Contrasts of Australia and New Zealand
Contrasts of Australia and New Zealand
Contrasts of Australia and New Zealand
18 Days Starting in Melbourne (VIC) and ending in Christchurch (Nz)
Visiting: Melbourne (VIC), Cairns, Sydney, Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown (Nz), Franz Josef, Arthur's Pass, Christchurch (Nz)
Tour operator:
Tour code:
QCANA2M21
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Trafalgar with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishFrom:
$11120
$9214 (USD)
Operator discount: -$1421
The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$485
-17%
Tour Overview
The stillness of Milford Sound and the dark night sky dot your travels through New Zealand, but not before a brush with the surfing splendour of Aussie's Bondi Beach and the Great Barrier Reef.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Melbourne (2 Nights)
Location: Melbourne (VIC)
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Meals Included: Welcome Reception
Sophisticated Melbourne extends a warm welcome as your first stop. On arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel (flights to arrive prior to 12pm). This evening enjoy a memorable Welcome Reception and Regional Dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travellers.
Day 2: Melbourne Sightseeing
Location: Melbourne (VIC)
Meals Included: Breakfast
'Dive into Culture' and into the little lanes, arcades and café society of stylish Melbourne. Discover its edgy street art and immerse yourself in the robust aroma of coffee for which this city is so famous.
Day 3: Melbourne - Cairns (3 Nights)
Location: Cairns
Accommodation: Hilton
Meals Included: Breakfast
We fly north to Cairns, where we'll meet a 'Local Specialist' for a private wildlife encounter at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures. Here the crocs are the star of the show as we take to Hartley's Lagoon to see them cruise the murky waters or laze on the bank. Then, 'Join Trafalgar' and take part in a Rainforest Restoration project to protect this natural wonder.This evening, enjoy an evening at leisure to sample some of the city's famous seafood.
Day 4: Great Barrier Reef
Location: Cairns
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Dip more than your toes in the tropical waters that surround the Great Barrier Reef - a full day to explore this underwater wonderland up close. Board a high-speed catamaran, then don your mask and fins for a leisurely snorkel (equipment provided) or stay dry in your semi-submersible craft to see the tropical species that live in the world's largest coral reef system. A tropical buffet lunch is served on board under the glorious Aussie sunshine before returning to Cairns.
Day 5: Cairns Free Time
Location: Cairns
Meals Included: Breakfast, Regional Dinner
Soak up the leisurely atmosphere of Cairns with a free day to explore the city and its surrounds on your terms. Consider joining an Optional Experience to Kuranda, travelling by Scenic Rail to the 'village in the rainforest' and return to the lowlands on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. This evening, you'll witness a Welcome to Country ceremony, hear stories of the Dreamtime, and see a performance by an Indigenous dance group, followed by a Regional Dinner at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.
Day 6: Cairns - Sydney (3 Nights)
Location: Sydney
Accommodation: Hyatt Regency (Darling Harbour View Room)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Regional Dinner
We leave the golden beaches of Cairns behind, bound for Sydney. Settle in to your splendid surrounds before boarding a Harbour Cruise. Watch day turn to night against the backdrop of the beloved Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as you enjoy a two course à la carte Regional Dinner on the water.
Day 7: Sydney Sightseeing
Location: Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest
Admire one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century during a guided sightseeing tour of the Sydney Opera House with a 'Local Specialist'. Later, rub shoulders with the bronzed, beautiful people of Bondi Beach and 'Connect With Locals' as you join a surf lifesaver who will take you on a 'Be My Guest' exclusive tour through the Members Only facility of Australia's oldest surf lifesaving club, which has been welcoming beach-goers since 1882, followed by lunch with views over the sparkling Pacific.
Day 8: Sydney Free Time
Location: Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast, Regional Dinner
Indulge in a full day at leisure to connect with the energy of this vibrant harbour city or consider joining an Optional Experience to the nearby Blue Mountains. Watch as the shimmering blue haze on the horizon turns to a dense canopy of eucalyptus trees and see the Three Sisters that tower above Jamison Valley. This evening, join your travel companions for a Regional Dinner at a waterfront restaurant.
Day 9: Sydney - Auckland (2 Nights)
Location: Auckland
Accommodation: The Grand by SkyCity
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Say a fond hoo roo to Australia as you board your flight to Auckland, New Zealand. Ease into the warm, welcoming embrace of the City of Sails before meeting your Travel Director for dinner at your hotel.
Day 10: Auckland Sightseeing
Location: Auckland
Meals Included: Breakfast
'Dive Into Culture' with a city sightseeing tour this morning, including Mission Bay, Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial for sweeping views of Waitemata Harbour and the North Shore. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Day 11: Auckland - Rotorua
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation: Millennium
Meals Included: Breakfast, Regional Dinner
Journey through the dramatic scenery and landscapes of Waikato, passing through Cambridge, 'The Town of Trees and Champions', on your way to Rotorua. Once there, visit Rainbow Springs Nature Park for a tour with a 'Local Specialist' of the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, the national leader in kiwi husbandry. Learn about the work being done to save New Zealand's national bird, see kiwi eggs being incubated, the hatching process and newly hatched kiwi chicks. This evening, 'Dive Into Culture' at a Regional Dinner at the Tamaki Maori Village.
Day 12: Auckland - Queenstown (3 Nights)
Location: Queenstown (Nz), Rotorua
Accommodation: Millennium
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast in the charming village of Hobbiton, the movie set of the now iconic The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies, before continuing to Auckland to board your flight to Queenstown. Tonight, speak with your Travel Director about dining recommendations in Queenstown.
Day 13: Milford Sound
Location: Queenstown (Nz)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Journey along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and over the Devil's Staircase to Te Anau. Experience magnificent scenery afforded by the Mirror Lakes, Cleddau Valley and the Chasm. Emerge from the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel towards Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls before reaching Milford Sound. Take to its still waters for a cruise filled with pinch-me moments. Return to Queenstown for an evening at leisure.
Day 14: Queenstown Free Time
Location: Queenstown (Nz)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Regional Dinner
Your final day in Queenstown could see you take an Optional Experience tour of the region's popular wineries or a cruise on Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue lunch. This evening, we take a step back in time with our Travel Director for dinner at The Boatshed, set in the historic Railways Shipping Office built in 1936. Restored and relocated to its lakefront setting, The Boatshed, with its spectacular views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables, is the perfect venue for your exclusive Regional Dinner.
Day 15: Queenstown - Lake Tekapo
Location: Franz Josef
Accommodation: Peppers Bluewater Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Leave the alpine wonderland of Queenstown for Lake Tekapo, travelling through Arrowtown, with its lovingly-restored mining cottages, and Cromwell on the banks of Lake Dunstan. View the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd. Spend the evening stargazing in the world-renowned UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Day 16: Lake Tekapo - Christchurch (2 Nights)
Location: Arthur's Pass, Christchurch (Nz)
Accommodation: Distinction
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a relaxed start before heading north through South Canterbury, visiting the charming boutique village of Geraldine en route to Christchurch.
Day 17: Christchurch Sightseeing
Location: Christchurch (Nz)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest, Farewell Dinner
Pop into the Transitional Cathedral in Latimer Square, the temporary home of the Christchurch Cathedral. After a city sights tour, you're invited to 'Connect With Locals' at the home of Tim and Isabelle Weston, for a unique 'Be My Guest' experience over morning tea in their home, which was formerly a horse stables. This evening, join your Travel Director for a Farewell Dinner.
Day 18: Depart Christchurch
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our Australia and New Zealand adventure has come to an end. This morning we'll transfer you to Christchurch Airport for your onward flight (flights anytime).
What's Included
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17 breakfasts
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9 dinners
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Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
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3 lunches (Including Connect With Locals)
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Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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Cherry-picked hotels all tried and trusted
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Handcrafted Highlights
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Optional Experiences and free time
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All porterage and local charges included
Check out our Q&As
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Mar 19, 2026 - Apr 05, 2026Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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