Tour overview

This 22-day escorted tour brings together the highlights of Australia and New Zealand, with a tour director from start to finish and local specialist guides for key experiences. The five long flights between regions are included, so the time on the ground goes to sightseeing rather than travel. You stay in well-located hotels, from the InterContinental in Sydney to a lakeside resort at Tekapo, and 21 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners are included. International flights are not included; the tour starts in Melbourne and ends in Christchurch.

Melbourne opens the tour with a walk through its laneways, arcades and street art, and a free day to explore further, perhaps along the Great Ocean Road. A flight takes you to the Red Centre, where you see Uluru at sunset and sunrise, tour its base with stories of the Anangu people, visit the domes of Kata Tjuta and try dot painting with an Anangu artist. In tropical Cairns, a full day on a catamaran takes you out to the Great Barrier Reef, with snorkelling, an underwater observatory and a semi-submersible for those who prefer to stay dry.

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Four nights in Sydney include a tour of the Opera House, a lunch cruise on the harbour and a guided visit to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with a free day for the Blue Mountains or Bondi. Crossing the Tasman to Auckland, you visit the All Blacks Experience and tour the city's bays and viewpoints, then head south to the Hobbiton movie set and Rotorua, with an evening of Māori culture and a visit to the National Kiwi Hatchery.

The South Island is the grand finale. From Queenstown you drive through Fiordland to Milford Sound for a cruise beneath sheer cliffs and waterfalls, with time to enjoy Queenstown's lake and mountains on a free day. You continue past the orchards of Cromwell to Lake Tekapo, part of a dark-sky reserve, for an evening of stargazing. The tour ends in Christchurch, rebuilt with bold new architecture after the earthquakes, with a visit to a sixth-generation sheep and cattle farm in the Hurunui Hills.

The physical rating is medium, with some early starts and plenty of time on your feet. This tour suits travellers who want to see both countries properly in one trip, with the logistics taken care of.

Trip highlights

  • Uluru at sunset and sunrise, and Kata Tjuta (Days 4–5)
  • A full day on the Great Barrier Reef by catamaran (Day 8)
  • A Sydney Opera House tour and harbour lunch cruise (Day 10)
  • Hobbiton and an evening of Māori culture in Rotorua (Day 15)
  • A cruise on Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park (Day 17)
  • Stargazing at Lake Tekapo (Day 19)

Your route

12 stops from Melbourne to Christchurch

22-day route: Melbourne – Uluru – Cairns – Sydney – Auckland – Rotorua – Queenstown – Lake Tekapo – Christchurch
  1. Melbourne Days 1–3
  2. Uluru Days 4–5
  3. Cairns Days 6–8
  4. Kuranda Day 7
  5. Sydney Days 9–12
  6. Auckland Days 13–14
  7. Hobbiton Day 15
  8. Rotorua Day 15
  9. Queenstown Days 16–18
  10. Milford Sound Day 17
  11. Lake Tekapo Day 19
  12. Christchurch Days 20–21

Why choose this tour

Five internal flights are included, so long distances take hours rather than days. Combines the classic sights of both countries with meaningful time with Anangu and Māori hosts.

Best suited to

  • First-time visitors to Australia and New Zealand
  • Travellers who want a long trip with everything arranged
  • Couples and solo travellers who enjoy a mix of guided days and free time
  • Anyone who would like to see the Reef, Uluru and Milford Sound on one trip
The domes of Kata Tjuta in Australia's Red Centre

Day-by-day itinerary

22 days from Melbourne, Australia to Christchurch, New Zealand

  1. Day 1 · Melbourne Welcome to Melbourne

    Settle into your hotel beside the Yarra River, then meet your tour director and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner at a riverside restaurant on South Wharf. Aim to arrive before noon.

    Hotel
    Crowne Plaza Melbourne or similar
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Melbourne Melbourne laneways

    A city tour includes a walk through Melbourne's hidden laneways and arcades, with their cafés and street art. The afternoon is free, or you could join an optional evening trip to see the penguin parade on Phillip Island.

    Hotel
    Crowne Plaza Melbourne or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Melbourne Free day in Melbourne

    Explore the city's galleries, markets and neighbourhoods at your own pace, or head out of town on an optional day trip along the Great Ocean Road.

    Hotel
    Crowne Plaza Melbourne or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Uluru Fly to Uluru

    Fly to Ayers Rock Resort in the heart of Australia. Uluru has been home to the Anangu people for tens of thousands of years, and this evening you watch the colours of the rock change at sunset.

    Hotel
    Desert Gardens Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Uluru, Kata Tjuta Uluru and Kata Tjuta

    Rise before dawn for sunrise at Uluru, then tour the base and hear Anangu stories of this landscape. Try dot painting with an Anangu artist, and visit the great domes of Kata Tjuta, with drinks at sunset.

    Hotel
    Desert Gardens Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Cairns Fly to Cairns

    There is an optional early visit to the Field of Light, an art installation of thousands of glowing stems in the desert. Then fly to Cairns, gateway to the tropical north.

    Hotel
    Hilton Cairns or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Cairns, Kuranda Free day in Cairns

    A free day to stroll the Esplanade, or take the optional Kuranda Scenic Railway up through the rainforest to the village of Kuranda. In the evening, gather for dinner.

    Hotel
    Hilton Cairns or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Great Barrier Reef Great Barrier Reef

    Spend the day on a catamaran out on the Great Barrier Reef, home to more than 1,500 species of fish and six of the world's seven species of marine turtle. Snorkel, or see the coral from an underwater observatory or a semi-submersible. Lunch is served on board.

    Hotel
    Hilton Cairns or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  9. Day 9 · Sydney Fly to Sydney

    Fly to Sydney and spend the rest of the day at leisure in Australia’s harbour city, perhaps strolling around Circular Quay and the Rocks, the historic quarter beside the Harbour Bridge.

    Hotel
    InterContinental Sydney or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Opera House and harbour cruise

    Tour the Sydney Opera House and learn the story of its design and construction, then see the city from the water on a harbour lunch cruise, past the Harbour Bridge and the bays of the inner harbour.

    Hotel
    InterContinental Sydney or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  11. Day 11 · Sydney, Blue Mountains Free day in Sydney

    Explore more of Sydney, from Bondi to the Rocks, or join an optional day trip to the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage area of sandstone cliffs, eucalyptus forest and waterfalls.

    Hotel
    InterContinental Sydney or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Royal Botanic Garden, Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney gardens and gallery

    After a free morning, walk through the Royal Botanic Garden to the Art Gallery of New South Wales for a guided tour and lunch, with time afterwards to enjoy the harbourside.

    Hotel
    InterContinental Sydney or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  13. Day 13 · Auckland Fly to Auckland

    Cross the Tasman Sea to Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. In the evening, join the group for dinner celebrating New Zealand produce.

    Hotel
    Horizon by SkyCity or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Auckland, Mission Bay Auckland

    Visit the All Blacks Experience to learn about rugby's place in New Zealand life, then take a city tour with views of Mission Bay and the harbour. The rest of the day is free.

    Hotel
    Horizon by SkyCity or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Hobbiton, Rotorua Hobbiton and Rotorua

    Take a guided tour of the Hobbiton movie set, with its hobbit holes and mill. Continue to Rotorua, a town of geysers and hot springs, for an evening of Māori culture, with a performance and a traditional dinner.

    Hotel
    Millennium Hotel Rotorua or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  16. Day 16 · National Kiwi Hatchery, Queenstown Kiwi hatchery and fly to Queenstown

    Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery, where a local specialist explains the work to save New Zealand's national bird. Then fly from Auckland to Queenstown on the South Island.

    Hotel
    Millennium Hotel Queenstown or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  17. Day 17 · Te Anau, Milford Sound Milford Sound cruise

    Drive along Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau and into Fiordland National Park. Cruise Milford Sound beneath sheer cliffs and waterfalls, watching for fur seals and dolphins, with lunch on board, before returning to Queenstown.

    Hotel
    Millennium Hotel Queenstown or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  18. Day 18 · Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu Free day in Queenstown

    Spend the day as you like: a jet boat ride, a cruise on the historic TSS Earnslaw, the gondola, or a wine tour in the surrounding valleys. In the evening, gather for dinner.

    Hotel
    Millennium Hotel Queenstown or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  19. Day 19 · Cromwell, Lake Tekapo Cromwell to Lake Tekapo

    Travel to Cromwell on Lake Dunstan to taste stone fruit at a family fruit stall, then continue to Lake Tekapo. After dinner, join an astronomer for stargazing in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve.

    Hotel
    Peppers Bluewater Resort or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  20. Day 20 · Christchurch Christchurch

    Drive to Christchurch for a guided visit of a city rebuilt after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, including the Transitional Cathedral, made largely of cardboard.

    Hotel
    Distinction Christchurch Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  21. Day 21 · Hurunui Hills, Christchurch Hurunui farm visit

    Travel north to the Hurunui Hills to visit a family that has farmed Merino sheep and Angus cattle here since 1884, with lunch on the farm. Return to Christchurch for a farewell dinner.

    Hotel
    Distinction Christchurch Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  22. Day 22 · Christchurch Tour ends in Christchurch

    The tour ends after breakfast, and you are free to leave at any time. Extra nights in Christchurch can be arranged when you book.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A heart-shaped coral formation on the Great Barrier Reef

Where you stay

  • Melbourne (3 nights) Crowne Plaza Melbourne or similar
  • Uluru (2 nights) Desert Gardens Hotel or similar
  • Cairns (3 nights) Hilton Cairns or similar
  • Sydney (4 nights) InterContinental Sydney or similar
  • Auckland (2 nights) Horizon by SkyCity or similar
  • Rotorua (1 night) Millennium Hotel Rotorua or similar
  • Queenstown (3 nights) Millennium Hotel Queenstown or similar
  • Lake Tekapo (1 night) Peppers Bluewater Resort or similar
  • Christchurch (2 nights) Distinction Christchurch Hotel or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 21 nights in hotels
  • Meals 21 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Flights Melbourne to Uluru, Uluru to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney, Sydney to Auckland and Auckland to Queenstown
  • Australia Melbourne laneways walk, Uluru sunset and sunrise with a base tour, Kata Tjuta, Anangu dot painting, a Great Barrier Reef catamaran day, the Sydney Opera House, a harbour lunch cruise and the Art Gallery of NSW
  • New Zealand the All Blacks Experience, Hobbiton, a Māori cultural evening, the National Kiwi Hatchery, a Milford Sound cruise, Lake Tekapo stargazing, a Christchurch tour and a Hurunui farm visit
  • Tour director throughout, with local specialist guides

Not included

  • International flights to Melbourne and from Christchurch
  • Airport transfers, available on request
  • Visas or electronic travel authorities for Australia and New Zealand
  • Meals not listed and optional excursions
  • Single supplement, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at dusk

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want international flights included — they are not
  • You prefer a small group — this is a coach tour
  • You dislike early starts — the Uluru sunrise begins before dawn
  • You want a slow pace in one place — the tour moves between nine bases

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Australia · UK FCDO travel advice for New Zealand
Coral and fish on the Great Barrier Reef

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £10,447 per person, twin share, tour only. 26 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Which flights are included?

Five internal flights: Melbourne to Uluru, Uluru to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney, Sydney to Auckland and Auckland to Queenstown. Flights from the UK to Melbourne and home from Christchurch are not included.

Do I have to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef?

No. Snorkelling is optional. You can also see the reef from the underwater observatory and a semi-submersible boat.

Are there early starts?

Yes, a pre-dawn start for the Uluru sunrise on Day 5, and an optional early start for the Field of Light on Day 6. Evenings run later in Rotorua and at Lake Tekapo.

How active is the tour?

The physical rating is medium. Expect city walks, walking around Uluru and Kata Tjuta, and plenty of time on your feet, balanced by several free days.

What meals are included?

21 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners, including lunch on the reef, a harbour lunch cruise in Sydney, a Māori cultural dinner in Rotorua and a farewell dinner in Christchurch.

Do I need a visa?

Most visitors, including UK passport holders, need an electronic travel authorisation for both Australia and New Zealand, applied for online before travel. Check the current rules for your passport well in advance.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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