(19 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Wellington,
Sydney, Ayers Rock, Daintree Rainforest, and Hayman Island
This tour is truly a 'dream trip' through the South Pacific — a luxury journey that features the highlights of New Zealand and Australia, with flexible private touring each day, and accommodation in wonderfully luxurious properties that incorporate the very best of each region's culture, architecture, hospitality, and cuisine.
Auckland and Rotorua
- Begin with a night in the stylish city of Auckland, where private touring includes the waterfront, One Tree Hill, and the upscale suburb of Parnell.
- Enjoy your accommodations at the Hyatt Regency -- the city's finest —
in a suite overlooking the beautiful harbor.
- Next, drive to the thermal town of Rotorua, stopping to see fascinating glow worm caves en route. Rotorua is best known for its geysers, hot springs, and indigenous Maori population.
- Spend two nights at the exclusive Treetops Lodge, a gorgeous property with wood and stone architecture surrounded by lush forests, waterfalls, and volcanic crater lakes.
Queenstown
- Next, fly to Queenstown, perhaps the most famous destination in New Zealand.
- Experience a touring highlight: the Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage park filled with snow covered mountains, glacial lakes and valleys, fiords, islands, waterfalls, and dense forests.
- Cruise Milford Sound and land by helicopter atop a glacier.
- Relax at the renowned Blanket Bay - one of the world's most luxurious properties — nestled on a lake surrounded by snow covered mountains.
- Opt to partake in Queenstown's endless array of adventure activities, or take advantage of Blanket Bay's extensive facilities.
Wellington
- Continue to Wellington, a sophisticated city known for its lively arts, culture, and dining scene, as well as its stunning harbor and residential hills.
- Spend several hours touring the city before driving to Wharekauhau, a luxury estate on a working sheep station surrounded by breathtaking farmland and coastal scenery.
- Spend days exploring the Martinborough Region's vineyards, specialty shops,
and wonderful restaurants while taking in the magnificent scenery --
this region is a photographer's dream.
- Dine grandly at Wharekauhau, where meals feature local produce, wines, cheeses, and olive oils.
Sydney
- Next, fly to Australia's beautiful city of Sydney, with privately-guided touring of the city's main attractions: the historic Rocks district, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the yacht harbors and exclusive homes in Double Bay and Vaucluse, and Bondi Beach.
- Visit the galleries, antique shops, and food and craft markets in Woollahra and Paddington.
Ayers Rock, Daintree Rainforest, and Hayman Island
- Continue to Australia's interior and spend several days surrounded by vast blue skies and red desert earth. Learn about Aboriginal bushtucker cuisine and legends of the Dreamtime.
- Dine under the desert night sky as an astrologer points out the southern constellations, and a didjeridoo musician plays in the background.
- View the Outback's three greet monoliths: Ayers Rock, the Olgas, and Mt. Connor.
- Take a 4WD safari, and discover salt lakes that are remnants of ancient inland oceans, spot kangaroos, and experience Australia's rugged outback.
- Indulge in a special three-course dinner prepared by the station cook at Curtin Springs cattle station.
- Fly to Tropical North Queensland for several days at Silky Oaks Lodge, indulging in spa treatments and rainforest walks.
- Continue to Hayman, one of Australia's premier island resorts, for days at leisure — this is the perfect place for sailing the Whitsunday Islands.
- Opt to take a seaplane excursion to the Great Barrier Reef, play tennis, lounge by the pools or on the beach, and enjoy the resort's outstanding restaurants.
- Your South Pacific journey concludes with a night in Sydney.
Itinerary Overview
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| Day 01 | Arrive
Auckland
Arrival transfer to Hyatt
Regency Auckland for overnight. Introductory touring of city, One
Tree Hill, and Parnell. |
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| Day 02 | Auckland
- Rotorua - Treetops Lodge
Private tour to Waitomo
Glow Worm Caves and sheep show at the Agrodome. Continue to Treetops
Lodge for 2 nights. Dinner at lodge. (B,L,D) |
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| Day 03 | Treetops
Lodge
Half-day of private touring
or outdoor activity in Rotorua or Taupo. Dinner at lodge. (B,D) |
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| Day 04 | Rotorua
- Queenstown - Blanket Bay
Transfer and flight to
Queenstown for private afternoon touring in the village of Queenstown.
Drive out to Blanket Bay Lodge for 3 nights. Dinner at lodge. (B,D) |
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| Day 05 | Blanket
Bay
At leisure at lodge. Optional
activities include: Jet Boat rides on the Dart River, fly fishing,
heli skiing, bungy jumping, nature hikes, scenic flights, and horseback
riding. Dinner at lodge. (B,D) |
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| Day 06 | Milford
Sound and Blanket Bay
Excursion by helicopter
to Milford Sound for cruise on the Sound and glacier landing. (B,D) |
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| Day 07 | Blanket
Bay - Wellington - Wharekauhau
Transfer and flight to
Wellington. Private city touring on arrival, followed by transfer
to Wharekauhau Country Estate for 2 nights. Dinner at lodge. (B) |
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| Day 08 | Wharekauhau
Half-day of private touring
in Martinborough wine region. Afternoon at leisure. Optional activities
include horse treks, nature and coastal walks, and the spa and facilities
at Wharekauhau. Dinner at lodge. (B,D) |
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| Day 09 | Wellington
- Sydney
Transfer to airport for
flight to Australia. Arrival transfer to the Park Hyatt Sydney for
2 nights. Afternoon private city touring including the historic
Rocks historic district, Maquarie Street, the Art Gallery of New
South Wales and its Aboriginal Yiribana Gallery. (B) |
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| Day 10 | Sydney
Half-day private city
touring including the drive along the harbor shores to Woolloomooloo,
Double Bay, Vaucluse, Bondi Beach, Woollahra and Paddington. Visit
Sydney's leading galleries, antique shops, food and craft markets,
and yacht harbors along the way. Afternoon at leisure. (B,L) |
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| Day 11 | Sydney
- Ayers Rock (Uluru)
Transfer and flight to
Sails in the Desert for 2 nights. Afternoon private touring to Olgas
and Dunes. Sounds of Silence dinner. (B,D) |
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| Day 12 | Uluru
& Mt. Connor
Morning picnic breakfast
and base tour around Ayers Rock. Full day private 4WD Outback Safari
to Mt. Connor. (B,D) |
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| Day 13 | Ayers
Rock - Cairns - Daintree Rainforest
Transfer and flight to
Cairns. Arrival transfer north to Cape Tribulation and Daintree
Rainforest for 2 nights at Silky Oaks Lodge & Spa. Dinner at lodge.
(B,D) |
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| Day 14 | Daintree
Rainforest
Morning private rainforest
tour. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy resort. Dinner at lodge. (B,D) |
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| Day 15 | Daintree
- Cairns - Hayman
Transfer and flight to
Hamilton Island for boat launch to Hayman Resort for 3 nights. (B) |
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Days 16
& 17 | Hayman
Resort
At leisure at resort.
Optional activities include sailing, tennis, swimming, and seaplane
excursions to the Great Barrier Reef. (B) |
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| Day 18 |
Hayman - Sydney
Launch and flight to Sydney
for overnight at the Park Hyatt Sydney. (B) |
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| Day 19 | Depart
Australia
At leisure until airport
transfer. (B) |
Accommodation
| Auckland: | Hyatt Regency Auckland |
| Rotorua: | Treetops Lodge |
| Queenstown: | Blanket Bay |
| Wellington: | Wharekauhau Lodge |
| Sydney: | Park Hyatt Sydney |
| Ayers Rock: | Sails in the Desert |
| Daintree Rainforest: | Silky Oaks Lodge |
| Whitsunday Islands: | Hayman Island Resort |
Cost
Per Person Cost (double occupancy): $15,020
* Costs does not include international or internal flights.
To request the complete itinerary for the above tour, or to begin customizing
your own itinerary, please contact
an Artisans of Leisure travel expert.
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