Overview
Itinerary
Arrive in Melbourne. Set upon the shores of Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River, the city exudes a lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere. As travelers' arrival times will vary, we have no group activities planned during the day.
Late this afternoon, we meet for a briefing about the journey ahead; tonight, we gather for a welcome dinner. (D) Stay: Sheraton Melbourne (2 Nights)
Set out on a panoramic city tour, including a guided walk of the famed Royal Botanic Gardens. Then, it's your choice! Enjoy panoramic views from above at Melbourne Skydeck, the Southern Hemisphere's highest public vantage point -OR- unwind on a scenic cruise along the Yarra River, taking in Melbourne's sights from the water. Afterward, the rest of the day is yours to explore Melbourne as you please. Soak in the atmosphere of this exciting city among the bustling laneways, at one of its many shopping boutiques, or along the waterfront. (B)
A flight to Hobart, Tasmania brings you to Australia's second oldest city. An island state of Australia, Tasmania is surrounded by more than 300 scattered isles. Its rugged and pristine beauty provides the backdrop for your three-night stay. Enjoy a guided walk to get to know Hobart before dinner this evening. (B/D) Stay: Hadley's Orient Hotel (3 Nights)
Today, visit the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Center and learn about this unique marsupial, its fight for survival, and the plan to save it from extinction. Tour the Port Arthur Historic Site, the best-preserved example of Australia's original penal colonies. En route, witness the coastal rock formations of Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen, and the Blow Hole. (B)
Enjoy a free day to explore Tasmania's capital city on your own. Perhaps you'll indulge in the city's up-and-coming café culture, meander along the lively harbor, or just take some time to relax. (B)
Fly to Adelaide, South Australia's bustling cosmopolitan capital known for food and wine. Settle into your home for the next 2 nights. (B/D) Stay: Pullman Adelaide (2 Nights)
Treat your taste buds to a full-day exploration of the Barossa Valley's fine food and wine. Starting at Seppeltsfield winery where a wine educator will take you on a behind-the-scenes look through the estate's treasure trove of historical buildings and spectacular surroundings. Learn of the Seppelt family history and their profound influence on the Australian wine industry.
Following the tour enjoy a delicious Barossa-style lunch.
Afterwards your vintner voyage continues at Chateau Tanunda for a private tour and tasting of their world-class wines. (B/L)
This morning, make your way to Uluru (the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock) in the heart of the Australian Outback. Tour the beautiful area surrounding the base of “The Rock” and learn about its significance to the indigenous population. As the day draws to a close, sip a glass of champagne as Uluru's hues change dramatically with the setting sun. (B) Stay: Desert Gardens Hotel
Fly to Cairns, the tropical gateway to one of the world's most spectacular natural attractions – the Great Barrier Reef (UNESCO). (B) Stay: Flynn Crystalbrook Collection Hotel (3 Nights)
Rise high on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for an unforgettable ride over the rainforest canopy. Embrace the opportunity to explore the forest floor up close with access to specially designed boardwalks. Afterward, visit Rainforestation Nature Park for lunch and unique encounters with Australian wildlife and indigenous culture. Experience a performance of indigenous dancing, and join a guided walk to explore Aboriginal traditions, seeing how spears were used for hunting and trying your hand at throwing a boomerang. In the Koala and Wildlife Park, wander the boardwalks seeing kangaroos, wallabies, reptiles, and cassowaries.
This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant featuring native ingredients. (B/L/D)
Board a high-speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. Explore the reef from your base on Green Island. Enjoy a glass-bottom boat ride, stroll the island's walking trails, relax on the beach, snorkel or just watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier. For a more adventurous encounter with the reef, an optional outer reef tour is also available. (B/L)
Fly to the dynamic city of Sydney.
This evening, personalize your culinary experience with Diner's Choice – choosing from a variety of local restaurants for an included dinner along bustling Darling Harbour. (B/D) Stay: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth (3 Nights)
See where English colonists first settled during a city tour of Sydney, featuring the Harbour Bridge, the Rocks, Circular Quay, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Take an expert-led tour of the Sydney Opera House, poised majestically on Sydney Harbour. You'll have the chance to join a special presentation at the National Opal Collection. The evening is yours to enjoy the ‘harbor city.' (B)
Enjoy a day at leisure. Marvel at the scenic vistas of the harbor showcasing Sydney's magnificent skyline, the iconic Sydney Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge. As the most populous city in Australia, Sydney is full of endless ways to spend your day. (B)
Fly to New Zealand and arrive in Auckland, the “City of Sails.” A city tour features the America's Cup Village, the War Memorial, vibrant Queen Street, the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and spectacular views from the harborside. (B/D) Stay: Rydges Auckland
Head to Rotorua's dramatic geothermal landscape. Find culture behind every corner – over one-third of Rotura's population boasts Maori roots, making it known as the Maori capital of New Zealand. (B/D) Stay: Sudima Lake Rotorua (2 Nights)
Discover Whakarewarewa – a Maori cultural and geothermal experience. Explore an authentic Maori village where people live using natural geothermal resources to cook, bathe and heat their homes as they have done for centuries. At the Agrodome, see a sheep-shearing demonstration and learn about the importance of agriculture to the nation. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore more of Rotorua independently. (B)
Make your way to Wellington, New Zealand's capital city and the world's southernmost capital city. Built on the foreshore of a harbor and ringed by mountains, this gives the city the nickname “Windy Wellington.” (B/D) Stay: Novotel Wellington (2 Nights)
Come to know Wellington on a tour including the Beehive, New Zealand's Parliament, Lampton Quay, and the Old Government Building – the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Explore the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongawera, a fascinating center dedicated to art, history and the Maori culture. Afterward, enjoy the afternoon and evening to explore Wellington on your own. (B)
Today, experience what has been called “the most beautiful ferry ride in the world” as you sail across the Cook Strait on your way to the historic city of Christchurch, the “Garden City.” Dinner tonight will be at the hotel. (B/D) Stay: Distinction Christchurch (2 Nights)
This morning, enjoy a tour at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. A leader in the conservation of New Zealand species, Willowbank offers the chance to view New Zealand's “Big 5” up close and personal. Learn about the local indigenous culture of the Maori, with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional canoe or ‘waka.' Spend the afternoon exploring the city independently and see how far it's come since the earthquakes of 2011. (B)
Make your way to Queenstown, nicknamed the “Adventure Capital of the World.” Nestled on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is surrounded by stunning natural beauty. (B/D) Stay: Rendezvous Heritage (3 Nights)
Enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley as you travel through a beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. Cruise the breathtaking Milford Sound and see why this fjord is one of the most visited sights on the South Island.
Following your cruise, consider returning to Queenstown via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of New Zealand's Southern Alps. (B/L)
A free day in Queenstown offers limitless activities set amidst breathtaking Alpine scenery. Today, you have the opportunity to partake in an off-road tour through the rugged Queenstown countryside, showcasing the filming locations of many blockbuster movies and learning about the region's gold rush.
Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner and toast to a fabulous trip. (B/D)
Your tour comes to a close in Queenstown. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Take a 'waka,' a traditional Maori canoe ride on the Otakaro Avon River.
- Learn about the endangered Tasmanian Devil and the conservation efforts aimed at its survival.
- See Australian wildlife and learn about indigenous culture at Rainforestation Nature Park.
- Take a tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House.
- Explore the Great Barrier Reef from a high-speed catamaran and choose from a collection of included activities.
- Taste world-class wines during a private tour of Chateau Tanunda in the Barossa Valley.
- At sunset, enjoy a champagne toast while gazing at Uluru.
- Expertly crafted itineraries
- 4-star+ accommodation
- Skilled and engaging tour managers
- Expert local guides with insider knowledge
- Attraction entrance fees
- Many meals full of local flavour
- Unparalleled sightseeing
- Enriching cultural experiences
- Comfortable on-tour transportation
- Hotel-to-hotel baggage handling
- Plus, access to Wi-Fi hotspots on tour
- This tour includes moderate physical activity. The itinerary blends some longer days with shorter days and more leisure time. Walking tours, as well as walking slightly longer distances, up stairs or on uneven walking surfaces should be expected.
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
Classic tours are for those who want to see the sights, taste the cuisine and experience the world. Read more
Purchase Collette's Travel Protection Plan, & you can cancel for any reason and get your money back! Read more
Private, chauffeur service is included for all air-inclusive Collette bookings. Read more
Trip Optionals These optional activities can be pre-booked & included in your trip price.
- Location: Cairns. Cost: $169.
- Jump in and explore a vibrant, colorful world teeming with life at the Moore Reef at the very center of the Great Barrier Reef. This massive reef system, the largest in the world, can actually be seen from space. Cruise across the water by catamaran to the Great Adventures pontoon where a diverse, bountiful ecosystem is yours to discover. Snorkel straight off the pontoon into crystal-clear waters, surrounded by coral gardens and tropical marine life or enjoy watching the fish feeding from the unique underwater platform. Explore the vibrant reef from the comfort of the air-conditioned semi-submersible coral viewing tour with informative commentary. You’re sure to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience exploring one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Duration approximately 9 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option. Please note: the swell of the ocean on the pontoon can be high at certain times of the day and can be intimidating for swimmers who are not confident in the water. There are life jackets and lifeguards on duty, and rest stations in the water for when swimmers need a break. Lunch is included. The journey to and from the pontoon from Cairns is 120 minutes each way.
- Location: Rotorua. Cost: $129.
- Tonight, immerse yourself in the fascinating culture of the Maori as you travel to a traditional village. Learn about the warm-hearted Maori and their lives before European colonists arrived in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and since. Enjoy an authentic Hangi dinner, pulled from the cooking pits right before your eyes. Finish your evening with an in-depth experience featuring authentic Maori entertainment such as the Poi dance and the famous Haka war challenge. Come away with an appreciation of a unique culture, thousands of years in the making. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 10 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.
- Location: Queenstown. Cost: $329.
- Soar over the plunging cliffs, snowfields, and alpine lakes of the pristine Southern Alps on a flightseeing plane that carries you back from Milford Sound to Queenstown. Seeing Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park from the air will give you a whole new perspective on the overwhelming beauty of this region. You’ll be captivated by 9,000-foot peaks and frozen lakes that can only be seen from above. Enjoy amazing views and skip the lengthy return coach ride to Queenstown. A truly spectacular trip! Duration approximately 1 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 2 passenger(s) is required to operate this option. Availability for flightseeing is limited. This optional tour is available to book both pre-departure and on-site. This option operates on a weather-permitting basis only. This option does have a weight restriction of 286lb/130kg. Please advise your weight upon booking, as plane & seat allocations require this. Any travelers over 286lb/130kg will need pre-approval from the vendor. Duration: 40 minutes.
- Location: Queenstown. Cost: $179.
- Embark on a off-road adventure in a four-wheel jeep through the primeval, mystical landscapes of the New Zealand high country. In the vastness of an unspoiled wilderness, become lost in the grandeur of New Zealand’s South Island – a world immortalized on film in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Trek to the place where the word “otherworldly” was tailor-made, the Remarkable Mountains, and the entrance to Skipper Canyon. Across roads created by pioneers 150 years ago, follow the miner’s old wagon trail along the Arrow River, and stop to try your hand at panning gold. Brace yourself for heart-pounding moments as you drive along narrow mountain roads with sheer drops – a route as thrilling as it is scenic. Discover something incredible around every dramatic turn, narrow, and twist of this thrilling safari tour. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 10 passenger(s) is required to operate this option. If you choose to cancel this option within 48 hours of the excursion date, payment is non-refundable. This tour is not exclusive to Collette, and there may be up to 6 people per jeep. This excursion travels over bumpy and uneven terrain, travellers should be prepared for a rough but exciting ride.
- Location: Hobart. Cost: $199.
- Take a full-day tour of the spectacular landscapes and gourmet local produce of Bruny Island. On this journey, you’ll enjoy “seven courses” around the island, going from delicious stop to delicious stop, all led by a local guide. Visit the Bruny Island Cheese Co. for handcrafted cheese and locally brewed ales and meet the artisans who make it. Taste fresh oysters straight from the shell at Get Shucked Oysters. Stop at Bruny Island Cruises Café for tea at a beachfront café while you’re regaled with tales of early island explorers and whalers. Taste wines from Australia’s southern-most vineyard, Bruny Island Premium Wines, and satisfy your sweet tooth at the Bruny Island Chocolate Company and Bruny Island Honey. Visit the Bligh Museum for a taste of the history of the area. Throughout your tour, you’ll be immersed in the scenery of the island, with deserted beaches and verdant rainforest, home to the incredibly rare white wallaby. Duration approximately 10 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 2 passenger(s) is required to operate this option. This tour begins at 7:45 a.m. and concludes at 5:30 p.m.
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Collette Worldwide (2025-26)
Dates & Pricing
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A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Collette. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
