Journey Down Under
Book your tour with confidence knowing we offer the lowest prices possible.
Group Leader: Addie Willuweit
Requested Return Date: 7/11/2025
From afar, New Zealand and Australia may seem similar. An up-close look reveals distinct cultures and personalities.
Both descend from the same British colonial family tree, so you may struggle to tell the accents apart in the streets of Auckland and Sydney. But as you dig deeper in the Māori culture in Rotorua and Aboriginal roots along the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, each country's individual identity becomes clear.![](http://media.eftours.com/~/media/etus/hemingway-mobile/tours/browse/map-full-2016/jdu_screengrab.jpg?db=touro)
-
Day 1: Fly to New Zealand
-
Day 2: Cross the International Date Line
-
Day 3: Auckland
Meet your Tour Director at the airportTravel to Rotorua
Watch a sheep and dog show at the Agrodome
-
Day 4: Auckland • Rotorua
Take a Rotorua duck tour
Take a tour of a Rotorua geothermal park
Ride the Skyline Gondola
Learn about jade carving in a local craftsman's shop
Visit a Māori Village for a traditional hāngi feast
-
Day 5: Rotorua
Travel to Auckland
Take a tour of AucklandAdd This In Depth ExcursionAll Blacks Experience rugby showcase or Wētā Workshop Unleashed
Choose between two memorable, hands-on experiences: the All Blacks Experience rugby showcase or Wētā Workshop Unleashed. In the former, you’ll learn about rugby’s history and get to test your skills firsthand in an interactive play zone. At Wētā Workshop Unleashed, you’ll journey into the world of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi filmmaking as you explore make-believe film sets and participate in a hands-on crafting workshop.
-
Day 6: Rotorua • Auckland • Sydney
Fly to Sydney
-
Day 7: Sydney
Guided sightseeing of Sydney
Take a tour of Sydney
Visit the National Opal Collection
Take a boat ride across the harbor to Watsons Bay
Visit the Hyde Park Barracks Museum
Visit the Sydney Tower
Take a walking tour of the Rocks neighborhood
-
Day 8: Sydney
Add This In Depth ExcursionSydney Harbor & Opera House
Explore the Sydney Harbor area from multiple perspectives, starting with the arched Harbor Bridge and its stunning pylon lookout offering 360-degree views. Then, take in the sea and sky—perhaps upside down—while enjoying rollercoasters and other rides at the iconic Luna Park. Lunch is included (just try not to lose it!). Finally, take a tour of the world-famous Opera House where you’ll go behind the scenes and see what it takes to get a live production on stage.
-
Day 9: Sydney • Cairns
Fly to Cairns
-
Day 10: Cairns
Board a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef for a full day of snorkeling
Add This In Depth ExcursionSnorkeling with a marine biologist
Enhance your time in the world’s largest reef system by opting for a snorkeling adventure with a marine biologist. Learn about the sights and sounds of the Great Barrier Reef from an expert who can teach you more about the animal and plant life you spot in this interactive, aquatic classroom.
-
Day 11: Cairns
Add This In Depth ExcursionKuranda
Take an excursion to the picturesque mountain town of Kuranda, where you’ll learn about traditional Aboriginal culture and customs, along with a guided walk through the rainforest, at the Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout. Then head to the Skyrail gondola, which you’ll board to take a journey through a pristine rainforest that spans Red Peak and Barron Falls stations’ dramatic mountain lookouts.
-
Day 12: Depart for home
-
Day 1: Fly to New Zealand
-
Day 2: Cross the International Date Line
-
Day 3: Auckland
Meet your Tour Director at the airportTravel to Rotorua
Watch a sheep and dog show at the Agrodome
-
Day 4: Auckland • Rotorua
Take a Rotorua duck tour
Take a tour of a Rotorua geothermal park
Ride the Skyline Gondola
Learn about jade carving in a local craftsman's shop
Visit a Māori Village for a traditional hāngi feast
-
Day 5: Rotorua
Travel to Auckland
Take a tour of AucklandAdd This In Depth ExcursionAll Blacks Experience rugby showcase or Wētā Workshop Unleashed
Choose between two memorable, hands-on experiences: the All Blacks Experience rugby showcase or Wētā Workshop Unleashed. In the former, you’ll learn about rugby’s history and get to test your skills firsthand in an interactive play zone. At Wētā Workshop Unleashed, you’ll journey into the world of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi filmmaking as you explore make-believe film sets and participate in a hands-on crafting workshop.
-
Day 6: Rotorua • Auckland • Sydney
Fly to Sydney
-
Day 7: Sydney
Guided sightseeing of Sydney
Take a tour of Sydney
Visit the National Opal Collection
Take a boat ride across the harbor to Watsons Bay
Visit the Hyde Park Barracks Museum
Visit the Sydney Tower
Take a walking tour of the Rocks neighborhood
-
Day 8: Sydney
Add This In Depth ExcursionSydney Harbor & Opera House
Explore the Sydney Harbor area from multiple perspectives, starting with the arched Harbor Bridge and its stunning pylon lookout offering 360-degree views. Then, take in the sea and sky—perhaps upside down—while enjoying rollercoasters and other rides at the iconic Luna Park. Lunch is included (just try not to lose it!). Finally, take a tour of the world-famous Opera House where you’ll go behind the scenes and see what it takes to get a live production on stage.
-
Day 9: Sydney • Cairns
Fly to Cairns
-
Day 10: Cairns
Board a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef for a full day of snorkeling
Add This In Depth ExcursionSnorkeling with a marine biologist
Enhance your time in the world’s largest reef system by opting for a snorkeling adventure with a marine biologist. Learn about the sights and sounds of the Great Barrier Reef from an expert who can teach you more about the animal and plant life you spot in this interactive, aquatic classroom.
-
Day 11: Cairns
Add This In Depth ExcursionKuranda
Take an excursion to the picturesque mountain town of Kuranda, where you’ll learn about traditional Aboriginal culture and customs, along with a guided walk through the rainforest, at the Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout. Then head to the Skyrail gondola, which you’ll board to take a journey through a pristine rainforest that spans Red Peak and Barron Falls stations’ dramatic mountain lookouts.
-
Day 12: Depart for home