Day 1 - Today you depart the United States on your overnight flight to Sydney, Australia. Naturally, meals will be served and inflight entertainment will be offered. Please consult your flight schedule for pertinent details.

Day 2 - (You crossed the international dateline and "lost" a day.) Upon arrival in Sydney you will transfer to your hotel for check-in procedures and then begin your exploration of Australia's largest city.

Day 3 - Morning departure for your guided panoramic city tour. The remainder of the day includes a scheduled to visit a brewery and the international stock exchange as well as continued sightseeing. Sydney boasts a glorious harbor, unusual opera house, "The Rocks", the birthplace of Sydney and modern Australia, as well as beautiful gardens and wonderful museums. Dinner tonight is not included. Please see your tour leader for arrangements.

Day 4 - Today you will take a day trip to the Blue Mountains and visit the Australian Wildlife Park.

Day 5 - Morning departure for the Sydney airport to fly to New Zealand. Upon arrival in Christchurch you will transfer to your hotel and then devote the remainder of the day to your exploration of this South Island city.

Day 6 - Morning departure for Queenstown. You travel into the fertile Canterbury Plains and stop at a local sheep farm for morning tea and a farm demonstration. You continue through historic McKenzie Country and the Central Otago region to the "alpine resort" of Queenstown.

Day 7 - This morning enjoy a city walking tour of Queenstown and/or the Queenstown Visitors Center. In the afternoon you will cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the famous TSS Earnslaw steamer to Walter Peak sheep station for tea and a farm demonstration*.

Day 8 - Morning departure from Queenstown for Milford Sound. You travel via Te Anau through the Homer Tunnel and Eglington Valley. You will enjoy a luncheon cruise* on Milford Sound and then return to Queenstown.

Day 9 - Morning departure for Dunedin. On the way will be a visit to the former gold mining village of Arrowtown at the foot of steep Crown Ridge, and a visit to the Lakes District Museum. You will continue to the gold fields complex at Cromwell and on through the historic Central Otago region to Dunedin.

Day 10 - Morning walking tour, followed by a visit to the local Marine Center. In the afternoon you will continue sightseeing in this Scottish influenced town focusing on the Tairoa Peninsula and visits to Larnoch Castle, an extravagant fantasy built by William Larnoch who was an Australian born businessman and politician; and a local penguin colony.

Day 11 - AM departure from your hotel to the Dunedin airport and your flight to Rotorua on the North Island. Upon arrival in Rotorua you will transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day will be at leisure to explore this area of spurting geysers and sulfur springs. In the evening you will enjoy a Maori hangi (feast) and concert at the hotel*.

Day 12 - Today is devoted to continued sightseeing in Rotorua including Whakarewarewa thermal reserve, Agrodoma sheep farm, Paradise Springs trout pools, and Skyline gondola.

Day 13 - AM departure for Auckland via Matamata. You will enjoy a farm visit and lunch at Longlands complex. Upon arrival in Auckland you will enjoy brief sightseeing with a visit to the Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter.

Day 14 - Today you are at leisure to enjoy this "City of Sails." One can explore Auckland on foot and using the city bus system, or you may wish to take an optional guided tour. Several are available. Some highlights in the city might include parks such as Albert Park or Auckland Domain; Auckland Institute and Museum with Maori artifacts; Cathedral Church of St. Mary, a Gothic wooden church built in 1886; or Waitemata Harbour.

Day 15 - Today you depart Auckland for your return flight to the United States. Naturally, meals will be served and inflight entertainment will be offered.

This itinerary is ideal!
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* Entrance fees and /or transportation to may be offered optionally, are subject to availability and are not included in the tour price.