Collette > Journey to the South Pacific

Journey to the South Pacific
22 Days starting from $2,649

Countries Visited:
Australia, New Zealand

 

Length: 22 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: Australia and New Zealand Tour
Operator: Collette
Tour Code: 3384
   
 
About This Tour


Welcome to the South Pacific and a journey that will introduce you to the many diverse regions of both Australia and New Zealand! You'll witness firsthand unique cultures like that of Australia's Aboriginals and New Zealand's native Maori civilization. Your adventure begins in Cairns, an ideal setting-off point for the Great Barrier Reef. The majestic coral structures that make up the reef are home to the most diverse animal and plant ecosystem on earth.

 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing Highlights
  • Additional Details

Enjoy the services of a professional tour manager who accompanies you throughout your trip.

Meals
13 Breakfast(s), 2 Lunch(es), 10 Dinner(s)

Hotel Accommodations:
Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges

CAIRNESThe Oasis Resort
SYDNEYThe Menzies
CANBERRAAll Seasons Olims Hotel
QUEENSTOWNMercure Resort
MT COOKHermitage Hotel
MELBOURNEGrand Mercure Swanston
CHRISTCHURCHRydges or Chateau on the Park
WELLINGTONDuxton
NAPIERScenic Circle Te Pania
ROTORUARydges

Complimentary hotel-to-hotel baggage handling.
Sightseeing
Private transportation via a deluxe, climate-controlled motorcoach
Day 1 and Day 2
Depart from Home
Today you board your Qantas flight and begin the adventure of a lifetime New Zealand, known for their friendly and welcoming nature. Crossing the International Dateline, you lose a full day.

Day 3
Queenstown
Arrive in New Zealand and begin your tour in the picturesque resort village of Queenstown. Tonight, enjoy a special welcome dinner with your fellow travelers.

Day 4
Queenstown
Enjoy a ‘Safari of the Rings’ tour that takes you deep into the majestic landscape of the Lord of the Rings movies. Tonight become acquainted with your surroundings during a spectacular dinner at the Skyline Restaurant, which overlooks the appropriately named ‘Remarkable Mountains.’

Day 5
Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown
Today you will travel through beech forest into the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley via the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Enjoy a cruise on the spectacular fjord of Milford Sound, experiencing breathtaking vistas at every turn. Following your cruise you will return to Queenstown. You may opt to return via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of the Southern Alps.

Day 6
Queenstown
Your day is at leisure. Shop in the charming village, relax and visit with new friends. You may choose from several options to enhance your vacation.

Day 7
Queenstown - Mt. Cook
Traverse the spectacular countryside to New Zealand’s most famous national park, Mt. Cook. En route, enjoy a stop at a local fruit stand to gain an inside look at the produce of New Zealand. Mt. Cook is one of the most impressive mountains in the world. You may choose to view the massive glaciers and extensive snow-covered mountain top terrain on an optional glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting), or perhaps enjoy the park during a nature walk.

Day 8
Mt. Cook - Christchurch
Today you will journey through the rolling Canterbury hillside en route to Christchurch. Located on the Avon River, this charming city is considered “the most English city outside of England.”

Day 9
Christchurch
A sightseeing tour highlights magnificent gardens, the Neo-Gothic Cathedral and the downtown park district. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. This evening you are invited to dine and make friends with a New Zealand family in their home. This is sure to be an unforgettable evening during which you will learn about the customs of the “Kiwi’s” and enjoy a home cooked meal.

Day 10
Christchurch - Picton - Wellington
Travel up the winding eastern coast to Picton where you will board the famous Interislander Ferry for one of the most scenic trips the world has to offer. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you cruise through the Marlborough Sounds and cross the Cook Strait, arriving this evening in the capital city of Wellington. Nestled between a sparkling harbour and the rolling hills of the North Island, Wellington was first settled by Polynesians in the 10th century.

Day 11
Wellington
Today you will enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of Wellington viewing the Beehive, New Zealand’s Parliament, historic St. Paul’s Church, and the government building, the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Following the tour, you will visit the national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongawera Museum.

Day 12
Wellington - Napier
Journey into the region of Hawke''s Bay today, arriving in the city of Napier. Rebuilt in the 1930s after a devastating earthquake, Napier boasts some of the greatest art deco architecture in the world. Enjoy an art deco tour of this great city upon arrival. This evening, a fantastic winery visit and dinner will help you to discover the flavors of the region.

Day 13
Napier - Rotorua
Rotorua, known as the geothermal wonderland and cultural capital of New Zealand, is your destination today. The evening is yours to explore this great city.

Day 14
Rotorua
This morning visit Te Puia, New Zealand''s premier Maori cultural and geothermal experience. You''ll be truly amazed by the landscape of erupting geysers, bubbling mud pools and other geothermal wonders! Here, the Maori keep their customs alive by teaching the tribal youth the skills of traditional carving, weaving and dancing. Take part in an interactive demonstration on the art of weaving and the importance of the Maori dress. You will also view the Kiwi bird and learn what New Zealanders are doing to try to remove the Kiwi from the endangered species list. Next, a visit to the Agrodome will give you insight into how wool, one of New Zealand’s premier products, is produced. You will see a sheep shearing demonstration here. This afternoon, visit a jade factory to see how the raw product is transformed into a fabulous gemstone. This evening you will receive a traditional Maori welcome at a Hangi meal followed by a traditional performance of songs, dances and other cultural festivities.

Day 15
Rotorua - Auckland - Tour Ends
Drive to Auckland where your tour ends.


To speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.

Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

         
Touring Date
Land Only
Land + Air
Single
(Land Only)
Single
(Land + Air)
9/10/2008 - 9/30/2008
$3,299
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/17/2008 - 10/7/2008
$3,299
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/24/2008 - 10/14/2008
$3,299
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/8/2008 - 10/28/2008
$3,449
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/22/2008 - 11/11/2008
$3,449
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
11/5/2008 - 11/25/2008
$3,449
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
1/7/2009 - 1/27/2009
$3,449
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
1/21/2009 - 2/10/2009
$3,449
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
2/18/2009 - 3/10/2009
$3,449
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
3/11/2009 - 3/31/2009
$3,449
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
4/15/2009 - 5/5/2009
$3,299
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
5/23/2009 - 6/12/2009
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
6/6/2009 - 6/26/2009
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
8/22/2009 - 9/11/2009
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/12/2009 - 10/2/2009
$3,599
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/26/2009 - 10/16/2009
$3,599
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/3/2009 - 10/23/2009
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/10/2009 - 10/30/2009
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/24/2009 - 11/6/2009
$2,649
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
10/31/2009 - 11/20/2009
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
11/28/2009 - 12/18/2009
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
12/5/2009 - 12/25/2009
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
1/9/2010 - 1/29/2010
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
2/13/2010 - 3/5/2010
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
2/27/2010 - 3/19/2010
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
3/13/2010 - 4/2/2010
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
4/17/2010 - 5/7/2010
$3,599
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
4/24/2010 - 5/14/2010
$3,599
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
         
Package Notes:
Due to changes in air schedules while on tour, the order of days in the itinerary may change.
The internal flights on this program are not included in the land price of your vacation. These flights need to be arranged and purchased separately if you arrange your own air. Internal flights are included with the air portion of your vacation if you purchase air through the tour operator.
Previous clients have indicated that a small gift from your area is appropriate and appreciated the night of your home hosted dinner in New Zealand.
Due to early arrival times in some cities, rooms may not always be ready for immediate check-in.
*Upgrading your visit with the Outer Reef option is at an additional cost.
Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed with the exception of visits to wildlife parks.
Tour Australia's national capital, Canberra - from national monuments to national parks, it's a city of many surprises.

Learn about the life of Australia's Little Penguins when you visit the Interpretation Center on Phillip Island.

From the Maori culture to the thermal hot springs, experience the fascinating city of Rotorua.

Board a high speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. From your base on Green Island, you are able to explore the reef. Enjoy a glass bottom boat ride*, a stroll on the walking trail to take in the rain forest, relax on the beaches, or just watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier.

Experience the unique lifestyle of the Aboriginal people with a visit to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center. See an Aboriginal dance show, learn about the Aboriginal life style, and learn to throw a boomerang or play a didgeridoo, a traditional instrument.

Sydney: You will see Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and the fashionable suburb of Paddington. Discover one of the world’s most fascinating architectural works as you take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House

Koala Park: Not only will you see koalas in their natural habitat, but you might also have the unique opportunity to pose with one of these cuddly creatures. You will also have the chance to feed the kangaroos and pet a wombat.

evening dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour will give you a different perspective of this beautiful city. Enjoy spectacular views of Sydney’s greatest icons - the Harbour Bridge and world-famous Opera House. Following the cruise, return to the Opera House to enjoy a captivating performance

visit Te Puia, New Zealand's premier Maori cultural and geothermal experience. You will be surrounded by natural bubbling, steaming silica terraces as you explore the landscape

Enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of Wellington viewing the Beehive, New Zealand's Parliament, historic St. Paul's Church, and the government building, the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Following the tour, you visit the national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongawera Museum

travel to Phillip Island, a renowned nature reserve and home of the world's largest colony of Little Penguins. The Little Penguin is protected on Phillip Island and a staff of rangers works diligently to study and protect them. Behold the incredible Little Penguin Parade as hundreds of these lovable birds waddle out from the sea and cross the beach to their burrows in the dunes.

Enjoy a fascinating cruise on the spectacular fjord of Milford Sound, experiencing breathtaking vistas at every turn.

traditional Maori welcome at a Hangi meal followed by a traditional performance of songs, dances and other festivities.

Experience the hospitality of the Kiwi's as you are invited to dine in the home of a New Zealand family.

Fantastic winery visit and dinner will help you discover the flavors of the region in Napier.
Package Notes:
Due to changes in air schedules while on tour, the order of days in the itinerary may change.
The internal flights on this program are not included in the land price of your vacation. These flights need to be arranged and purchased separately if you arrange your own air. Internal flights are included with the air portion of your vacation if you purchase air through the tour operator.
Previous clients have indicated that a small gift from your area is appropriate and appreciated the night of your home hosted dinner in New Zealand.
Due to early arrival times in some cities, rooms may not always be ready for immediate check-in.
*Upgrading your visit with the Outer Reef option is at an additional cost.
Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed with the exception of visits to wildlife parks.
   
Send This Tour to a Friend:
   
Your Name: Required.
Your E-Mail Address: Required.Invalid format.
   
Your Friend's Name: Required.
Your Friend's E-Mail Address: Required.Invalid format.
   
Comments:  
Required.