Day 1 Departure from London Heathrow
Your adventure starts at Heathrow. Here you meet your Tour Manager and companions whilst enjoying complimentary drinks and snacks in the Executive Lounge before your scheduled Qantas flight to Bangkok.
Meals: Inflight
Day 2 Arrival into Bangkok
There’s time to relax before this evening’s welcome drinks. Many friendships have begun like this!
Meals: Inflight
Hotel: Amari Watergate
Day 3 Bangkok
Today you visit the staggeringly ornate, beautiful Royal Grand Palace, whose Emerald Buddha is Thailand's most holy image. Nearby Wat Phra Keo temple has some of Asia’s finest murals – and the massive reclining Buddha which takes up a whole building. Relax for the rest of your day.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Amari Watergate
Day 4 Bangkok to Christchurch
Laze by the pool, hunt for bargains or take a trip on the river: a unique experience before your Qantas flight via Sydney to Christchurch.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Arrival into Christchurch
Christchurch – the Garden City – is rather like England. Why not take a tour in one of the restored antique trams? it’s the perfect way to see the city.
Meals: Inflight, Dinner
Hotel: Heritage
Day 6 Christchurch
This morning you tour Christchurch. The high point – literally – is the Sign of the Takahe, an astonishing castle with spectacular views. The Botanic gardens with the river Avon running through them are quite lovely. Your afternoon and evening are free.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Heritage
Day 7 Christchurch
Today you’re free to explore the city. Maybe go up Mount Cavendish by cable car where there are viewing terraces and a restaurant, with a wonderful panorama of the city.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Heritage
Day 8 Christchurch to Queenstown
Now it’s South through the great Canterbury Plains to the Fairlie district for a farm tour before lunch. Then, via Mount Cook lookout with spectacular vistas of mountain and sea before reaching Queenstown.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Queenstown Lakeside
Day 9 Queenstown
This morning you visit nearby Arrowtown’s picturesque tree lined streets and miners’ cottages – exactly as they were in the 19th century gold rush. In the afternoon wander through Queenstown or ride a gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak – with a breathtaking view of town and lake.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Queenstown Lakeside
Day 10 Queenstown
Although today is at leisure you could take an optional trip on Milford Sound – a wonderful experience.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Queenstown Lakeside
Day 11 Queenstown
Another day in Queenstown. Ride the rapids on the Shotover Jet, or take a four wheel drive safari over old mining tracks. For an easier day try a garden tour or lakeside stroll. In the evening, you cruise the lake on the coal fired 98-year old steamer 'Earnslaw' to enjoy a slap-up dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Queenstown Lakeside
Day 12 Queenstown to Rotorua
This morning you fly to Auckland then travel to one of New Zealand’s most famous resorts – Rotorua, on the North Island. The rest of your day, relax.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Millennium
Day 13 Rotorua
Today you see Rotorua's famous bath house, steam vents and the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve with its boiling, bubbling mudpools and mighty spurting geysers. Your afternoon is free before dinner and a splendid Maori concert.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Millennium
Day 14 Rotorua to Auckland
New Zealand has one sight which is unique – and today you see it: the astonishing Waitomo glow worm caves lit by thousands of these tiny creatures. Then on to Auckland.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Heritage
Day 15 Auckland
Today has been left completely free for meeting friends, exploring the city or merely relaxing with your fellow travellers.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Heritage
Day 16 Auckland to Sydney
Today there’s plenty of time to stroll down Queen Street for those souvenirs you almost forgot or to meet friends before we leave on our Qantas Sydney.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Four Seasons
Day 17 Sydney
A full day seeing Sydney's greatest sights, including a guided tour of the Opera House a luncheon cruise round the glorious harbour and a visit to Manly.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Four Seasons
Day 18 Sydney
Your day is free. Maybe visit the Blue Mountains, or walk round the Rocks, where convicts built the first Sydney. Great souvenir shops, pubs and restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Four Seasons
Day 19 Sydney
Make the most of the day! There’s so much to do. Climb the Harbour Bridge, take the ferry to Manly or maybe enjoy one of the many restaurants of Darling Harbour.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Four Seasons
Day 20 Sydney to Cairns
We leave for Cairns, in tropical North Queensland. After arriving, maybe stroll round Cairns – there’s a great night market nearby.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Shangri-La Cairns
Day 21 Cairns
Relax by the pool, or explore Cairns. The Pier and Esplanade have lots of artworks, souvenirs and good food.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Shangri-La Cairns
Day 22 Great Barrier Reef
The moment you’ve surely been waiting for. You travel by catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef. At Agincourt Reef our catamaran anchors next to a floating pontoon where you can see the exquisitely colourful marine life via a glass windowed underwater walkway. Snorkelling equipment is provided so you can get even closer. There are optional helicopter flights over the reef.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Shangri-La Cairns
Day 23 Cairns
With so much choice on offer today is free to explore the region. Highly reccommended is an optional trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway through tropical rainforest to the picturesque retreat of Kuranda with its lively markets.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Shangri-La Cairns
Day 24 Cairns to Alice Springs
You fly to Alice Springs in Australia’s Red Centre. Visit the Royal Flying Doctor Base and the Old Telegraph Station, a museum on the site of the springs Alice is named after.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Crowne Plaza
Day 25 Alice Springs to Ayers Rock
You travel to Ayers Rock (Uluru) and learn about its myths and legends. Then we see the nearby Olgas - dramatic red domes sculpted by the elements.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Sails in the Desert
Day 26 Ayers Rock
This morning you take the Rock base tour where your guide tells the legend of Uluru. In the afternoon, you’re free to relax by the pool. Later, you enjoy a sunset experience on the Sounds of Silence dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Sails in the Desert
Day 27 Ayers Rock to Perth
Today we fly to Perth on the banks of the sparkling Swan River.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Parmelia Hilton
Day 28 Perth
Your morning tour explores the beauty of Perth – Kings Park overlooking the city is glorious. Spend your afternoon and evening as you please.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Parmelia Hilton
Day 29 Perth
A day at leisure. Why not take the ferry to Rottnest Island – wonderful beaches and “quokkas” – squirrel-sized marsupials only seen on small islands round here. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Parmelia Hilton
Day 30 Perth
Shop for souvenirs, perhaps, before Qantas flies you via Singapore to London Heathrow.
Meals: Breakfast, Inflight
Day 31 Arrival into London Heathrow
You land in the morning at Heathrow – and your epic voyage ends.
Meals: Inflight