Epic Highlights Tour of Australia and New Zealand

While Sydney’s soaring skyline overflows with wonderful experiences, the country’s beauty shines brightest in the wildlands. Today, you will immerse yourself in the unspoiled environments on a private tour of Blue Mountains National Park. The tour will begin at a local wildlife sanctuary with kangaroos, gentle koalas, and scuttling wombats. Continuing, you will encounter the untouched landscapes that compose Australia’s rock and shrubbery-riddled outbacks. The views are majestic, stretching in sandy and emerald tones toward the horizon.

The following two days will be yours to enjoy Sydney at your leisure, touring the highlights that you wish to check off your travel list. On the first day, you may choose to explore more of the city's scenes across the harbor during peaceful cruises that lead to landmarked sites, such as Manly Beach or Watson’s Bay. Culinary delicacies of the finest degree, spectacular walking trails, and magnificent museums all make Watson’s Bay a premier destination around the corner from Sydney Harbor.

There are several ways to approach your stay in Sydney for the remainder of your time here. Regardless, you can rest assured knowing that Sydney has something to offer everyone. Whether you wish to set sail across the swells at sea or appreciate the artistic flair of the country’s finest craftspeople, you will be constantly surprised by the sheer brilliance of Sydney’s lavish offerings.

Few places in the world rival the natural grandeur and cultural significance of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Ayers Rock lies in rich red sediment and is surrounded by sparse collections of shrubbery. Shortly after dropping off your belongings at your exquisite accommodation, you will partake in an absorbing dot-painting workshop led by Anangu locals, who will invite you to share in their traditions.

You will set off across the shadowed dunes before the sun has risen to watch the sunrise from a staggering viewpoint. The stars will retreat as the sun sets the sky ablaze and floods the dunes in a radiant red glow. You will delve into the historical significance of this bewitching region before continuing to Anangu areas to further experience the local culture. An authentic Australian dinner will be had under the twinkle of the stars from the top of the darkened dunes that will be illuminated in the vibrant glow of the Field of Lights.

Your adventures across Australia will bring you to its white-sand coastline after your short flight to Cairns. You will be collected at the airport and begin your journey along the winding coastal roads and tropical beaches of Port Douglas. En route, images of Australia’s luxuriant rainforests and flourishing wildlife will be revealed. You may spend your first evening in Port Douglas admiring the spectacular seascape spectacles from the comfort of your modern accommodation.

Port Douglas is a gateway to the untamed rainforests of Australia. Here, traditional Aboriginal villages lay settled beneath the evergreen. Today, joined by a knowledgeable tour guide, you will enter the viridian expanse and traverse forested pathways through the prolific vegetation. The Kuku Yalanji people will welcome you to their home and invite you to explore the hunting and gathering practices that have long played a pivotal role in their communal wellbeing. Afterward, you will travel deeper into the jungle and arrive at the world-famous Mossman Gorge.

While Port Douglas is a stepping stone to thriving headlands, it is also an entry-point to one of the world’s most marvelous marine wonders: the Great Barrier Reef. Today, you will board a private yacht and set sail across the sea to snorkel over the reef. Dipping your head beneath the water of Coral Cay, you will catch countless glimpses of the shimmering coral and beaming creatures who call this reef home. As you return to shore, you will delight in sundowners from in the luxury of your boat.

European design trends and sophisticated architecture dominate the spirited skyline of Melbourne, a destination that deftly combines cultural hotspots with hidden secrets. You will take pleasure in the high-end lifestyle of the South Yarra district and revel in the regal amenities of your stunning accommodation after your brisk flight here. The evening will be open for you to acclimate to the high-octane energy that emanates from Melbourne’s buzzing boutique restaurants and trendy bars.

Melbourne presents a fascinating mix of cultures and lifestyles, and people from all over the world settle in to the area's charming districts to form communities. From Vietnamese noodle soups to Jewish bakery treats, you may spend your day unraveling the complex blend of cuisines that compose Melbourne's culinary scene. In the afternoon, you can explore the opulent neighborhoods of Melbourne, where you may brush shoulders with influential people in chic bars and Michelin-starred restaurants. You will conclude your day visiting the iconic Australian Open Grand Slam stadium of Melbourne Park.

In the afternoon, you will voyage to Phillip Island, a bewitching paradise destination that boasts an enormous array of birds who meander along the sandy beaches. Your moments on Phillip Island will bring you closer to the Australian wildlife with opportunities to lounge around with adorable koala colonies and watch penguins shift across the soft dunes. Behind the cute pictures will be a wealth of insight into these creatures’ lives.

Today marks the beginning of your adventures in New Zealand, which will kick off in style when you transfer from Melbourne to Queenstown and arrive at your luxury accommodation. Referred to as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown is an engrossing stop for adrenaline junkies but also a place where those who seek some quiet time can find refuge along the banks of its stunning lake. Furthermore, Queenstown opens visitors up to the magic of the Milford Sound fiords.

Queenstown rests beneath the Southern Alps, a collection of colossal mountains of snowy-caps and icy glaciers. Today, you will climb into a private helicopter for a tour of these phenomenal formations, culminating with a bird's-eye view of Milford Sound. Peering out of the window, you will see gigantic fiords breaking through the dense rainforests. Glaciers rise above the pebbled beaches, and forests paint the base of the mountains in vivid green hues. Milford Sound is the apex of wilderness beauty.

Blessed with a proliferating landscape and manicured lawns, Queenstown’s premier golf course will invite you for a round today. Weaving your way through the course, you will be constantly impressed by the breathtaking scenery. Moreover, the course has been designed to work with nature rather than to the detriment of it, meaning you will be swinging your drivers on a course that conserves the environment on which it is built.

With a brief stop at the restored city of Christchurch, it will not be long before you take your first steps on Rotorua’s soil, which is a dynamic geothermal destination that holds a dear place in the hearts of the local Maori people. A peculiar aroma emanates from the rich sulfur soils of Rotorua, but this is not to alarm because it is representative of the region’s geological formations that you will explore during your short but brilliant stay here.

Rotorua is drenched in idyllic environmental highlights and traditional cultures you will appreciate during a private tour. Your tour will begin with a float-plane flight to the volcanic crests of Mount Tarawera. Here, you can witness ceaseless vistas of the spreading landscape of rich greens, bright blues, and umber browns before crossing a calm river to a hidden valley. Afterward, you will be invited by the Mitai Maori people to learn about their age-old traditions and reflect on their distinctive lifestyle with enchanting song, dance, and cuisine.

Before heading to Auckland for the final few nights of your vacation, you will transfer to Waitomo and enter its dark caves. Stepping away from the light and into the night of the cave complex, you will see a glimmering glow. Drawing closer to the source of light inside, the roof will open to reveal the luminous pods of glowworms on the cavern walls. As if opening up to the cosmos, a vivid blue light will shine like stars on the cave ceiling as you venture deeper within the geological formation.

There are some incredible wine destinations across the globe, but Waiheke Island has made a name for itself through the accreditation of numerous international awards. Today, you will transfer to the small but beautiful island, which yields exceptionally high-quality fruits that are used to produce a collection of exalted wines. You will savor each sip as you taste-tour the astounding assortment and enjoy lunch to scenes of the breathtaking landscape. Later, you will encounter the distinct works of art crafted by highly talented locals before returning to your royal suite in Auckland.

After an incredible 20 days across Australia and New Zealand, you will feel fulfilled and enriched by the immense experiences that will have been presented every step of the way. As the sun rises above Auckland, you will not be able to resist reminiscing on your wonderful memories. These moments will be bittersweet as you prepare to depart the magnificent country, but you will forever look back in amazement at the adventures you had.