Caren's Charters

Trip of a lifetime – a 16 day leisurely paced tour! Come with Caren's Charters to see the "Wonders Downunder" as we visit both the North and South Islands of New Zealand plus the East Coast of Australia. People buy this tour for Australia, but love it for New Zealand. Learn of the native cultures, both the Maori's of New Zealand and Aborigines of Australia. See incredible scenic wonders at Milford Sound, Queenstown, Mt. Cook, and Rotorua. Visit big cities like Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney.

• Round Trip Airfare from LAX on Air New Zealand.
• All flights within NZ and Australia.          
• 16 Day First Class Escorted Vacation.
• Auckland tour + Skyline Tower view.
• Glowworm Grotto at Waitomo Caves.
• Maori Arts Institute, Hangi, & Concert.
• Geyser Wonderland at Rotorua.
• Kiwi Bird & Trout Farm + Sheep Show.
• Queenstown resort for 3 night stay.
• Day Trip to Milford Sound with Lunch included.
• Scenic Mt. Cook and Christchurch.
• Melbourne City tour + Opal Museum.
• Canberra capital tour with sheep station lunch.
• Scenic coach tour thru Australian Bush
• Sydney City Tour and Harbor Cruise.
• Good balance of included sightseeing & Free Time to explore in each city. 

• Round Trip Airfare from LAX to New Zealand & Australia on Air New Zealand.
• All New Zealand inter-island flights, all flights between New Zealand & Australia, and all intra Australia flights.
• Airport Transfers in Australia and New Zealand
• Motor coach Transportation in Australia and New Zealand
• Escorted by Caren’s Charters
• Local Guide – She lives in Sydney, Australia and adds local flavor
• Attractions Listed & City Tours
• Gratuities (except guides and driver)
• Luggage Handling
• Australian Visa
• 20 Meals: 13 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 5 Dinners, plus 5 In-Flight Meals

FEATURED 1ST CLASS HOTELS:

Auckland (1) – Rydges Hotel

Rotorua (2) – Rydges Hotel

Queenstown (3) Rydges Hotel

Christchurch (1) – Rydges Hotel

Melbourne (3) - Citigate Hotel

Sydney (3) - Holiday Inn Darling Harbor

For general information and travel policies click here.

Day 1 - Depart LAX

We meet at Kansas City International Airport to begin our trip, flying to LAX airport to join our evening overnight Air New Zealand flights to New Zealand.

Day 2 - Cross International Dateline

Cross the Equator & the International Date Line (lose a day) on your overnight flight. 

Day 3 - Arrive Auckland 

Arrive in Auckland, on New Zealand’s lush North Island.  A land of amazing contrasts and scenic beauty awaits you.  Enjoy a morning city tour of New Zealand’s largest city including Harbor Drive, downtown, residential areas, and views from Mt. Eden. Arrive at your hotel for an early check in.  Relax prior to your Get Acquainted Dinner at the Auckland Tower. 

Day 4 - Auckland to Rotorua

Board your coach for the scenic drive through the gorgeous green countryside of the Waikato Valley, world’s richest sheep farming area. Stop to tour the Waitomo Caves where you will take a boat ride along an underground river to the world famous Glowworm Grotto. Then arrive in Rotorua, home of the native “Maori”, Polynesians who invaded these islands 700 years ago.  Tonight, a Maori Concert & Hangi Feast.

Day 5 - Rotorua Sights

Rotorua is known as the “Yellowstone of New Zealand”.  Tour the Maori Arts & Crafts Institute before viewing the Whaka thermal area with its boiling pools & geysers. Next visit Rainbow Springs to see huge trout, Kiwi birds, and a sheep shearing & dog show.  Free afternoon to relax or shop in town.  

Day 6 - Fly Rotorua / Queenstown

Enjoy a morning scenic flight over the Southern Alps as we fly to the South Island.  Arrive in Queenstown, New Zealand’s premier resort town.   Ascend Bob’s Peak in a gondola for a panoramic view of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Range.  Check into your downtown lakeview hotel for 3 nights.  Free afternoon to explore on own and shop for sheepskins, paua shells, greenstone, and woodcarvings.  Enjoy dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

Day 7 - Milford Sound Day Trip

The highlight of your tour to New Zealand will undoubtedly be this full day trip to Milford Sound. A breathtaking day of magnificent scenery awaits you as we drive through Fjordland National Park. Motor past lakes, beech forests, rugged mountain passes, and through the famed Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Board our cruise of this incredible deepwater inlet reminiscent of Norway’s scenic fjords. Enjoy an up close view of towering cliffs & waterfalls plus see seals and Kea parrots.  Return to Queenstown.

Day 8 - Free Day in Queenstown          

Relax & sleep in.  Shop in the village, take a lake cruise, visit a high country sheep station, walk the public gardens, or take a thrilling Shotover River “jet boat” ride.  Or visit the Gold Rush history of quaint Arrowtown.

Day 9 - Mt. Cook / Christchurch

Scenic drive along the Kawarau River Gorge, over Lindis Pass to Lake Pukaki and a view of Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s tallest peak at 12,249 feet.  Leave the Alps and cross the Canterbury Plains farming region to Christchurch, the “most English city outside of England”.  Tonight, enjoy an included dinner at your hotel.

Day 10 - Christchurch City Tour /  Fly to Melbourne           

Your morning city tour of Christchurch, New Zealand’s most English City, will include picturesque Cathedral Square, Avon River scenic drive, Hagley Park, and the view from Cashmere Hills Lookout.  Then transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight across the Tasman Sea to Melbourne, Australia for a 3-night stay. 

Day 11 - Melbourne City Tour / Phillip Island Fairy Penguin Option

Tour Melbourne, city of parks and home to Australia’s traditional wealth. See Fitzroy Gardens, Victoria Market, the Cricket Grounds, National Opal Museum & the Shrine of Remembrance.  Free afternoon, or take our optional coach trip to nearby Phillip Island to watch the evening fairy penguin parade on the beach (estimated cost is $140 USD p.p. including dinner).  This tour is always a sell out!

Day 12 - Melbourne Free Day

A full free day to explore this great city. You may wish to shop for opals, ride a streetcar to the Captain Cook House, visit the Queen Victoria Market, walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens, or tour the Victorian Arts Centre (Melbourne’s answer to the Sydney Opera House).  

Day 13 - Fly to Canberra / Sydney

Depart Melbourne on your short included flight to the capital city of Canberra.  Designed by an American, Walter Burley Griffin, Canberra is a beautiful, completely planned city built around an artificial lake. See Parliament House, Embassy Row, and the fascinating Australian War Memorial Museum.  Next you’ll visit a working sheep station for an Aussie BBQ and sheep show.  Then relax on your coach as we travel through the “Australian Bush” countryside to Sydney for a 3-night stay in the “City of Sails”, home to Australia’s brash new wealth. 

Day 14 - Sydney City Tour

Our morning tour of this world class city will include all the must see sights such as the famous Opera House, Darling Harbor, naughty Kings Cross, the historic “Rocks” area, and Bondi Beach.  This afternoon is free to enjoy on your own for shopping, sightseeing, or relaxing at your hotel.  Tonight, choose from many restaurants near your hotel.

 
Day 15 - Sydney Free Day / Farewell Dinner Harbor Cruise

Enjoy a free day exploring or shopping. You may wish to visit the 2000 Olympic Park or Featherdale Wildlife Park, where 2200 native Australian animals live in natural bush surroundings.  Tonight, enjoy a narrated dinner cruise of Sydney harbor as you sail the sparkling waters past the Opera House, Harbor Bridge, upscale homes, and million dollar coastline.

Day 16 - Fly Home to U.S.A.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the US.  Arrive home the same day after crossing the Dateline once again.

HIGHLIGHTS & INCLUDED FEATURES

• One-way Airfare from Sydney to Cairns including all taxes.
• Return Airfare from Cairns to LAX via Auckland, New Zealand.
• 2 Nights Hotel in Cairns at the Rydges Tradewinds Resort.
• 3 Meals – 2 Full American Buffet Breakfasts (B) and 1 Farewell Seafood Dinner (D).
• Boat Excursion out onto the Great Barrier Reef at Green Island.
• Admission to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Park with 2 live shows.
• Free time to shop and explore Cairns.
• All Transfers between airport, hotel, and included attractions.
• Locally Hosted by a Cairns tour guide.

DAY 16 – Fly From Sydney to Cairns / Aboriginal Park

Transfer to the Sydney airport for your mid morning flight to Cairns, Queensland – gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.  Arrive mid afternoon in this tropical paradise.  Visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Park, a stunning theatrical interpretation of this ancient rainforest people & their culture.  On 25 acres & in 7 areas, meet tribal members, enjoy two live music & dance shows, plus learn didgeridoo playing and boomerang throwing. Transfer to your 3-diamond resort hotel for 2 nights. RYDGES TRADEWINDS RESORT

DAY 17 – Day Trip to the Barrier Reef / Aboriginal Park / Farewell Dinner

Visitors from around the world flock here for the inspiring beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.  Extending for 1200 miles along Australia’s northeastern coast, this coral reef is considered the largest living thing on earth.  Board your high-speed catamaran for an exciting excursion onto the reef.  From your base on Green Island, enjoy a choice of snorkeling in the crystal clear waters or a glass bottom boat ride over the reef.  Relax at the island’s resort pool and take an included guided walk through the rainforest.  Return by fast-cat boat to Cairns.  This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore and shop in town, stroll along Esplanade Boardwalk, relax around the hotel pool, or watch the Marlin fishing boats come in.  Tonight, meet for your Farewell Dinner at a local seafood restaurant. 

DAY 18 – Fly Home From Cairns

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel prior to your transfer to the Cairns International Airport for your return flights home.  Fly Air New Zealand directly to Auckland and then on to LAX.  Arrive home on the same day you left due to crossing the International Dateline once again.  Thank you for traveling with us.  We hope this has been a most memorable vacation.

Australian Visa’s will be issued free of charge on the client’s behalf. 

$6,045 Double plus $495 insurance  

$6,980 Single plus $565 insurance

$5,790 Triple  plus $475 insurance

Round trip air, Kansas City to LAX to Kansas City will be booked once flight times and prices are available.   Estimated costs are $300- $400 and are NOT included in these prices.

Note: Your Australian visa costs are included (normally $50-$70).

    DUE NOW  $400 plus insurance.  LIMITED availability!

Due May 10, 2012:  $2,500 second payment

Due July 10, 2012:  Remainder

Always check Travel Policies and Information

$869 Double plus $92 insurance

$999 Single plus $92 insurance

$829 Triple plus $92 insurance