Today you set off for the other side of the world.

After your journey, you finally reach the Australian continent. You make your own way to your hotel by public transport. If you wish, you can book an optional transfer to your hotel. After your arrival, you have free time: relax at the hotel or start exploring the surroundings. 4 nights in Melbourne.

4 nights · Double room · With breakfast Your hotel, the “Oakwood Premier Melbourne”, is located near South Wharf, just south of the city centre. It impresses not only with its restaurant offering a selection of regional cuisine, but also with its lobby bar, which serves a varied range of food in addition to refreshing drinks. The hotel also has its own fitness centre and offers the opportunity to play billiards or table tennis. The rooms are bright and modern and are equipped with a desk, a TV, a safe and a walk-in shower.

Today the programme of your Australia and New Zealand tour begins. You meet your tour guide and fellow travellers at 10:15 in the hotel lobby. Your tour guide then introduces you to the highlights of Melbourne on a city tour. You stop by the lively Queen Victoria Market, visit the famous St Paul’s Cathedral and stroll through the Fitzroy Gardens. Afterwards, you go up the 300-metre-high Eureka Tower, from where you have a breathtaking view over the city (“The Edge Experience” can be booked additionally; payment on site). (B)

In the afternoon, you head to Phillip Island. Only about two hours from Melbourne, a natural paradise with unique wildlife awaits you. On your day trip, you have the opportunity to watch the Penguin Parade on the beach and feed kangaroos. You also visit the Moonlit Sanctuary, where you can observe Australian wildlife up close. Before returning to the mainland, you stop for dinner at a local restaurant, where you try dishes from the region. (B/D) (Distance: approx. 300 km; driving time: approx. 4 hours)

Today, look forward to a tour along one of the most scenic coastal roads in the world – the Great Ocean Road. The panoramic route on Australia’s south coast offers varied scenery, from rainforest and rivers to spectacular rock formations. You have lunch in the fishing village of Apollo Bay and then continue to the famous “Twelve Apostles”. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 535 km; driving time: approx. 7 hours)

After breakfast, you drive to the airport and fly north to Cairns. Here you visit the small hippie village of Kuranda, located deep in the rainforest just 30 km from the coast. Kuranda impresses above all with its beautiful forest trails, delicious local food and the local art scene. The cableway then takes you back to Cairns, just a few metres above the treetops of the rainforest. Over a total of 7.5 kilometres, you glide over gorges and mountains of untouched tropical rainforest (UNESCO World Natural Heritage) and enjoy a magnificent view all the way to the Great Barrier Reef. 2 nights in Cairns. (B) (Distance: approx. 50 km; driving time: approx. 1 hour)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast You stay at the 5-star Hilton Cairns on the waterfront promenade of Cairns in tropical northern Queensland. The hotel is located right on the water of Trinity Inlet, just a few steps from the Reef Fleet Terminal. The city centre, the Esplanade and various restaurants and shopping options are within easy walking distance. The hotel combines an attractive waterfront location with extensive leisure and service facilities. These include a tropical lagoon-style outdoor pool with sun terrace, a fitness centre and free Wi-Fi in public areas. In addition, the hotel has several dining options offering a selection of local dishes. At Gin Social and the Edge Terrace, you can also enjoy a wide range of gins and craft beers. The spacious rooms feature a bath or shower/WC, air conditioning, TV, safe and a balcony. Their modern furnishings and bright design make for a pleasant stay after eventful days exploring the city.

Today the adventure continues just like the day before. On a sailing catamaran, you set off early in the morning on a day trip to the world-famous Great Barrier Reef (UNESCO World Natural Heritage) and the sand island of Michaelmas Cay. The world’s largest coral reef is home to many colourful fish, corals and sea turtles as well as various species of whale. Snorkelling (included) or a ride in a glass-bottom boat gives you the opportunity to explore the diverse underwater world on your own. From the beach of Michaelmas Cay, you can also watch the many seabirds that breed and nest on the island all year round. (B/L)

Today you fly from the coast into Australia’s Outback. In the afternoon, you reach the famous red rock Ayers Rock, which now bears its traditional name Uluru again. For the Aboriginal people, who have lived in Australia for 65,000 years, Australia’s landmark is one of the most sacred sites in the country. To the west lies the Olgas rock formation, which you explore in the afternoon on a walk of about one hour. In the evening, with a glass of sparkling wine, you watch the spectacular sunset at Uluru / Ayers Rock. 1 night here. (B) (Distance: approx. 140 km; driving time: approx. 2 hours)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast (Distance: approx. 550 km; driving time: approx. 6 hours)

Early in the morning, you can watch the fascinating play of colours at sunrise at Uluru / Ayers Rock, which is completely different from the evening before. Afterwards, you go on an exciting tour around the base of the rock. You learn interesting facts about this sacred rock of the Aboriginal people and explore the many small details, caves and crevices that cannot be seen from a distance. On your drive to Alice Springs, let the landscape bathed in shades of red and ochre, with its typical desert oaks, pass by your window. Sit back and watch the passing scenery while you share thoughts with your fellow travellers about the magic of this region. 1 night in Alice Springs. (B) (Distance: approx. 500 km; driving time: approx. 5.5 hours)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast On the banks of the Todd River, just two kilometres from the centre of Alice Springs, the DoubleTree by Hilton welcomes you. Within a few minutes’ walk of the hotel are the Alice Springs Desert Park and Anzac Hill, which towers over the town. At the hotel you will find a pool open until 10 pm, a fitness centre with sauna and a restaurant serving dishes from “Australian bush” cuisine. The spacious rooms are modern and feature a TV, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.

In the morning, you visit the visitor centre of the School of the Air, also known as “the world’s largest classroom”. Here you learn all about this unique school and the way of life of its pupils in the Outback. You then fly to Sydney on the east coast; after arriving in the afternoon, you can relax at your hotel. 3 nights there. (B) (Distance: approx. 40 km; driving time: approx. 1 hour)

3 nights · Double room · With breakfast

Today you get to know the most beautiful sides of the metropolis of Sydney. On a sightseeing tour, you visit Chinatown and Darling Harbour as well as the famous surf beach of Bondi Beach. You have lunch on a panoramic boat trip through Sydney Harbour. Afterwards, you explore another of Sydney’s landmarks, the famous Opera House. More than four million people attend performances at the cultural centre every year. Your tour guide will be happy to give you tips for the evening. (B/L)

Before reaching today’s destination, the Blue Mountains National Park (UNESCO World Heritage), you visit Featherdale Wildlife Park on the way. Here you can get really close to kangaroos, koalas and emus. The Blue Mountains, with the famous “Three Sisters” rock formation, have flora and fauna worth protecting, which you explore on your walks through the forests. Waterfalls, sandstone cliffs and eucalyptus forests also shape the unique appearance of this mountain range. In the heart of the village of Leura, you have lunch with your fellow travellers. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 230 km; driving time: approx. 3.5 hours)

After an eventful time in Australia, your journey continues to New Zealand. So it’s “Goodbye Australia” and “Nau mai to New Zealand!”. Around midnight, after your departure from Sydney, you land in Christchurch. Here your New Zealand tour guide welcomes you and accompanies the transfer to your hotel. Recover from the flight in your comfortable hotel bed. 1 night in Christchurch. (B)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The Elms Hotel is located in the north-west of Christchurch, so you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre and enjoy a few relaxing hours here. It offers restaurant and bar service. All rooms have a flat-screen cable TV, a fridge, an alarm clock and an iron and ironing board.

After breakfast at the hotel, you explore the largest city of the South Island with your tour guide on a city tour. Christchurch, also known as “the most English city outside England”, has now recovered from the devastating earthquake and is more modern, creative and green than ever before. Since then, the art scene has grown considerably and numerous masterpieces now adorn buildings all over the city. Then you continue towards Dunedin. On the way, you stop in the town of Oamaru. Then it’s on to the main attraction of the day, the Moeraki Boulders. These mysterious spherical rocks on Moeraki Beach attract many visitors all year round. Once you arrive in Dunedin, you will quickly notice how varied a city can be. Dunedin offers plenty of history as well as natural beauty on the coast. A wildlife cruise along the coast around Otago Harbour rounds off the day. Sit back and enjoy the impressive scenery. With a bit of luck, you can spot albatrosses and seal colonies in their natural habitat, for example. 1 night in Dunedin. (B) (Distance: approx. 430 km; driving time: approx. 7 hours)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The Dunedin Leisure Lodge is located near Dunedin’s Botanic Garden, just a few minutes’ drive from the city centre and the main shopping street. The University of Otago can also be reached on a short walk. As the lodge is right next to the Botanic Garden, the hotel is surrounded by an enchanting garden where you can stroll through the lush greenery. The lodge’s 76 rooms have a balcony or terrace where you can relax and enjoy the sunset.

Before leaving the east coast, you explore the city once more with your tour guide on a walking tour in the morning. Dunedin is characterised by magnificent Victorian architecture. On a short city tour, you can admire the historic buildings, imposing churches and richly decorated houses of the city. Afterwards, you leave Dunedin heading west. On arrival in Te Anau, you take a short boat trip on Lake Te Anau to the glowworm caves. The atmosphere in the caves with thousands of glowworms is truly unique and will stay in your memory for a long time. 1 night in Te Anau. (B) (Distance: approx. 290 km; driving time: approx. 3.5 hours)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The Luxmore Hotel is located just a few metres from Lake Te Anau. The hotel has a fitness centre and its own restaurant. You stay in one of the spacious rooms, all of which have a private bathroom and TV.

Today you take a boat trip through Milford Sound and will quickly see why the fjord is one of New Zealand’s most impressive landscapes. With its unique natural setting, breathtaking panorama and diverse flora and fauna, Milford Sound is the most important sight in Fiordland National Park and rightly a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Your journey then continues to Queenstown. Located on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the Alps, the town lies in a picturesque landscape. A walking tour gives you a first glimpse of Queenstown and its surroundings. 2 nights in Queenstown. (B) (Distance: approx. 400 km; driving time: approx. 5 hours)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Copthorne Lakefront Hotel in Queenstown welcomes you with a breathtaking location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and offers an incomparable view of the surrounding mountains. This first-class hotel is the perfect base for discovering the best that Queenstown has to offer. The Copthorne Lakefront Hotel impresses with its elegant architecture and modern design. The rooms are stylishly furnished and offer a comfortable retreat with first-class amenities. In the hotel restaurant, you can enjoy a wide variety of delicious food and drinks, including local specialities and international dishes. The bar also invites you to relax and linger.

Today you have the opportunity to get to know Queenstown entirely according to your personal taste. We recommend a ride on the Skyline Gondola to Bob’s Peak, where you can enjoy a spectacular panorama with breathtaking views of Cecil Peak, Coronet Peak and, of course, Queenstown. Or you stroll leisurely through the town centre and enjoy the midday sun at Queenstown Bay. Your tour guide will give you further excursion tips. (B)

From Queenstown, you visit Lakes Hawea and Wanaka. Lake Wanaka lies in the heart of the South Island and is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand. Although the region was often used as a filming location for “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the area around the lakes is never crowded and has retained its unspoilt character. Continuing over the Haast Pass, you will discover the town of Arrowtown. To the north lie the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, which you can then take a closer look at from a viewing platform. The glaciers are among the largest and most popular in New Zealand and are only half an hour apart. If you wish, you can take a helicopter flight over the Fox Glacier (optional, bookable locally, weather permitting). 1 night in Fox / Franz Josef. (B) (Distance: approx. 330 km; driving time: approx. 4.5 hours)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The Heartland Hotel awaits you right next to the South West World Heritage Park. The hotel impresses above all with its view of the mountain landscape and its unique location. You stay in one of the spacious rooms, all of which have a private bathroom.

Along the west coast, you first visit the town of Hokitika today, where you learn about the fascinating history of the region on a walking tour. Hokitika also looks back on a long gold-mining history. On your way from Hokitika to Greymouth, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the wild beaches. Greymouth has a long gold-mining history. It is the largest town on the West Coast and is known for its awe-inspiring stretches of coastline. 1 night in Greymouth. (B) (Distance: approx. 200 km; driving time: approx. 2.5 hours)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast Surrounded by beautiful scenery, the Ashley Hotel is just a five-minute drive from the centre of Greymouth, making it the ideal base for exploring the area on your own. You stay in a room with TV, private bathroom with toiletries and, in some cases, a kitchenette. Relax by the indoor pool and in the spa area, or round off an eventful day with a beach walk at sunset.

On the drive from Greymouth to Blenheim, you stop in Punakaiki, known for its Pancake Rocks and blowholes. The sunny town of Blenheim lies in the heart of the Marlborough wine region and is therefore the ideal starting point for getting to know the local wine culture. At a wine tasting at one of the beautiful wineries, you can sample the delicious wines. 1 night in Blenheim. (B) (Distance: approx. 350 km; driving time: approx. 5 hours)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The Scenic Hotel Marlborough welcomes you in the centre of Blenheim. From here, countless cafés, restaurants and shops are within walking distance. The hotel’s “Mondrian” restaurant serves local food and wines, while a spa area with sauna, a heated outdoor pool and a whirlpool invite you to relax. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. All of the hotel’s modern rooms have a TV, telephone, safe and air conditioning. A minibar and tea and coffee making facilities provide extra comfort.

The ferries connecting New Zealand’s North and South Islands depart from the picturesque coastal town of Picton on the South Island. On the crossing to the North Island, you have a fantastic view of the Tory Channel and the bays of the Marlborough Sounds. In Wellington, a city full of charm awaits you, nestled between the sea and gentle green hills. On a city tour of New Zealand’s capital, your tour guide shows you the most beautiful sides of the city. 2 nights in Wellington. (B)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast You stay at the 4-star Naumi Studio Wellington in the lively Te Aro district in the heart of Wellington. The boutique hotel is located right on the well-known Cuba Street, famous for its cafés, restaurants, bars, art galleries and shops. The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the waterfront and other sights of New Zealand’s capital are within easy walking distance. The hotel combines the architecture of a historic building with a modern, design-led concept. Its colourful, individually designed interiors and creative atmosphere are characteristic. Facilities include a 24-hour reception and free Wi-Fi. There is also a restaurant serving international cuisine with New Zealand influences, as well as the Lola Rouge bar, a popular meeting place for hotel guests and locals alike. The rooms are individually designed and feature New Zealand-inspired art. The functional and compact furnishings include a bath or shower/WC, TV, telephone and fridge.

A free day in Wellington is yours to spend as you wish. Explore New Zealand’s capital on your own – whether on a stroll along the waterfront or by taking the historic Cable Car up to the Botanic Garden. The many cafés and restaurants in the lively city centre also invite you to linger. Your tour guide will certainly have a good recommendation or two for you. (B)

Today you drive through Tongariro National Park, almost 80,000 hectares in size and known above all for its contrasting landscapes. From there you reach the other shore of Lake Taupo, where the famous Huka Falls, with their enormous water power, put on a spectacular natural show. Around 220,000 litres of water rush down here every second, making the falls a unique spectacle. You then drive on towards Rotorua and visit the Mitai Maori Village, where you gain insights into the history and culture of the Maori and take part in a traditional hangi dinner. 1 night in Rotorua. (B/D) (Distance: approx. 450 km; driving time: approx. 5.5 hours)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The Distinction Rotorua Hotel awaits you in a prime location in Rotorua, surrounded by the natural beauty and cultural treasures of this region of New Zealand. This exclusive hotel offers you a retreat and a perfect base from which to explore the wonders of Rotorua. The Distinction Rotorua Hotel impresses with its elegant design and modern facilities. The rooms are stylishly furnished and offer you a comfortable retreat after an eventful day. Enjoy the high-quality amenities and excellent service that make your stay unforgettable. In the hotel restaurant, you can enjoy a wide selection of culinary delights inspired by local ingredients. The bar also invites you to enjoy refreshing drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. The Distinction Rotorua Hotel also offers a variety of leisure facilities, including a heated outdoor pool, a fitness centre and a wellness area.

The drive takes you through the green Hauraki Plains and the Bombay Hills to the last stop of your tour. Auckland, also known as the “City of Sails”, lies between two large harbours and is known for all kinds of water sports and boat trips. On a city tour, you get to know New Zealand’s largest city better. In the evening, a farewell dinner awaits you in the 328-metre-high Sky Tower Auckland. The Orbit restaurant offers a unique experience with a breathtaking 360-degree view of Auckland, the Hauraki Gulf and beyond. 1 night in Auckland. (B/D) (Distance: approx. 230 km; driving time: approx. 3 hours)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast In the heart of Auckland’s business district, just a few minutes’ walk from SkyCity and 10 minutes from Viaduct Harbour, you will find the Auckland City Hotel. Your hotel has 138 modern rooms with a desk, fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. At the Mustard Seed Café & Restaurant, you can enjoy authentic Malaysian cuisine.

Today your eventful journey comes to an end. You make your own way to Auckland airport and begin your journey home. If you wish, you can book an optional transfer. (B) Day 26: Arrival in your home country.