Australia Tours

From the outback, reef, and cosmopolitan cities of Australia to the geysers, fiords, and Maori culture of New Zealand, experience the very best on this extraordinary New Zealand and Australia tour. Looking for an all-Australia or all-New Zealand Journey? Spotlight on Australia 2010 features the first 12 days of Grand Australia & New Zealand; Spotlight on New Zealand 2010, features the last 9 days of Grand Australia & New Zealand. 2010 Details. Tauck's ultimate 20-day New Zealand and Australia tour includes desert Outback, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, glacier-capped mountains, dramatic fjords, and cosmopolitan cities. Bring plenty of film to capture the amazing sights of the Great Barrier Reef, the dramatic waters of Milford Sound, and the setting sun on Uluru (Ayers Rock). From koalas to kangaroos, jet boat rides to formal garden tours, elegance in the Outback, and a Maori cultural experience, you get a full sampling of Down Under culture – plus private charter flights throughout New Zealand! Looking for an all-Australia or all-New Zealand Journey? Spotlight on Australia 2010 features the first 12 days of Grand Australia & New Zealand; Spotlight on New Zealand 2010, features the last 9 days of Grand Australia & New Zealand. 2010 Details.

Begin your incredible 22-day Australia and New Zealand tour in the natural areas of Australian cities Cairns, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. Then, travel to the more populous cities in beautiful Australia and New Zealand. Your guided tour is sure to give you a whole new understanding of the cultures of Australia and New Zealand. Trip costs include: Round-trip air transportation with a major airline, airport transfers and escorts 5 flights in Australia and New Zealand The services of a professional Tour Director A licensed local city guide in Alice Springs, Olgas, Ayers Rock, Melbourne, Sydney, Christchurch and Auckland 19 nights accommodation in comfortable, well-located hotels with twin beds and private bath or shower All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling and local taxes Buffet breakfast (B) daily 1 lunch (L) 3 three-course dinners, including wine or beer (D) Private deluxe motorcoach Guided sightseeing and entrance fees to select sights as described Go Ahead travel gift and membership in our World Traveler Club, which includes credit toward your next tour Walking on tour: Most of your sightseeing on the Australia & New Zealand tour is done by private motorcoach. In your free time, the cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Christchurch and Auckland are walkable, but you may want to break up the time with rides on the trams in Melbourne, monorail and buses in Sydney, interchange in Auckland and buses in Christchurch.

Explore fascinating Australia during this captivating vacation. From the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef, on this vacation you experience the beauty of Australia’s unique scenery and the adventure of its cities. Your trip begins in Brisbane, where you drive to the Sunshine Coast. Here, visit the Australia Zoo of Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin fame, and come face to face with many of Australia’s native animals. Then fly north to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Board a catamaran and experience Australia’s Great Barrier Reef firsthand on Green Island, one of the many tropical islands on the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel, take a glass-bottom boat tour, or walk through the island’s rainforest. Fly to Darwin and experience the rich Aboriginal heritage of Kakadu National Park with its 7,300 square miles of unspoiled waterways. Cruise waterways where you may view crocodiles and walk ancient trails to see Aboriginal rock petroglyphs. Tour Darwin then travel to Alice Springs to discover life in the Outback. Enjoy a tour around the base of Ayers Rock and witness the changing colors of the Rock at sunset. Then board The Ghan for an overnight train journey to Adelaide and for fascinating perspectives of the Outback. Take a city tour of Adelaide and enjoy leisure time before traveling outside Adelaide to sample some of Australia’s premium wines at the beautiful vineyards of the Barossa Valley. In Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, enjoy a sightseeing tour and see beautiful Fitzroy Gardens. Drive to Philip Island for the Penguin Parade, where every evening at dusk, the Little Penguins come home from the sea. From the waves, across the beach, and to the sand dunes, the Little Penguins can almost be touched as they waddle to their burrows. It is the nightly ritual of these little flightless birds, which will enthrall you as you observe from the exclusive viewing platform. Next, fly to Hobart, Tasmania, and enjoy an excursion to Port Arthur, where the first convicts arrived in the 1830s. In Tasmania, you also have an opportunity to see the famous Tasmanian Devil, a rare marsupial wolf, at a wildlife sanctuary. Then fly to Sydney, the largest city in Australia. In Sydney, cruise on Sydney Harbour and enjoy a guided tour that includes the Sydney Opera House, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. A full day of leisure in Sydney offers you an opportunity to join an optional excursion to the Blue Mountains, or you can climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge. A special farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant with fantastic views of Sydney’s highlights is a perfect way to end this spectacular Australia vacation. It’s a trip of a lifetime!

Adelaide, Cairns, Hobart, Sunshine Coast, Kakadu National Park, Darwin, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Melbourne, Sydney

Explore fascinating Australia during this captivating vacation. From the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef, on this vacation you experience the beauty of Australia’s unique scenery and the adventure of its cities. Begin your trip with three nights in the tropical paradise of Fiji before continuing to Brisbane, Australia. From Brisbane, drive to the Sunshine Coast, where you visit the Australia Zoo of Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin fame. Come face to face with many of Australia’s native animals. Then fly north to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Board a catamaran and experience Australia’s Great Barrier Reef firsthand on Green Island, one of the Great Barrier Reef’s many tropical islands. Snorkel, take a glass-bottom boat tour, or walk through the island’s rainforest. Fly to Darwin and experience the rich Aboriginal heritage of Kakadu National Park with its 7,300 square miles of unspoiled waterways. Cruise waterways where you may view crocodiles and walk ancient trails to see Aboriginal rock petroglyphs. Tour Darwin then travel to Alice Springs to discover life in the Outback. Enjoy a tour around the base of Ayers Rock and witness the changing colors of the Rock at sunset. Then board The Ghan for an overnight train journey to Adelaide and for fascinating perspectives of the Outback. Take a city tour of Adelaide and enjoy leisure time before traveling outside Adelaide to sample some of Australia’s premium wines at the beautiful vineyards of the Barossa Valley. In Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, enjoy a sightseeing tour and see beautiful Fitzroy Gardens. Drive to Philip Island for the Penguin Parade, where every evening at dusk, the Little Penguins come home from the sea. From the waves, across the beach, and to the sand dunes, the Little Penguins can almost be touched as they waddle to their burrows. It is the nightly ritual of these little flightless birds, which will enthrall you as you observe from the exclusive viewing platform. Next, fly to Hobart, Tasmania, and enjoy an excursion to Port Arthur, where the first convicts arrived in the 1830s. In Tasmania, you also have an opportunity to see the famous Tasmanian Devil, a rare marsupial wolf, at a wildlife sanctuary. Then fly to Sydney, the largest city in Australia. In Sydney, cruise on Sydney Harbour and enjoy a guided tour that includes the Sydney Opera House, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. A full day of leisure in Sydney offers you an opportunity to join an optional excursion to the Blue Mountains, or you can climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge. A special farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant with fantastic views of Sydney’s highlights is a perfect way to end this spectacular Fiji and Australia vacation. It’s a trip of a lifetime!

Adelaide, Cairns, Hobart, Sunshine Coast, Kakadu National Park, Darwin, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Melbourne, Sydney

Experience the best of Australia on this thrilling vacation. Begin your trip in Cairns, gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, where you visit a wildlife park and see Australia’s native animals including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and crocodiles. Cruise to one of the Great Barrier Reef’s many tropical islands for a day at leisure. Snorkel, take a glass-bottom boat tour, or walk through the cool rainforest. Next, fly to the Outback, where Ayers Rock and the magnificent Olgas, a geological splendor of some 30 brilliant monoliths, await. Witness the changing colors of the Rock. See how Outback locals live in Alice Springs; visit Anzac Hill, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and a camel farm, and experience an Aboriginal “Dreamtime” tour. Then, fly to Adelaide and enjoy a city tour plus a full day of leisure. On to the Barossa Valley to see its quaint Bavarian villages and stunning vineyard scenery; pay a visit to a local winery. Hop aboard The Overland train and travel to Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city and home of the Parliament House and Shrine of Remembrance. On your sightseeing tour, visit Fitzroy Gardens and stop at an opal company to see how these beautiful gemstones are mined. Later, travel to Phillip Island to see the world-famous penguin parade. Continue to Canberra, Australia’s capital, then cross through sheep and cattle country with a stop at an authentic sheep station. Finally, arrive in Sydney with a guided sightseeing tour and a cruise on Sydney Harbour. Your Australia vacation ends with a day at leisure followed by a farewell dinner overlooking Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. This Australian adventure is a vacation of a lifetime!

Adelaide, Cairns, Canberra, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Melbourne, Sydney

This in-depth vacation is truly the South Pacific vacation of a lifetime! You experience the fun of Australia’s and New Zealand’s great cities, as well as the unique and stunning beauty offered by its landscapes, national parks, and native animals. You also learn about life in the Outback and about the Aboriginal and Maori cultures. Begin your trip in Brisbane, Australia, and drive to the Sunshine Coast, where you visit the Australia Zoo of Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin fame. Come face to face with many of Australia’s native animals. Then fly north to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Board a catamaran and experience Australia’s Great Barrier Reef firsthand on Green Island, one of the many tropical islands on the Great Barrier Reef. You can snorkel, take a glass-bottom boat tour, or walk through the island’s rainforest. Enjoy leisure time in Cairns then fly to Darwin and the rich Aboriginal heritage of Kakadu National Park. Cruise waterways where you may view crocodiles and walk ancient trails to see Aboriginal rock petroglyphs. Tour Darwin then travel to Alice Springs to discover life in the Outback. Enjoy a tour around the base of Ayers Rock and witness the changing colors of the Rock at sunset. Board The Ghan for an overnight train journey to Adelaide and for fascinating perspectives of the Outback. Take a city tour of Adelaide and enjoy leisure time before traveling outside Adelaide to sample some of Australia’s premium wines at the beautiful vineyards of the Barossa Valley. Fly to Melbourne and enjoy a sightseeing tour including beautiful Fitzroy Gardens. Drive to Philip Island for the Penguin Parade, where every evening at dusk, the Little Penguins come home from the sea at Phillip Island. From the waves, across the beach, and to the sand dunes, the Little Penguins can almost be touched as they waddle to their burrows. It is the nightly ritual of these little flightless birds, which will enthrall you as you observe from the exclusive viewing platform.Next, fly to Hobart, Tasmania, and enjoy an excursion to Port Arthur, where the first convicts arrived in the 1830s. In Tasmania, you also have an opportunity to see the famous Tasmanian Devil, a rare marsupial wolf, at a wildlife sanctuary. Then fly to Sydney, the largest city in Australia. In Sydney, cruise on Sydney Harbour and enjoy a guided tour that includes the Sydney Opera House, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. After plenty of leisure time in Sydney, leave Australia and fly to Christchurch, New Zealand, for a sightseeing tour. Travel through Mount Cook National Park, named for the highest peak in New Zealand, then enjoy views of snowcapped peaks, waterfalls, and rugged mountain scenery as you head to Queenstown. Visit Fiordland National Park, New Zealand’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Park. Enjoy extraordinary scenic beauty as you cruise on Milford Sound and witness the sheer rock walls rising thousands of feet from the water’s depths.After leisure time in Queenstown, fly to Rotorua, the center of the Maori culture in the heart of New Zealand’s geothermal wonderland. See Rainbow Springs to view native bush and wildlife, and experience Maori culture at a traditional Hangi dinner and Maori concert. Also visit Te Puia, Rotorua’s most prominent thermal area with New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. Travel from Rotorua to Auckland and stop at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves to enjoy the serene atmosphere as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling. In Auckland, a guided sightseeing tour includes Mount Eden for magnificent views—the perfect ending to your unforgettable Australia and New Zealand vacation.

Cairns, Mount Cook, Kakadu National Park, Rotorua, Darwin, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Melbourne, Waitomo, Adelaide, Christchurch, Queenstown, Hobart, Sunshine Coast, Auckland, Sydney

Destinations

Brisbane, Lockyer Valley, Great Barrier Reef Islands, Daintree Rainforest, Blue Mountains, Sydney

Your Itinerary Includes

• Internal coach class air in Australia
• Round trip airport transfers
• 2 nights Brisbane
• 3 day car rental
• 2 nights Lockyer Valley
• 4 nights Great Barrier Reef Island
• 3 nights Daintree Rainforest
• Daintree Rainforest full day tour
• Transfer Sydney to Blue Mountains
• 2 nights Blue Mountains
• Private transfer Blue Mountains to Sydney
• 2 nights Sydney
• 4 breakfasts 1 lunch (Deluxe option also includes 3 additional lunches and 4 dinners)

Destinations

Melbourne, Port Campbell or Warrnambool, Robe, Adelaide, Lamington National Park, Fraser Island, Brisbane

Your Itinerary Includes

• Internal coach class air in Australia
• Round trip private airport transfers
• 2 nights Melbourne
• Phillip Island Little Penguin tour
• 1 night Port Campbell or Warrnambool
• 1 night Robe
• 2 night Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne to Adelaide including: 1 night Port Campbell or Warrnambool 1 night Robe
• 3 nights Adelaide
• Kangaroo Island full day tour
• 2 nights Lamington National Park
• 2 nights Fraser Island
• Frazer Island full day tour
• 2 nights Brisbane
• Sunshine Coast full day tour
• 6 breakfasts 4 lunches

This in-depth vacation is truly the South Pacific vacation of a lifetime! You experience the fun of Australia’s and New Zealand’s great cities, as well as the unique and stunning beauty offered by its landscapes, national parks, and native animals. You also learn about life in the Outback and about the Aboriginal and Maori cultures. Begin your trip with three nights in the tropical paradise of Fiji before continuing to Brisbane, Australia. From Brisbane, drive to the Sunshine Coast, where you visit the Australia Zoo of Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin fame. Come face to face with many of Australia’s native animals. Then fly north to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Board a catamaran and experience Australia’s Great Barrier Reef firsthand on Green Island, one of the many Great Barrier Reef’s tropical islands. Snorkel, take a glass-bottom boat tour, or walk through the island’s rainforest. Enjoy leisure time in Cairns then fly to Darwin and the rich Aboriginal heritage of Kakadu National Park. Cruise waterways where you may view crocodiles and walk ancient trails to see Aboriginal rock petroglyphs. Tour Darwin then travel to Alice Springs to discover life in the Outback. Enjoy a tour around the base of Ayers Rock and witness the changing colors of the Rock at sunset. Board The Ghan for an overnight train journey to Adelaide and for fascinating perspectives of the Outback. Take a city tour of Adelaide and enjoy leisure time before traveling outside Adelaide to sample some of Australia’s premium wines at the beautiful vineyards of the Barossa Valley. Fly to Melbourne to enjoy a sightseeing tour and drive to Philip Island for the Penguin Parade. Every evening at dusk, the Little Penguins come home from the sea at Phillip Island. From the waves, across the beach, and to the sand dunes, the Little Penguins can almost be touched as they waddle to their burrows. It is the nightly ritual of these little flightless birds, which will enthrall you as you observe from the exclusive viewing platform. Next, fly to Hobart, Tasmania, and enjoy an excursion to Port Arthur, where the first convicts arrived in the 1830s. In Tasmania, you also have an opportunity to see the famous Tasmanian Devil, a rare marsupial wolf, at a wildlife sanctuary. Then fly to Sydney, the largest city in Australia. In Sydney, cruise on Sydney Harbour and enjoy a guided tour that includes the Sydney Opera House, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. After plenty of leisure time in Sydney, leave Australia and fly to Christchurch, New Zealand, for a sightseeing tour. Travel through Mount Cook National Park, named for the highest peak in New Zealand, then enjoy views of snowcapped peaks, waterfalls, and rugged mountain scenery as you head to Queenstown. Visit Fiordland National Park, New Zealand’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Park. Enjoy extraordinary scenic beauty as you cruise on Milford Sound and marvel at the sheer rock walls rising thousands of feet from the water’s depths.After leisure time in Queenstown, fly to Rotorua, the center of the Maori culture in the heart of New Zealand geothermal wonderland. See Rainbow Springs to view native bush and wildlife, and experience Maori culture at a traditional Hangi dinner and Maori concert. Also visit Te Puia, Rotorua’s most prominent thermal area with New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. Travel from Rotorua to Auckland and stop at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves en route to Auckland. Enjoy the serene atmosphere as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling. In Auckland, a guided sightseeing tour includes Mount Eden for magnificent views—the perfect ending to your unforgettable Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand vacation.

Cairns, Mount Cook, Kakadu National Park, Rotorua, Darwin, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Melbourne, Waitomo, Adelaide, Christchurch, Queenstown, Hobart, Sunshine Coast, Auckland, Sydney

Destinations

Melbourne, Hobart, Cairns, Sydney

Your Itinerary Includes

• Internal coach class air in Australia
• Round trip airport transfers
• 3 nights Melbourne
• Savannah Walkabout full day tour
• 3 nights Hobart
• Port Arthur Day tour
• 3 nights Cairns
• Great Barrier Reef full day tour
• 3 nights Sydney
• Half day city sights
• 2 lunches

Featuring: Queensland * 11 nights twin share accomodation * Breakfasts (B) and Dinners (D) - as per itinerary * Free Contiki 'Travellers Guide' information book * Free Contiki document wallet

Guided Package Includes Flights LAX-Sydney, Melbourne-LAX Intra-Australia flights Airline fuel surcharges 10 nights First Class accommodations 4 nights The Grace 3 nights Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort 3 nights Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens All transfers Breakfast daily Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach Services of English-speaking local guides Entrance fees per itinerary

Featuring: Queensland and New South Wales, including Coffs Harbour, Surfers Paradise and Fraser Island * 11 nights twin share accommodation * Breakfasts (B) and Dinners (D) - as per itinerary * Free Contiki 'Travellers Checks' information book * Free Contiki Document Wallet

Destinations

Sydney, Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains, Lord Howe Island

Your Itinerary Includes

• Internal coach class air in Australia
• Round trip airport transfers
• 2 nights Sydney
• 5 day car rental (automatic)
• 2 nights Hunter Valley
• 2 nights Blue Mountains
• 4 nights Lord Howe Island
• 2 nights Sydney
• 4 breakfasts 4 dinners

Destinations

Whitsunday Islands, Sydney

Your Itinerary Includes

• Internal coach class air in Australia
• Round trip launch from Hamilton Island to Hayman
• 4 nights Hayman
• Sydney round trip private airport transfers
• 4 nights Sydney at Four Seasons Hotel
• Sydney half day small group tour
• 8 breakfasts (low season) 1 lunch