National Geographic Journeys: Explore Australia & New Zealand (OANNG)

Countries Visited: Australia, New Zealand
Trip Style: Information Not available
Service Level: Upgraded

All the adventure you want, with a softer landing

Handpicked, character-rich accommodations with upgraded amenities services

Upgraded and private transport, including flights to maximize time

More included meals, activities and transfers
Physical Demands Rating: 2 - There'll be some light walking and hiking. Suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
Group Size: Max 16, Avg 12.
Meals Included: 21 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Accommodations: Not Availaible

Highlights
Enjoy a sunset cruise on a private yacht, Take an interpretive walk with an aboriginal guide, Get an exclusive tour of a research aquarium, Witness thousands of glowworms lighting up the scenery

Description
Why choose between Australia and New Zealands Experience both on an extraordinary 22-day adventure. Discover iconic Sydney, fashionable Melbourne, and welcoming Auckland; stand in the presence of sacred Uluru; explore ancient rainforests; and get your fill of city life, mountainscapes, glaciers, cultural moments, deserts, hot springs, and photo ops.

Call (214) 206-4488 for more information or to book today! Mention code 13270831

Tour Operator: G Adventures

Duration: 22 Days

Escorted: Escorted - Yes

Day	Destination	Description
Day 1	Sydney	Day 1 Sydney Please make your own way to the joining hotel. There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and enjoy exploring the city before joining the welcome meeting at 6pm. If you arrive early enough, youll have time to head into the city to visit The Rocks neighbourhood, the Australian Museum, Bondi Beach, or Darling Harbour. Additional Notes: Please try to arrive before 6:00pm for an important group welcome meeting where you can meet the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members. This is a busy trip with a lot of early mornings to catch connecting flights, enabling you to see as much of Down Under as possible. Want to start your Down Under adventure with an adrenaline rushs Add the Sydney Adrenaline Bundle or Sydney Bridge Climb extra to your tour. Get an incredible view of the iconic Sydney Harbour from the top of the Harbour Bridge, then zip through the waterways on a jet boat ride if you book the Adrenaline Bundle. PLEASE NOTE: if booking either of these extras a pre-night in Sydney is highly recommended as the Bridge Climb starts early in the morning on Day 1. Included Activities: Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
Day 2	Sydney	Day 2 Sydney (1B, 1D) Explore Sydney Harbour and walk to the Botanical Gardens and the iconic Opera House. In the afternoon, board a private yacht and enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise with barbecue dinner. Navigating the bays and coves, sit back on the sunbed and relax and enjoy views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Included Activities: Orientation Walk Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise Transport: Metro
Day 3	Port Douglas	Day 3 Sydney/Port Douglas (1B) We catch a very early flight to ensure we make the most of the day. Additional Notes: Please note that the max luggage allowance on domestic flights within Australia is 1 checked bag (20 kgs) and 1 carry on (7 kgs) per person. Any additional luggage is subject to airline fees and is not included. Included Activities: Aboriginal Interpretive Walk Transport: Taxicab (0.50-1.00 hours) Plane (3.00 hour(s)) Private Vehicle (1.00 hour(s))
Day 4	Port Douglas	Day 4 Port Douglas (1B) Enjoy the colourful resort town of Port Douglas. Take time to stroll the main streets, enjoy the beach or opt to go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.
Day 5	Cairns	Day 5 Port Douglas/Cairns (1B) Return to the tropical city of Cairns. Take an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the James Cook University research aquarium, founded by marine biologist and National Geographic grant recipient Dr Jamie Seymour. Enjoy a private tour of the facility and get an up close look at some of these marvelous creatures, and well hear about the latest research from Jamie or one of his colleagues. Included Activities: James Cook University Research Aquarium Transport: Private Vehicle (1.00 hour(s))
Day 6	Cairns	Day 6 Cairns (1B, 1L) Travel to Tully for an authentic and interactive Indigenous experience, supported by G Adventures. Enjoy a private lecture about the history and culture of the Janbanbarra Jirrbal Rainforest people. Learn about their deep connection to the land and how they have continued for thousands of years, to live in harmony with nature. Our cultural immersion continues with a traditional lunch and participation in a painting class with Jirrbal Aboriginal artists. Included Activities: Janbanbarra Jirrbal Rainforest Cultural Experience Cafe Chloe Transport: Private Vehicle (2.00 hour(s), 140km) Private Vehicle (2.00 hour(s), 140km)
Day 7	Cairns	Day 7 Cairns (1B) Cairns is the adventure capital of Queensland, and the day is yours with free time to explore. Opt to go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, soar above the rainforest on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, or explore this stunning coastal city.
Day 8	Uluru	Day 8 Cairns/Uluru (1B) Get a good nights sleep as our flight could be quite early today. Included Activities: Aboriginal Cultural Centre Visit Sunset at Uluru Transport: Plane (3.00 hour(s)) Taxicab (0.50 hour(s))
Day 9	Uluru	Day 9 Uluru (1B) Awake before sunrise to watch the colours change over Uluru. Continue on with a guided Mala Walk around the base of Uluru gaining insight into its significance to the local Aboriginal people. Later, take a walk in Kata Tjuta National Park and view the beautiful red-domed rock formations. The afternoon is at leisure. Additional Notes: Between November and March, there is extreme heat with temperatures averaging between 43-46øC (109-115øF) in the middle of Australia, especially around Uluru. This can lead to heat exhaustion and potentially become very dangerous. Be sure to drink plenty of water and replenish electrolytes by drinking sports drinks, coconut water or water mixed with electrolyte powder packets. The Mala Walk at Uluru is not permitted if temperatures exceed 36øC (98øF). During these hot months, we try to offer all walks early in the day to avoid the midday sun. Our CEOs will monitor the weather conditions to gauge the safety of any included walks and may need to call off a given days walk due to extreme heat. Included Activities: Uluru Mala Walk Kata Tjuta National Park
Day 10	Melbourne	Day 10 Uluru/Melbourne (1B) Enjoy another sunrise over Uluru before flying to Melbourne for the night. Additional Notes: Flight times today can very depending on airline schedules. Transport: Plane Taxicab (0.50-1.00 hours)
Day 11	Melbourne	Day 11 Melbourne (1B, 1L) Go on a guided foodie walk through the laneways of Melbourne with a local author and culinary storyteller for a three-course progressive lunch. Later, enjoy free time to explore Melbourne. Additional Notes: Occasionally Monique Bayer may not be available for the Melbourne Foodie Walk. In the event this happens, an equally qualified guide will lead the walk. Included Activities: Melbourne Foodie Walk
Day 12	Auckland	Day 12 Melbourne/Auckland (1B) Fly to Auckland, New Zealand and enjoy free time in the city. Transport: Plane (3.50-4.00 hours)
Day 13	Auckland	Day 13 Auckland (1B) Catch a ferry to Waiheke Island and visit two local wineries to learn more about New Zealands burgeoning wine industry and the history of wine production in the country - while sampling some of the local blends, of course! Later, enjoy a short orientation walk and some free time to explore the city. Included Activities: Waiheke Island Wineries Orientation Walk
Day 14	Raglan	Day 14 Auckland/Raglan (1B, 1L) Drive a scenic route, visiting an eel farm which focuses on developing sustainable aquaculture. Enjoy lunch, featuring food which has been sustainably produced on the farm. Continue to the artsy town of Raglan, stopping at Bridal Veil Falls en route, and enjoy a cruise on the stunning harbour. Included Activities: Eel Farm Visit Bridal Veil Falls Walk Raglan Harbour Boat Cruise Transport: Private Vehicle (3.00 hour(s), 180km)
Day 15	Rotorua	Day 15 Raglan/Rotorua (1B, 1D) Rotorua sits over an active volcano with bubbling mud pits and multi-coloured pools in different areas around the town. This is a fascinating region with Maori history and culture tied directly to the geothermal aspects of the land. Included Activities: Waitomo Cave Excursion Meet a Maori Elder Tamaki Maori Village Transport: Private Vehicle (1.50-2.00 hours, 100km) Private Vehicle (2.00-2.50 hours, 140km)
Day 16	Christchurch	Day 16 Rotorua/Christchurch (1B) With free time in Rotorua this morning, opt to relax in one of the hot pools fed by water coming directly from the natural springs. Included Activities: Orientation Walk Transport: Private Vehicle Flight (1.00-1.75 hours)
Day 17	Franz Josef	Day 17 Christchurch/Franz Josef (1B) Transport: Train (2.50 hour(s)) Private Vehicle (3.00-3.50 hours, 240km)
Day 18	Franz Josef	Day 18 Franz Josef (1B) Options are plentiful. Choose from a helicopter hike, ice walking on the glacier, or soaking in the hot pools amongst the stunning scenery.
Day 19	Queenstown	Day 19 Franz Josef/Queenstown (1B) Early start to travel to the picturesque Lake Matheson. When the weather is right, you can get a great photo of the Southern Alps reflected in the lake. Follow the wild West Coast Road, through the rainforest before stopping for some short walks and waterfall visits. Included Activities: Gondola Ride Transport: Private Vehicle (6.00 hour(s), 365km)
Day 20	Fiordland National Park	Day 20 Queenstown/Fiordland National Park (1B, 1D) In the evening, enjoy a delicious three course buffet dinner prepared by our onboard chef and served in the dining saloon. Mingle with fellow travellers, savour some of the fine wines at our licensed bar (additional price) and if the skies are clear in the evening, spend some time on the upper deck gazing at the stars. Additional Notes: *Please note that the itinerary for this day varies in the winter: Winter Schedule 18 May - 20 Sept Fiordland National Park/Te Anau Drive the scenic route around Lake Wakatipu to the town of Manapouri. Travel by boat and bus to arrive at an eco cruise boat. Spend the afternoon cruising through Milford or Doubtful Sound, two of the most untouched, remote places in the world. Marvel at the steep cliff walls and cascading waterfalls. The boat offers excellent chances for wildlife viewing in the area. Dolphins, penguins, seals and a variety of birds are some examples of what you can hope to see. In the evening, head to Te Anau for the night. We take in a screening of the award winning `Ata Whenua - Shadowland` Fjordland on Film documentary at the local cinema before having a group meal. Included Activities: Fiordland National Park Overnight Wilderness Cruise Transport: Private Vehicle (3.00 hour(s), 250km)
Day 21	Queenstown	Day 21 Fiordland National Park/Queenstown (1B) Enjoy morning wildlife viewing along the fiord as we cruise back to port, then return to Queenstown for the final night. Opt for a farewell dinner with your group. Transport: Private Vehicle (3.00 hour(s), 250km)
Day 22	Queenstown	Day 22 Queenstown (1B) For more time to explore Queenstown, we recommend booking post nights with your agent if you are interested in the countless adrenaline-packed activities in the town known as the "adventure capital of the world." Jet boating, bungee jumping, mountain biking, and sky diving are some of the activities available. Included Activities: Departure Day

Disclaimer: Local Flights: All internal flights are included in this trip (including 1 flight between Australia and New Zealand) - Your CEO will give you your ticket on the day of flight. The max luggage allowance on domestic flights within Australia & New Zealand is 1 checked bag (20 kgs) and 1 carry on (7 kgs) per person.

Dossier Disclaimer:The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Itinerary Disclaimer: While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.