Australia & New Zealand Explorer
16 days | Sydney to Auckland
On this Australia & New Zealand Explorer from Monograms, you’ll explore natural wonders like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand’s dramatic fjords, Fiordland National Park, and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, not to mention the food, wine, and culture of Sydney, Melbourne, Queenstown and Auckland.
During your vacation, you will have ample opportunities for optional activities, including a Māori cultural performance and Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones).
Monograms is all about connecting you to your destination with unmatched insider guidance and support to make travel a pleasure. With a team of local experts in each destination, your Monograms vacation includes local assistance and tips that only a local would know.
With Monograms, you’ll get the VIP treatment from a team of local insiders who help put your signature on your vacation.
Trip Highlights
Visit stunning Bondi Beach, considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in Australia.
Catamaran cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Cruise of Milford Sound with its breathtaking waterfalls and possible sightings of dolphins and penguins.
Take a boat trip through the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
Sample Itinerary
The Sample Itinerary shown below includes examples of typical activities and excursions available for this vacation. Your Local Hosts will be available to provide you with recommendations to help you make the most out of your free time.
DAY 1: Arrive in Sydney, Australia
Arrive in Sydney and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
DAY 2: Sydney
Enjoy a morning guided sightseeing tour that includes an Opera House and Harbour Bridge photo stop. Visit stunning Bondi Beach, considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in Sydney. The afternoon is at your leisure.
DAY 3: Sydney
Day is at your leisure. Choose from a selection of optional excursions, including a cruise on Sydney Harbour and a climb to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge.
DAY 4: Sydney – Port Douglas
Fly to Cairns, the “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.” Continue to Port Douglas, a beachside town surrounded by rainforest and the Coral Sea. Enjoy a 3-night stay in this tropical paradise.
DAY 5: Port Douglas
Board a catamaran and cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Activities include snorkeling or taking a semi-submersible watercraft tour.
DAY 6: Port Douglas
Day is at your leisure. Options include a drive into the Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest living rainforest, and to beautiful Cape Tribulation.
DAY 7: Port Douglas – Melbourne
Transfer to Cairns for your flight to Melbourne, the cosmopolitan heart of Australia. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
DAY 8: Melbourne
Join a guided sightseeing tour that includes Federation Square, Albert Park Lake, the Shrine of Remembrance, and St. Kilda Beach. Your tour ends at the Eureka Skydeck for awe-inspiring views of Melbourne.
DAY 9: Melbourne
Day is at your leisure. Options include an excursion to Phillip Island to watch the world-famous Penguin Parade or a drive on the spectacular Great Ocean Road.
DAY 10: Melbourne – Queenstown
Fly to Queenstown. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
DAY 11: Queenstown
Enjoy a full-day excursion to Milford Sound. First, travel by motorcoach along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park before cruising Milford Sound.
DAY 12: Queenstown
Day is at your leisure. Options include a jet boat ride, a visit to a local winery, or a tour of some of the sites used to film The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
DAY 13: Queenstown – Rotorua
Fly to Rotorua on New Zealand’s north island. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
DAY 14: Rotorua
Enjoy a guided sightseeing with visits to Te Puia, Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and Agrodome, where you’ll learn about New Zealand’s sheep industry. Optional evening activity: Māori (indigenous Polynesian people) cultural performance and Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones).
DAY 15: Rotorua – Waitomo – Auckland
Travel to Waitomo, where you will take a boat trip through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Continue on to Auckland where the evening is at your leisure.
DAY 16: Auckland
Your Monograms stay in New Zealand ends with breakfast this morning.
Accommodations
Ibis World Square | Sydney, Australia
Located in the city center, Ibis World Square offers well-appointed accommodation just a short stroll away from iconic Sydney attractions.
Ramada Resort | Port Douglas, Australia
Located within the Melaleuca rainforest just a short walk from world-renowned Four Mile Beach, featuring picturesque rainforest gardens, a tropical lagoon-style pool with waterfall and swim-up bar.
Causeway 353 Hotel | Melbourne, Australia
Ideally located on Little Collins Street, featuring modern and comfortable guestrooms, a fitness room, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront | Queenstown, New Zealand
The resort blends superior facilities and comfort with friendly, personal service and offers panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and surrounding mountain peaks.
Distinction Hotel | Rotorua, New Zealand
Situated adjacent to the Whakarewarewa Forest and minutes away from the city center, featuring an outdoor pool and underground private grotto spas.
Adina Auckland Britomart | Auckland, New Zealand
Only minutes from the city’s best offerings, the hotel features a fitness center, on-site restaurant, and apartment-style guestrooms.
Dates and Pricing
2022 and 2023 Departures Available | From $3,669 per person
Price is per person based on double occupancy. Air-inclusive pricing is available that includes free airport transfers and flights coordinated with vacation dates, including intra-vacation air. Contact us for complete details.
Inclusions
- Hotel Accommodations
- Local Hosts in Sydney, Port Douglas, Melbourne & Queenstown
- Door-to-Gate Transfer Service between Cities
- Included VIP Sightseeing Access
- Breakfast Daily, 2 Lunches
About Monograms
Monograms has created all-in-one packages a cut above going on your own, while leaving the group behind. Each package comes with hand-selected hotels, plus service of a Monograms Local Host® – a local expert available throughout your stay. Monograms arranges exclusive sightseeing, complete with VIP access into some of the most incredible attractions (that means you skip the lines). Monograms arranges transportation and offers a selection of special excursions.
With Monograms, you travel in style independently without going it alone.
Contact us to find out more about tours and travel with Monograms.
