Australia & New Zealand Highlights

840 Days until departure
July 19, 2027 - July 31, 2027

Sydney, Australia

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Tour Itinerary print itinerary

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Day 1 Start tour
Day 2 International Date Line
Lose a day as you cross the International Date Line
Day 3  Kia ora Queenstown
Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Walk along Lake Wakatipu
Dinner
Day 4 Queenstown
Wakatipu Basin safari
Deer Park HeightsKawarau GorgeArrowtownSkippers Saddle
1 Luge Ride at Skyline in Queenstown
Queenstown Skyline Restaurant dinner
Details: Wakatipu Basin safari
Experience true four-wheel-driving in the most dramatic landscapes. This true adventure safari packed with goldmining history, thrilling 4WD river crossings and a great overview of the diverse scenery of the Queenstown / Arrowtown area. Visit the Lord of the Rings filming locations of Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, the Pillars of the Kings (Argonath), the site of Isildur’s Fall, the Ford of Bruinen and more!
Details: Aerial gondola to Bob’s Peak
Enjoy the perfect bird’s-eye view of Queenstown’s dramatic mountains and valleys as you ride high inside the cabin of your gondola.
Day 5 Milford Sound
Milford Sound excursion
Te AnauFiordland National ParkMirror LakesMilford Sound cruise
Dinner
Details: Milford Sound excursion
Travel around the eastern shores of Lake Wakatipu and across the picturesque Southland countryside to Te Anau and into the dramatic landscape of the Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. Stop at the Mirror Lakes to see the near perfect reflections of the mountains in the calm waters, then take a short walk to the Chasm and see where the waters disappear into the rocks before arriving in Milford Sound. Cruise the fiord past Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea enjoying the stunning scenery of cascading waterfalls, dense rainforest, steep cliff faces and marine life that inhabits these waters.
Day 6 Queenstown--Sydney
Fly to Sydney
Day 7 Sydney landmarks
Sydney guided sightseeing tour
Darling HarbourSydney Harbour BridgeThe GapOpera House visit
Optional  Surf lesson on Bondi Beach  $125
Details: Sydney guided sightseeing tour
See Sydney, Australia's beautiful waterfront city. A licensed, local guide will take you to Darling Harbor, a bustling entertainment and shopping center. Visit one of the city's most well-known symbols, the Sydney Opera House, majestically poised between the Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanic Garden.
Details: Bondi Beach excursion
With a storied history, a dazzling setting and its fair share of beautiful people, Bondi Beach is rightly recognized as one of the best beaches in the world. Upon arrival at this enticing stretch of sand, you’ll first learn about what makes Bondi so unique—the surfers, the rescues and all the action you might expect at one of Australia’s most famous destinations. From there, you’re on your own. Catch some rays, feel the sand between your toes, rent a boogie-board or even take some surfing lessons.
Day 8 Sydney cruise
Details: Sydney city walk
Explore the historical neighborhoods, lush gardens and pathways that hug the city's harbor.
Details: The Rocks
As you stroll along the narrow, cobblestone streets of The Rocks, you can’t help but get caught up in the area’s intriguing past, present and future. Here you’ll find chic restaurants, stylish bars and hearty pubs, all amidst some of the oldest surviving buildings in Sydney. One moment you’ll be touring historic Cadman’s Cottage, and the next you’ll find yourself amongst the eclectic shopping, artisan markets and glitzy galleries that make The Rocks the engaging destination that is it today.
Details: Mrs. Macquarie's Point
You bring the camera and “Mrs. Macquarie” will provide the perfect backdrop. Featuring a breathtaking view of both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Mrs. Macquarie’s Point has been attracting visitors since its origin in 1810, when an exposed sandstone rock was cut into the shape of a bench. Known today as Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, legend has it that if you make a wish while sitting on the bench, there’s a very good chance that your wish will come true.
Details: Harbour Cruise
This sightseeing cruise is the perfect introduction to Sydney's iconic landmarks including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Government House, Fort Denison and more. 
Day 9 Outside Sydney
Day 10 Start extension to Cairns
Fly to Cairns
Cairns guided sightseeing tour
EsplanadeWharf StreetCity Place
Dinner
Details: Cairns guided sightseeing tour
After bustling Sydney, the city of Cairns may feel like a sleepy little tropical village. Everything in town seems built for relaxation. The homes are built on stilts to catch the cool ocean breezes. Overhead fans whirl in every room. A licensed local guide leads you to the lively, slightly bohemian Esplanade, the focal point of the city. This is where the city began in 1876 as a gold- and tin-mining port. Wharf Street was once the main drag, at a time when the entire area was known as the Barbary Coast because of its rough, criminal element. Now, it is a thriving port, where big-game fishing is a major industry. The actual center of Cairns is the City Place, the town square and a quaint pedestrian mall. The Cairns Museum includes not only artifacts on the city's history but the story of Aboriginal life in the surrounding rain forests. This city is a great gateway into Australia's natural wonders, with the rain forest and the Great Barrier Reef just minutes away.
Details: Esplanade
Take a stroll on the Cairns esplanade buzzing with innovative eateries, on-trend bars, stylish boutiques and galleries. At the end of the day get a glimpse of the idyllic sun setting over the water.
Details: Palm Cove half-day excursion
Relax on Palm Cove’s gorgeous beaches, where Cairns’ residents and visitors come for fun in the sun.
Day 11 Great Barrier Reef
Details: Great Barrier Reef full-day excursion
As the world's largest living organism, the iconic Great Barrier Reef is the richest marine resource known to man. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with unique plants, fish, and coral representing a dazzling myriad of colors, the Reef is a dream visit for students who embrace science, art and nature. Set sail on a luxury 105 ft sailing catamaran for a smooth and comfortable journey to Michaelmas Cay, a low lying vegetated sand cay that is also a sanctuary for migratory seabirds. The Cay, with its calm, shallow waters, is ideal for first-timers and young families looking to experience the Reef in a safe, easy environment. With qualified crew on hand to supervise and buoyancy vests provided free of charge, students can effortlessly float as they snorkel and discover the world below. Take a Semi-submersible Coral Reef Viewing Tour, as well as walk the Cay for a most unique bird watching experience. With the onset of climate change and the clearly progressing decomposition of this delicate ecosystem, no time is better than now to experience perhaps the greatest natural wonder on earth.
Day 12 Cairns
Dinner
Details: Cairns free day
After bustling Sydney, the city of Cairns may feel like a sleepy little tropical village. Everything in town seems built for relaxation. The homes are built on stilts to catch the cool ocean breezes. Overhead fans whirl in every room. People stroll along the lively, slightly bohemian Esplanade, the focal point of the city. This is where the city began in 1876, but the actual center of Cairns is the City Place, the town square and a quaint pedestrian mall. Spend some time relaxing in and exploring this laidback city.
Day 13 End tour

Traveler Requirements

  • Other: This is an adult and family multigenerational tour -- not a school affiliated tour. We travel with groups of 15-25, so that the experience is enhanced. Travelers under 21 are welcome with family!
  • Acceptable Grades: 8th,9th,10th,11th,12th

Group Leader Travel Experience

I have been bringing groups with Explorica since 2002. Prior to that, I led tours with two other companies. I have led over 90 educational travel groups across six continents and 63 countries. I consider travel to be one of the most meaningful experiences that can be had. I relish adventure and fun with folks who value the same!!

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