular Quay and Rocks area, visit
Harbourside
Shopping Center
, the Sydney Aquarium with its large collection of aquatic life and explore
Australia
’s rich and diverse waterways, marine ecosystems and unique aquatic environments. Take a ride on the Sydney Monorail, do the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb “for the climb of your life,” to the summit of the bridge, and experience the breathtaking view. Enjoy an attraction at the Sydney Opera House, visit
Chinatown
, nearby
Star
City
,
Sydney
’s only casino complex, or go shopping for your Australian souvenirs at your leisure. There’s a multitude of attractions in this cosmopolitan city. (B, L)
Day 5 – Sunday, 5 October
SYDNEY
/
CANBERRA
This morning we begin our overland travel of the outer western suburbs and outback towns of
Australia
via the
Southern Highlands
to
Canberra
, the national capital of
Australia
on our privately chartered motor coach. We enjoy a barbecue lunch in a traditional outback style at a working sheep station in the suburbs of Canberra, witness an Australian kelpie dog maneuver a flock of sheep, watch a sheep shearing demonstration, and learn of marketing wool. We admire the magnificent landscape and visionary architecture, taking in the sights of the government centers, the Australian War Memorial, and the impressive diplomatic embassies, high commissions, and residences and see their unique architectural styles. We take a guided tour of the ultra modern new Parliament House, designed by an American. We drive to Mt. Ainslie Lookout for a spectacular vista over the
Capital
City
. We take time “to smell the flowers” at
Canberra
’s celebration of spring. “The Floriade,” in the Australian National Botanic Gardens along the shores of Lake Burley Griffin is Canberra’s annual spring splash of color – a flower festival with a large mix of flowers and a huge kaleidoscope of colors with tulips, irises, daffodils, hyacinth, violas, chrysanthemums, daisies, and special showcase gardens of new varieties. (The theme for 2008, designed by a local consortium is yet to be announced). Our accommodation for the night is in
Canberra
. (B, L, D)
Day 6 – Monday, 6 October
CANBERRA
/
MELBOURNE
We continue our overland journey, away from major cities, traveling through towns and villages of Yass, Gundagai, and Holbrook before arriving at the
New South Wales
and
Victoria
border towns of Albury and Wodonga on the
Murray River
. We stop at places, like “Dog on the Tucker Box,” “Ettamougah Pub,” and if we’re lucky, get to listen to a local balladeer sing Australian songs. We pass through historic Beechworth before traveling to towns of Wangaratta, Benalia, Euroa, and Seymour before entering the garden city of
Melbourne
,
Victoria
. Join your escort tonight as we walk to the Crown Entertainment Complex near our hotel, leisurely enjoy dinner at one of the many eateries, and try your luck at the huge Crown Casino. We spend two nights in the center of
Melbourne
. (B)
Day 7 – Tuesday, 7 October MELBOURNE / PHILLIP ISLAND
A full day and evening tour are in store for us today: Cosmopolitan and vibrant,
Melbourne
has the air of a solid Victorian-era city. We enjoy the city highlights of
Melbourne
, featuring the different city districts, lovely parks, gardens, the suburbs, and cultural centers. We visit Cook’s cottage, celebrating the achievements of Captain James Cook. The surrounding
Fitzroy
Gardens
and Conservatory are an excellent setting for the cottage with English style parklands. We visit the Shrine of Remembrance, a sacred place of solitude and reflection, with its Ray of Light Ceremony. We take time out for leisure shopping and lunch at Victoria Market Place, filled with delicatessens, bakeries, produce, and traders with inexpensive clothing and souvenirs. In the afternoon, we drive to
Phillip
Island
, located at the entrance of
Westport
Bay
. With tree top boardwalks, close viewing areas, the Koala Conservation Centre give us the opportunity to view koalas in their natural habitat. We enjoy a delicious hot lobster dinner before heading for the Penguin Parade. Each night at sunset the world’s smallest penguins come out of the sea and waddle a shore to their sand dune burrows. The area is floodlit to allow maximum visibility from elevated board walks. Always take warm clothing to this tour, plus a windbreaker jacket or raincoat. (B, D)
Day 8 – Wednesday, 08 October
MELBOURNE
/
CHRISTCHURCH
,
NEW ZEALAND
We enjoy a morning at leisure in the lovely garden city of
Melbourne
with opportunities to enjoy
Australia
’s second largest city with your escort. There’s time to go shopping for souvenirs and
Australia
’s own opals, take a circle city tram ride, have lunch at
China
town, visit gardens and museums, or simply relax.
We depart
Australia
in the late afternoon for our flight to
Christchurch
, in the South Island of New Zealand. Our accommodation for two nights is the hotel Rydges, located in the heart of the city and shopping area. (B)
Day 9 – Thursday, 09 October
CHRISTCHURCH
We spend a full day in
Christchurch
, a truly English garden city with its well-tended parks and squares. Much of the charm of this city starts and finishes with the beautiful
Avon
River
, which runs through the suburbs and the city, and provides an almost rural atmosphere. Join your escort for a walk through town as we take in the sights of the historic and contemporary landmarks which make this garden city unique. We stroll through the botanical garden, full of flowering plants and trees in
Hagley
Park
, and visit its nearby
Canterbury
Museum
, rich with
New Zealand
’s cultural and natural heritage. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon browsing through shops, visiting the town’s casino, relaxing, or taking optional tours and activities. You may even want to do “punting” on the
Avon
River
on a gondola which meanders throughout the town. Your escort will guide you in using the town tram which travels throughout the town, and direct you to great eating establishments. (B)
Day 10 – Friday, 10 October
CHRISTCHURCH
/ TRANSAPLINE / FRANZ JOSEF
The TranzAlpine is world renowned as “The Great New Zealand Rail Adventure.” It crosses the huge and fertile patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains, and winds its way over massive viaducts through spectacular gorges and river valleys to Arthur’s Pass, in the country’s greatest mountain range, the
Southern Alps
. We stop at the town of
Hokitika
, known for its artisan community of master craftsmen of the pounamu, the
New Zealand
nephrite jade. Our journey continues to the best observed and recorded of the country’s many glaciers, Franz Josef. This massive river of ice flows to the
Tasman Sea
on the western side of the
Alps
! Optional flight seeing excursion to the glacier is available. We spend the night at Franz Josef Hotel, where the sunrise view of the nearby mountain is magnificent. . (B, D)
Day 11 – Saturday, 11 October FRANZ JOSEF / QUEENSTOWN
This morning, we walk to Franz Josef glacier’s viewpoints where markers show us how much the glacier has advanced and retreated along the valley. We travel through the
township
of
Fox Glacier
, past pine forests, tranquil lakes, travel along the
Haas
River
, cross the rugged
Alps
at
Hass
Pass
over to the eastern side of the island. We descend to glacier-fed Lake Wanaka, passing Cromwell, where parts of the old Cromwell now lay at the bottom of the newly created Lake Dunstan We continue over the undulating countryside, travel along the rugged Kawarau River to the alpine resort town “fit for a queen” nestled on the shores of emerald blue Lake Wakatipu. We spend three nights at The Novetel Hotel, situated along the lake, and walking distance to shops, restaurants, and attractions. (B)
Day 12 – Sunday, 12 October
MILFORD
SOUND DAY TRIP /
QUEENSTOWN
We spend an entire day at
Fiord
National Park
. Skirting along
Lake
Wakatipu
in the shadow of the rugged Remarkables, we travel to Te Anau, gateway of the Park. We continue through magnificent beech forests, rivers, lakes and chasms before descending into
Hollyford
Valley
, through the Homer Tunnel and
Cleddau
Canyon
to Milford Sound. Our comfortable scenic cruise on the Red Boat gives us opportunities to view cascading waterfalls that tumble down steep mountains and crash down into the glassy waters, sheer, jagged cliffs that rise vertically from the ocean, swiftly swimming dolphins, and basking seals in the fiord as we sail to the Tasman Sea and back to shore. Boasting some of the most awesome scenery in the world, this region of
New Zealand
has the elite status of belonging to the World Heritage Parks. In the afternoon we retrace our movements through farmland and tussock country back to Queenstown. (B)
Day 13 – Monday, 13 October QUEENSTOWN / ARROWTOWN
We spend a leisurely day at this great resort town, a favorite of New Zealanders and tourists alike. Join your escort as we follow the
Kawarau
River
through rugged mountainous country to historic Arrowtown, “born of gold.” We visit its
Lake District
museum, reminiscent of our plantation days, stroll through this picturesque village that retains its old world charm, shop, and leisurely enjoy ourselves. There will be time to witness the daring bungy jumpers from the A.J. Hackett’s
Kawarau
Bridge
and Gorge. We return to Queenstown early in the afternoon, with ample time to enjoy a multitude of activities. Stroll / jog along the lake and gardens; take the invigorating shot-over jet ride; go horseback riding, enjoy the TSS Earnslaw cruise on
Lake
Wakatipu
to Walter’s Peak; and of course, enjoy shopping at the many specialty shops in town. You may even relax at the hairdresser or spa, enjoy golf at one of the great golf courses, or try your luck at lake fishing with a skipper. Tempt “Lady Luck” at the town’s large casinos. Your escort will assist you with suggestions and arrangements for activities, restaurants, and places to shop. This evening, we recommend you taking the gondola ride and enjoying a twilight dinner overlooking the town, lake, and the Remarkable Mountain Range at the Skyline Restaurant. (B)
Day 14 – Tuesday, 14 October QUEENSTOWN / MT. COOK /
CHRISTCHURCH
We retrace our path to Cromwell, through
Lindis
Pass
to Omarama before entering the dramatic MacKenzie Country with its vast high country landscape of wild tussock and snow-capped mountains, stunning glacial lakes, and bold man-made canal system which delivers hydro-generated energy to the cities and towns of
New Zealand
. Beautiful glacier fed lakes Pukaki and Tekapo with their turquoise coloring are the highlights of the journey. We enter the heartland of Aoraki,
Mt.
Cook
and its national park. The magnificent views of the rugged
Southern Alps
and the surrounding glaciated mountain unfold before us. We gain an appreciation for the layout of the park with a visit to the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre. Time is available to enjoy an optional scenic flight to view the incredible natural phenomenon of the glaciers as they wind slowly down the carved valleys from the origins in the mountains. We continue our journey north and stop at
Lake
Tekapo
. We visit the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd with an altar which frames the beautiful
Southern Alps
, and the nearby sculpture of the collie dog, which honors the contribution of sheep dogs to this rugged country. We arrive at the summit of Burke’s Pass and into the sheep country around Fairlie and Geraldine. The lush, rolling downs and foothills of the
Southern Alps
give way to the rich farmland and broad braided rivers of the
Canterbury
plains, and back to the city of
Christchurch
. We return to The Rydges Hotel for our one night stay. (B)
Day 15 – Wednesday, 15 October
CHRISTCHURCH
/ ROTORUA
We continue our sightseeing tour on our motor coach this morning with a trip to the hillside of
Christchurch
for a panoramic view of the Canterbury Plains,
Southern Alps
, and the city. We leisurely stroll through the grounds of the grand and historic Mona Vale homestead with its beautiful flower gardens along the graceful
Avon
River
before heading to
Christchurch
Airport
for our flight to Rotorua,
North Island
’s heartland of Maori culture. From the moment you enter Rotorua you know you’re somewhere quite different. Sneaky threads of steam issue from parks, pathways, and streets, and the occasional scent of sulphur wafts through the air – a hint of what’s in store. Beautifully laid-out gardens, striking Tudor architecture and picturesque cobblestone streets celebrate Rotorua’s colonial past. Late afternoon we take a guided tour of Te Puia and its Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve with its Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. We view explosive Pohutu Geyser and its awesome display of powerful steaming water roar from the ground; pools of bubbling mud gurgle and belch; steam rising from placid and crater lakes, streams, and cliffs. We may even have the opportunity to see the elusive kiwi bird. We enjoy a traditional cultural show and haakari or feast at “Mai Ora” – The Essence of Maori this evening. We spend two nights at the lovely Millennium Hotel. (B, D)
Day 16 – Thursday, 16 October ROTORUA
Our morning sightseeing trip includes a visit to the famous Agrodome with its fantastic, live sheep show. See an amazing array of 19 breeds of champion ram on stage as the showman and his sheep dog entertain us. We watch a sheep shearing demonstration by a top shearer, and may have an opportunity to feed a baby lamb and hand milk a cow on stage. An educational guided tour of an authentic working farm is in store for us. We see Romney sheep, cattle, red and fallow deer, llamas, alpacas, ostrich, and emus up close. We pass through a real kiwifruit orchard (fruits are in season during autumn), find out how bees make the delicious honey, taste kiwifruit wine, and hand feed the animals. The rest of the day is free to explore the town, browse and shop, have a massage at the hotel’s spa, or relax at nearby Polynesian (“onsen”) Spa, and experience one of the many food establishments for dinner. Your escort will be happy to assist you with independent activities. (B)
Day 17 – Friday, 17 October ROTORUA / WAITOMO /
AUCKLAND
Today, we travel north to the subterranean
Waitomo
Caves
and its internationally famed glowworm grotto. Our guided tour takes us through stunning wonderland of ancient underground labyrinth of amazing stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and sculptures. We descend further into the cave and board a boat to silently glide the still waters to discover on ceilings of pitch-black darkness thousands of tiny glowworms with its radiance of lights, glittering, glimmering, and reflecting on the waters. We continue north to the “City of
Sails
,”
Auckland
,
New Zealand
’s largest, cosmopolitan city. We view the panoramic scenery of this city from
Mt.
Eden
, situated on a narrow isthmus that is swept by the
Tasman Sea
and the
Pacific Ocean
. Our hotel is the fabulous Sky City Hotel, located in the heart of the city. Be Royal Adventure’s guest at our farewell dinner tonight at the fabulous Sky Tower Observatory Restaurant. We take the glass elevator up the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere for superb 360 degree views of the city and harbors. We dine on a sumptuous seafood buffet as we enjoy the glimmering lights of the city and the wonderful fellowship of our tour members! (B, D)
Day 18 – Saturday, 18 October
AUCKLAND
/
HONOLULU
Join your escort for a leisure day exploring and discovering
Auckland
. Today is free for lasted minute shopping on
Queen Street
,
Auckland
’s main shopping area, lined with clothing boutiques, souvenir shops, arcades, and restaurants. Pop down some of the side streets and alleyways and find some interesting stores tucked away. You may want to visit Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World and see colonies of frolicking penguins; then travel beneath the ocean to come face-to-face with awesome predators of the deep. Perhaps Victoria Market with its arcade of shops and stalls, or the
Auckland
Museum
located in the domain may interest you. Hop on the city circuit bus, which loops around key destinations, or the City Link bus which encompasses a larger area for a nominal fee. Spend time to watch adventure seekers take the plunge on the adrenalin pumping Sky Jump or the vertigo climb on the
Sky
Tower
. There is a multitude of things to do!
We transfer to the
Auckland
International
Airport
for our late evening Air New
Zealand
flight home. We start Saturday all over again with our morning arrival home in
Honolulu
as we gain a day crossing the International Date Line. (B)
PLEASE NOTE: For your ease and comfort, in addition to meals and snacks served on our various flights, there are fifteen (15) full breakfasts, two (2) lunch buffet, and five (5) great dinners included.
We spend 5 nights and 6 days in
Australia
, and 10 nights and 11 days in
New Zealand
.
Australia
:
2 nights in
Sydney
1 night in
Canberra
2 nights in
Melbourne
New Zealand
:
3 nights in
Christchurch
1 night in Franz Josef area
3 nights in Queenstown
2 nights in Rotorua
1 night in
Auckland
Must have 25 committed tour members to guarantee this tour.
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