January 4, 2024 - Sydney, Australia 

Arrive in spectacular Sydney, Australia, and enjoy a seamless transfer to your comfortable hotel accommodations where you'll spend the night gearing up for an exciting tour ahead.

Overnight Hyatt Regency Sydney.

January 5, 2024 - Cairns, Australia

Enjoy seamless travel as you board a plane to Cairns. Tour the rainforest village of Kuranda before a one-way Skyrail journey for aerial views of Baron Falls.

Overnight Pullman Cairns. (B)

January 6, 2024 - Cairns, Australia

Today's activities are among the most exciting - unwind aboard a reef cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's most phenomenal UNESCO World Heritage Sites! Dive or snorkel among the colorful corals and unusual fish beneath the water's surface, and don't worry about breakfast or lunch - we'll make sure you get fed!

Overnight Pullman Cairns. (B,L)

January 7, 2024 - Uluru (ayers Rock), Australia

Wave goodbye to Cairns as you soar into the clouds and fly to iconic Uluru in the Outback. This evening you'll be introduced to the culture and 40,000-year history of Australia's Aboriginal people on an enlightening cultural tour. Walk along the base of Uluru and watch the colors on the rock shift at sunset.

Overnight Desert Gardens Hotel. (B)

January 8, 2024 - Uluru (ayers Rock), Australia

Rise early and travel to the Uluru sunrise viewing area to watch the first rays of the sun rise over the desert landscape. Be mesmerized by the changing colors of Uluru at first light and experience the wonder of the Australian Outback as the dawn emerges. Visit the cultural center in the National Park where you can learn more about the indigenous history and culture, and see traditional arts and crafts on display. After a tour of Kata Tjuta (The Olga's), the rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to do as you please. Perhaps enjoy a guided garden walk at the hotel, watch the Wakagetti Cultural Dancers perform in the town square or wander the Indigenous Art Markets.

Overnight Desert Gardens Hotel. (B)

January 9, 2024 - Sydney, Australia

Fly back to Sydney for another stay in this fabulous city.

Overnight Hyatt Regency Sydney. (B)

January 10, 2024 - Sydney, Australia

Wake up and satisfy your appetite with breakfast on us, then embark on a guided morning tour of Sydney. You'll take in the renowned architecture of the iconic Sydney Opera House and have a chance to photograph the impressive Sydney Harbour Bridge, known locally as "The Coat Hanger" for its arched hanger-like shape. Dig your toes into the soft sands at the most popular beach in New South Wales, Bondi Beach, and even tour The Rocks, a historic district with well-preserved colonial architecture, trendy restaurants, museums, shops and an abundance of Old World charm. Embark on your ship and sail away for more incredible sights in Australia and New Zealand!

(B)

January 11, 2024 - Day At Sea

Kick back and relax.  Sleep in, take in the views, catch some of the complimentary entertainment, visit the spa... whatever you do you're sure to have a great day! 

January 12, 2024 - Dat At Sea

Kick back and relax.  Sleep in, take in the views, catch some of the complimentary entertainment, visit the spa... whatever you do you're sure to have a great day! 

January 13, 2024 - Fiordland National Park (Scenic Cruising)

New Zealand's largest national park was formed millennia ago by massive glacial flows that carved deep fiords into the coast of New Zealand's South Island. At the heart of Fiordland National Park lies Milford Sound. Lined by cliffs that soar nearly a mile above its surface, Milford Sound cuts into the heart of the Southern Alps. Rainforest clings to the cliffs and graceful waterfalls plummet into the void. Mile-high Mitre Peak dominates the upper reaches of the sound.

The town of Te Anau in Fiordland National Park is also your gateway to the South Island's other natural wonders including Lake Wakatipu, the resort of Queenstown and Mt. Cook National Park.

January 14, 2024 - Dunedin (Port Chalmers), New Zealand

Perched on the hills above one of New Zealand's loveliest harbors, Dunedin is a Kiwi city with a Scottish heart. Hailed as the "Edinburgh of New Zealand," Dunedin is proud of its heritage. A statue of famed Scottish poet Robert Burns graces downtown, and the presence of New Zealand's only kilt maker and whisky distillery - as well as many bagpipe bands - keep Dunedin's ties to Scotland alive. The city also boasts a distinguished architectural and cultural history, a legacy of New Zealand's 1860s gold rush.

Port Chalmers, gateway to Dunedin, is located eight miles from the city center. Dunedin is a planned city: its streets and suburbs fan out from the city's octagon.

Travel tip: Dunedin is pronounced "Dunn-knee-din"

January 15, 2024 - Christchurch (Lyttelton), New Zealand

Travel down the tree-lined Avon Rive, tour English-style gardens and drive past a Gothic cathedral. No, it's not England - it's Christchurch, New Zealand's most English city. The colonists who settled Christchurch transformed the treeless landscape by planting European trees and setting aside vast tracts as parkland. Today, parks dot the city, giving Christchurch an old-world ambience that belies its sophisticated style.

Settled under the auspices of the Church of England in the mid-1800s, Christchurch is a planned city that flourished with New Zealand's agriculture and sheep industry. At the heart of the city lies Christchurch Cathedral, a Gothic cathedral built of local stone. The port of Lyttelton serves as your gateway to Christchurch.

January 16, 2024 - Wellington, New Zealand

New Zealand's capital offers stunning views of forested peninsulas, dramatic cliff-side homes and fine Victorian buildings. Settled in 1840 by the London-based New Zealand Company, "wonderful, windy Wellington" is frequently buffeted by bracing winds funnelling through Cook Strait. The sophisticated metropolis boasts museums, winding streets and even a cable car. No wonder many travelers compare it to San Francisco.

Despite its steep hills, the city can be easily explored on foot. Kelburn Cable Car, stairways and footpaths climb the slopes from the city center.

January 17, 2024 - Day At Sea

Kick back and relax.  Sleep in, take in the views, catch some of the complimentary entertainment, visit the spa... whatever you do you're sure to have a great day! 

January 18, 2024 - Tauranga, New Zealand

New Zealand's natural bounty is always on display at the Bay of Plenty. It was Captain James Cook who in 1769 aptly named this bay, thanks to the prosperous Maori villages of the region. Tauranga, the chief city, is a bustling port, an agricultural and timber center and a popular seaside resort. Tauranga is also the gateway to Rotorua - a geothermal wonderland that is the heart of Maori culture. A 90-minute drive from Tauranga, Rotorua is New Zealand's primary tourist attraction.

Your ship docks near the foot of Mt. Maunganui, which rises 761 feet above the bay. Across the harbor, Tauranga offers scenic tidal beaches at Omokoroa and Pahoia. The region boasts fine beaches, big-game fishing, thermal springs and seaside resorts.

January 19, 2024 - Auckland, New Zealand

Straddling a narrow isthmus created by 60 different volcanoes, New Zealand's former capital boasts scenic beauty, historical interest and a cosmopolitan collection of shops, restaurants, museums, galleries and gardens. Rangitoto, Auckland's largest and youngest volcano, sits in majestic splendor just offshore. Mt. Eden and One Tree Hill, once home to Maori earthworks, overlook the city. One of New Zealand's fine wine districts lies to the north of Auckland.

Auckland served as New Zealand's capital from 1841 until 1865, when the seat of government moved to Wellington.

January 20, 2024 - Bay of Islands, New Zealand

The Bay of Islands offers more than broad vistas of sea and sky, more than beaches, boating, and fabulous water sports. The Bay is the birthplace of modern New Zealand. Here the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, establishing British rule and granting the native inhabitants equal status. Rich in legend and mystery, the Bay of Islands has age-old ties to the Maori and to whalers, missionaries and New Zealand's early settlers.

The Bay of Islands has lured explorers for countless centuries. The Maori say that Kupe, the great Polynesian adventurer, came here in the 10th century. Captain Cook anchored offshore in 1769, followed by assorted brigands, traders, colonists and missionaries.

January 21, 2024 - Day At Sea 

Kick back and relax.  Sleep in, take in the views, catch some of the complimentary entertainment, visit the spa... whatever you do you're sure to have a great day! 

January 22, 2024 - Day At Sea 

Kick back and relax.  Sleep in, take in the views, catch some of the complimentary entertainment, visit the spa... whatever you do you're sure to have a great day! 

January 23, 2024 -  Sydney, Australia

Your adventure ends.  Time to head to the airport or start the next leg of your trip!