24 Day Southern Explorer Tour from $10775*restrictions apply

Day 1: Los Angeles

Board your evening flight to Auckland, New Zealand (D)

Day 2: In Flight

Cross the international dateline.

Day 3: Arrive Auckland

You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel for an early check-in. This afternoon, enjoy a city tour and visit Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World. Join your fellow travelers at our Welcome Dinner. Stay: Auckland, Crowne Plaza Hotel (D)

Day 4: Rotorua, Maori Hangi Feast

Journey to the Waitomo Caves for a tour of the limestone caverns and glow-worm grotto. Then continue to Rotorua, a region rich in Maori heritage. Enjoy a traditional Hangi feast and performanceOvernight: Rotorua, Millennium Hotel for 2 nights (B,D)

Day 5: Rotorua, Te Puia Thermal Reserve

Today visit the Agrodome and see the entertaining Sheep Show. Then head to Te Puia Thermal Reserve to see the power of geothermal energy first-hand. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, and a Country Homestay option is available tonight. (B,D)

Day 6: Rotorua, Fly to Christchurch

Enjoy free time in Rotorua today before flying to Christchurch. On arrival, enjoy free time to explore. Stay: Christchurch, Crowne Plaza Hotel (B,D)

Day 7: Southern Alps, Franz Josef

Board the TranzAlpine train for one of the top rail journeys in the world. Disembark and continue down the rugged West Coast to Franz Josef. Stay: Franz Josef, Te Waonui Forest Retreat (B,D)

Day 8: Franz Josef, Queenstown, Dine Around Dinner

JJourney over Haast Pass and along the shores of lakes Wanaka and Hawea to Queenstown. Tonight, perhaps choose to cruise on the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for dinner, or select from many other restaurants. Overnight: Queenstown, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside for 2 nights (B,L)

Day 9: Milford Sound Cruise

Absorb the majesty of Fiordland National Park on the journey to Milford Sound. On arrival, enjoy a cruise along the sound. Return to Queenstown by coach, or perhaps take a scenic flight back (own expense). (B,L)

Day 10: Queenstown, Mt Cook

After some free time this morning, travel to World Heritage-listed Mt Cook National Park. Stay: Mt Cook National Park, The Hermitage (B,D)

Day 11: Fly to Sydney, Australia

Travel via Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo, Burkes Pass and the Canterbury Plains before arriving in Christchurch in the afternoon. Later, board a flight to Sydney. Tonight enjoy dinner and a glass of wine overlooking Sydney Harbor. Three Night Stay: Sydney, The Sebel Pier (B, D)

Day 12: Sydney Sights, Sydney Harbour Cruise, Opera House Guided Tour

This morning, step inside the Sydney Opera House during a guided tour. Learn about this unique Australian landmark, before boarding a luncheon cruise on Sydney Harbor, viewing the iconic Harbor Bridge and Opera House from a different perspective. Later, discover Hyde Park and the famous Bondi Beach on a guided city tour. (B,L)

Day 13: Sydney at Leisure

Enjoy this vibrant city at your own pace today. Perhaps take an optional sightseeing tour to the Hunter Valley, or visit the Blue Mountains (own expense). (B)

Day 14: Sydney, Fly to Cairns

This morning, fly to Cairns. Settle in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore this tropical city. Three Night Stay: Cairns, Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina (B,D)

Day 15: Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Cruise out to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef in a glass-bottom boat. View the colorful coral and diverse range of marine life of Moore Reef, and maybe go for a snorkel or a swim. Afterwards, visit your boat’s underwater observatory before enjoying a tropical lunch of local specialties. (B,L)

Day 16: Skyrail, Kuranda, Wildlife, Cairns

Today, tour Cairns before riding on the Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda. Visit a wildlife park and perhaps have your photo taken with a koala (own expense). After seeing a performance by the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers, ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway back to Cairns. (B)

Day 17: Cairns, Fly to Uluru (Ayers Rock), Uluru Base Tour, Sounds of Silence Dinner

This morning, fly to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Take a tour of Uluru’s base, viewing ancient caves and traditional Aboriginal rock art. Walk to Mutitjulu waterhole and hear Aboriginal stories and legends, and see Aboriginal artists at work at the Maruku Arts and Crafts Gallery. Tonight enjoy the Sounds of Silence dinner, a magical experience during which you’ll dine under the stars before hearing a talk about the outback night sky. Stay: Ayers Rock Resort, Desert Gardens Hotel (B,D)

Day 18: Kata Tjuta (Olgas), Alice Springs

Today, visit Kata Tjuta (Olgas), and walk through the domes to the majestic Walpa (Olga) Gorge. Later, re-board your coach and travel to Alice Springs. Stay: Alice Springs, Crowne Plaza Hotel (B)

Day 19: Alice Springs Tour, The Ghan

Enjoy a tour of Alice Springs, visiting the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base and Anzac Hill. Then transfer to the railway station and travel from Alice Springs to Adelaide aboard The Ghan on a luxury rail journey through the Red Centre. Stay: The Ghan, travel in Gold Kangaroo class (B,D)

Air Alternative – Alice Springs to Adelaide
Those that would prefer are able to fly to Adelaide and enjoy three nights in this picturesque city. Deduct $739 per person.

Day 20: The Ghan, Adelaide

Enjoy breakfast aboard The Ghan as you travel south. On arrival into Adelaide early this afternoon you will be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure before dinner in the hotel tonight. Two Night Stay: Adelaide, Sebel Playford (B,D)

Day 21: Adelaide at Leisure

With today free, perhaps take an optional excursion to the Barossa Valley or Kangaroo Island (both at own expense). (B)

Day 22: Adelaide, Fly to Melbourne, City Tour

Transfer to the airport and fly to Melbourne. On arrival, join a city tour. Two Night Stay: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins (B)

Day 23: Melbourne at Leisure

Today perhaps see the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island or drive the Great Ocean Road (both at own expense). (B)

Day 24: Depart Melbourne

Your tour ends today with a transfer to the airport. (B)

Departure Dates

2011: Apr 24; May 08; Jun 26; Sep 4, 18; Oct 2, 23; Nov 6, 20; Dec 08, 18

2012: Jan 1, 15, 22; Feb 5, 12, 19, 26; Mar 4, 11, 18

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Pricing Details

† International Seasonal Air Supplement: Add $230 for Apr, Jun, Oct-Dec 16, 11, Jan-Mar 11
Add $560 for Dec 18

Note: Days 19-24 is based on independent touring with local day tour guides.

*Land price includes all New Zealand and Australian domestic flights and is based on using Qantas as the international carrier. Fare will differ for other airlines.

**Land with air price includes all domestic, trans-Tasman and flights to/from Los Angeles. Special airfares are available from other US cities at an additional price. All prices, itineraries and routing are subject to change without notice. US/Foreign Taxes of approximately US$265, including September 11 Security Fee are additional. Prices are current at the time of printing; airlines frequently change their prices as a result of fare increases and/or fuel surcharges. Prices may differ when you book your travel and are not guaranteed until full payment is received.

Please call for our current prices.

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