15 DAY WONDERS OF NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
15 DAY WONDERS OF NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
Got your travel wish-list handy? You’re about to tick off a few ‘must dos’ across the Antipodes with this 15 day Brisbane to Rotorua tour. This is a journey of extremes, from the tropical islands of the Whitsundays to the cultural beacons of Sydney. Then on to NZ, where North and South islands beckon with thermal springs (Rotorua), fancy wining and dining (Auckland) and alpine adventures (Queenstown).
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Start Location: Brisbane
End Location: Rotorua
TOP HIGHLIGHTS
- Food & Wine pairing at City Winery, Brisbane
- Aboriginal Walking Tour of Meeanjin (Brisbane)
- Australia Zoo visit
- Koala Hospital at Australia Zoo
- Great Barrier Reef Cruise
- Sydney Opera House
- Locally Guided Tour Our Big Kitchen, Bondi
- Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise
- TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak
- BBQ Dinner Real Country Farm Experience (BMG)
- Ruakuri Cave Tour, Waitomo Mitai Village, Concert and Dinner
- Rainbow Springs and Kiwi Hatchery
- Whakarewarewa Living Village Tour
- Terrace Kitchen Farewell Dinner
READ MORE >
ITINERARY
Day 1: Welcome to Brisbane
The best way to make new friends? At a winery, of course. It turns out you don’t even need to leave Brisbane to do just that thanks to City Winery, and urban hub for delicious drops. Grapes are sourced from across the state then turned into wine you’ll enjoy under the guidance of a sommelier or vintner, plus your fellow travellers.
Overnight: Brisbane
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2: Brisbane
As the captivating sounds of the didgeridoo ring out, you’ll discover (Meeanjin) Brisbane’s First Nations history and art on a walking tour with an Aboriginal guide, whose ancestors inhabited the shores of the Brisbane River for over 40,000 years. You’ll need some time to digest the morning’s sights. The afternoon and evening are all yours - ask us for tips on where to drink and dine.
Overnight: Brisbane
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Brisbane - Hamilton Island
Get ready to set your body clock for ‘island time’. Arriving on Hamilton is quite the experience: you land on a tiny airstrip, then are told the only way to get around is in a golf buggy or foot. Do either or both, and then regroup for sunset cocktails at One Tree Hill with some of the best views over the Whitsundays.
Overnight: Hamilton Island, Whitsundays
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Great Barrier Reef
Did you know that the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, is home to 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents? Head out on a catamaran to swim and snorkel – or enjoy a bird’s-eye view of paradise on a scenic flight over Heart Reef.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Hamilton Island Free Time
After yesterday’s Great Barrier Reef overload, we wouldn’t blame you for sleeping in. But… there are so many other things to see and do around Hamilton, at your leisure. Enjoy brunch at the marina, or lace up your hiking boots and head up Passage Peak for unbroken views across the archipelago. Perhaps followed by a well-deserved dip at Catseye Beach or Coral Cove. The stretch of sand that’s regularly voted the most beautiful in the world, however, is Whitehaven – so high in silica, it squeaks underfoot. It’s a short boat-ride away, but we can help you get there.
Overnight: Hamilton Island, Whitsundays
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Hamilton Island - Sydney
One last Hamilton ocean swim? Why not. Touchdown Sydney and you have equally enticing views over Darling Harbour, where dinner is served. Is there any better way to end a day than this?
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Sydney
You might have seen Sydney Opera House from the outside, but have you ventured within? This incredible architectural feat holds many secrets, as your local guide will reveal. From harbour to beach – Bondi beckons. Stroll the promenade in the company of Sydney’s beautiful people – perhaps lingering for a coffee or spritz – before regrouping to help feed those in need via community organisation Our Big Kitchen
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 : Sydney Free Time
Today is yours to get your final fix of Australia’s largest city. If you haven’t seen enough of the harbour, buckle in for a Sydney BridgeClimb, perhaps, before joining your companions for a sunset dinner cruise. What a way to end the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Sydney - Queenstown
It only takes three hours to travel from Sydney to New Zealand. But you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you arrive at former gold-mining town of Arrowtown.
Overnight: Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 : Queenstown
Flying over New Zealand, the first thing you’ll notice is that there’s a lot of farmland. It’s fitting, then, that one of the first people you’ll meet is southern girl Laura, who will introduce you to the sheep farm she was born and raised on. Come dusk, cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw; the only thing more inspiring than the peaks of the Remarkables that surround is the festive atmosphere welcoming you to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where a gourmet barbecue at the Colonel’s Homestead awaits.
Overnight: Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Queenstown Free Time
You could spend a long time in and around Queenstown. But on your free day, we highly recommend either venturing into the end-of-the-Earth wilderness that is Milford Sound, to cruise past sheer cliffs, white-capped peaks and waterfalls. Or blissing out on an obligatory wine tour of the Otago region. It’s a difficult decision.
Overnight: Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12: Queenstown - Auckland
Touching down in Auckland, you’ll immediately understand why it’s known as the ‘City of Sails’ – New Zealand’s largest city has two lovely yacht-filled harbours, which you can explore at our leisure this afternoon.
Overnight: Auckland
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Auckland - Rotorua
Tonight, we experience Te Puia's world-famous hāngī buffet dinner. Enjoy spectacular geothermal views while dining on a range of delicious New Zealand flavours. The menu is smartly sophisticated – infusing Māori flavours, with an array of global cuisines and cooking styles. After dinner you will get to enjoy a cultural performance that will take place in their beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Witness a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. The evening culminates with hot chocolate and steamed pudding surrounded by steam and the geyser terrace bathed in coloured light
Overnight: Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14: Rotorua
Cute and cuddly, NZ’s national bird, the kiwi, is also endangered. Go behind the scenes on a working kiwi nursery and hatchery to learn how breeding programs are helping the population thrive. The natural drama reaches boiling point at Whakarewarewa, a geothermal reserve and the country’s only living Māori village, home to famous Pohutu Geyser and the bubbling beauty of mud pools.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 15 : Farewell from Rotorua and Auckland
Most people travel for two weeks and don’t even scratch the surface, let alone enjoy cultural immersion across two countries. What a wild and wonderful ride.
Meals: Breakfast
DATES & PRICES
We accept 
AVAILABILITY
START DATE
END DATE
PRICE
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
BOOK
Applicable taxes vary depending on travel destination and are not included. Please ask your sales agent what extra taxes will be payable for your tour.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
- 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House, Fiordland National Park
- Centrally located premium hotels
EXCLUSIONS
- Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
- Taxes as applicable
- Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
- Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
- Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
- Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary
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Our specialists can take away the stress and create a custom trip tailored to your exact interests and budget.
Get A Custom Quote
OR CALL
1.866.814.7378
Custom Trip Plans
You can see what you want, when you want, how you want.
Unique Experiences
Experiences that help you take in the region in a different way.
Freedom To Explore
Time to take in each place with only the tours you want to do.
Tour Questions
What is the maximum number of travellers in a group?
Anderson Vacations specializes in Small Group Fully Escorted tours. If the tour is classified as a ‘Classic Tour’ up to 24 persons may join the tour although tours commonly travel with anywhere between 18 to 24 travellers. If the tour is classified as a 'Tour of Distinction’ only up to 18 persons may join the tour and many 'Tours of Distinction' travel with 12 to 18 travellers.
What are Guaranteed Departures?
After dreaming about travel to an exciting destination, arranging for time off work, booking your flights the last thing you need is for your trip to be cancelled. Anderson vacation's pre-Guaranteed tours take the uncertainty away from planning your travel and give you peace of mind to book our tours. Pre-Guaranteed Tours are group tours that we have already confirmed as certain to travel on the specified date. All 'Guaranteed Tours' will travel except in the event of a natural disaster or a catastrophic event that is beyond our control. They may already have the minimum number of people booked or else are tours that are known to be popular. Only select departures of tours are 'pre-Guaranteed'.
What happens if I book on a tour that is not Guaranteed?
We pride ourselves on providing “a small shared group experience.” In the event that we have fewer than ten participants on a tour we will offer a “small-group surcharge” to ensure that the tour runs as scheduled. This fee, which is up to 15% of the “land” portion of the tour, will be offered to you as an option to continue with the trip. This fee will cover the costs associated with handling a smaller group.
What is the average age of passengers for this tour?
Our tours are suitable for all age demographics. The average age of travelers is typically 45+.
How physically demanding is this tour? Are you able to accommodate people with mobility restrictions/limitations?
Some tours are mainly coach based and may not be physically demanding while others may require walking inclines or on rough surfaces to access interesting locations. Please check with us and your booking agent carefully and discuss your mobility restrictions before completing any tour booking to ensure this style of travel is right for you.
Can you accommodate passengers with dietary restrictions (food allergies, vegan, vegetarian etc.)?
Yes, we do accommodate dietary restrictions (within reason) such as, food allergies, vegan, vegetarian, etc. There are many meals included on our fully escorted tours. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so we can ensure there are alternative meal choices.
Booking & Flight Questions
Do you arrange airport transfers?
Yes, we can assist you with airport transfers for you in most locations at a reasonable extra cost. Several tours have airport transfers already included. Please contact us for more details.
Can you assist with booking additional accommodation?
Yes, we can certainly assist with booking additional nights of hotel accommodation for you before and after your fully escorted tour. This is available upon request and subject to availability. Please inquire for further information and prices.
How much luggage should I bring?
Each passenger may bring one large suitcase and one carry-on bag. The weight limit for baggage is 20 kilograms or about 40 pounds. Baggage handling is provided at the hotels in our tour packages but there may be places where you will be required to wheel in your bags for quicker access. Be sure to advise our reservations staff if you will be bringing additional items such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair. You may also bring one small soft-sided carry-on bag, which should easily fit into the overhead shelf of a coach. Each person is responsible for his/her own carryon luggage. Remember to check your airline baggage restrictions if you are flying, as they may differ from Anderson Vacations guidelines.
I am a solo traveller. Is there a single surcharge?
There are options for single travelers to join most tours. Solo travellers can choose to pay a Single Supplement and have their own room throughout the tour. For those willing to share with a co-traveller of the same gender, we have a Twin Share option that is offered for most tours where you share a hotel room with another same gender traveller. In this case, you will not be charged for Single Supplement.
Is it possible to book a triple share accommodation?
Yes, it is possible to book triple share accommodations on select trips. Please inquire or contact us regarding this option, as prices and availability vary from tour to tour.
Can we book this tour with our exclusive group?
Yes, you can! Anderson Vacations works with many private groups and helps to customize a tour to traveller’s needs. Please contact us for more details.
Are gratuities included in the tour cost?
For convenience, gratuities for local guides and meals that are specified in the itinerary are included in the tour price. For meals not included in your tour package please remember that it is customary to tip your server 10-20% in North America. Gratuities for your Coach Driver (where appropriate) and Tour Director are entirely at your discretion. We recommend about CDN $5.00 per person, per day, for your Driver and CDN$7.00 per person, per day for your Tour Leader.
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Tour Code
15WNA
15 Day Wonders of New Zealand and Australia
15 days
Created On: 09 Jun 2023
Highlights
- Food & Wine pairing at City Winery, Brisbane
- Aboriginal Walking Tour of Meeanjin (Brisbane)
- Australia Zoo visit
- Koala Hospital at Australia Zoo
- Great Barrier Reef Cruise
- Sydney Opera House
- Locally Guided Tour Our Big Kitchen, Bondi
- Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise
- TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak
- BBQ Dinner Real Country Farm Experience (BMG)
- Ruakuri Cave Tour, Waitomo Mitai Village, Concert and Dinner
- Rainbow Springs and Kiwi Hatchery
- Whakarewarewa Living Village Tour
- Terrace Kitchen Farewell Dinner
Inclusions
- Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
- 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House, Fiordland National Park
- Centrally located premium hotels
Exclusions
- Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
- Taxes as applicable
- Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
- Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
- Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
- Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary
Dates & Prices
AVAILABILITY
START DATE
END DATE
PRICE
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
DEPOSIT
AVAILABLE
Thu, 29 Jun 2023
Thu, 13 Jul 2023
$8,130 USD
—
AVAILABLE
Thu, 31 Aug 2023
Thu, 14 Sep 2023
$8,130 USD
—
AVAILABLE
Thu, 30 Nov 2023
Thu, 14 Dec 2023
$8,410 USD
—
All prices are per person based on double occupancy and subject to local taxes - GST, PST or HST.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Brisbane
The best way to make new friends? At a winery, of course. It turns out you don’t even need to leave Brisbane to do just that thanks to City Winery, and urban hub for delicious drops. Grapes are sourced from across the state then turned into wine you’ll enjoy under the guidance of a sommelier or vintner, plus your fellow travellers.
Overnight: Brisbane
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2: Brisbane
As the captivating sounds of the didgeridoo ring out, you’ll discover (Meeanjin) Brisbane’s First Nations history and art on a walking tour with an Aboriginal guide, whose ancestors inhabited the shores of the Brisbane River for over 40,000 years. You’ll need some time to digest the morning’s sights. The afternoon and evening are all yours - ask us for tips on where to drink and dine.
Overnight: Brisbane
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Brisbane - Hamilton Island
Get ready to set your body clock for ‘island time’. Arriving on Hamilton is quite the experience: you land on a tiny airstrip, then are told the only way to get around is in a golf buggy or foot. Do either or both, and then regroup for sunset cocktails at One Tree Hill with some of the best views over the Whitsundays.
Overnight: Hamilton Island, Whitsundays
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Great Barrier Reef
Did you know that the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, is home to 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents? Head out on a catamaran to swim and snorkel – or enjoy a bird’s-eye view of paradise on a scenic flight over Heart Reef.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Hamilton Island Free Time
After yesterday’s Great Barrier Reef overload, we wouldn’t blame you for sleeping in. But… there are so many other things to see and do around Hamilton, at your leisure. Enjoy brunch at the marina, or lace up your hiking boots and head up Passage Peak for unbroken views across the archipelago. Perhaps followed by a well-deserved dip at Catseye Beach or Coral Cove. The stretch of sand that’s regularly voted the most beautiful in the world, however, is Whitehaven – so high in silica, it squeaks underfoot. It’s a short boat-ride away, but we can help you get there.
Overnight: Hamilton Island, Whitsundays
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Hamilton Island - Sydney
One last Hamilton ocean swim? Why not. Touchdown Sydney and you have equally enticing views over Darling Harbour, where dinner is served. Is there any better way to end a day than this?
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Sydney
You might have seen Sydney Opera House from the outside, but have you ventured within? This incredible architectural feat holds many secrets, as your local guide will reveal. From harbour to beach – Bondi beckons. Stroll the promenade in the company of Sydney’s beautiful people – perhaps lingering for a coffee or spritz – before regrouping to help feed those in need via community organisation Our Big Kitchen
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 : Sydney Free Time
Today is yours to get your final fix of Australia’s largest city. If you haven’t seen enough of the harbour, buckle in for a Sydney BridgeClimb, perhaps, before joining your companions for a sunset dinner cruise. What a way to end the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Sydney - Queenstown
It only takes three hours to travel from Sydney to New Zealand. But you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you arrive at former gold-mining town of Arrowtown.
Overnight: Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 : Queenstown
Flying over New Zealand, the first thing you’ll notice is that there’s a lot of farmland. It’s fitting, then, that one of the first people you’ll meet is southern girl Laura, who will introduce you to the sheep farm she was born and raised on. Come dusk, cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw; the only thing more inspiring than the peaks of the Remarkables that surround is the festive atmosphere welcoming you to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where a gourmet barbecue at the Colonel’s Homestead awaits.
Overnight: Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Queenstown Free Time
You could spend a long time in and around Queenstown. But on your free day, we highly recommend either venturing into the end-of-the-Earth wilderness that is Milford Sound, to cruise past sheer cliffs, white-capped peaks and waterfalls. Or blissing out on an obligatory wine tour of the Otago region. It’s a difficult decision.
Overnight: Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12: Queenstown - Auckland
Touching down in Auckland, you’ll immediately understand why it’s known as the ‘City of Sails’ – New Zealand’s largest city has two lovely yacht-filled harbours, which you can explore at our leisure this afternoon.
Overnight: Auckland
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Auckland - Rotorua
Tonight, we experience Te Puia's world-famous hāngī buffet dinner. Enjoy spectacular geothermal views while dining on a range of delicious New Zealand flavours. The menu is smartly sophisticated – infusing Māori flavours, with an array of global cuisines and cooking styles. After dinner you will get to enjoy a cultural performance that will take place in their beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Witness a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. The evening culminates with hot chocolate and steamed pudding surrounded by steam and the geyser terrace bathed in coloured light
Overnight: Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14: Rotorua
Cute and cuddly, NZ’s national bird, the kiwi, is also endangered. Go behind the scenes on a working kiwi nursery and hatchery to learn how breeding programs are helping the population thrive. The natural drama reaches boiling point at Whakarewarewa, a geothermal reserve and the country’s only living Māori village, home to famous Pohutu Geyser and the bubbling beauty of mud pools.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 15 : Farewell from Rotorua and Auckland
Most people travel for two weeks and don’t even scratch the surface, let alone enjoy cultural immersion across two countries. What a wild and wonderful ride.
Meals: Breakfast
