Day 1
Sydney
Arrive at any time and take some time to explore the city. Later on, join your group for a welcome meeting.
Overnight: Rydges Sydney Central or similar
Day 2
Sydney/Manly Beach
Begin the day with a walking orientation tour, taking in some of Sydney’s most famous landmarks. Make your way to Circular Quay, boarding a ferry across the harbour to Manly Beach. Take some time to explore Manly, enjoying the scenic coastal walk to Shelly Beach and trying some local cuisine.
Overnight: Rydges Sydney Central or similar
Day 3
Sydney
Today is yours to spend however you wish. There’s an abundance of options in Sydney, so make the most of your time. You could explore The Rocks neighbourhood on foot, where you’ll also find the city's Museum of Contemporary Art. Alternatively, get your adrenaline pumping by climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In the evening, join your fellow travellers for a meal together at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Rydges Sydney Central or similar (dinner included).
Optional experiences: Sydney Harbour Bridge climb
Day 4
Sydney/Yulara
Catch a flight to Yulara, the gateway to Uluru and the Red Centre. Spend the afternoon diving straight into exploration, beginning with Kata Tjuta National Park and a walk through Walpa Gorge. Watch the sunset over Uluru before heading to your tented camp. Enjoy a meal cooked outdoors, featuring plenty of local ingredients.
Overnight: Uluru Camp or similar (dinner included).
Day 5
Yulara/Kings Canyon
A sunrise over Uluru is unmissable, so rise early to witness the first light over one of Australia’s most iconic Indigenous landmarks. In the morning, explore Uluru on foot with a guided walk through some of the site's most culturally significant areas. These sacred spaces are among the oldest on Earth, and learning about their cultural interpretations adds to their profound impact. Later, travel overland to the Kings Canyon region and settle into your next tented camp in the bush.
Overnight: Kings Canyon Camp or similar (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Day 6
Kings Canyon/Alice Springs
Mornings in the desert bring cooler temperatures, making it the perfect time to set out early for a hike around Kings Canyon. You can choose between a more challenging three-hour hike or a gentler one-hour option. The Rim Walk is a 6km trail along the upper rim of Kings Canyon. If you’d prefer a more relaxed option, enjoy a 2km walk through the canyon valley. Later, rest up as you travel east to Alice Springs.
Overnight: Alice Springs Hotel or similar (breakfast and lunch included).
Day 7
Alice Springs/Melbourne
Alongside its rich Indigenous history and culture, Alice Springs is also home to the Telegraph Station, which in the 19th century linked Australia from top to bottom. This telegraph connection integrated Australia into the broader network of the British Empire, enabling communication with the rest of the world in hours rather than days. Take some time to learn about the difficult history associated with the site, particularly when the station became a boarding house for Indigenous children.
Overnight: Causeway 353 Hotel or similar
Day 8
Melbourne
Melbourne is one of the most walkable cities, with excellent public transport, so expect to get plenty of steps in today. Start your morning at the Queen Victoria Market, before a guided tour of the city’s famous laneways, exploring both well-known and hidden spots. Spend the afternoon at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a vast 38-hectare green space home to over 800 plant species from around the world.
Overnight: Causeway 353 Hotel or similar
Day 9
Melbourne
Another Australian city brimming with activities, a free day in Melbourne gives you plenty of time to plan your ideal adventure. You might choose to visit Phillip Island to witness the Penguin Parade or set off on a full-day tour along the Great Ocean Road.
Overnight: Causeway 353 Hotel or similar.
Optional experiences: 12 Apostles, Otways & Great Ocean Road.
Day 10
Melbourne/Auckland
Bid farewell to Australia and fly south to New Zealand. Upon arrival, enjoy a free day exploring the city. You may choose to take a trip up the Sky Tower, catch a ferry to Waiheke Island and its wineries, or relax on one of the beaches that surround the city.
Overnight: Nesuto Stadium Hotel & Apartments or similar.
Optional experiences: Maritime Museum visit, Waiheke Island excursion.
Day 11
Auckland/Rotorua
Travel to the lakeside Rotorua, located over an active geothermal zone and renowned for its volcanic landscapes and Maori heritage. Stop along the way at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where you can enjoy a boat ride through this stunning underground world, witnessing thousands of flickering glowworms illuminating the darkness.
Overnight: Sudima Lake Rotorua or similar
Day 12
Rotorua
Explore Rotorua, where you may choose to explore the geothermal area, perhaps unwinding in the hot springs. In the evening, experience Maori culture in a visit to a village for traditional ceremonies, a Hangi meal, and entertainment.
Overnight: Sudima Lake Rotorua or similar (breakfast and dinner).
Optional experiences: Hot springs, Rotorua canopy tour
Day 13
Rotorua/Wellington
Enjoy the ever-changing scenery of the North Island as you make your way to the capital, Wellington.
Overnight: Naumi Studio Hotel Wellington or similar (breakfast included).
Day 14
Wellington
Soak up the atmosphere in this laid-back yet vibrant city. Following an orientation walk, you'll have a free day to explore at your leisure. You might choose to visit the Te Papa Museum or ride the cable car up to the Botanical Gardens.
Overnight: Naumi Studio Hotel Wellington or similar.
Optional experiences: Te Papa Museum visit, Zealandia, Wellington cable car, Weta Workshop tour
Day 15
Wellington/Kaikoura
Fly to the South Island and journey to the coastal town of Kaikoura, famous for its rich marine life. On the way, stop at a local winery for a wine tasting.
Overnight: The White Morph or similar (dinner included).
Optional experiences: Hiking, Scenic flight.
Day 16
Kaikoura/Hanmer Springs
The morning is yours to explore Kaikoura at your leisure. Choose to search for whales on a whale watching tour, or perhaps swim in the ocean where dolphins often visit. In the afternoon, journey to Hanmer Springs.
Overnight: Drifters Inn Hanmer Springs or similar.
Optional experiences: Whale watching, Dolphin tour
Day 17
Hanmer Springs/Franz Josef
Travel across the Southern Alps to the remote West Coast, enjoying breath-taking views, where you'll stay in the rainforest close to the world's fastest-moving glacier.
Overnight: Rainforest Retreat or similar (breakfast included).
Day 18
Franz Josef
Take the day to explore Franz Josef and the surrounding area - perhaps with a hike or a scenic helicopter flight.
Overnight: Rainforest Retreat or similar (breakfast included).
Optional experiences: Hiking, Helicopter scenic flight, Franz Josef kayaking, Guided helicopter hike.
Day 19
Franz Josef/Queenstown
Your next stop is Queenstown, the world's adventure capital. Offering breath-taking scenery and a vast range of activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Overnight: Heartland Hotel or similar.
Day 20
Queenstown
Enjoy some free time in Queenstown, where you might opt to take a vineyard tour in New Zealand's fastest growing wine region or ride a cable car gondola to the top of a mountain and witness spectacular views.
Overnight: Heartland Hotel or similar (breakfast included).
Optional experiences: Vineyard tour, Earnslaw Steamship cruise, Gondola ride, Queenstown jet boating.
Day 21
Queenstown
Embark on a day cruise, enjoying the breath-taking waterfalls and wildlife of Fiordland National Park and Doubtful Sound before returning to Queenstown for the night.
Overnight: Heartland Hotel or similar (breakfast and lunch included).
Day 22
Queenstown to Tekapo
Make your way north through the heart of the South Island to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. In the afternoon, hike in the region and take in the stunning alpine scenery. Learn about the mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary at the Visitor's Centre, and then enjoy a scenic journey to Tekapo Village.
Overnight: Godley Hotel or similar (breakfast included).
Day 23
Tekapo to Christchurch
Continue to Christchurch and take part in an orientation walk with the group, before travelling to the Garden City of Christchurch, a slice of England in New Zealand. In the evening, enjoy free time and a final night out with the group to say your goodbyes.
Overnight: Bealey Quarter or similar
Day 24
Christchurch
Today your adventure comes to an end - travel to the airport for your flight home.
Meals included: Breakfast
