Australia and New Zealand Highlights

  • Explore street art, cafe culture, and wine tasting in trendy Melbourne
  • Enjoy Sydney highlights, including a gourmet harbor cruise
  • Discover New Zealand’s iconic scenery in Queenstown and Milford Sound
From $7,499
per person
14 days
Airfare additional cost
Based on
2 travelers

This luxury Australia and New Zealand Highlights vacation package was planned for empty nesters from Arizona who wanted to experience the best cities and scenery of Australia and New Zealand.

They began their Australia and New Zealand Highlights tour in chic Melbourne. There, they enjoyed a walking tour of the city and a day of wine tasting in the renowned Yarra Valley. They also added a hot air balloon ride with a champagne breakfast. Melbourne is the only city in the world that you can hot air balloon over, so this was a special treat.

Next, they traveled sassy Sydney. There, they did a historical rocks walking tour and took a tour of the famed Sydney Opera House before enjoying a performance there. They enjoyed a day at the famous Bondi Beach, watching the surfers, and ended with an exclusive lunch cruise of the Sydney Harbour where they learned the history of the city and were treated to a unique view of the skyline.

Continuing their Australia and New Zealand Highlights tour, the couple flew to Queenstown, a quaint town on the South Island of New Zealand. While in Queenstown, they journeyed to Milford Sound in the famed Fiordland National Park. This is one of New Zealand’s most pristine landscapes, and our clients enjoyed plenty of scenic photo opportunities along the way. Then, they spent a day exploring the town, enjoying the view of Lake Wakatipu, and ended with a fabulous dinner above the town after riding the Skyline Gondola.

To end their Australia and New Zealand highlights trip, they flew to Auckland. While there, they enjoyed a city and hinterlands tour where they learned about the inactive volcanos that circle the city and explored some of the picturesque scenery surrounding Auckland. At last, their fabulous vacation came to an end, and they traveled to the airport to begin their trip home.

Day 1
Touch down today in Melbourne and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel. The day is at your leisure to explore the fabulous shops, cafes, restaurants, and spectacular art of Melbourne.
Crown Towers Melbourne

Day 2
Today, you will enjoy a tour of Melbourne’s signature lanes and arcades and see hidden gems of the city. See some of Melbourne’s quirkiest cafes, independent designers, street art, and architecture with Hidden Secrets Tours, enjoying historical tales of Melbourne along the way.
 After your tour, relax at your hotel or join in Melbourne’s spectacular nightlife.
Crown Towers Melbourne

Day 3
Enjoy the delights of one of Australia’s most famous wine regions, the Yarra Valley, with Epicurean Tours. Chardonnay, pinot noir, and sparkling wines dominate, but the offerings include excellent examples of shiraz, riesling, pinot gris, and sauvignon blanc.
Crown Towers Melbourne

Day 4
Today, you’re on to spectacular Sydney—a world-class city that offers style and sophistication. Fringed by numerous bays and beaches and presided over by the glistening Opera House, Sydney unveils a great photo opportunity at every turn. Enjoy spectacular views of the harbor and Opera House from your hotel room.
Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

Day 5
Today is a great introduction to the city as you join in a small-group Panoramic Sydney tour. Join our mates at AEA Luxury Tours to see the The Rocks Historic District (Old Town of Sydney) and hear about the early convict history. Then, enjoy magnificent views of the Opera House, see Sydney Harbour Bridge, and visit the shopping heart of the city, including the Queen Victoria Building and Centrepoint Tower. Leave the central business district to visit Sydney’s famous beaches: Tamarama, Bronte, and of course, Bondi. Return to Sydney via Sydney Heads lookout, Watsons Bay, Kings Cross, and Mrs. Macquaries Point for unsurpassed views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

Day 6
Today is yours at leisure in beautiful, cosmopolitan Sydney. Save your energy for the evening, however, because you’ll have a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, followed by a 3-course pre-show dinner at Aria Restaurant (beverages additional) and a performance of the opera, ballet, or theatre at the Sydney Opera House, where an intermission drink is included.
Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

Day 7
Today, you will have the opportunity for a true local’s experience, yachting on Sydney Harbour. Our mate Shawn of Sensational Sydney Cruises welcomes you and your friends aboard his private yacht, where you will take advantage of all the harbour has to offer. Get great views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House as you pass close enough to touch them. Enjoy an authentic Australian BBQ for lunch, complete with local beers and wines.
Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

Day 8
Today, you’re off to Queenstown, New Zealand. Arrive in the early afternoon and be escorted by private transfer directly to your hotel, situated within walking distance of downtown. A delight for scenery lovers and adrenaline junkies alike, Queenstown is the outdoor adventure capital of the country, if not the world. There’s an endless supply of activities that will allow you to fully experience the stunning natural landscape and to get your adrenaline flowing.
The Spire

Day 9
Be escorted by luxury glass-roofed coach to a day cruise in one of the most beautiful places on earth: Milford Sound in the Fiordland National Park. Travel the spectacular Milford Road through impressive alpine scenery with time for photo stops and short walks along the way. On reaching the sound, board a nature cruise of the fjord for a leisurely itinerary with Real Journeys that allows plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. This is one tour where getting caught in the rain is actually lucky—during downpours, hundreds of waterfalls take flight from the sea cliffs.
The Spire

Day 10
Today is entirely at your leisure. If you like, we can arrange additional activities, such as the famous adrenaline pursuits of bungee jumping, skydiving, canyoning, white water rafting, scenic helicopter flights (with mountain landings for a quick snowball fight), white water sledging, or jet boating. Alternatively, enjoy other, more leisurely pursuits such as horseback riding, kayaking, nature hikes (amazing in this region), and hundreds of other activities that make Queenstown unique.
The Spire

Day 11
Today, fly to Auckland, the “City of Sails.” Auckland often takes a backseat to the natural wonders at its doorstep, but it is a cosmopolitan and picturesque city with many opportunities to explore museums, nightlife, and native bush island destinations. Your hotel is right in the city center, within minutes of all the major sites.
Hotel deBrett

Day 12
Enjoy a small-group Auckland city and hinterlands tour with TIME Unlimited Tours to see the highlights of the city and beyond. You’ll see Mt. Eden (Auckland’s most famous volcano) with magnificent views across the city on a clear day, as well as the colonial Parnell neighborhood and Tamaki Drive, a beautiful route along Auckland’s shoreline. After a picnic lunch, head outside the city to Auckland’s west coast and the Waitakere Ranges to visit an artist enclave, spectacular ocean vistas, soaring cliffs, roaring surf, volcanic black sand beaches, and ancient native rainforest. Alternatively, we can arrange a day tour that focuses on Maori culture and history.
Hotel deBrett

Day 13
Today is at your leisure in Auckland. You may want to visit the Sky Tower, cruise on the harbor, take a helicopter flight to a remote location for a glorious lunch, walk to the summit of Rangitoto, go wine tasting and beachcombing on Waiheke Island, or go swimming with the dolphins.
Hotel deBrett

Day 14
Today, it’s time to head to the airport for your flight home.

  • 3 nights Crown Towers Melbourne
  • 4 nights Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
  • 3 nights The Spire, Queenstown
  • 3 nights Hotel deBrett, Auckland
  • Hidden Secrets Tours – Melbourne lanes and arcades tour
  • Epicurean Tours – Yarra Valley wine tour
  • AEA Luxury Tours – Panoramic Sydney tour
  • Sydney Opera House tour, performance, and dinner
  • Sensational Sydney Cruises – Sydney Harbour cruise
  • Real Journeys – Milford Sound nature cruise
  • TIME Unlimited Tours – Auckland city tour
  • Private airport transfers

For a great urban hike, take a cab or the bus to Coogee Beach and walk the coastal trail to Bondi Beach. The trail is mostly paved and hugs the coastline as it connects a series of beaches. It’s a wonderful way to take in the spectacular scenery without breaking a sweat. Reward yourself with lunch at Bondi Beach as you watch the surfers!
-Candice, Down Under Endeavours

Crown Towers Melbourne

Partner Information

  • Location: Melbourne
  • Type of Accommodation: Hotel
  • Comfort Level: First Class
  • Heated Swimming Pool
  • Gym
  • Tennis Court
  • Free Wifi
  • Gourmet Restaurants

Things To Do

  • Shopping in Melbourne
  • Restaurants and Cafes
  • Beach in St Kilda
  • Melbourne Sports
  • Hot Air Balloon Ride Over City
  • Phillip Island

Hidden Secrets Tours

Partner Information

  • Location: Melbourne
  • Lanes and Arcades Tour
  • Progressive Degustation Tour
  • Liquid Crafts Tour
  • Cafe Culture Tour
  • Private Tours of Melbourne
  • Local Guides Matched to Your Interests

Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

Partner Information

  • Location: Sydney
  • Type of Accommodation: Hotel
  • Comfort Level: First Class
  • Harbour Views
  • 4 Restaurants and Bars
  • CHI Spa and Health Club

Things To Do

  • Sydney Bike Tour
  • Tour, Dinner, and Performance at Sydney Opera House
  • Lunch Cruise on Sydney Harbour
  • Excursions to Hunter Valley or Blue Mountains
  • Visits to Bondi Beach, Manly Beach, and Many More

AEA Luxury Tours

Partner Information

  • Location: Sydney
  • Panoramic Sydney Tours
  • Wildlife and Nature Tours in the Blue Mountains
  • Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tours
  • Private Charters
  • Friendly, Expert Local Guides
  • Luxurious, Small-Group Vehicles

Sensational Sydney Cruises

Partner Information

  • Location: Sydney
  • Small-Group or Private Tours of Sydney Harbour
  • Tours Held on Private Yacht
  • Local Knowledge of Popular and Offbeat Attractions
  • Friendly Atmosphere

Real Journeys

Partner Information

  • Location: Queenstown and Fiordlands
  • Day and Overnight Fiordland Cruises
  • Scenic Flights
  • Rafting and Kayaking
  • Stewart Island Wilderness Tours
  • Te Anau Glowworm Cave Tours

Hotel de Brett

Partner Information

  • Location: Auckland
  • Type of Accommodation: Hotel
  • Comfort Level: First Class
  • Free WiFi
  • Fitness Center
  • 3 Restaurants and Bars
  • Complimentary Breakfast

Things To Do

  • Sky Tower Climb
  • Auckland Hinterlands Tour
  • Wine Tasting on Waiheke Island
  • Shopping
  • Galleries