The Best of Australia and New Zealand
The Best of Australia and New Zealand
The Best of Australia and New Zealand
40 Days
Visiting: Melbourne, Phillip Island , Great Ocean Road , Coonawarra , Adelaide, Alice Springs, Uluru, Kata Tjuta , Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda , Cairns, Sydney, Christchurch, Dunedin, Te Anau, Milford Sound -, Queenstown, Mount Cook, Wellington, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves -, Auckland, Bay of Islands, United Kingdom
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TTBAN
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, Gardens & Nature Tours, Island Hopping, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Get ready for the ultimate Antipodean adventure. From Melbourne to Milford Sound, Sydney to the Southern Alps, our exceptional-value Australia and New Zealand escorted tours cover all the highlights of these two great countries - and more. You’ll gaze up at Sydney Opera House and the mighty monolith of Uluru; cruise to the Great Barrier Reef and the Bay of Islands; sip shiraz in South Australia and pinot noir in Central Otago. The Great Ocean Road, Adelaide, Mount Cook, Wellington - you’ll see them all. Spanning 40 days, it’s an epic trip that gives you the chance to stop and fully appreciate each incredible place. It’s a long way to come, so why not make the most of it?
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Days 1-2
Location: Melbourne
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Melbourne.
Day 3
Location: Melbourne
We touch down in Melbourne early this morning and transfer to our hotel for some time to relax.
Day 4
Location: Melbourne
A morning tour shows us a little more of the city, including the Royal Botanic Gardens with more than 8,500 species of plant. In the afternoon, we’ll journey to the Dandenong Mountains, where trickling waterways meander down forest-cloaked slopes. The best way to take in the scenery is by train, so we’ll climb aboard ‘Puffing Billy’, Australia’s oldest narrow gauge steam train, to chug slowly through the landscape.
Day 4 : Days 5-6
Location: Phillip Island
Spend some time exploring more of Melbourne independently. You might like to head to Federation Square, the beating heart of the city for galleries, museums, art installations, cafes and restaurants. Our afternoon excursion on day 5 takes us south-east of the city, to Phillip Island. The highlight here comes at Summerland Beach, where each evening a ‘parade’ of waddling fairy penguins make their way from the sea up to their sand dune burrows (occasionally scurrying back if they get spooked by seabirds on the way).
Day 7
Location: Great Ocean Road
One of the world’s most scenic drives, the Great Ocean Road hugs the southwest coast of Victoria. Rainforests, gorges, gullies, arches and blowholes - we’ll pass them all as we follow the cliff curves from Torquay to Warrnambool. We’ll skirt Cape Otway National Park and pass into Port Campbell National Park, where we pause to admire the famous limestone stacks known as the Twelve Apostles.
Day 8
Location: Coonawarra
Australia’s ‘other red centre’, Coonawarra is where some of the world’s best cabernet sauvignon and shiraz is produced, perfected since the late 19th century. We’ll call in at a local winery for a taster of these award-winning vintages - and enjoy the sprawling vineyard views while we sip. Our journey then takes us through the South Australian countryside, following the Murray River as we make our way to Adelaide.
Day 7 : Days 9-10
Location: Adelaide
We’ll meet koalas and kangaroos at Cleland Wildlife Park, then it’s time for a tour of Adelaide, a trendy city with a fantastic music scene and a big focus on food and wine. A visit to the largest glasshouse in the southern hemisphere is a highlight - like stepping into a tropical rainforest.
A free day gives you a chance to explore. Have a wander through the gardens at Victoria Square or perhaps head for the colourful Central Market. A quick train ride will take you out to the lovely sandy beaches at Glenelg.
Day 11
Location: Alice Springs
We’ll fly to Alice Springs today. ‘The Alice’, as it’s affectionately known, was founded as a staging point for the overland telegraph line in the 1870s. We’ll take a tour of the Telegraph Station and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Then, you’re free to explore - maybe check out the museums or one of the galleries of Indigenous art.
Day 12
Location: Uluru
Seeing the huge sandstone monolith of Uluru in person is a true highlight. It’s a site of deep cultural significance to the Aboriginal people and has inspired rock paintings and carvings for millennia. To make our visit extra-special, we’ll time it for sunset, watching with a glass of wine as the rock shifts from orange to crimson in the day’s last light.
Day 13
Location: Kata Tjuta
It’s an early start this morning, but well worth the wake-up call to see Uluru at sunrise. As the twinkling stars disappear above us, the towering silhouette of Uluru appears as the sun rises from behind it. Once the sun’s risen, we’ll head west to explore the Olgas, a collection of more rounded rocks known as Kata Tjuta (‘Many Heads’).
The afternoon is free before we visit the mesmerising Field of Light this evening. Created by acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro, the installation’s Aboriginal name translates as ‘looking at lots of beautiful lights’ - and that’s exactly what we’ll be doing. More than 50,000 frosted glass spheres glow in a desert spectrum of ochre, violet, blue and white, creating the effect of a giant fantasy garden.
Day 14
Location: Cairns
We fly to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Tropical North.
Day 15
Location: Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s biggest reef system, sprawling along 200 kilometres of Australia’s coastline. A catamaran will take us to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, where you can admire the corals from an underwater observatory or semi-submersible boat. You’ll even have the chance to jump in for a spot of snorkelling.
Day 16
Location: Cairns
Take a day to unwind in the warmth of tropical Queensland. Perhaps wander along the promenade and stop for a spot of lunch al fresco, or pay a visit to some of Cairns’ great museums and galleries. There’s a brilliant aquarium, too.
Day 17
Location: Kuranda
On today’s scenic railway ride, we’ll trundle through the rainforest and up the mountainside of Kuranda. The track twists and turns across chasms and next to frothing waterfalls (the dramatic Barron Falls is a highlight), passing through 15 tunnels along the way. Kuranda Railway Station is particularly lovely, with original wooden structures and bridge decked out with tropical flowers and ferns. We’ll spend some time at leisure in Kuranda, before journeying down to Tjapukai Park to visit the Aboriginal Dance Theatre and their award-winning show.
Day 18
Location: Cairns
We transfer to the airport for our flight to Sydney, one of the world’s most recognisable cities. Gazing out at the Opera House or up to the Sydney Harbour Bridge (known as ‘the coat hanger’) are real ‘pinch me’ moments - and we’ll have plenty more to come over the next few days here. We’ll be staying near Darling Harbour, a restored area of dockland with a palm-fringed promenade, a Chinese garden and the magnificent Sydney Aquarium nearby.
Day 16 : Days 19-21
Location: Sydney
Our morning city tour covers off all the highlights, including the harbour and its architectural icons, and the lush Royal Botanical Gardens. A different perspective awaits in the afternoon, as we see Sydney from the water on a harbour cruise.
Two full days at leisure follow. Perhaps explore the historic Rocks district, where British convicts first settled on arrival in the city, or take the ferry over to the beach suburb of Manly. Bondi Beach is easily reached by taxi or public transport - if sunbathing isn’t on your agenda, the beach is the starting point for a fantastic coastal walk that leads through a series of swish cliffside neighbourhoods.
Day 22
Location: Christchurch
It’s goodbye to Oz and kia ora to New Zealand as we touch down in the cathedral city of Christchurch, on South Island.
Day 18 : Days 23-24
Location: Dunedin
We travel south to Dunedin, which hugs a pretty harbour. There’s a strong Scottish influence here - it’s home to New Zealand’s only kilt shop, and the country’s whisky is produced here. To set the scene, we’ll enjoy a grand, Scottish-style dinner.
The following day, you’re free to explore Dunedin’s delights. Stroll through the flower-filled botanical gardens and along streets lined with handsome Edwardian and Victorian buildings - or perhaps discover the city’s contemporary side by following the Warehouse Precinct’s Street Art Trail.
Day 25
Location: Te Anau
We journey across the plains of New Zealand’s Southland to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park. The scenery in this part of South Island is incredible - thick forest, vast lakes and sounds, and ribbons of water cascading over the edge of towering peaks.
Day 26
Location: Milford Sound -
It’ll be a photo-worthy drive this morning as we make our way through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys. A cruise on Milford Sound takes us along the fiord, past the spectacular Mitre Peak, out to the open sea and back again. Look out for seals and dolphins swimming and splashing in the water. Our drive to Queenstown takes us along the edge of Lake Wakatipu, the only land-locked lake in the world with its own tide - its name translates as ‘the lake that breathes’.
Day 27
Location: Queenstown
Queenstown, watched over by the jagged peaks of the Remarkables, is a favourite with those who love the great outdoors. After a day at leisure, we board the beautiful vintage TSS Earnslaw for an evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu. Our destination will be the high-country sheep station of Walter Peak, where we’ll dine in the elegant Colonel’s Homestead.
Day 28
Location: Mount Cook
En route to majestic Mount Cook, we’ll stop off at a Central Otago vineyard to sample their finest pinot noir in the ‘wine cave’. We’ll then journey into the heart of the Southern Alps to the ‘Cloud Piercer’, which towers 3,754 metres above sea level and is edged with one of the world’s longest glaciers, Tasman Glacier.
Day 29
Location: Christchurch
A scenic drive to Christchurch takes us along the shores of two alpine lakes, Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo. In the right weather conditions, they appear an intense milky-turquoise colour - a result of the fine particles of glacial rock-flour suspended in the water.
Day 30
Location: Wellington
Heading north, we’ll pause at the coastal town of Kaikoura, famous for its seafood and sea life, before continuing on to Picton. Here, we’ll board our inter-island ferry to cross the Cook Strait, passing through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Wellington Harbour offers our first view of New Zealand’s capital city, our home for the next two nights.
Day 31
Location: Wellington
We take a morning tour of the ‘Windy City’ of Wellington. The afternoon is free to explore - New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa, is well worth a visit. For a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings, take the historic cherry-red Wellington Cable Car up to Kelburn. Wellington has laid claim to the invention of the flat white (though some Aussies would disagree) - either way, a barista-brewed cup is the perfect pick-me-up in between sights.
Day 32
Location: Rotorua
We head north, stopping at Huka Falls where the Waikato River squeezes through a narrow gorge and tumbles down into an aquamarine pool. We continue to Rotorua, known for its awe-inspiring geothermal activity, where we’ll enjoy a Maori cultural experience, an authentic Maori concert and a traditional ‘hangi’ feast.
Day 33
Location: Rotorua
A farm show this morning gives an insight into New Zealand’s agricultural heritage, demonstrating mustering, shearing and milking. Then we’ll head to the National Kiwi Hatchery and find out more about New Zealand's national icon. This afternoon, we’ll take a tour of Whakarewarewa Thermal Village, where the Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao tribe have opened their doors to share their way of life for over 200 years. The village is set on a geothermal hotbed, with steaming hot pools and bubbling mud.
Day 34
Location: Waitomo Caves -
The darkness of the Waitomo Caves is pierced by the tiny blue-green lights of glow-worms - thousands of them cover the ceilings here. A boat ride along an underground river shows them in all their luminescent glory. We travel on via the dairy centre of Hamilton to Auckland.
Day 35
Location: Auckland
Today we introduce you to the ‘City of Sails’, the largest city in New Zealand. Our guided tour highlights include Old Customhouse, the shoppers’ delight of Lower Queen Street, and Parliament Street. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore or relax.
Day 30 : Days 36-37
Location: Bay of Islands
We’ll make our way to Northland, the birthplace of the nation. Our drive along the west coast of North Island passes sleepy harbourside hamlets and native forests. The Waipoua Forest is home to huge kauri trees, the largest of which - ‘Tane Mahuta’ (Lord of the Forest) - stands 30 metres tall. We’ll learn more about these ancient trees at the Kauri Museum.
On a cruise to Cape Brett lighthouse, we’ll keep an eye out for the seals, dolphins and whales that play in these subtropical waters. Our boat trip also takes us into the grand Cathedral Cave and through the ‘Hole in the Rock’. We’ll also visit Waitangi Treaty House, where the historic signing between Maori and British formed the nation of New Zealand in 1840. Our visit includes a guided tour of Waitangi.
Day 38
Location: Auckland
After a morning at leisure, we head south along the Hibiscus Coast to Auckland.
Day 39
Location: Auckland
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
Day 40
Location: United Kingdom
Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.
What's Included
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36 nights in hotels and 3 in flight
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International and internal flights as detailed. Prices are based on return flights with Qantas from London Heathrow via Singapore/Sydney.
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44 meals: 36 breakfasts 2 lunches 6 dinnersundefined excursions and visits
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Titan tour manager
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City tours of Melbourne, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Sydney, Wellington & Auckland
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Visits to Dandenong Mountains (with steam train ride); Phillip Island; Coonawarra region winery; Cleland Wildlife Park; Kata Tjuta; Aboriginal Park; Fiordland National Park; Gibbston Valley Winery; Mount Cook; Huka Falls; the National Kiwi Hatchery; Agrod
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Uluru sunrise and sunset viewing
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Great Ocean Road
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Entry to the Field of Light installation
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Outer Great Barrier Reef experience
Check out our Q&As
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Do I have to pay a Single Supplement?
In most cases a single supplement will apply. If the price for a Single room for sole occupancy is not shown, please ask our team for details and we will be able to check the details for you.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We've been taking our customers across the world on escorted tours for more than 40 years
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Our commitment to sustainable travel is part of our ethos. We love exploring the world and hope that, alongside our customers, we can be part of a bigger change in respecting the people and wildlife on our planet and minimising the impact we have on our environment.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
With some COVID-19 rules and restrictions still in place there are a few details that you need to know. This information is subject to change. It’s your responsibility to monitor changes and ensure you fulfil all relevant criteria for travel. Rest assured that we’re on hand to help and answer any questions you might have.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
You’ll receive your Final holiday documents via email approximately 14 days prior to your departure.
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Thursday - Monday
Oct 03, 2024 - Nov 11, 2024Thursday - Monday
Oct 24, 2024 - Dec 02, 2024Thursday - Monday
Jan 09, 2025 - Feb 17, 2025Thursday - Monday
Feb 13, 2025 - Mar 24, 2025Thursday - Monday
Feb 12, 2026 - Mar 23, 2026Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Titan Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 75 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Titan Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform titan travel, 75 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Titan Travel requires a minimum deposit of 395 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of titan travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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