Travelling as a group
You are never left to find your own way. The tour manager stays with the group all day, every day.
Australia and New Zealand group tour
Harbour cruises in Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef and the lakes and glowworm caves of New Zealand, all at a gentle pace.
18 days
Australia, New Zealand
Oceania
October to March
Tour overview
This is the tour our travellers talk about for years. You begin in Sydney with its famous harbour, move north to the reef, then fly across the Tasman Sea for the lakes, mountains and green farmland of New Zealand.
We keep walking distances short, use lifts wherever they exist and build free afternoons into the schedule so nobody feels rushed. Meals are arranged at Indian restaurants in every major city, with vegetarian and non vegetarian options served together.
Trip highlights
- Sydney Opera House visit and a sunset harbour dinner cruise
- Great Barrier Reef by glass bottom boat, no swimming needed
- Milford Sound cruise between waterfalls and sheer cliffs
- Waitomo glowworm caves and a Maori cultural evening in Rotorua
- Skyline gondola in Queenstown with valley views
Day by day itinerary
This is the standard plan. Departure dates can shift a day here or there depending on flight timings, and we will always send the final version before you pay in full.
- Days 1 to 2
Arrive in Sydney
Airport welcome, transfer to the hotel and a free evening to rest. The next morning we take a city tour covering Bondi Beach, the Opera House and The Rocks.
- Days 3 to 4
Sydney harbour and Blue Mountains
A full day in the Blue Mountains with the scenic railway and Three Sisters lookout, followed by a harbour dinner cruise the next evening.
- Days 5 to 7
Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
Fly north for a reef day aboard a stable catamaran, a Kuranda rainforest railway ride and time by the lagoon.
- Days 8 to 9
Melbourne
City sightseeing, the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles, with plenty of rest stops along the coastal drive.
- Days 10 to 12
Auckland and Rotorua
Cross to New Zealand for Auckland harbour views, the Waitomo caves, Agrodome farm show and a Maori dinner with cultural performance.
- Days 13 to 15
Christchurch to Queenstown
Travel through Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook country to Queenstown, with a gondola ride and a quiet lake cruise.
- Days 16 to 17
Milford Sound
A full day excursion to Milford Sound with a cruise among the fiords, then a farewell dinner back in Queenstown.
- Day 18
Departure
Transfer to the airport for your flight home with an assisted check in.
What is included
- Hand picked hotels with lifts and comfortable, twin share rooms
- Daily breakfast plus vegetarian and non vegetarian dinners
- Air conditioned coach travel with an easy step entry
- Tour manager who speaks English, Hindi and Gujarati
- Entrance fees for every sightseeing item listed in the itinerary
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure days
- Porterage for one suitcase per traveller at hotels
- Internal flights between Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne and New Zealand
- Harbour dinner cruise in Sydney and the Milford Sound cruise
What is not included
- International airfare and airport taxes unless quoted separately
- Visa fees and any biometric or courier charges
- Travel and medical insurance, which we strongly recommend
- Lunches, drinks and anything of a personal nature
- Tips for the driver and local guides
- Optional excursions not listed in the itinerary
Life on this tour
A little of what your days look like once the group is together.
Food you look forward to
Breakfast at the hotel and Indian dinners arranged in advance, with vegetarian and non vegetarian options.
Comfortable travel days
Modern coaches with easy steps and washrooms, plus a stop roughly every two hours on longer drives.
