South Pacific Highlights

15 Days Fully Inclusive • Auckland • Queenstown • Sydney • Cairns • Affordable Fully Escorted

Tour Code EV15
Itinerary Valid 1 Apr. 2010 - 31 Mar. 2011
Trip Duration 15 days
Accomodation Quality Accommodation
Meals 20 meals included

Prices per person from


USD5,184


Day 1. Los Angeles

This evening board your flight bound for New Zealand

Daily meals included:  • Dinner

Day 2. In Flight

Cross the international dateline and ‘lose’ a day.

Day 3. Arrive Auckland

Arrive in Auckland today and be met on arrival at the airport. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax and settle in. Tonight enjoy a delicious Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers and Tour Director at The Observatory Restaurant atop Sky Tower, offering incredible views of Auckland.

Stay: Two Night Stay: Auckland, Skycity Hotel

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 4. Auckland at Leisure

Enjoy a day at leisure to discover the City of Sails for yourself. Perhaps wander down to the harbor, or explore the shops and restaurants of the city. Alternatively, you could join an extended day trip to Rotorua, the centre of Maori culture and renowned for its geothermal activity (own expense).

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast

Day 5. Auckland Sightseeing, Fly to Queenstown, Walter Peak Dinner

This morning after breakfast, enjoy some time at leisure to relax or further explore Auckland. Then join your flight to Queenstown. Tonight, cruise aboard the vintage steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, to the Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak High Country Farm for a delicious carvery dinner.

Stay: Three Night Stay: Queenstown, Copthorne Lakefront Resort

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 6. Milford Sound Cruise

Today travel one of the most scenic alpine drives into World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park. Here, take a cruise along the full length of Milford Sound. Relax and enjoy the view as your boat glides past towering Mitre Peak, cascading waterfalls, dense rain forest and rugged mountains.

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast • Lunch

Day 7. Queenstown at Leisure

Today is free for you to explore Queenstown for yourself. Perhaps go shopping in one of the local boutiques, take a jetboat ride on the Shotover River or board a thrilling helicopter ride. Or perhaps you may like to play a round of golf or enjoy a winery tour to sample the local vintages (all at own expense).

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast

Day 8. Mt Cook, Christchurch

View spectacular alpine scenery today as you journey into the national park to New Zealand’s highest peak, Mt Cook. Here, the huge Tasman Glacier, 17 miles long and two miles wide, flows down Mt Cook’s eastern slopes towards the Mackenzie Basin. Perhaps take a ski plane flight over the region, including a landing on the glacier (weather permitting, own expense). Continue on to the lovely city of Christchurch. Check in to your hotel and relax with the evening at leisure.

Stay: Stay: Christchurch, Copthorne Central

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast

Day 9. Christchurch, Sydney

This morning take a tour of Christchurch, New Zealand’s Garden City. Later, board a flight to Sydney, Australia and on arrival enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax or start exploring the harbour city.

Stay: Three Night Stay: Old Sydney Holiday Inn

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast

Day 10. Sydney Sights and Opera House Tour

Today see Sydney’s famous sights on a tour of the city. Cruise on Sydney Harbour, see the Harbour Bridge and enjoy a guided tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House. Later, learn about opals and other gemstones before visiting Sydney Wildlife World. Here you’ll see koalas, kangaroos and other native animals. This evening, enjoy 360° views of the city as you enjoy a gourmet dinner at the renowned Sydney Tower Restaurant.

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 11. Sydney at Leisure

Today is yours at leisure in Sydney, allowing yo to discover the sights for yourself. Perhaps join an optional trip to the wine region of the Hunter Valley or visit the Blue Mountains to see the Three Sisters rock formation (both at own expense).

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast

Day 12. Cairns, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

This morning after breakfast, join a flight to Cairns - the stunning gateway to Far North Queensland. Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or begin exploring this tropical paradise for yourself. Later this afternoon, visit Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and enjoy the opportunity to learn about the unique culture and traditions of Australia’s Aboriginal people.

Stay: Three Night Stay: The Hotel Cairns

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast

Day 13. Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Enjoy a full day to discover the beauty of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, composed of more than 2,800 individual reefs. Board a catamaran cruise out to the Moore Reef and take advantage of the opportunity to swim or snorkel among the brilliantly colored coral, giant clams, tropical fish and other marine life. You’ll also enjoy a tropical buffet lunch as you relax on board.

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast • Lunch

Day 14. Cairns at Leisure

Today is free for you to explore the delights of Queensland’s tropical north at your own pace. You can simply relax on the pristine white sandy beaches, unwind by the hotel pool or go shopping. There are also some optional day tours available such as a trip to Kuranda, a village deep in the heart of the rainforest. Here, perhaps ride the Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over the rain forest, visit the local markets or embark on a unique journey aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway - passing over 40 bridges and through 15 tunnels, travelling in tropical rain forest and past rushing waterfalls (all at own expense). This evening gather with your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner.

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast • Dinner

Day 15. Depart Cairns

Your tour concludes after breakfast this morning with an included transfer to the airport.

Daily meals included:  • Breakfast

All prices are displayed in US Dollars (USD)

Colourful lupins in front of Mount Cook Discover the famous landmarks of Sydney with APT APT Australia and New Zealand Map EV15 1011

Fine Dining

  • Includes 20 Meals

Tour Highlight

  • Services of an APT Tour Director and Driver

Sightseeing Highlights

  • Welcome Dinner with panoramic views at The Observatory Restaurant in Auckland
  • In Queenstown, cruise Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm for dinner
  • Cruise the full length of Milford Sound
  • Visit majestic Mt Cook National Park
  • Take a city sights tour of Christchurch
  • Full day cruise on the Great Barrier Reef
  • Presentation on Australian opals, Sydney
  • See native animals at Sydney Wildlife World
  • Enjoy 360° panoramic city views over dinner at Sydney’s Tower Restaurant
  • Visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

Quality Accommodation

  • Spend three nights at Queenstown’s Copthorne Lakefront Resort
  • In Sydney, stay three nights at the Old Sydney Holiday Inn
  • Stay three nights at The Hotel Cairns

Fine Dining

  • 13 Breakfasts (B), 2 Lunch (L) and 5 Dinner (D)
  • Carvery dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm in New Zealand
  • Dinner at Sydney’s Tower Restaurant
  • Delicious tropical buffet lunch during your Great Barrier Reef cruise

Other Touring Options

  • 13 Day Australia Escorted, refer tour code E13
  • 16 Day Downunder Explorer, refer tour code E16
  • 21 Day Royal Escorted without the Ghan Rail, refer tour code E21
  • Contact us for more details

Airfares, Taxes and Fees

  • Land with air price includes all flights to/from Los Angeles including US/foreign taxes, September 11 Security Fee and Fuel Surcharges totalling $355.
  • Prices and itineraries are current at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice.
  • Airlines frequently change their prices as a result of fare increases and/or fuel surcharges so prices may differ when you book your travel and are not guaranteed until full payment is received.
  • Contact Us for prices with domestic air only and further details.

Trip Notes