Australia to New Zealand: The Best of the South Pacific

Arrive at any time. Join your CEO for a welcome meeting.

There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore your surroundings.

ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Sunny Sydney welcomes you and hit the road right away with your CEO to dive into exploring this stunning city. Set off on a walking orientation tour of some of the city's well known landmarks. Slowly make your way to Circular Quay, where you'll hop onto a ferry to cross the harbor to Manly beach. Your CEO will point out some must do's while you're in Manly, like the coastal walk to Shelly beach, and some places to grab some local food. You can't go wrong with some fish and chips by the sea.

ACTIVITY: Get a feel for the city on a short orientation walk led by your CEO.

ACTIVITY: Join your CEO and take a local ferry out to Manly Beach. Enjoy free time at Manly! Opt to surf, relax on the beach or choose to walk to Shelly Beach.

Today is your's to spend as you see fit. There is quite literally too much choice in Sydney, so use your time wisely. Choose from exploring on foot the Rock's neighborhood, which is also home to the city's Museum of Modern Art. The cafe on the roof is a great spot for lunch or a famous Aussie coffee. Or get the blood pumping by booking a jet boating tour or climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Join your CEO and fellow travelers in the evening for a meal together at a local restaurant.FREE TIME: FULL DAY Enjoy free time in Australia's biggest beachside city, Sydney!

Board a flight bound for Yulara, the gateway to Uluru and the Red Centre. Spend the afternoon getting straight out there and exploring-starting first with Kata Tjuta National Park and the Walpa Gorge walk. Catch the sunset over Uluru before making your way to the tented camp. Enjoy an outdoor meal cooked at camp with lots of local ingredients.ACTIVITY: AFTERNOON Walk into Walpa Gorge where the sheer faces of the dome extend hundreds of meters above you. The gorge itself is a natural creek that carves its way between the two tallest domes of Kata Tjuta.ACTIVITY: AFTERNOON Enjoy a cold one while watching the sunset over Uluru. Marvel at the changing colours over the desert and keep reminding yourself that yes, you really are there.TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Sunrise over Uluru is not to be missed, so rise early and catch sunrise over Australia's most iconic indigenous landmarks. This morning, take the time to explore Uluru on foot on a guided walk through some of the most culturally significant areas of the site. These sacred spaces are some of the oldest on the planet, and understanding the interpretation behind them makes them even more impactful. Later, head to the Kings Canyon region overland, to your next tented camp in the bush.ACTIVITY: MORNING Get up early, grab a coffee and watch the reddish hues of massive Uluru come to life as the sun rises.ACTIVITY: MORNING Visit Uluru this morning with the guided interpretive Mala walk. Exploring on foot with an accredited guide is the best way to fully grasp the size and cultural significance of Uluru.TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

The mornings in the desert offer cooler temperatures, and so head out early to hike throughout Kings Canyon. Choose between the harder 3 hour hike and a more approachable one hour option. The Rim walk is a 6km walk along the upper rim of Kings Canyon. The most difficult part of the hike is the very beginning with a 500 step ascent, but the landscapes and views you are rewarded with are more than worth the effort. You won't even remember the effort it took to get up there. (Sort of!) If you prefer to take it easy, enjoy a 2km hike through canyon valley. Later on, rest up on a drive East to Alice Springs.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: AFTERNOON Take a short hike to the top of Anzac Hill to see panoramic views of Alice Springs and a memorial for Australian veterans.

ACTIVITY: MORNING HIke through beautiful Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park on this walk that visits the natural amphitheatre, the North and South walls, and the Garden of Eden.

In addition to its rich indigenous history and cultural, Alice Springs is home to the Telegraph Station that linked Australia top to bottom in the 19th century. This telegraph connection also integrated Australia into the wider network within the British Empire, allowing Australia to be connected to the outside world in a matter of hours, versus days. Take a moment to learn about some of the troubling history that took place not too far in the distant past when the station ceased to operate as a telegraph station and became a boarding house for indigenous children.

In the afternoon, grab a flight to quirky, cool, Melbourne and settle in with an optional dinner with your CEO.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Melbourne is one of the easiest cities to traverse on foot and by public transport-so you will be getting your steps in today. Start the morning off with a guided laneways tour where you will be led through some of the famous-and off the beaten track-spots in Melbourne's famous laneways. Then join your CEO at the Queen Victoria markets where you can choose to grab some lunch from one of the many stalls. End the afternoon at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne, a sprawling 38 hectares of green space housing over 800 species of plants from the world over.

ACTIVITY: Visit the largest market in the state of Victoria. With hundreds of vendors, from food, to handicrafts and thrifted treasures, its easy to spend hours here.

ACTIVITY: Wander through a green haven right in the middle of massive Melbourne. Walk through the 1.6 mile loop, accessible for all.

ACTIVITY: MORNING Discover the small laneways packed with shops, cafés and restaurants that make Melbourne so unique. Grab a delicious barista coffee to-go (which no trip to Melbourne would be complete without!), and set out to experience Melbourne's laneways with an expert local host. Journey through this 'secret city,' seeing local hotspots and incredible street art while learning about the city's history.

Another Australian city with tons to do, so a day at leisure gives you plenty of time to craft the perfect day. You may want to take a trip out to see the Phillip Island Penguin Parade or embark on a full day tour out along the Great Ocean Road.FREE TIME: FULL DAY Spend today exploring Australia's cultural capital, Melbourne.

Fly to the oceanside city of Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Head north to Cape Tribulation. Stop en route to explore Mossman Gorge and take an interpretive walk through the Daintree Rainforest.

TRANSPORT: Travel 1.5 hrs to Mossman Gorge. Later, continue 2 hrs to Cape Tribulation.

ACTIVITY: Take an interpretive walk through the Daintree Rainforest. Follow an Indigenous guide and learn about bush food, medicinal plants and the lasting relationship of the Kuku Yalanji people with their natural environment. Find out how to make bush soap, watch an ochre painting demonstration and sample some bush tea.

With a free day, opt for a trip to the Great Barrier Reef or to explore Daintree National Park.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Head out and start exploring.

Return to Cairns in the afternoon with free time to explore this laid-back city. En route, stop by Port Douglas and opt to have lunch at a local market.

TRANSPORT: AFTERNOON Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Make the most of a few hours in this city.

Depart early for a full day of travel to reach Airlie Beach, enjoying scenic views along the way.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Spend the day out on the water boating around the Whitsunday Islands, visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Opt to swim or snorkel, and hike to an island lookout over Whitehaven Beach, known for its stunning white sand. Return to Airlie Beach for the night.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a day out on the water amidst some of the 74 tropical islands that make up the Whitsunday archipelago. Visit Whitehaven Beach, jump overboard for a quick refreshing dip, and make friends with the tropical fish that thrive within Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

ACTIVITY: The Whitsunday Islands are in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Spend the day out on a boat cruising through the waters around the islands. Then, when it gets too hot, pull on a mask and snorkel and dive overboard to check out the variety of brightly coloured marine plants, coral and fish that thrive right in these warm tropical waters.

Fly to Brisbane and transfer to Byron Bay for two nights in this "hippie" paradise.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Spend a free morning exploring Byron or opt to prebook a kayaking tour. In the afternoon, you'll head to the beach for a surf lesson with a trained surf instructor. Enjoy a few hours of instruction before hitting the waves for some practice rides.

Pre-book the "Byron Bay Ocean Kayaking" activity on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional experience on your tour.

ACTIVITY: Hit the beach and get ready to hang ten with a surf lesson from trained surf instructors. Spend some time in the water getting friendly with the waves, practice paddling, then pop up to balance on the wider, softer beginner boards. Too easy.

Spend the morning wandering the town checking out the local shops or having one last coffee on the beach before heading to the coastal township of Port Macquarie, featuring all the beauty of the beach set alongside gorgeous national parks. Enjoy an evening in Port Macquarie.TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.FREE TIME: MORNING Get out and explore this lazy beach town.

Travel from Port Macquarie to the Blue Mountains today. These mountains in Australia are best known for their soaring sandstone ridges. As you drive, pass by charming mountain towns, ancient Aboriginal rock art, lush green valleys, and loads of craggy cliffs. It doesn’t matter if the journey is shrouded in clouds or glowing in the sinking sun, you’ll still spot beauty around every turn.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Travel deeper into the majestic Blue Mountains and experience the natural beauty of this World Heritage Area. Explore the landscape around Leura and Katoomba, view the Three Sisters, take a walk in Jamison Valley, and ride on the Scenic Railway, the steepest railway in the world.ACTIVITY: With charming Leura as your base, explore the major attractions of the Blue Mountains from sightseeing to bushwalking to cafés and more.ACTIVITY: This railway is steep and plunges into the rainforest and through the valley. The ride is scenically stunning. At the end, opt to take a rainforest walk or a cable car back to the visitor's centre.ACTIVITY: Take in some amazing lookouts over the Jamison Valley, via the iconic Three Sisters. Descend down the 900 step giant staircase to the valley floor. Walk amongst the beautiful forest to the steepest incline railway in the world — The Katoomba Scenic Railway. Opt to ride its 52-degrees angle or take the Scenic Cableway. If you're keen for more walking, and time permitting, take the 900 stairs back up.

This morning, leave the Blue Mountains behind and continue onward to Sydney. Once you arrive head out for an orientation walk before taking advantage of some free time to keep exploring. Opt to rent a bike, stroll the botanical gardens, or visit the iconic Opera House.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Discover the highlights of Sydney on an orientation walk with the CEO. They will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

FREE TIME: EVENING Get out and explore.

Get a feel for the city. Relax seaside at Bondi Beach. Enjoy an optional night out with the group.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Enjoy a free day to explore one of Australia's most exciting cities.

Say goodbye to Australia and hop on a flight to Auckland, New Zealand. After transferring from the airport, enjoy some free time to explore this vibrant city.

Additional Information: Please note that your flight from Australia to New Zealand and first night in Auckland will be unescorted.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Spend today exploring one of the coolest cities in New Zealand. There is so much to do here, so take the whole day to enjoy. Opt to take a day trip to the wine region of Waiheke Island. Check out the epic view from the top of the Sky tower. Or head to one of the many beaches around the city.FREE TIME: FULL DAY Spend today exploring Auckland, the City of Sails and New Zealands's biggest city.

Drive to the lakeside town of Rotorua, situated over an active geothermal zone and known for its volcanic features and rich Maori heritage. Stop en route at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Take a boat ride through this spectacular underground realm to see thousands of flickering glowworms light up in the dark.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a peaceful boat ride through 30 million year old caverns covered with magical glowworms that are unique to New Zealand. Hundreds of thousands of these tiny creatures radiate luminescent light in underground caves carved by rivers and time. Take in more than 136 years of cultural and natural history on this unique excursion.

Visit Rotorua and opt to check out the geothermal area or go whitewater rafting. In the evening visit a Maori village for traditional ceremonies, a Hangi meal and entertainment.

Rotorua sits over an active volcanic zone with bubbling mud pits and multi-coloured pools in different areas around the town. Opt to visit one of the sites, or go whitewater rafting nearby.

Additional Information: If you are interested in visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set while in New Zealand we suggest you pre-book before arriving in New Zealand. G Adventures currently does not offer this as a tour add-on. Hobbiton is accessible as a day trip from Auckland or Rotorua.

ACTIVITY: Visit the Mitai Maori Village and learn the migration story of Tamatekapua of the Te Arawa canoe to Aotearoa and the Maori Pacifica connection told in dance form. Enjoy a delicious Hangi meal, similar to a Hawaiian Luau, with dishes such as chicken, sweet potato (kumara) and lamb steamed over heated rocks.

FREE TIME: Enjoy free time to visit the geothermal sites around town.

Take in the ever-changing scenery of the North Island and travel to the capital, Wellington.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy the atmosphere in this relaxed but lively city. After an orientation walk, enjoy a free day to explore. Opt to visit the Te Papa Museum or take the cable car up to the botanical gardens.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

FREE TIME: Spend some time exploring the city.

Fly to the South Island and travel to the seaside town of Kaikoura, known for its diverse marine life. Stop en route for a wine tasting at a local winery.

ACTIVITY: Stop at a local winery and opt to sample some of the wines produced on site.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy a free morning in Kaikoura. Opt to go on a whale watching tour and search for giant sperm whales. Or head out on a tour to swim in the open ocean in a place often visited by wild dolphins. In the afternoon, travel to Hanmer Springs. Opt to take a soak in the hot springs.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Take in the stunning scenery while travelling across the Southern Alps to the rugged and remote West Coast, before staying in the rainforest near the world's fastest moving glacier.

TRANSPORT: Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle. Driving time includes stops.

Enjoy a free day to explore the area around Franz Josef. Opt to explore the glacier with a heli hike.

There are dozens of optional activities in the area to suit just about any budget and preference. Try heli hiking, scenic helicopter flights, skydiving, lake kayaking or a hot pools visit.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Don't waste a minute—get exploring.

Continue to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. With beautiful scenery and tons of activities, there's something for everyone. Enjoy the great night life.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

With free time here, opt to go bungee jumping (in its birthplace), jet boating (also born here!), skydiving or hiking. Or take it a little slower and travel by gondola to the top of a local peak.

Opt to pre-book the "Queenstown Jet Boating" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY There's tons to do, get out and get going.

Enjoy the stunning scenery of Fiordland National Park and Doubtful Sound on a day cruise. Take in the waterfalls and wildlife, then return to Queenstown for the night.

TRANSPORT: Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle. Driving time includes stops.

ACTIVITY: Cruise through the stunning Doubtful Sound, one of the most untouched, remote places in the world. The only way to get here is by boat across Lake Manapouri, then bus across Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound. Marvel at the steep cliff walls and cascading waterfalls, and keep an eye out for area wildlife: dolphins, penguins, seals, and a variety of birds. This isolated part of New Zealand is truly a special place!

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Travel north through the centre of the South Island to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, named after New Zealand's highest peak. Spend the afternoon hiking the region, taking in the alpine scenery. Learn more about mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary at the Visitor's Centre, before a short but scenic journey to Tekapo Village.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Stop by the visitor's centre to learn more about the region.

ACTIVITY: Aoraki/Mount Cook is both a village, a national park and the name of New Zealand's highest mountain. Located in central South Island, the park includes a mix of rocks and glaciers, as well as alpine plants including the world's largest buttercup, the Mount Cook lily. There are several short walks that reward with spectacular views.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Continue on to Christchurch and take in an orientation walk with your CEO. Enjoy one final night together with the group.

Travel to the Garden City of Christchurch, a little piece of England in New Zealand, still recovering from a devastating earthquake.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

FREE TIME: EVENING Enjoy a last night out.

Depart at any time.