Splendors of Australia & New Zealand
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AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Guaranteed small group of no more than 24 Smithsonian travelers per departure SPLENDORS OF AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND 22 days from $9,178 total price from Los Angeles ($8,195 air & land inclusive plus $983 airline taxes and departure fees) mall group touring provides the best way S to explore the Lands Down Under. Join us on a grand adventure from Australia’s spectacular Great Barrier Reef to the storied Outback and sophisticated Sydney. In New Zealand discover vineyards, sheep farms, towering Mt. Cook, breathtaking Milford Sound, as well as high- spirited Queenstown and nautical Auckland. Destination Cairns Air Motorcoach Alice Springs Coral Sea Entry/Departure Ayers Rock AUSTRALIA Auckland Sydney Rotorua Mount Cook Christchurch National Park Tasman Sea NEW Queenstown ZEALAND Serene Milford Sound ranks as New Zealand’s most popular destination. Avg. High (°F) Jan Feb Mar Apr Oct Nov Sydney 78 78 76 71 71 74 Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Cairns, Australia around a campfire, enjoy musical entertainment, Alice Springs 97 95 90 81 88 93 Fly to Australia, losing a day as you cross the Inter- and look for the Southern Cross and other constella- Queenstown 72 72 68 62 60 64 national Date Line. tions at a traditional “bush” dinner. Spend the next day exploring more rugged terrain as you visit the Days 3-5: Australia’s Far North—Cairns, Kuranda, camp of the Walpiri Aboriginal people and learn the Great Barrier Reef Arrive in Cairns and about their ancient culture on a “Dreamtime” tour. Your Small Group Tour Highlights enjoy a special welcome dinner. The next day, tour Explore Simpsons Gap, an Aboriginal spiritual site, Ride the Kuranda steam train and Skyrail gondolas … Explore Cairns, then take a thrilling journey aboard the and Standley Chasm. The next morning, depart by the Great Barrier Reef with a marine biologist … Visit an historic Kuranda Railway. Explore Kuranda, then coach for Ayers Rock. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Aboriginal tribal camp and experience their “Dreamtime” legend ... Watch the sunset at Ayers Rock … Enjoy extensive travel through the rainforest canopy on the world’s Park is a World Heritage site and home to the Sydney sightseeing … Cruise Milford Sound past breathtak- longest gondola cableway. During an all-day ex- Anangu Aboriginal peoples. Take a walking tour of ing scenery … Visit Rotorua, spiritual center of the Maori cursion, cruise from Cairns to the Great Barrier the Olgas rock formations and watch the sun set over culture … Enjoy panoramic views of Auckland, the “City Reef, the world’s largest living organism and richest Uluru (Ayers Rock), the fabled sandstone monolith of Sails” marine resource, with more than 2,800 coral reefs. that rises 1,114 feet above the flat plain. (3B,1L,2D) Day Itinerary Hotel Rating At Michaelmas Cay, a marine biologist discusses the 1-2 Depart U.S. for Cairns riches and delicate resources of the Reef. Swim, Day 9: Ayers Rock and Sydney This morning 3-5 Cairns Pullman Reef Casino Deluxe snorkel, or view the reef from a glass-bottomed boat, explore the base of Uluru before visiting the archaeo- 6-7 Alice Springs Doubletree Sup. First Class and enjoy a guided eco-walk. (2B,1L,1D) logical museum there. Fly to Sydney, arriving late by Hilton in the afternoon, and take a brief orientation tour 8 Ayers Rock Sails in the Desert Sup. First Class Days 6-8: The Outback—Alice Springs and Ayers of The Rocks, the city’s oldest preserved colonial 9-12 Sydney Sir Stamford Deluxe Rock Fly to Alice Springs, the capital of the Out- district, located near your hotel. (B) 13-14 Mt. Cook Hermitage First Class back. At Anzac Hill, enjoy a panoramic view and see 15-17 Queenstown St. Moritz First Class the monument to the Australian and New Zealand Days 10-12: Sydney Experience Sydney for three 18-19 Rotorua Regent of Rotorua First Class soldiers who fought in both World Wars. Visit the fascinating days. Highlights include a visit to the 20-21 Auckland Pullman Auckland Sup. First Class Royal Flying Doctors Service, the first comprehensive Royal Botanic Gardens and a luncheon cruise around 22 Depart Auckland for U.S. aerial medical organization in the world, then tour Sydney Harbour. You’ll also spend time at the Koala Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel the School of the Air, which provides education Sanctuary Park, featuring ten acres of rainforest, industry standard reference. to the widely scattered Outback children. Relax eucalyptus, and garden habitat where koalas, kangaroos, 48 On The Web Learn more at SmithsonianJourneys.org/Australia-New-Zealand wallabies, and dingoes roam freely. Plus, experience Sydney’s Northern Beaches, a string of 18 stunning “David Clapp’s broad interest in and knowl- oceanfront areas surrounded by a national park. edge of nature, his beautifully illustrated On your final day, take a guided tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House, then enjoy time for individual talks, and his warm personality and sense of pursuits. This evening dine at the Waterfront humor made every day a new adventure.” Restaurant, known for its outstanding seafood and -Smithsonian Traveler beautiful harbor views. (3B,1L,1D) Day 13: Sydney, Christchurch, Mount Cook pools, hot thermal springs, and a center of Maori Nat’l Park, New Zealand Fly this morning to culture. This afternoon’s tour includes the new Christchurch, New Zealand, where you board a Rotorua Museum, among other highlights. (B) motorcoach for the drive to Mount Cook National Park (Aoraki in the native tongue). Reach your hotel Day 19: Rotorua This morning and early after- located inside the park this evening in time for dinner. noon are at leisure; late afternoon visit Te Puia (B,D) Thermal Reserve and Maori Cultural Center for a traditional hangi dinner and performance. (B,D) Day 14: Mount Cook This morning’s tour of alpine Mount Cook Village and environs includes a visit to Days 20-21: Rotorua and Auckland On your the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Center. Also visit the way to Auckland stop at Ruakuri Caves to see the Hillary Gallery, commem orating Sir Edmund’s unique glowworms illuminate underground grottoes. achievements, including the first ascent of Mount Late this afternoon arrive in the “City of Sails,” in Cook’s difficult South face. After time in the village a beautiful natural setting atop 48 volcanic hills. for lunch on your own, this afternoon is at leisure to Take a half-day city tour featuring the War Memo- Spend four days in cosmopolitan Sydney. enjoy Aoraki Mount Cook as you wish. (B,D) rial Museum, Auckland Harbour, and the America’s Cup Village. Tonight celebrate your adventure at a 2014/2015 Tour Dates and Prices Day 15: Mount Cook and Queenstown Travel farewell dinner. (2B,D) through New Zealand’s lush fruit-growing region including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees to Queenstown, stopping in the former gold mining Day 22: Depart for the U.S. Early this morning 2014 town of Arrowtown. Enjoy a wine tasting and savory transfer to the airport for the flight to Los Angeles Oct 18 lunch before continuing to the famed Kawarau Bridge (via Sydney) where you connect with the return 2015 2015 where in 1988 AJ Hackett invented Bungee jump- flights home. B)( Mar 21 Jan 24 ing. Mid-afternoon reach the “adventure capital” of Los Angeles $9,178 $9,578 Queenstown. (B,L,D) Phoenix, San Francisco $9,378 $9,778 Day 16: Milford Sound The day-long excursion to Dallas, Houston, Smithsonian Expert $9,478 $9,878 Milford Sound includes a nature cruise through the Portland (OR), Seattle breathtaking fjords. Have lunch on board then later David Clapp is a respected natur- have the opportunity to return to Queenstown on an alist, scientist, and teacher. For- Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, merly director of the Massachusetts Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, optional scenic flight (weather permitting). B,L)( $9,578 $9,978 Audubon Society’s South Shore Miami, Minneapolis, Sanctuaries, David continues to be Day 17: Queenstown Orlando, Tampa After a morning at leisure, actively involved in habitat conser- take the T.S.S. Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu vation and land management. He Baltimore, Charlotte, to Walter Peak High Country Farm to watch the also serves as a consultant for an array of governmen- Cincinnati, New York, $9,678 $10,078 well-trained sheep dogs and to see a sheep-shearing tal and conservation agencies. David will lead the Philadelphia, Washington, DC demonstration. (B,D) January and March departures. The October departure will be led by a comparable expert. Land Only $7,895 $8,295 Day 18: Queenstown and Rotorua Depart this Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person morning for Rotorua, with its geysers, bubbling mud based on double occu pancy and include airline taxes, fuel surcharges and departure fees of $983 which are Post-Tour Extension Your Tour Price Includes subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $2,495. All 2014/2015 tour prices • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights above (excluding airline taxes, fuel surcharges, and AUCKLAND – ON YOUR OWN within itinerary departure fees) are guaranteed. 3 days/2 nights for $245 total price • 19 nights accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class hotels An overnight stay at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Single Supplement: $145 • 34 meals: 19 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 10 dinners (upon departure or return) is available for $89 per Enjoy the sparkling “City of Sails” at your own pace. • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all per son (single supplement: $59).