The Grand Australia, New Zealand & Bora Bora Tour

Welcome to Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’.  Auckland offers all of the things associated with a sophisticated cosmopolitan city, from beautiful scenery to adrenaline-pumping adventure with elegance highlighted by the first-class food and wine. Your private transfer will meet you at Auckland International Airport upon your arrival and escort you to your gorgeous hotel in the heart of the city. The view from your bedroom will overlook the Hauraki Gulf showcasing the emerald waters and shores of nearby Waiheke Island. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to get acquainted with the city at your preferred pace.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you through a full day exploration of Auckland’s cultural highlights and natural scenic destinations. Auckland is set on 48 dormant volcanic cones and between two harbors, the sparkling Waitemata and the brooding Manukau. The Sky Tower soars above the city creating a distinctive impression on the skyline at 1,076 feet tall. You will reach the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge, which stands over 141 feet tall and reaches nearly one mile in length connecting downtown with the northern districts, beaches, and bays.

Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and overlooked by the majestic Remarkables Range, Queenstown is the perfect destination all year round. Paragliders cruise through the air and float down from Bob’s Peak from a summit of 1,463 feet above sea level. In the winter, skiers take to the powder blanketing the Remarkables while summer brings visitors eager to ride the wakes or relax on the shores of Lake Wanaka’s sweeping blue surface surrounded by hills covered with tussocks.

After breakfast, your guide will whisk you into the wilderness outside of Queenstown to reach the banks of the Dart River. You will board a jet boat to experience the thrilling ride along the shallow waters. The jet boat will cross the water, turning the surrounding trees and mountains into blurs as the wind brushes against your cheeks. After rushing into the depths of the wilderness, you will board an inflatable canoe and follow your guide deeper into the Dart River channels. The scent of pine will derive from the neighboring beech forest. You can follow your guide into the ancient woodlands where the sounds of trickling streams act as a soundtrack to your exploration.

Your day will begin with an exciting helicopter ride from Queenstown to the edges of Milford Sound. The scenic ride will take you alongside the Remarkables range where the snow-capped peaks and rugged foothills represent the stunning Southern Alps. From above the landscape, you can see the cracks in the snowfields rolling into the lush edges of the natural fiord. After landing, you will board a boat bound for the waters of Milford Sound. Glaciers carved the marvelous landscape during the ice ages leaving breathtaking cliffs and ancient forest spreading from the shores.

In the morning, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you to Queenstown International Airport for your flight to Australia. You will reach the city of Cairns in Queensland, where your private transfer will meet you at baggage claim before reaching charming Port Douglas. The tropical destination of choice for A-list celebrities, heads of state, and sports stars from all over the globe offers a sophisticated but laid-back seaside ambiance just over 40 miles north of Cairns. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to relax in the elegance and charm of Port Douglas.

With three days in Port Douglas, you have the opportunity to discover the treasures of both land and sea, beginning with a tour of the fabled Great Barrier Reef. You will board a cruise bound for three different anchoring destinations along the largest reef system in the world overtaking an area of 134,634 square miles. You can snorkel in the water to experience the warm temperature of the Coral Sea with visibility of up to 65 feet. Among the 1,500 different species of fish, you will find the familiar colors of the clownfish hiding among the purple and golden glow of billowing tendrils of sea anemones. The clownfish has bright orange scales and glowing white bands.

After breakfast, you will return to Cairns with your private transfer and fly to Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city where locals have a passion for food, shopping, wine, and art. The city acts as a gateway to the marvels of the Great Ocean Road and the charms of Port Phillip Bay while also brimming with cosmopolitan life overtaking the banks of the Yarra River. You will settle into the comforts of your luxury accommodations at the heart of the vibrant city to enjoy time at your preferred pace.

Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and lead you out of Melbourne for the day and into the rich wilderness to view koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitat. You will have an experienced wildlife guide and researcher leading your eco-tour as you walk through natural bushland to meet wild koalas and learn about their individual histories, social life, and biology. You can help collect important data by removing a specific weed that then makes a difference to the koala habitat. Viewing the natural habitat offers unique images such as brown-headed honeyeaters who pluck fur from koalas to help line their nests.

Your guide will lead you to Phillip Island after breakfast where lovers of fine food, fabulous fauna, and Australian wildlife can come together for a day of complete discovery. Your first destination will be Bass River Winery. The boutique estate nestles against the Gippsland hills and will offer you stunning view as you and learn about the range of wines and select cheeses made on the property. Your guide will lead you through the vines where you can find the sweet aroma of juicy grapes blending with the earthy scent of the soil. When you sample the wines, you can enjoy hints of black cherry and peaty smoke.

Sydney is a cosmopolitan international city filled with vibrant life, character, and a sense of daring. This multiculturalism means a wealth of amazing dining experiences, distinctive architecture, and captivating boutique shops. Your private transfer will take you from your hotel in Melbourne to the airport for your flight to Sydney. You can take time to bask in the comforts of your hotel before venturing into the splendor of the city from the arcades of the Queen Victoria Building to the golden sands of Bondi Beach.

Your time in Sydney will uncover the beauty of the city highlighted by the surrounding land and sea. Your guide will take you on a private tour of the Sydney Opera House where hoisted sails reach 213 feet above the Sydney Harbour. The performance space possesses a concert hall, different theaters, a studio, and recording space that reveal Sydney as a preeminent destination for music and theater around the world. You will tour around the Opera House and inside to find the music hall resembling a shell in its design resulting in fantastic acoustics.

The splendor of Sydney will return in the morning with the aromas of brewing black tea and sizzling bacon steak filling the dining room of your hotel. Your private transfer will greet you in the lobby after breakfast and escort you to Sydney International Airport for your flight to French Polynesia. You will arrive on the island of Bora Bora to find the exotic tropical landscape shimmering with crystalline turquoise water and emerald jungle climbing up the mountainous interior.

Your time in Bora Bora is at your leisure, which allows you to discover the splendor of the island at your whim and pleasure. A snorkel tour of the lagoon will take you on the clear waters offering visibility for up to 100 feet on a clear day. The warm waters of the South Pacific will envelop you when you slip into the sea in search of views of colorful reefs and abundant schools of fish. You will also find reef sharks circling the waters mixed within the winding fish.

In the morning, you can enjoy a canoe breakfast at your resort. You will be serenaded by the sounds of the ukulele as the staff arrives at your overwater bungalow by water. You can take a ride in the traditional Polynesian canoe while your breakfast is set up in the room, filling the space with aromas of vanilla, coconut, and pineapple. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to the airport for your brief flight back to Tahiti’s Faa’a International Airport, where you will board your flight home.