Upon arrival, a group transfer will be provided met by your local guide who will travel with you throughout this program. Transfer to your local hotel for bag drop until hotel check-in later this afternoon.

The 5 Star Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel offers an elegant stay in the civic heart of the CBD. Guest rooms have free Wi-Fi, coffee and tea maker, minibar, iron/board, safe, hairdryer, robe/slippers and more. The hotel has onsite dining, a fitness center, indoor pool, laundry and luggage storage.

This morning the group will depart for an orientation tour of Sydney before making your way to the harbor for a lunch cruise. Your personal captain and host will share the rich history of Sydney Harbor and its foreshore as you take in the sites of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the bays and coves of Sydney Harbor and marvel at the incredible views and enjoy a delightful lunch.

Dinner is on your own so you can make it an early evening and a chance for a good night’s sleep!

Overnight: Radisson Blue Plaza (or similar)

Included meals: Lunch 

After breakfast, head out to explore including South Head, Bondi Beach, Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay & Double Bay. Walk at historic Rocks which holds a unique place in Sydney’s colonial history as the birthplace of European Australia. Be amazed with stories of the First Fleet 1788, the doomed convicts, Suez Canal, the Argyle Cut, the plague of 1900, the diabolical plan to demolish The Rocks and the green bans that saved it.

Lunch is on your own today. 

Next stop is Sydney Opera House for a 60-minute guided tour. Experience this miracle of architecture and engineering. It is one of the busiest performing arts centers in the world with live performances daily.

Your expert guide shares stories about the real-life dramas behind the curtain and in the venue's storied history since it opened in 1973. Walk back to your hotel after your tour to relax before dinner. 

Enjoy a welcome dinner at Harbour front Seafood Restaurant. 

Overnight: Radisson Blu Plaza (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, the group has the day free. Some optional (additional expense) activities can be booked including perhaps a Bridge Climb or Blue Mountain Tour. 

Lunch and dinner are on your own today. 

Overnight:  Radisson Blue Plaza (or similar) 

Included meals: Breakfast

Check out of your hotel and head to the airport for your morning flight to Cairns. Upon arrival meet your local driver and transfer to Kuranda Village for a free time to explore the shops and grab some lunch on your own. 

Skyrail from Kuranda to Smithfield Station. The Skyrail experience, spanning 7.5kms over pristine rainforest, allows you to explore the wonders of an ancient tropical rainforest and learn about one of the most botanically fascinating and diverse areas on earth. Gliding just meters above the rainforest canopy in comfortable six-person gondola cabins, the Skyrail journey immerses you in an intimate rainforest experience where you’ll see, hear, smell and become part of the tropical rainforest environment.

Check in at the 4-star Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort which is in the heart of the city center, moments from the Cairns Esplanade and CBD attractions. They have a gym, laundry and onsite dining as well as many other upscale amenities. Guest rooms have free Wi-Fi, safe, tea and coffee maker, iron/board, minibar, hairdryer and more. 

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening. 

Overnight: Novotel Cairns Oasis (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Head out after breakfast for a full day Daintree and Mossman Gorge Indigenous experience. 

Lush farmland contrasts with seascape as we approach the majestic Daintree River. Time will allow for a short morning tea break then its 'all aboard' for an informative river cruise. Relax and enjoy the splendor only the Daintree can offer as you learn of Estuarine Crocodiles, mangrove forests and wildlife, this is nature at its best! 

Your Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk is led by an Aboriginal guide from the Mossman Gorge Cultural Center who will guide you along a private rainforest track, sharing Dreamtime stories, how the Kuku Yalanji people lived in this environment and more. Demonstrating traditional plant use, identifying bush food and traditions like making soaps and ochre paint. 

Lunch will be included at Mayi Café. 

Later visit Janbal Gallery for an art class with Aboriginal artist Brian ‘Binna’ Swindley. Learn ancient Dreamtime stories, local history and how these are shared through their art.

Return to the hotel with dinner on own.

Overnight: Novotel Cairns Oasis (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Great Barrier Reef Excursion

Head out early to spend the day in the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The stable reef activity platform is the perfect base for swimmers and non-swimmers to explore. Snorkel and/or dive, visit the underwater observatory, cruise in a semi-sub, or just relax on the sundeck with a delicious buffet lunch. 

In addition to the activities included in your tour, there is also a wide range of optional activities to experience on our Outer Great Barrier Reef activity platform. Scuba dive, join a snorkel tour, Scuba Doo below the waves or enjoy the Great Barrier Reef from the air with a scenic helicopter tour.

Dinner will be on your own this evening. 

Overnight: Novotel Cairns Oasis (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Check out this morning and head to the airport for your flight to Melbourne. Upon arrival you will be met by your local driver to transfer to your hotel. 

Lunch is on your own today. 

Rendezvous Melbourne Hotel was built in 1913 overlooking the Yarra River and has many of Melbourne’s top attractions within easy reach, including Flinders Street Station just 3 minutes away. It has onsite dining, a business center, 24-hour concierge and reception dry cleaning and daily newspapers on request. Guest rooms have free Wi-Fi, robe/slippers, a hairdryer, iron/board, minibar, safe, tea and coffee maker, AC and bathroom amenities. 

This afternoon, depart on a leisurely walking tour through Melbourne's culinary and cultural wonders. Your expert local guide will lead you through enchanting laneways, arcades, and historic buildings, providing a unique perspective on the city's history and culinary delights.

Dinner will be provided at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Rendezvous Melbourne (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Check out and head to explore Yarra Valley today. The Valley covers over 6,000 acres surrounded by the Yarra Ranges- a mountain range that encircles the valley and provides an ever-present stunning backdrop for the miles of vineyard and farmland. With over 160 wineries, many with cellar doors welcoming guests to sample the product, the Yarra Valley is one of Australia’s major wine regions and a major producer of cool climate specialties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet – but so much more as well.

Spend the morning at Healesville Sanctuary, during a private tour you will have a chance to interact with native Australian wildlife in a natural bush setting. They have a variety of habitats for you to explore including a wetlands section with native waterbirds, kangaroo country, dingo country, koala forest, a platypus section, main track highlighting reptiles and amphibians, and forest animals like kookaburras and wallabies.

Visit a boutique winery for a delicious lunch and your chance to sample some wonderful wines on tasting selections.

Later, you will be transferred at your hotel surrounded by nature, the 120-hectare estate offers an abundance of native wildlife and flora, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of your room or along the myriad of walking tracks that surround the property. 

Yarra Valley Lodge is less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s hustle, nestled gently within the grounds of the exclusive Heritage Golf & Country Club. Guest rooms have an electric kettle, AC, bathroom amenities, free Wi-Fi, balcony or terrace and more. 

Dinner is on your own this evening. For your convenience the Lodge Bar is open every day, the offering all day dining in a relaxed environment with an outdoor terrace. Room service is available from midday. 

Overnight: Yarra Valley Lodge (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Check out and head to Melbourne airport today to fly to Queenstown, New Zealand.

Upon arrival you will be met by your New Zealand guide. Transfer to your local hotel with some time to relax and explore at your leisure.

Check in at the Novotel Queenstown Lakeside hotel which is on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Guest rooms have tea and coffee maker, iron, hairdryer, safe, AC, pillow menu, room service, LCD tv and more. The hotel has onsite dining, a gym & spa, lounge, and laundry. Breakfast served daily from 6-10 am. 

Take the TSS Earnslaw steamship across Lake Wakatipu to the Walter Peak Station where they are welcomed to the Colonel’s Homestead for dinner. This is a stunning lakeside setting for guests to enjoy a “Kiwi Style” gourmet BBQ Dinner. After dinner guests can enjoy a farm demonstration and see sheep shearers in action, before returning to Queenstown on the nostalgic steamship.

Overnight: Novotel Lakeside (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Head out early for Milford Sound. Board a luxury glass-roofed coach in Queenstown and enjoy a trip along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through the rolling countryside to Te Anau. This is a 5–6-hour drive (thus the short return flight).

After a 30- minute morning tea break in Te Anau continue along the spectacular Milford Road. Go through the Homer Tunnel with photo stops and short walk. 

Arrive in Milford around lunchtime and head to the pier to board your cruise boat where lunch will be provided as you sail. 

Your two-hour Milford Sound cruise will provide excellent viewing opportunities and plenty of time is available to enjoy waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife. Informative, immersive, and relaxed, a scenic cruise is the perfect way to experience what is often called the "eighth wonder of the world."

 At the end of your cruise, you will take a shuttlebus to Milford Airfield. Fly back to Queenstown on a scenic fixed wing plane and transfer back to your hotel late this afternoon. This scenic flight between Queenstown and Milford Sound is the ultimate way to experience the drama and vastness of New Zealand’s dramatic alpine scenery. 

Enjoy dinner on your own.

Overnight: Novotel Queenstown Lakeside (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Check out and head to the airport today. Fly to Rotorua where you will be met by your local driver. 

Visit Waimangu Geothermal Valley. With its spectacular volcanic craters, hot water springs, geothermal features, rare and unusual plant life, and a wide array of birds. Learn about the world’s youngest geothermal valley its history and legacy.

Hear stories about Mt Tarawera volcanic eruption, its people, and the resulting dramatic landscape changes that created the park. Enjoy the waling and hiking trails through the ecosystem and a 45-minute boat cruise around Lake Rotomahana.

Enjoy lunch on your own today.

Your guide will provide a short orientation walk at your hotel including the lakefront and Government Gardens before you check into your hotel (optional).

Novotel Rotorua Lakeside is ideally situated near the shores of Lake Rotorua close to Eat Streat and city center. Conveniently located just 15 minutes from Rotorua Airport in the heart of the cite, Novotel is the perfect base for adventure enthusiasts and families alike to see all that Rotorua has to offer. Guest rooms have a hairdryer, iron/board, slippers, alarm clock, safe, AC, wake up calls and more. 

Dinner will be provided at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Novotel Rotorua Lakeside (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

This morning the group will head to Te Puia where you will meet up with your personal guide for your explorations today. Each guide adds a personal touch to inspire and truly connect you with their culture.

Your visit will include explorations of the amazing landscape of native bush, geysers, and mud pools, to feel the natural power of Pōhutu Geyser– the largest in the Southern Hemisphere! Enjoy the up-close experience with the New Zealand Kiwi, in the brand-new Kiwi Conservation Center.

You will be guided through the greenstone, wood carving and flax weaving schools at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute to watch carvers and weavers demonstrate their skills.

A cultural performance will take place in the beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua, including a pohiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), moteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. 

Enjoy their world-famous hāngī buffet lunch in Pātaka Kai Restaurant, Bar and Café.

Return to the hotel with dinner on your own.

Overnight: Novotel Rotorua Lakeside (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Check out and head out this morning to visit Waitomo Glowworm Caves where a knowledgeable guide will lead you through the limestone chambers and passages to see stunning features like the Tomo (a deep shaft that falls away to the darkness below), and the famous 'Cathedral' The highlight of a visit to the Glowworm Cave is a silent boat trip through the glowworm grotto. Marvel at Mother Nature's light display as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling. 

Lunch will be provided at Roseland Resort before the 3-hour drive to Auckland.

Check into the M Social Hotel. This contemporary hotel overlooks the vibrant Princes Wharf, with a wide variety of dining and shopping experiences. Offers dining, free Wi-Fi, concierge, AC & bar. 

Farewell dinner at Harborside Ocean Bar & Grill.

Overnight: M Social Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Say farewell and return to the U.S. today. Depending on flight time arrival should be the next day (November 17).

A group transfer will be provided to the Auckland airport for your flight today. Enjoy some free time with lunch on own. 

Nanda Journeys is happy to assist with further explorations in the South Pacific, adding extra time in New Zealand, Fiji, or beyond. 

Overnight: N/A

Nicola and Dominic are both from the North West of England. THey moved to the US in 2001 for Nicola's travel career and settled in San Jose, CA with the two children Ryan and Siobhan. Nicola recruited Dominic from his construction business to join her in founding Nanda Journeys, a company they longed dreamed about.

They both are passionate travellers and care deeply about the impact of travel and the life-changing powers of exploring the world in a meaningful and responsible way.

They have led numerous journeys together and warmly invite you to join them in Australia and New Zealand. 

Review and download Booking Terms & Conditions HERE