Down Under Discovery
Magnificent panoramas and exciting cities await you on this tour to Australia and New Zealand. Visit Auckland, Rotorua, Mount Cook, Fjordland National Park and Queensland in New Zealand. Explore Melbourne, Alice Springs and Uluru in the Outback, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef before ending the journey in Sydney with visits to the Opera House and Sydney Harbor.
The 20 day Down Under Discovery tour from Globus Tours is a wide-ranging journey through Australia and beyond. This tour is perfect for those who are new to the area or experienced travelers looking to dive deeper down under. Your lifelong dream of an extended vacation in Australia is about to come true and there's no better tour to choose than the 20 day Down Under Discovery tour from Globus Tours.
20 Days • fr. $9,487
Tour Includes
- Sightseeing in Auckland with dinner atop the Sky Tower
- Visit the Waitomo Glowworm Caves
- Enjoy a Maori cultural performance and Hangi dinner in Rotorua
- Visit visit Te Puia, the Agrodome, and Rainbow Springs and get a special behind the-scenes visit at the Kiwi Encounter
- Enjoy sighseeing in Mount Cook National Park and visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Center
- Visit Fiordland National Park and cruise on Milford Sound and on Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown
- Have dinner & farm demonstration at Walter Peak High Country Farm
- Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Melbourne including a visit to the Fitzroy Gardens followed bu lunch at the Colonial Tramnar Restaurant
- Take a sightseeing tour of Alice Springs including a visit tot he School of the Air and the old Telegraph Station.
- Enjoy an Outback barbecue and meet members of the Warlpiri Aboriginal tribe
- Enjoy views of the magnificent Kata TJjuta (the Olgas), a geological splendor of some 36 brilliant domes. There is time to take photos before returning to “Sunset Strip” for a drink and to view the changing colors of the rock.
- From Cairn take a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef and enjoy a choice of activities such as snorkeling or a semi-submersible watercraft.
- Sightseeing in Sydney including a visit to the Opera House, the botanic gardens and the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club followed by lunch at the North Bondi Returned Servicemen’s Leagues Club
- Take a Sydney Harbour cruise and enjoy a farewell dinner at Waterfront restaurant overlooking Sydney Harbour
Not Included
- Tips for personal services and to tour directors and drivers are not included in tour cost and left to your discretion.
- All items of a personal nature (room service, beverages, telephone charges, laundry, special food requests, etc.) and meals not specified on the tour itinerary are not included and must be paid by the client.
- All rates exclude airfare unless expressly noted. The following flights are not included in the package price and must be purchased additionally from Globus: Rotorua to Christchurch; Queenstown to Melbourne; Melbourne to Alice Springs; Alice Springs to Ayers Rock; Ayers Rock to Cairns; Cairns to Sydney. Call for details.
Meal Inclusions
- Daily American breakfast (except Day 1)
- 4 lunches
- 6 dinners including a traditional Hangi dinner in Rotorua and an Outback barbecue in Alice Springs, and farewell dinner in Sydney.
Hotel Details
- The Skycity Hotel in Auckland (2 nights)
- Novotel Rotorua Lakeside Hotel in Rotorua (2 nights)
- The Hermitage Hotel in Mount Cook National Park (1 night)
- Copthorne Hotel and Resort in Queenstown (3 nights)
- Novotel Melbourne on Collins Hotel in Melbourne (3 nights)
- Doubletree by Hilton in Alice Springs (1 night)
- Desert Gardens Hotel in Uluru (Ayers Rock) (1 night)
- Pacific Hotel in Cairns (3 nights)
- Swissotel in Sydney (3 nights)
Day 1
ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Location Information Description
Auckland, New Zealand
Kia Ora—welcome to New Zealand! Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in. Please schedule flights to arrive by 4:30 pm in order to attend this evening’s welcome briefing and dinner.
Dinner this evening is at Sky Tower, offering amazing 360-degree views of the city and harbor below.
Dinner
SKYCITY HOTEL
Day 2
AUCKLAND Location Information Description
Auckland, New Zealand
Start your day with a sightseeing tour of Auckland, the “City of Sails.” See bustling Queen Street, the city’s oldest park, Auckland Domain, and historic Parnell Village. The remainder of the day is yours to explore more of this vibrant city. You may want to visit the impressive Auckland Museum or visit the trendy boutiques and cafés on Chancery and High Streets. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining.
Breakfast
SKYCITY HOTEL
Day 3
AUCKLAND–WAITOMO–ROTORUA Location Information Description
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
Depart Auckland and travel through the green pastoral region of Waikato to the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Experience a guided tour through the limestone chambers and passages of the cavern. Take a silent boat trip through Glowworm Grotto as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling.
Location Information Description
Rotorua, New Zealand
In the afternoon, continue over the Mamaku Ranges to Rotorua. Enjoy a traditional Hangi dinner this evening, followed by an authentic Maori Cultural Performance.
Breakfast, Dinner
MILLENNIUM HOTEL ROTORUA
Day 4
ROTORUA Location Information Description
Rotorua, New Zealand
This morning, visit Rainbow Springs to view native bush and wildlife, including a visit behind the scenes at the Kiwi Encounter to see each stage a kiwi chick goes through before being released into the national parks: incubation, hatching, and rearing. Kiwi Encounter is New Zealand’s largest and most successful Kiwi conservation center. Your visit here helps support the National Kiwi Trust.
Then, visit the Agrodome to learn more about one of the country’s major industries—sheep!
Location Information Description
Te Puia, New Zealand
Continue on to Te Puia, Rotorua’s most prominent thermal area with New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces.
Location Information Description
Rotorua, New Zealand
The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. You may wish to board a floatplane for flightseeing of this beautiful area, join a New Zealand family for dinner in their home, or indulge yourself in the relaxing hot springs, sumptuous spa treatments, and massage therapies at the Polynesian Spa.
Breakfast
MILLENNIUM HOTEL ROTORUA
Day 5
ROTORUA–CHRISTCHURCH–MOUNT COOK Location Information Description
Mount Cook, New Zealand
Fly to Christchurch, the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island, then travel south to magnificent Mount Cook National Park, named after New Zealand’s highest peak. Weather permitting, you may wish to join a stargazing program this evening. The Mount Cook region offers some of the darkest skies in the world—perfect for viewing the southern night sky.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Spend the evening at the historic Hermitage Hotel, located at the base of Mount Cook. Enjoy splendid views, fresh mountain air, and all the modern amenities of this first-class property.
Breakfast, Dinner
THE HERMITAGE HOTEL
Day 6
MOUNT COOK–QUEENSTOWN Location Information Description
Mount Cook, New Zealand
Start the day with a visit to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Center for unique insight into the history and culture of this region. Then, time to explore on your own. You may wish to enjoy a scenic walk or perhaps an optional scenic flight that lands on nearby Tasman Glacier.
Location Information Description
Queenstown, New Zealand
Continue to Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.”
Breakfast
COPTHORNE HOTEL & RESORT QUEENSTOWN LAKEFRONT
Day 7
QUEENSTOWN - EXCURSION TO MILFORD SOUND Location Information Description
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Today, travel into Fjordland National Park through the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Boasting some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, this region of New Zealand has been honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. cruise on the fiord, with sheer rock walls rising thousands of feet from the water’s great depths.
Location Information Description
Queenstown, New Zealand
Overnight in Queenstown.
Breakfast
COPTHORNE HOTEL & RESORT QUEENSTOWN LAKEFRONT
Day 8
Location Information Description
Queenstown, New Zealand
A full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Consider an optional visit to a local vineyard and sample some of the prize vintages, or maybe take a thrilling jetboat ride on the Dart River. Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you plan your day to explore, shop, and enjoy optional activities.
This evening, take a scenic gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak where you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and breathtaking views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkable Mountains. Make sure to have your camera ready for fantastic photo opportunities.
Breakfast, Dinner
COPTHORNE HOTEL & RESORT QUEENSTOWN LAKEFRONT
Day 9
QUEENSTOWN–MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Location Information Description
Melbourne, Australia
This morning, board your flight across the Tasman Sea to Melbourne.
Breakfast
NOVOTEL MELBOURNE ON COLLINS
Day 10
MELBOURNE Location Information Description
Melbourne, Australia
Today’s sightseeing tour includes landmarks such as Parliament House and the Shrine of Remembrance, a tribute to Australia’s war heroes. Visit beautiful Fitzroy Gardens, then drive past the Royal Botanic Gardens. You’ll soon discover the different architectural influences of this city as you see the Victorian Arts Centre and other buildings of significance. Next, enjoy a unique lunch experience aboard the historic Colonial Tramcar Restaurant as it winds its way through the streets of Melbourne. Tonight’s optional excursion to see the world-famous Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is highly recommended.
Breakfast, Lunch
NOVOTEL MELBOURNE ON COLLINS
Day 11
MELBOURNE Location Information Description
Melbourne, Australia
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this multicultural and cosmopolitan city. Dine at a local restaurant and immerse yourself in Melbourne’s passionate food and wine scene or walk along Chapel and Brunswick Streets, famous for great shopping. Take a trip out of town to sample award-winning wines in the Yarra Valley, or drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the “Twelve Apostles.”
Breakfast
NOVOTEL MELBOURNE ON COLLINS
Day 12
MELBOURNE–ALICE SPRINGS Location Information Description
Alice Springs, Australia
Today, fly to the Outback where sightseeing includes a visit to the School of the Air to learn how education services are provided in remote regions. Also, visit the Old Telegraph Station to discover how early settlers developed communications. Tonight, a unique Outback Barbecue features typical campfire fare and awe-inspiring Outback ambiance.
Breakfast, Dinner
CROWNE PLAZA ALICE SPRINGS
Day 13
ALICE SPRINGS–ULURU (AYERS ROCK) Location Information Description
Alice Springs, Australia
This morning, visit remarkable Standley Chasm, a spectacular geologial and cultural icon. Learn the history of this land as well have the chance to walk “the Gap of Water,” a striking geological formation.
Location Information Description
Ayers Rock, Australia
Later, fly to the “Center of Australia.” Upon arrival, travel to a popular lookout to enjoy views of the magnificent Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a geological splendor of some 36 brilliant domes. There is time to take photos before returning to “Sunset Strip” for a DRINK and the changing colors of the rock.
Breakfast
DESERT GARDENS HOTEL
Day 14
ULURU (AYERS ROCK)–CAIRNS Location Information Description
Ayers Rock, Australia
Your Outback adventure continues this morning. For an unforgettable experience, you may choose to rise early for an optional camel ride to watch the sunrise at Uluru. Then, enjoy a TOUR around the base of the rock, learning of its significance to the Anangu Aboriginal people. For an even more amazing view of Uluru, perhaps take an optional aircraft ride.
Location Information Description
Cairns, Australia
Later, fly to Cairns, “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef,” one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Breakfast
PACIFIC HOTEL
Day 15
CAIRNS - EXCURSION TO THE OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF Location Information Description
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Today, prepare for the experience of a lifetime when you board a catamaran and CRUISE to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Explore this underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of color and brilliance. Choose to snorkel, take a glass bottom boat tour, view the reef from an underwater observatory, watch fish feeding, and enjoy a marine touch tank.
Location Information Description
Cairns, Australia
Return to Cairns, where your evening is at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch
PACIFIC HOTEL
Day 16
CAIRNS Location Information Description
Cairns, Australia
A full day at leisure in this tropical paradise. For a truly amazing experience, consider our optional trip to Kuranda via the old scenic rail route. See magnificent scenery from the comfort of a restored, historic mountain train. For the return journey, you may choose to take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway—or maybe spend the day in the magical Daintree Rainforest, thought to be the planet’s oldest surviving tropical rainforest.
Breakfast
PACIFIC HOTEL
Day 17
CAIRNS–SYDNEY Location Information Description
Cairns, Australia
This morning, enjoy a special visit to Koala Gardens for your chance to see koalas doing what they do best—eating, sleeping, and looking adorable. There’s also the chance to meet Australia’s other native animals. Before your visit ends, you’ll have your picture taken with a koala—the perfect souvenir!
Location Information Description
Sydney/Australia, Australia
Later, fly to Sydney, Australia’s largest city.
Breakfast
SWISSOTEL SYDNEY
Day 18
SYDNEY Location Information Description
Sydney/Australia, Australia
Explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Visit the Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a guided tour of its interior and theaters. Travel to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair in the city’s BOTANIC GARDENS for a great photo opportunity and sweeping views of the harbor, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. Visit world-famous Bondi Beach for an insider’s tour of Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club with one of the lifesavers.
Lunch today is at the historic North Bondi Returned Servicemen’s Leagues Club, located on Bondi Beach. Learn about the history of this special place and the courageous “Rats of Tobruk” while enjoying sweeping waterfront views and delicious food. Afterward, a CRUISE on Sydney Harbour highlights some of the city’s best views.
Breakfast, Lunch
SWISSOTEL SYDNEY
Day 19
Location Information Description
Sydney/Australia, Australia
Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Perhaps join our optional excursion to the Blue Mountains for a wilderness experience or to the Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s leading wine-growing regions. You can even climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge! Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you make the most of this exciting city.
This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant, overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Breakfast, Dinner
SWISSOTEL SYDNEY
Day 20
SYDNEY Location Information Description
Sydney/Australia, Australia
Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast
Important information:
Important Information
Cancellation Policy
- 60-22 days prior to commencement of services: 20% of total price*
- 21-8 days prior to commencement of services: 30% of total price*
- 7-1 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price*
- On departure day and later: 100% of total price*
- *Total price does not include any Instant Purchase Air or Instant Purchase Air service fees, which are non-refundable after 24 hours from purchase. Intra-vacation air is non-refundable after final payment.
- Cancellation fees may also apply to any additional services, including extra night accommodations, independently supplied services, and optional excursions reserved prior to, during, and after the tour. If flight changes, including, but not limited to, flight cancellations or name changes, are requested after full land and air deposits are received, revision fees, change fees, or airline cancellation fees will apply.
- In many instances, airline revision or change fees can be up to $300, but in some instances may be up to 100% of the ticket price. Cancellation penalties will be quoted at time of cancellation.
- All cancellations must be received in writing prior to tour departure. The cancellation policy will apply according to the date that the cancellation notification is received. The MINIMUM cancellation penalty is the deposit amount.
- The purchase to trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
Terms and Conditions
- Land only “from price” is per person based on two people sharing a room together and does not include airfare unless expressly stated.
- All prices are in US Dollars.
- A $250 non-refundable, non-transferable, per-person, per-vacation deposit is required to reserve space for you, with some limited exceptions, as noted below. Payment of the deposit indicates you have read and accepted theseall Terms & Conditions. Your booking is not confirmed until the deposit payment is processed and you receive a confirmation invoice.
- Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure, with some limited exceptions, as noted below. Within the final payment date, payment in full is required at time of booking to reserve space. Reservations (land, cruise, and air) are canceled if final payment is not received by the due date. The payment policy may vary for group reservations.
- Additional deposits or payments are required for international air added to the start and/or end of your vacation and/or for intra-vacation air, as specified in the itinerary (“air-inclusive vacations”). Air-inclusive vacation pricing is guaranteed upon receipt of full land plus air deposit or land deposit plus full airfare price, depending on type of airfare purchased (Flex-Air or Instant Purchase Air).
- For complete terms and conditions please visit the Globus Terms & Conditions for more information.