Australia and New Zealand Panorama
Just how many legendary Antipodean attractions can you tick off in one journey? This comprehensive Melbourne to Auckland tour does both Australia and New Zealand justice. There’s the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics of Queensland, Sydney Opera House, eclectic Melbourne lanes, Queenstown’s Remarkable Range, Rotorua’s steamy thermals and Auckland’s just-as-hot restaurants, just to name some highlights… whew!
- 25 Jun 2026 – 09 Jul 2026
from $12,280 pp twin share * - 27 Aug 2026 – 10 Sep 2026
from $12,469 pp twin share * - 24 Sep 2026 – 08 Oct 2026
from $12,753 pp twin share * - 08 Oct 2026 – 22 Oct 2026
from $12,514 pp twin share * - 05 Nov 2026 – 19 Nov 2026
from $12,974 pp twin share * - 26 Nov 2026 – 10 Dec 2026
from $12,974 pp twin share * - 14 Jan 2027 – 28 Jan 2027
from $12,974 pp twin share * - 28 Jan 2027 – 11 Feb 2027
from $12,974 pp twin share * - 11 Feb 2027 – 25 Feb 2027
from $12,974 pp twin share * - 04 Mar 2027 – 18 Mar 2027
from $12,974 pp twin share * - 18 Mar 2027 – 01 Apr 2027
from $12,974 pp twin share * - 08 Apr 2027 – 22 Apr 2027
from $11,766 pp twin share * - 06 May 2027 – 20 May 2027
from $8,951 pp twin share * - 24 Jun 2027 – 08 Jul 2027
from $8,951 pp twin share * - 26 Aug 2027 – 09 Sep 2027
from $8,951 pp twin share * - 23 Sep 2027 – 07 Oct 2027
from $8,951 pp twin share * - 07 Oct 2027 – 21 Oct 2027
from $9,167 pp twin share * - 04 Nov 2027 – 18 Nov 2027
from $9,401 pp twin share * - 25 Nov 2027 – 09 Dec 2027
from $9,401 pp twin share * - 13 Jan 2028 – 27 Jan 2028
from $9,401 pp twin share * - 27 Jan 2028 – 10 Feb 2028
from $9,401 pp twin share * - 10 Feb 2028 – 24 Feb 2028
from $9,401 pp twin share * - 02 Mar 2028 – 16 Mar 2028
from $9,401 pp twin share * - 16 Mar 2028 – 30 Mar 2028
from $9,401 pp twin share *
* Prices and category availability are subject to change without notice.
Itinerary
- Day 1 – Welcome to Melbourne:
Settle into your hotel on the banks of the Yarra River and meet your Travel Director for dinner at a popular restaurant in the area. It’s a great opportunity to get to know everyone in a unique setting. - Day 2 – Melbourne:
Get out and see the sights today on a guided walk with your Travel Director discovering the little lanes, arcades, and cafe society of stylish Melbourne. Gaze up at the beautiful Victorian façades lining grand boulevards. Stroll past famous, edgy street art that shows a stylish contrast to federation buildings and churches as Melbourne’s coffee aroma wafts overhead. Discover more of Melbourne over a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience tour and walk at Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery. Make a positive impact while you learn about Koorie peoples, cultures and communities. There’s time afterwards to explore the city on your own, enjoy an Optional Experience* to Phillip Island to see the nightly ritual of the Penguin Parade. Or simply relax and watch the world go by. - Day 3 – Melbourne – Cairns:
Things start to heat up in Cairns, the heart of Tropical North Queensland. Jump aboard a cruise at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures to discover some of the wildlife that calls this part of the state home, koalas, wallabies and crocs among them. Now that you’ve appreciated the beauty of the area, you can put your passion into practice helping with a Rainforest Restoration project, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, to protect the natural wonder of the nearby Notophyll Vine Forest, an area older than the Amazon. By jumping in and helping the team plant trees, you’re supporting the protection of this rare type of dry rainforest from development and restoring it to an important wildlife corridor of native birds. Talk about a feel-good day. *If you are departing on an early flight from Melbourne, a boxed breakfast will be provided. - Day 4 – Great Barrier Reef:
Did you know that the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef is home to 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents? Set sail on a high-speed catamaran for these tropical waters then explore this underwater wonderland up close donning your mask and fins for a snorkel (equipment provided). You’ll feel like a fish in an aquarium weaving through the rainbow of reefs and fish. Or, choose to stay dry in your semi-submersible, air-conditioned craft with an underwater observatory to have a different view of these tropical species. However you choose to explore, you’ll love learning the insights on the reef the colourful fish and plants that call it home from your local guide. On board you’ll be treated to a buffet lunch and afternoon tea and coffee to soak up the Aussie sun before you cruise back into Cairns. - Day 5 – Cairns Free Time:
Today is a free day to do as you choose. A great Optional Experience* is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda, travelling over and through World Heritage rainforest, explore quaint Kuranda village and later board the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway for the return journey. If you’d prefer to spend the day relaxing by your hotel pool or sitting back at a local cafe you can do that too! After a big day out or in town, meet up with the group for dinner at Ochre Restaurant and enjoy Australian cuisine featuring the best local produce. - Day 6 – Cairns – Sydney:
Fly from Cairns to Sydney. The rest of the day is yours to do as you wish. You could walk to the Art Gallery of NSW or to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair for a panoramic views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Ask your Travel Director for evening dining suggestions. - Day 7 – Sydney Sightseeing:
Sydney is home to many famous landmarks, with the Sydney Opera House being one of the most notable. You will take a guided tour of this unique building to learn about its architecture and the renowned artists who have performed there. Next a visit to Bondi Beach and a special behind-the-scenes tour of Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. This members’ only club has granted us special access. You’ll be shown around the club and learn about the club’s history and lifesaving operations. Following this, your Surf Life Saving guide will host a Be My Guest lunch at the Bondi RSL club with views across this famous beach and out to the Pacific Ocean. Afterwards, enjoy a Sydney Harbour cruise to view the Opera House from the water, along with sights like Circular Quay, Shark Island, impressive mansions, beaches, and parks. The cruise also takes you under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, offering a memorable experience. - Day 8 – Sydney Free Time:
You could spend weeks exploring Sydney. Months even. But you have today, so get set for a wild ride. Your agenda is completely up to you, but we have more than a few ideas. Perhaps book an Optional Experience* for a bird’s-eye perspective of the city on a Sydney BridgeClimb? Or take a tour to the Blue Mountains to view the famous Three Sisters. This evening, celebrate Sydney at dinner with your travelling companions. - Day 9 – Sydney – Queenstown:
New Zealand’s adventure capital, Queenstown, awaits. Explore the alpine village and stunning Lake Wakatipu, then enjoy walkable bars and restaurants. Ask your Travel Director for tips. - Day 10 – Queenstown:
Get a taste of country life combined with good old fashioned southern hospitality as you meet a ‘Southerner’ local female farmer at Real Country. Have demonstrations of Horse communication and Working sheep dog mustering. Try your hand at a Stock whip cracking lesson, and feed and interact with the friendly farm animals. For every guest on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience we donate funds to The Fairlight Foundation, Advancing Women in Agriculture. Then you’ll think you’ve stepped back in time when you arrive in the former gold-mining village of Arrowtown, where history and beauty merge to create an unforgettable experience. Nestled in the scenic Southern Alps, you can explore quaint shops and restaurants, all while taking in the stunning views. Come dusk, cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw; the only thing more inspiring than the surrounding peaks of the Remarkables is the festive atmosphere welcoming you to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where a gourmet barbecue at the Colonel’s Homestead awaits. - Day 11 – Queenstown Free Time:
You could spend a long time in and around Queenstown. But on your free day, we highly recommend an Optional Experience*. Either venturing into the end-of-the-Earth wilderness that is Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, to cruise past sheer cliffs, white-capped peaks and waterfalls. Or blissing out on an obligatory wine tour of the Otago region. It’s a difficult decision. - Day 12 – Queenstown – Auckland – Rotorua:
After touching down in Auckland, you’ll board your coach for the drive to Rotorua, the cultural capital, where you will immerse yourself in Māori history and culture. - Day 13 – Rotorua Sightseeing:
Your visit to the National Kiwi Hatchery is guided by passionate conservationists and will give you fascinating insights into New Zealand’s national bird on this rewarding MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Rotorua’s landscapes are reminiscent of a sci-fi movie set where mud pops from bubbling geysers and steam rushes skywards. See it first-hand on your guided walk at the Maori Village of Ohinemutu, another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Explore its geothermal landscapes, sacred sites, ancestral stories, St Faith’s Church, and rich cultural traditions with a local kaitiaki (guardian). This evening, embark on the Te Pō experience at Te Puia. Learn about Learn about Maori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Witness a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. It ends on a high at the Pohutu Geyser, where, armed with a hot chocolate, you’ll view one of New Zealand’s geothermal wonderlands. - Day 14 – Rotorua – Auckland:
Set your GPS for the Waitomo Caves. While cruising cavernous waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousands of glowworms. The next thing that glows on your horizon is Auckland. This evening, share the stories of your Australia and New Zealand Panorama tour at dinner with your Travel Director and companions at The Grill, celebrating Aotearoa’s culinary treasures. - Day 15 – Farewell from Auckland:
Two countries, multiple adventures, an abundance of new friends… Just how do you say goodbye to a journey like this?
Highlights
- Explore World Heritage-listed natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics of Queensland.
- Discover iconic cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Queenstown, Rotorua and Auckland.
- Immerse yourself in the diverse cultures and landscapes of these two incredible countries.
Just how many legendary Antipodean attractions can you tick off in one journey? This comprehensive Melbourne to Auckland tour does both Australia and New Zealand justice. There’s the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics of Queensland, Sydney Opera House, eclectic Melbourne lanes, Queenstown’s Remarkable Range, Rotorua’s steamy thermals and Auckland’s just-as-hot restaurants, just to name some highlights… whew!
Inclusions
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – Learn about Koorie peoples, cultures, and communities at the Koorie Heritage Trust Spot the crocs on Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Wildlife River Cruise MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – Hands-On Tree Planting Activity with Rainforest Rescue Cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef – a UNESCO World Heritage Site Join a private guided tour of the Sydney Opera House Exclusive visit to Bondi Surf Life Saving Club You’re welcomed to a Be My Guest lunch at Bondi Beach Cruise around Sydney Harbour and see the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – Get a taste of country life at Real Country Cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak on TSS Earnslaw Steamship Relish a gourmet BBQ dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – Immerse yourself in Māori culture in Rotorua, with traditional performances, and dinner MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – Explore Maori Village of Ohinemutu for an insight into one of Rotorua’s historic Māori communities.
- Day 1 highlights Welcome to Melbourne: Settle into your hotel on the banks of the Yarra River and meet your Travel Director for dinner at a popular restaurant in the area. It’s a great opportunity to get to know everyone in a unique setting.
- Day 2 highlights Melbourne: Get out and see the sights today on a guided walk with your Travel Director discovering the little lanes, arcades, and cafe society of stylish Melbourne. Gaze up at the beautiful Victorian façades lining grand boulevards. Stroll past famous, edgy street art that shows a stylish contrast to federation buildings and churches as Melbourne’s coffee aroma wafts overhead. Discover more of Melbourne over a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience tour and walk at Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery. Make a positive impact while you learn about Koorie peoples, cultures and communities. There’s time afterwards to explore the city on your own, enjoy an Optional Experience* to Phillip Island to see the nightly ritual of the Penguin Parade. Or simply relax and watch the world go by.
FAQs
- Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
- Hilton Hotel Cairns
- Horizon by SkyCity Auckland
- Millennium Hotel Rotorua
- Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
- Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney
How long is this journey?
This itinerary runs for 15 days and 14 nights.
When can I travel?
Departures are currently scheduled between 25 Jun 2026 and 30 Mar 2028, subject to live availability.
Are there different departure options?
Yes, multiple departures may be available depending on your preferred travel period.
Are discounts available?
Seasonal or loyalty discounts may be available on selected departures at the time of enquiry.
What is generally included?
Inclusions typically cover guided touring and selected experiences, with exact details listed in the itinerary.
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