Independent Australian & New Zealand Explorer
Independent Australian & New Zealand Explorer
Independent Australian & New Zealand Explorer
16 Days
Visiting: Arrive In Sydney, Australia, Sydney, Cairns, Cairns. Excursion To The Outer Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Queenstown, New Zealand, Queenstown. Excursion To Milford Sound, Rotorua, Waitomo, Auckland
Tour operator:
Tour code:
IPE3-2024
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Upon visiting Australia, Oprah Winfrey proclaimed to the locals in Sydney, “You’re so darned friendly, you must go to friendly class!” If Oprah says it, it must be true! And now Independence by Globus makes it easy for you to experience this friendliness yourself! On this 16-day Australia & New Zealand vacation, we’ve arranged your hotel reservations, daily breakfast, sightseeing, and private transfers to/from the airports from/to your hotels for your intra-vacation flights. Plus, a one-of-a-kind feature: the Globus Local Host®, someone who is there throughout your stay (in Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, and Queenstown) to ensure your vacation runs smoothly and to help you make the most of your vacation.Your vacation begins the moment you arrive. Globus can pick you up at the airport and whisk you seamlessly to your selected hotel. Your Local Host will greet you with a smile and information to help you get settled. The next day, after your included breakfast, we’ll pick you up at your hotel for a guided sightseeing tour with a local expert. You’ll hear inside stories behind the must-see sights, like the Opera House and Bondi Beach. And never fear...we’ve scouted the city for the best place to capture a photo of Sydney’s famous Harbour Bridge. In Melbourne, your guided sightseeing with an expert Local Guide includes the Royal Botanic Gardens and Queen Victoria Market. On the third day in each city, you have a free day to explore on your own (with your Local Host support, of course). You may want to follow in Oprah’s footsteps and climb to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge; explore the cobblestone streets of the Rocks, the harborside area where the first convicts settled; or participate in a game of lawn bowling. In Melbourne, visit one of Australia's leading opal companies or take an excursion to see the little penguins emerge from the sea and waddle across the beach in the world-famous Penguin Parade.It's not just the cities you'll experience on this Australia vacation. In Cairns, we’ll take you to the Outer Great Barrier, where you can snorkel, take a semi-submersible watercraft tour, or attend a presentation by a marine biologist. You'll be amazed by the clarity of the water and the variety of fish that will swim all around you. You may even see a green sea turtle glide by! You will also have a day at leisure so perhaps take an excursion via the Kuranda Scenic Railway to the quiet mountain village of Kuranda or explore one of the markets to try locally grown mangoes and bananas.After seeing the highlights of Australia, fly over the “ditch” to Queenstown, New Zealand, the “Adventure Capital of the World.” We’ll take you on what will undoubtedly be a highlight of your trip: a cruise on Milford Sound which boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. Continue to Rotorua where you’ll visit Agrodome to learn about New Zealand’s sheep industry and Te Puia to explore a geothermal wonderland. End your vacation in vibrant Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Sydney,Australia
Location: Arrive In Sydney, Australia
• Welcome to beautiful Sydney, Australia’s largest city. The remainder of the day is at your leisure for independent activities. Your Globus Local Host will make contact with you and meet to discuss your vacation, answer questions, and give suggestions to make the most of your stay.
ARRIVE IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA • Welcome to beautiful Sydney, Australia’s largest city. The remainder of the day is at your leisure for independent activities. Your Globus Local Host will make contact with you and meet to discuss your vacation, answer questions, and give suggestions to make the most of your stay.SYDNEY-OPERA-HOUSE-AND-BRIDGE.jpg
Day 2: Sydney
Location: Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast
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. (B)Today's I-Time TipsThe remainder of the day is yours to explore this vibrant city. Your Local Host will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, dining, and shopping. SYDNEY-BONDI-BEACH.jpg
Day 3: Sydney
Location: Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast
SYDNEY • Enjoy a full day at leisure in this beautiful city. Choose from our selection of optional excursions, including a cruise on Sydney Harbour and a climb to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge. (B)Today's I-Time TipsSpend the day in Hunter Valley, sampling some of Australia’s best wines; or join a guided backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House. Other options include exploring the restaurants of Spice Alley, exploring the Rocks District on the Rocks Pub Tour, or learning how to surf at nearby Bondi Beach. BLUE-MOUNTAINS-THREE-SISTERS.jpg
Day 4: Sydney,Cairns
Location: Sydney, Cairns
Meals Included: Breakfast
SYDNEY–CAIRNS • Fly to Cairns, “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.” Enjoy a 3-night stay in this tropical paradise. The remainder of the day is yours to start exploring. (B)CAIRNS-GREAT-BARRIER-REEF.jpg
Day 5: Cairns. Excursion To The Outer Great Barrier Reef
Location: Cairns. Excursion To The Outer Great Barrier Reef
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
CAIRNS. EXCURSION TO THE OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF• Prepare for the experience of a lifetime when you board a catamaran and cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Explore this underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of coral and sea life. Choose to snorkel, take a semi-submersible watercraft tour, or attend a presentation by a marine biologist. Late this afternoon, return to Cairns. (B,L)CAIRNS-GREAT-BARRIER-REEF-SNORKELING.jpg
Day 6: Cairns
Location: Cairns
Meals Included: Breakfast
CAIRNS • A full day at leisure. (B)Today's I-Time TipsTake a trip into the Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest living rainforest, and to beautiful Cape Tribulation. Other activities include relaxing by your resort’s pool, visiting Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure, a ride on the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, or shopping for a special souvenir at the Cairns Night Markets. CAIRNS-SKYRAIL.jpg
Day 7: Cairns,Melbourne
Location: Cairns, Melbourne
Meals Included: Breakfast
CAIRNS–MELBOURNE • Transfer to Cairns for your flight to Melbourne, the cosmopolitan heart of Australia. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)MELBOURNE-KILDA-BEACH.jpg
Day 8: Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Meals Included: Breakfast
MELBOURNE • Morning guided sightseeing tour includes Federation Square, St. Patrick’s Park, Queen Victoria Market (when open), Albert Park Lake, the Shrine of Remembrance, and St. Kilda Beach. Your tour ends at the Melbourne Skydeck for awe-inspiring views of Melbourne from the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform. (B)Today's I-Time TipsThe remainder of the day is at your leisure. You may wish to visit the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia’s largest, oldest, and most visited art museum. Other options include window shopping on Bourke Street, a tour of the Old Melbourne Goal, once home to Australia’s notorious outlaw, Ned Kelly, or just relax at one of Melbourne’s famous coffee cafes. MELBOURNE-PHILLIP-ISLAND-PENGUIN-PARADE-SIGN.jpg
Day 9: Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Meals Included: Breakfast
MELBOURNE • Enjoy a full day at leisure for independent activities. (B)Today's I-Time TipsJoin an optional excursion to Phillip Island to watch the world-famous Penguin Parade, travel on the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the magnificent 12 Apostles or explore the hidden lanes and arcades of the city. MELBOURNE-SKYLINE.jpg
Day 10: Melbourne,Queenstown,New Zealand
Location: Melbourne, Queenstown, New Zealand
Meals Included: Breakfast
MELBOURNE–QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND• Fly to Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.” The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Your Local Host is available for sightseeing, shopping, and dining suggestions.(B)QUEENSTOWN-CITYSCAPE.jpg
Day 11: Queenstown. Excursion To Milford Sound
Location: Queenstown. Excursion To Milford Sound
Meals Included: Breakfast
QUEENSTOWN. EXCURSION TO MILFORD SOUND• 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. View the Mirror Lakes as you pass through Eglinton Valley. From the Homer Tunnel, emerge into Cleddau Valley. Join your Milford Sound cruise for an unforgettable experience. Be on the lookout for wildlife such as dolphins and penguins and enjoy the breathtaking waterfalls and scenery. Return to Queenstown late this evening. (B)MILFORD-SOUND.jpg
Day 12: Queenstown
Location: Queenstown
Meals Included: Breakfast
QUEENSTOWN• Enjoy a full day at leisure in beautiful Queenstown. (B)Today's I-Time TipsChoose an optional thrilling jet boat ride on the Shotover River, visit a local winery, or tour some of the sites used to film The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Hike, bike, or get on the water. Your Local Host will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining. QUEENSTOWN-SHOTOVER-JET.jpg
Day 13: Queenstown,Rotorua
Location: Queenstown, Rotorua
Meals Included: Breakfast
QUEENSTOWN–ROTORUA• Fly to Rotorua on New Zealand’s north island. The rest of the day is at your leisure. (B)ROTORUA-MAORI-CARVING.jpg
Day 14: Rotorua
Location: Rotorua
Meals Included: Breakfast
ROTORUA • Guided sightseeing includes a visit to Agrodome, where you’ll learn about New Zealand’s sheep industry, the National Kiwi Hatchery, and to Te Puia, where you’ll explore this geothermal wonderland(B)Today's I-Time TipsChoose to join our optional Māori (indigenous Polynesian people) cultural performance and Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones). Other options include a relaxing soak in one of the therapeutic pools at the Polynesian Spa, a magical treetop walk through the Redwoods, or a helicopter tour to see this scenic region by air. ROTORUA-TE-PUIA.jpg
Day 15: Rotorua,Waitomo,Auckland
Location: Rotorua, Waitomo, Auckland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
ROTORUA–WAITOMO–AUCKLAND• Head north to Waitomo, where you will take a boat trip through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Continue on to Auckland where your evening is at leisure. (B,L)WAITOMO.jpg
Day 16: Auckland
Location: Auckland
Meals Included: Breakfast
AUCKLAND• Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. You may also choose to extend your time in Auckland and explore more on your own. Extra nights are available for purchase.(B)AUCKLAND-CITYSCAPE.jpg
UNESCO Sites
Great Barrier Reef|Sydney Opera House|Wet Tropics of Queensland
Meals
Breakfast daily; 2 lunches
Accommodation
Sydney:Swissotel Sydney Cairns:Pullman Cairns InternationalMelbourne:The Savoy Hotel on Little CollinsQueenstown:Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown LakefrontRotorua:Distinction Hotel RotoruaAuckland:Adina Auckland Britomart
Check out our Q&As
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
Why book with Barrhead?
Fully Protected
All our holidays are fully financially protected.
Your flight & hotel package is fully ATOL protected.
Range
Our bespoke holidays are tailor-made to suit your personal requirements.
We can book flights, rail journeys, accommodation, cruises, attraction tickets and much more.
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
Expert Knowledge
We know because we go – our Touring & Adventure specialists have travelled to over 55 countries.
Reliable & unbiased advice from our trusted travel experts.
Trusted Agent
Multi award-winning agency with almost 50 years experience.
Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot – the highest-rated high-street travel agent.
We look after you every step of the way.