18-Nights All Over Australia and New Zealand from $16,555

Swain Destinations

OFFER ID 1340655

A fiord carved by glaciers, a rock that predates dinosaurs, a reef visible from space, and a harbor city that sparkles after dark. This itinerary brings together the places that define Australia and New Zealand, balancing moments of exhilaration with time to pause and take them in. Move from geothermal valleys and alpine scenery to red desert, coral sea, and vibrant cities, with each stop revealing a different side of these remarkable countries.

Your Itinerary Includes:

All roundtrip airport transfers
1 night Auckland
Auckland City tour
Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo
Caves Tour at Waitomo
2 nights Rotorua
Rotorua City tour
3 nights Queenstown
Milford Sound tour
Dart River jet boating
Queenstown to Mount Cook and Christchurch
2 nights Christchurch
Christchurch City Garden tour
3 nights Sydney
Essential Sydney tour
BridgeClimb Summit - Day Climb
2 nights Uluru
A Night at Field of Light
Kata Tjuta Sunrise tour
Uluru Sunset tour
3 nights Cairns
60-Minute Scenic Helicopter Flight
Daintree Dreaming Art & Culture Tour
Meals: 14 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner

18 nights from $16,555 per person

Valid for new bookings deposited May 1 – September 30, 2026 for travel May 1 – September 30, 2026.

*Promotion is not combinable with other promotions and is subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. Ask your Travel Advisor for more information.

Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Auckland
Your first day offers an immersive introduction to Auckland and the landscapes that define it. With your private guide, trace the city's harbors and coastlines, pause at viewpoints shaped by ancient volcanic activity, and gain insight into the Polynesian and Maori influences woven throughout New Zealand's largest city before settling into The Grand by SkyCity in the heart of Auckland's CBD.

The Grand By Skycity

Day 2 Travel to Rotorua via Waitomo
From Auckland, the drive south gives way to rolling farmland, the Waikato River keeping pace alongside the road. The real surprise comes at Waitomo, where the most memorable part of the day happens underground. A boat glides through the Glowworm Grotto in near silence, its ceiling lit by starry bioluminescence. After lunch, it's over the Mamaku Ranges and into Rotorua, where geothermal landscapes and Maori culture await.

On The Point - Lake Rotorua
Meals: B, L

Day 3 Rotorua City Supreme Tour
Spend the day experiencing the many sides of Rotorua, from a lighthearted introduction to sheep farming at the Agrodome to a stroll through Rotorua Gardens and stops at the vivid Green and Blue Lakes. Continue to Te Puia for the afternoon and discover one of New Zealand's most significant geothermal and cultural sites. Here, steaming vents, bubbling mud pools, and the powerful eruptions of Pohutu Geyser create the backdrop for an introduction to Maori traditions and the enduring connection between people and place.

On The Point - Lake Rotorua
Meals: B, L

Day 4 Travel to Queenstown
Set off to the South Island for an ultra-luxe stay at the boutique Azur Lodge overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range.

Azur Lodge
Meals: B

Day 5 Milford Sound Tour
Follow the lakeshore south as the landscape shifts to rolling green valleys, clear braided rivers, and distant snow-capped mountains. Pause at Te Anau, New Zealand's second-largest lake, before continuing into Fiordland, where the road winds deeper into one of the country's most dramatic landscapes. Each bend reveals another shift in scenery until the journey culminates at Milford Sound.

Azur Lodge
Meals: B, L

Day 6 Dart River Wilderness Safari
The Dart River runs through some of the South Island's most remote country, where snow-capped peaks are the backdrop to braided channels, hidden valleys, and waterfalls. A jet boat carries you upriver through the ever-shifting river system before a guided bush walk at Paradise introduces the native forest, its flora and fauna, and the Maori and colonial history woven into the landscape. The return journey by jet boat brings a different perspective on the same remarkable terrain.

Azur Lodge
Meals: B

Day 7 Travel to Christchurch via Mount Cook
Today's transfer is one of New Zealand's great road journeys. From Queenstown, the route moves through the Kawarau Gorge, Central Otago's fruit stalls and vineyards, and the remote Lindis country before Aoraki Mount Cook comes into view. After a midday pause, the afternoon continues through the wide open Mackenzie Country and down onto the Canterbury Plains, arriving in Christchurch in time for a brief orientation of the Garden City.

The George
Meals: B, L

Day 8 Christchurch City Garden Tour
By now, Christchurch's nickname, The Garden City, begins to make sense. The Port Hills put the region into perspective: Christchurch laid out in neat lines below, the Canterbury Plains reaching toward the horizon, Lyttelton Harbour shimmering in the light, and the Southern Alps rising dramatically in the distance. From there, visit two private gardens that blend New Zealand natives with exotic species in distinct and thoughtfully designed landscapes. After lunch in the city, continue to the Botanical Gardens, home to some of the largest, tallest, and oldest exotic trees in New Zealand.

The George
Meals: B

Day 9 Travel to Sydney
Onward to Australia! Today you'll arrive in one of the world's great natural harbor cities. A private transfer brings you to Shangri-La, Sydney, positioned high in the historic The Rocks district near Circular Quay with uninterrupted views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Shangri-La, Sydney
Meals: B

Day 10 Essential Sydney Tour
Spend the day getting to know Sydney beyond its postcard moments. Trace the city's evolution from its colonial beginnings in The Rocks to the energy of Barangaroo before stepping inside the Sydney Opera House for a guided tour inside its iconic sails. Continue through the city's historic heart and into the Royal Botanic Garden, where harbor views frame the skyline.

By afternoon, trade city streets for sea air with time to stroll Bondi Beach and enjoy lunch by the water before continuing past Macquarie Lighthouse and Sydney Heads. A ferry back to Circular Quay past Sydney's most coveted waterfront homes closes the day.

Shangri-La, Sydney
Meals: B, L

Day 11 BridgeClimb Summit - Day Climb & Sydney At Leisure
Scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge on a guided climb to the summit, 400 feet above the harbor. As the arch rises beneath your feet, Sydney opens up in every direction: the Opera House to the east, the Blue Mountains on the horizon, and ferries tracing white lines across the water below. The rest of the day is yours to explore Sydney up close.

Shangri-La, Sydney
Meals: B

Day 12 Travel to Uluru & A Night at Field of Light
Trade city lights for the scale and stillness of the Red Centre as you arrive at Uluru. As evening settles over the desert, head to a remote location with uninterrupted views of the monolith. A lone didgeridoo marks the transition from day to night while a three-course dinner inspired by native bush ingredients is served beneath a sky dense with stars. Then, as darkness deepens, Field of Light slowly awakens: 50,000 illuminated glass spheres spreading across the desert floor and shifting softly through changing color.

Sails In The Desert
Meals: B, D

Day 13 Kata Tjuta Sunrise Tour & Uluru and Sunset Tour
Experience two of the Red Centre's most significant landscapes in a single day. Begin at Kata Tjuta at sunrise, when shifting light brings definition to the immense domes, before continuing into Walpa Gorge, named for the wind that moves through it. Walking between the towering rock walls offers a deeper understanding of both the ancient geology and enduring cultural significance of this place.

Later, spend time at the base of Uluru, approaching gradually to appreciate its scale. Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole and past rock art sites while learning about the monolith's significance to the Anangu people. End the day at Talinguru Nyakunytjaku with a toast as the last light washes across Uluru, with Kata Tjuta lingering in the distance.

Sails In The Desert
Meals: B

Day 14 Travel to Cairns
From red earth to the deep greens and blues of Tropical North Queensland, today reveals a completely different side of Australia.

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Day 15 Reef and Rainforest Helicopter Flight
From the air, the meeting point of the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef reveals something no ground-level visit can: the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites share a coastline. The flight follows the rainforest first, over Mossman Gorge, the mouth of the Daintree River, and Cape Tribulation, before the Coral Sea opens up and the reef comes into view around Low Isles.

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Meals: B

Day 16 Daintree Dreaming: Art & Culture Tour
The Kuku Yalanji people have lived across this stretch of coastline and rainforest for thousands of years, and this day offers the opportunity to experience their culture through the people and places that continue to shape it. Guided by a Kubirri Warra clan member, move across beach, mudflats, and mangroves while learning about bush medicines, traditional foods, and trying your hand at throwing a fishing spear. At Mossman Gorge, elevated boardwalks wind through World Heritage-listed rainforest as stories and local knowledge bring deeper meaning to the landscape. The day concludes at Janbal Gallery with Aboriginal artist Brian ‘Binna' Swindley, whose work shares Dreamtime stories of animals, Country, and culture through art.

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Meals: B, L

Day 17 Depart Cairns
From Auckland's harbor to the Coral Sea, two countries and sixteen unforgettable nights have brought together experiences that linger long after you leave. Today, you begin your journey home.

Meals: B

Featured Destinations

Auckland

Rotorua

Queenstown

Christchurch

Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is a maze of hidden laneways, opulent bars, exclusive restaurants and off-the-beaten-track boutiques. Here you can soak up culture, hit the sporting grounds, taste the dynamic food and wine scene, dance til dawn or wander the parks and leafy boulevards. Visit Federation Square, the city's landmark cultural space, and enjoy a sunset beer on the St Kilda promenade. Shop till you drop on funky Brunswick Street or upmarket Chapel Street. Wander Southbank's cafes, bistros and bars and get a world tour of cuisines in Carlton, Richmond and Fitzroy. Take an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens and cheer with a capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Five Must-Have Melbourne Experiences:

1. Shop till you drop

Bag a bargain at the Rose Street Artist's Market and browse the funky boutiques on Brunswick Street. Buy designer labels such as Akira Isogawa and Zimmerman on Chapel Street in Prahran or in the historic Melbourne General Post Office, which covers an entire city block. For everything from fashion to furnishings at fantastic value, visit Bridge Road in Richmond. Melbourne is a shopper's haven, offering eclectic boutiques, high-end fashion, funky homeware stores and European style piazzas in the city's arcades and hidden laneways.

2. Bar hop and dance till dawn

Sip a cocktail in a converted sea container in Chinatown, enjoy a sunset beer in a St Kilda pub or listen to cabaret in lush retro surroundings in jazz bars in the city. Linger over exquisite tapas and exotic wine in a Little Collins Street bar and mingle in a pink parlour with fake grass in Bourke Street. You can party from dusk in the bars of Brunswick Street. Or dance till dawn in bars in the city's lantern-lit laneways, secret apart from the spill of coloured light under heavy brass doors.

3. Get into the gourmet goodness

Let the aroma of good coffee waft over you in Melbourne's gothic European laneways. The city is famous for its coffee and old-world café culture but there's so much more to explore. Once you've downed a 'short black' or taken an afternoon aperitif, try tea in a nineteenth-century hotel or salivate over your silver spoon in acclaimed restaurants like Nobu, Botanical and Becco. Pick up fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood at the Queen Victoria Market on a Saturday, known for its bustling crowds and buskers. Try out the restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars in Southbank or Federation Square. Make your way around Melbourne's multicultural cosmos of cuisines: Carlton for Italian classics, Richmond for budget-friendly Vietnamese and Fitzroy for Spanish tapas.

4. Fill up on culture

See a performance by the Australian Ballet, which is based here in Australia's cultural capital. Or enjoy a dazzling musical at the Princess Theatre. Browse the Southern Hemisphere's best collection of international art at the National Gallery of Victoria. Or visit the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Federation Square, a landmark cultural 'space' for Melbournians. Challenge yourself with the creative collections in the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Southbank. To learn more about Melbourne's Aboriginal cultural heritage, see contemporary and dreamtime art or take an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens.

5. Go sports mad

Cheer for an Australian Rules Football game with a capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground over winter. Go cricket mad in summer, when the city hosts the Ashes and one day internationals. Or join the huge crowds watching the Australian Tennis Open at Melbourne Park. Rev heads head to Melbourne in March for the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Albert Park. And whether you are a racing fan or just a casual punter, you won't want to miss the Melbourne Cup - the world's richest horse race on the first Tuesday in November.

Uluru

The world's largest monolith, located 280 mi/450 km southwest of Alice Springs, is a truly stunning sight, especially at sunset when its burnt-orange glow seems to set the desert on fire. Called Uluru by the Aborigines, the sandstone rock is huge (1,140 ft/350 m high, 9 mi/13 km around) and reddish brown most of the time, taking its color from iron oxide, or rust. Its presence is made more powerful by the mostly barren plain that surrounds it and disappears into the horizon. In 1985, ownership of the rock was returned to its traditional owners. It is rarely referred to as Ayers Rock anymore.

Considered sacred by the Aborigines for thousands of years, the rock is now part of the expansive Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, one of the country's biggest tourist attractions. The park includes the Olgas/Kata Tjuta, a cluster of 36 giant domelike rock formations about 20 mi/35 km west. If you want to visit both, plan to spend at least one night. You'll want to see Uluru at both sunset and sunrise. The Olgas are equally magnificent at both times of day. (But be prepared to jockey for position at either place; tour buses disgorge hundreds of visitors laden with binoculars, cameras and video equipment.)

Start your visit to the park with a stop at the cultural center. Run by the Anangu (a local Aboriginal clan), the center is a wonderful introduction to the unusual rock formations and to the people who lived in their harsh shadows for centuries. Aboriginal artwork and artifacts are on display. You can also see re-enactments of life in the bush and watch informative videos. Most visitors explore the rock as part of a tour led by park rangers, Anangu guides or private tour companies. But you can also pick up a printed walking guide at the cultural center and set off on your own.

Only one trail leads to the top of the rock, and it's fairly steep—those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, asthma, fear of heights or the like should remain earthbound. The Anangu prefer you walk around—not on—the rock because of its spiritual importance. If you do decide to climb it, allow two to three hours and take along a snack and plenty of water. The view from the top is spectacular, but hiking around the base is more educational and less strenuous. We suggest taking one or more of the shorter walks that pass water holes and rock paintings, allowing you to observe the rock's many faces at a leisurely pace. (Walking around the entire base of the rock takes about three hours.)

Allow at least an afternoon to visit the Olgas/Kata Tjuta. A frequent debate among visitors is whether the Olgas outshine the rock. It's a close call—the Olgas are taller, reaching 1,790 ft/545 m at the highest point. Made of conglomerate (pebbles and boulders cemented together by mud and sand), they are off-limits to climbers, but you can explore some of the valleys and chasms between the rocks.

Most visitors fly to Uluru or drive from Alice Springs. About the only place to stay in the area is the Ayers Rock Resort, or Yulara, whose five hotels and a campground can accommodate visitors in all price ranges. Longitude 131 is a magnificent safari camp with 15 luxury tents. Dozens of tours leave from Ayers Rock Resort, including sunrise camel rides around the rock, sunset champagne dinners in the desert, Aboriginal culture tours and stargazing. You can also rent a car there and explore on your own.

Because of the excessive heat in summer, the best time to visit is April-November (winter in Australia). Always take along plenty of drinking water. If you are flying to the Outback, we suggest going overland one way from Alice Springs (four to five hours) but flying the other way—the desert drive is scenic, but it can be tedious the second time around. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru.

Cairns

Sydney

Sydney

Soak up Sydney’s gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty. Kayak under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave at the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee. Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington. As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festivals and 24-7 fun.

Five Sydney Experiences Not to Miss:

1. Explore the historic Rocks

Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history in the harbourside quarter where it all began. Just five minutes from Circular Quay, you can hear stories of hangings and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge. In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you’ll find historic workman’s cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney’s oldest pubs. See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.

2. Hit the world-famous harbour

Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak. Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands. Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney’s first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise. Watch the harbour glitter from the green parklands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge. Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watsons Bay at South Head. Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay, on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.

3. Visit Manly on the ferry

Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour. Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower. Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail or kayak from Manly Wharf round the harbour. Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach. Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.

4. Enjoy café culture and top shopping in Paddington

Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra. Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets. Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford St or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores. Crawl between the lively, historic pubs. They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or a race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled trackside finery.

5. Walk from Bondi to Coogee

Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee. Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant above. See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand. From mid-October to November, the stretch from here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte. Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon’s Bay. See the graves of poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs. Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

05/01/2026 - 06/30/2026

from $16,555 per person

07/01/2026 - 09/30/2026

from $17,010 per person

10/01/2026 - 10/31/2026

from $16,935 per person

11/01/2026 - 03/31/2027

from $17,870 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $16,555 per person

Length

18 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.

Remarks

Prices are land only, per person, twin/double share in USD. Single supplement applies. All highlighted savings are reflected in the price. Travel may be limited to certain days of the week. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. Cancellation penalties and other booking or alteration restrictions may exist. Please note blackout dates may apply to Christmas, New Year and local special event periods. Pricing may increase over Holiday and special event periods and may not be reflected in price grid. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Prices are not guaranteed until full payment is received and processed. Rates may vary by category and departure date; please inquire for details. Itinerary and map subject to change.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1340655

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Donchka Travel

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