New Zealand epitomizes contrasting scenery and culture and is an ideal country for adventure travel. Explore both islands as you weave your way through New Zealand on this active trip, visiting all the main highlights and many off-the-beaten-track attractions. Maximize your time in out of the way places and yet still marvel at the iconic destinations. Enjoy true wilderness campsites followed by comfortable lodges. Trek through Jurassic-like rain forest, hike along a glacier, climb up volcanic peaks and enjoy fish and chips on the beach. It is this mix which makes New Zealand extraordinary - it is majestic but down to earth, otherworldly yet reassuringly familiar. A range of activities and glacier walking (optional extra) complement the hikes superbly and keep this tour as diverse and exciting as the landscapes traveled!
Long hailed the adrenaline capital of the world, Queenstown, found on New Zealand’s south island, is indeed a playground for adventure evolved from the surrounding ski fields of the Southern Alps. With a population of less than 50,000, Queenstown is a cosy city abounding in charm and genuine hospitality. But thanks to the huge number of visitors that flock to the region each year, it packs more excitement than many international capitals. Though a standard day of sightseeing could very well feature bungy ropes, giant swings and mountain bikes, a culture of arts and culinary delights prevails abundantly for those seeking something more sophisticated, whilst the scenic setting delivers plenty for lovers of nature. The nearby mountain of Bob’s Peak is the perfect example of the diversity offered by things to do in Queenstown, where one could slowly drift up and down by Gondola enjoying local wine and snacks at the top, and another could hike the journey on foot before rushing down at astonishing speeds in the frightening luge. Those on a more spiritual pilgrimage will find solace in the mountains, home to a radical festival of self expression, the country’s oldest crystal shop, and a steel basket sculpture designed to inspire inward reflection and dreams for the future. All the while there will be juicy burgers to eat (featuring decadent stuffings like poached pears and brie cheese), fast cars to drive, and endless fields of snow to plough down. There are very few travelers that can’t find satisfaction here on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
Sydney, the postcard of the Australian dream. Boasting a majestic harbor, irresistible beaches and the very apex of Australian trendy style, Sydney should be high up on the list of destinations for your Australian odyssey. From sky-high buildings and lush parks (making the city more of an actual jungle than a concrete one), to world-renowned beach-bronzing spots and unparalleled nightlife, Sydney tours are eternally cool and endlessly fun.
With so much to do, see and of course taste, you’ll want to jump right in with the sightseeing - and the possibilities are endless. You could spend your days getting an alternative view of the harbor on a ferry, grab a flat white in Surry Hills or maybe even refuel with a classic Sydney brunch at Bills in Darlinghurst. Craving a little more physical action? We like the way you think. Get your surf on and hit the waves at Bondi Beach, hike across Jamison Valley or even get to grips with the great Aussie outdoors with a day trip to the glorious Blue Mountains. All that exploring will likely work up an appetite, which gives you an excuse (not that you need one) to go big on a traditional Australian BBQ dinner. Mmmm.
Often mistaken for the capital of the country, Auckland is New Zealand’s epicenter of culture, found sprawling across the mainland of the north island and surrounding islands of the Hauraki Gulf. The central urban area of Auckland provides all the hallmarks of an international city, with boutique coffee shops, pokey galleries and impressive skyscrapers sitting elegantly beside the boat-filled harbor. Further afield the setting of Auckland changes dramatically, covering protected forests, dormant volcanoes, and rolling hills with views of the city. It’s this diversity that sees people falling in love with City of Sails, staying on to take sunset kayak trips, admire the world’s largest penguin colony and navigate the ‘coast to coast’ walk across the entire country in just 5-hours.
Gallery hoppers will flock between Crown Lynn & Clayworks Museum, Auckland Art Gallery and the Museum of Transport and Technology - taking in art, culture and history is all part of a typical day of Auckland activities. Meanwhile, a calendar of festivals drags in Kiwis and travelers alike, from a lantern festival that illuminates the sky to celebrations of Māori culture, culinary delights and alternative music.
Explore the Australia island state at the meeting point of the Southern, Indian and Pacific oceans. The pristine wilderness and national parks here teem with wildlife and rugged mountain ranges meet the sea with soaring coastal cliffs and crescent beaches carved by the elements.
Shaped by a climate straddling the Roaring Forties latitudes, the Apple Isle has verdant valleys and hills of fertile pastures, vineyards and orchards. Emerging from centuries-old cellar doors and farm gates are award-winning cheeses, premium wines, craft beers and artisanal spirits inspired by the ample natural assets of Tasmania.
An expedition that unites wombats with wine, beaches with brie, and convict ruins with craft beer in a palate-pleasing adventure into the wild heart of Tasmania.
Few places on earth are as beautifully rugged, untamed and enigmatic as the Australian Outback, in the country’s sweltering Northern Territory. This land, characterized by dusty red desert, thermal pools and rock formations, is the ultimate destination to get you falling back in love with mother nature, and the landscape itself will have you pondering if you’ve wandered into a dream. Outback tours in Australia are all about stepping out of your comfort zone: the Australian bush will awaken your wild side, introducing you to the stories and traditions of the Aboriginal culture and getting you to the real, authentic and unedited heart of Australian life.
Feel Free to explore the Southern Hemisphere. Melbourne offers an ideal blend of a vibrant city surrounded by extraordinary landscapes and abundant wildlife – where you can indulge in fine dining and local wineries or hang with irresistibly adorable koalas and kangaroos. Then from Lyttelton tour captivating exhibits in the Air Force Museum before visiting the International Antarctic Centre where you’ll see rescued blue penguins—the world’s smallest species of penguins—and learn about Antarctic explorers. In Napier, nicknamed the “Art Deco Capital of the World,” stroll along its charming streets among the unique architecture or embark on a wine tour of Hawkes Bay and discover a new favorite vintage.