Day 1

Welcome to Australia!

Arrival in Brisbane - the capital of Queensland

Land in Brisbane, self-transfer to your hotel on the Gold Coast

Check in to your hotel for 4 nights

Australia's most popular holiday region - the Gold Coast - is 80 km from Brisbane and 20 minutes from the local Coolangatta airport.

The scale of this resort megacity and its varied entertainment is comparable only to Miami in the US. Hotel skyscrapers, theme parks, a wide range of interesting tours, nightlife, casinos, restaurants, shopping, golf, surfing, fishing, yachts, and spacious, pristine sandy beaches stretching 42 km, with year-round sunshine, draw holidaymakers here from around the world.

Day 2

A personal tour with a private driver-guide: 'Exotic Gold Coast - Tropical Fruit World, the World of Honey and Australia's Unique Wildlife'

During this tour you'll visit the world's largest fruit farm, growing around 500 varieties of tropical fruit. An entertaining group tour into the history, cultivation and harvesting of tropical fruit in Australia awaits. You'll sample tropical delicacies made from the best secret recipes, visit the World of Honey, go to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and hold a koala.

Duration: 9 hours

Paid separately: Tropical Fruit World and the Wildlife Sanctuary

Day 3

A personal tour with a private driver-guide: 'Natural Treasures of the Gold Coast: Mount Tamborine National Park'

The pristine rainforest in the foothills of South-East Queensland is recognised as a unique natural phenomenon and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Just 50 km from the Gold Coast lies this Gondwanan wonder - Mount Tamborine National Park - with its surviving subtropical rainforest, where ground orchids, thousand-year-old beeches and pines, unusual grass trees and tree ferns still grow. Tropical forests from different climate zones, numerous waterfalls and streams, and a variety of birdlife can all be seen on a visit to this reserve. A popular highlight is a walk through the treetop canopy along a suspension bridge 16 metres above the ground. In the mountain village of Tamborine, the souvenir shops and galleries showcase excellent local arts and crafts.

Duration: 8 hours

Paid separately: the Glow Worm Cave (optional) and the treetop walk

Day 4

A personal tour with a private driver-guide to Stradbroke Island: 'Among the Dunes and Wilderness of Stradbroke Island'

Stradbroke Island is considered one of the largest sand islands in the world and a popular tourist route on the Gold Coast and Brisbane trail. This slice of paradise lies 30 km from Brisbane and 50 km from the Gold Coast. It's reached by a comfortable ferry (40 minutes) across the picturesque Moreton Bay. Stradbroke is famous for its magnificent sandy beaches, freshwater lakes, enormous dunes (up to 100 m high), ancient native vegetation, and lookout points for spotting dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, dugongs and humpback whales in season. The island is home to 18 species of unique animals, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, echidnas and possums, as well as many rare and exotic birds.

Duration: 10 hours

Paid separately: the ferry and the national park entrance fee

Day 5

Fly to Sydney from the local Coolangatta airport

Flight time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Arrival in Sydney - the capital of New South Wales

Modern, sprawling Sydney, with its many beaches and national parks, is considered geographically one of the largest cities in the world and a highly desirable place to live

Meet your private driver-guide at the airport, transfer to your hotel with a sightseeing tour: 'The History of Sydney and Its Exclusive Eastern Suburbs'

Sydney's exclusive eastern suburbs are famous for their historic landmarks and national parks, yacht clubs and golden beaches, boutiques and fine restaurants

During this panoramic orientation tour of Sydney

You will see and visit: the world-famous Bondi Beach; the impressive ocean gateway rocks into Sydney Harbour; The Gap National Park with its ancient native vegetation; the exclusive suburb of Double Bay; the historic multi-tiered Rocks district; Hyde Park and the Royal Botanic Garden; St Mary's Cathedral, the Hyde Park Barracks, the Rum Hospital, Parliament House and other architectural landmarks; the nightlife hub of Kings Cross; the city's icons - the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge; and the most beautiful and popular lookout point, Mrs Macquarie's Chair.

Duration: 4 hours

Transfer and check-in for 3 nights

Day 6

A personal 8-hour sightseeing tour with a private driver-guide: 'The Ancient Canyons of the Blue Mountains'

One of the world's great natural treasures lies right on Sydney's doorstep. Just two hours from the city, and you're part of a Jules Verne-style expedition, conquering the rainforest and ancient canyons of the Blue Mountains. This mountain region of Australia is famous for its blue horizons (their tint comes from eucalyptus oil vapour), sheer rock faces and monumental stone formations, cascading waterfalls and fragrant air. One of the most famous sights is the spire-like rock formation of the Three Sisters. Steep descents and climbs at a 52-degree incline aboard a mine cart and cable car take you into the depths of the canyon, raising your adrenaline, to an old mine and a multi-level timber boardwalk through ancient forest. During the tour you'll also visit a Wildlife Park with the largest private collection of Australian fauna, where you can feed kangaroos and take a photo with a koala (extra charge).

Duration: 8 hours

Paid separately: the Wildlife Park and the cable cars

Day 7

A personal tour with a private driver-guide: 'Panoramas of the Grand Pacific Drive in Sydney'

During this tour you'll discover the history, flora and fauna of Sydney's southern ocean suburbs.

You will visit and see: Australia's oldest national park, the Royal National Park, with its tropical bushland; Bald Hill lookout with breathtaking panoramas; the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere (optional); a boutique winery (up to 40 varieties of dry wine); and the historic town of Kiama, with its coastal gorge and dramatic 20-metre saltwater blowhole through ancient volcanic lava.

Duration: 8-9 hours

Day 8

Check out of your hotel and self-transfer to Sydney International Airport

Fly to New Zealand, to Queenstown

Welcome to New Zealand's South Island!

Arrival in Queenstown - the 'jewel' of New Zealand's South Island

Land in Queenstown.

Meet at the airport, transfer to your hotel with a personal sightseeing tour: 'Queenstown and Its Surrounds'

Fuel is paid separately (as per New Zealand car-hire rules)

The strikingly beautiful Queenstown deservedly holds the highest rating for varied, high-quality holidays in every season - from peaceful relaxation to extreme adventure. The town's picturesque setting on the shores of the mirror-like Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by tall mountains with dazzling white peaks, creates a unique microclimate and an almost otherworldly atmosphere. The region's fantastic landscapes served as the backdrop for 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' films.

During this sightseeing tour

You will visit and see: lookout points over Lake Wakatipu and the town; the Kawarau Suspension Bridge, home to the world's first bungy jump; Kawarau Gorge and its waterfall; the historic gold-mining town of Arrowtown; and the picturesque Lake Hayes

Duration: 4 hours

Transfer and check-in for 2 nights

Day 9

A personal tour with a private driver-guide: 'Milford Sound - Land of Fjords, Sheer Cliffs and Waterfalls' Entrance tickets included in the tour price

Fuel for long distances paid separately (as per New Zealand car-hire rules)

Among the many fjords of Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound is a true wild gem, listed as a World Heritage site and, in Kipling's words, called the 'eighth wonder of the world'. This narrow, 20 km-long sound is flanked by some of the highest coastal cliffs in the world (up to 1,700 m), with roaring waterfalls and cascades. Unusual peaks add to the magic - Elephant Rock (shaped like an elephant's head) and Lion Rock (resembling a crouching lion) - while the fjord's main icon, the giant granite peak of Mitre Peak (1,700 m), guards the entrance to the sound.

During the tour

You will visit and see: mountain gorges with azure lakes; the Homer Tunnel; picturesque alpine meadows; cosy lagoons with snow-white sand; and a cruise among New Zealand's famous fjords

Duration: 11 hours

Day 10

Drive with your private driver-guide to Dunedin

The road from Queenstown to Dunedin runs through the picturesque gorges of the Kawarau River and Cromwell Gorge, amid New Zealand's majestic mountains

You will visit and see: the town of Cromwell (known for its juicy fruit); the town and dam of Clyde; Lake Dunstan reservoir; and the historic gold-mining town of Alexandra, now a centre of New Zealand's finest wines.

Arrival in Dunedin - a historic New Zealand town with Scottish charm

A personal sightseeing tour of Dunedin and surrounds.

Tickets included in the tour price

Fuel for long distances paid separately (as per New Zealand car-hire rules)

Dunedin sits picturesquely across the hills and valleys around Otago Harbour, formed many years ago by a volcanic eruption. It's the South Island's second-largest city, with numerous historic and natural landmarks.

During the city tour

You will visit and see: a panorama of Dunedin from Signal Hill (329 m) and the Centennial Memorial; historic 19th-century churches and buildings; the world's steepest street, Baldwin Street (a Guinness World Record); a monument to the poet Robert Burns; the University of Otago, New Zealand's oldest university (1869); the Cadbury World chocolate factory; Speight's Brewery; the country's only castle, Larnach Castle (1885), with a walk through its beautiful garden featuring 'Alice in Wonderland' sculptures; and a reserve with a colony of yellow-eyed penguins

Duration: full day

Transfer and check-in for 1 night

Paid separately: Larnach Castle entrance

Day 11

Drive with your private driver-guide: Dunedin - Oamaru - Christchurch

Fuel for long distances paid separately (as per New Zealand car-hire rules)

The road from Dunedin to Christchurch runs through forested hills, along the ocean, and then across the plains of South Canterbury - New Zealand's grain basket.

You will visit and see: the mysterious Moeraki Boulders; the town of Oamaru, with its beautifully preserved Victorian architecture and numerous galleries; and the port of Timaru, picturesquely set on the hills, with its distinctive buildings made of blue volcanic stone.

Arrival in Christchurch - a city of gardens and English charm

Christchurch is known as the gateway to New Zealand's South Island, through which all the region's main tourist routes pass. The South Island's largest city and its surroundings are famous for their picturesque landscape, featuring a rugged ocean coastline, the fertile Canterbury Plains, and the high peaks of the Southern Alps.

During a 2-hour sightseeing tour of the city

You will see and visit: the Summit Road with lookout points over Christchurch, Lyttelton Harbour and the Southern Alps; Victoria Square with its floral clock; the Botanic Gardens; the Bowker and Ferrier fountains; the Bridge of Remembrance; the central 'Re:Start' shopping precinct; and the picturesque Avon River (boat rides optional)

Duration: a 2-hour sightseeing tour with a hotel transfer

Transfer and check-in for 2 nights

Day 12

A personal full-day tour with a private driver-guide: 'Natural Wonders of New Zealand's West Coast'

Fuel for long distances paid separately (as per New Zealand car-hire rules)

This exciting round trip from Christchurch to the South Island's west coast and back takes you through the forested New Zealand Alps, crossing mountain rivers and deep gorges, then along a scenic ocean road past sheer cliffs and a wild ocean to the famous Pancake Rocks

You will visit and see: Arthur's Pass; the town of Greymouth, a centre for traditional greenstone (jade) crafting; lookout points with panoramas of Mount Cook; the Pancake Rocks, whose bizarre layered form resembles a stack of thin pancakes; and unusual blowholes along the coast.

In Paparoa National Park, home to the Pancake Rocks and blowholes, you can take an easy walk among the rock formations and admire the untouched subtropical vegetation of the west coast.

Duration: full day

Day 13

Check out of your hotel. Self-transfer to the airport

Fly to Rotorua

Arrival on the North Island in Rotorua - the valley of bubbling geysers

Meet your private driver-guide at the airport.

A personal sightseeing tour: 'The Geyser Valley in Rotorua and an Introduction to Maori Culture' with a transfer to your hotel

Fuel for long distances paid separately (as per New Zealand car-hire rules)

The geyser valley in Rotorua is the North Island's most astonishing sight, where nature displays every kind of geothermal activity. Rotorua is one of the country's most popular resort towns and a centre of Maori culture.

On this tour of Rotorua you'll learn the facts behind the geothermal activity, alongside romantic Maori legends and their centuries-old way of life on this hot land.

You will visit and see: the Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu geothermal parks, home to the Southern Hemisphere's largest geyser, Pohutu (a 30-metre eruption roughly every 20 minutes) and the 'Champagne Pool'; the Kiwi House; Huka Falls; a prawn farm; and the Wairakei hot mineral springs, with swimming.

The tour ends at your hotel

An evening trip to a Maori village, where the cultural heritage of New Zealand's indigenous people is beautifully presented: rituals, crafts, a show (the poi dance and the haka war dance) and a traditional hangi dinner cooked on hot stones.

Paid separately: the Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park, the Te Puia geothermal park, the Maori village dinner

Day 14

Check out of your hotel. Meet your private driver-guide in the hotel lobby

Drive to Auckland

Fuel for long distances paid separately (as per New Zealand car-hire rules)

On the way to Auckland

You will visit and see: Rainbow Springs Nature Park, home to New Zealand wildlife (including kiwi); Lake Taupo; the ancient Waitomo Caves, with their glow-worm 'starlit ceilings' and an underground river cruise; and the picturesque Bombay Hills region and the town of Huntly.

Arrival in Auckland - the City of Sails

Auckland is the subtropical hub of the New Zealand islands. The city sits among two mountain ranges, three harbours, 48 extinct volcanoes and more than 50 islands.

The tour ends at your hotel.

In the evening we recommend going up the Sky Tower observation deck (there's a revolving restaurant), or taking a walk and dinner in the Viaduct precinct on the shores of the Waitemata Harbour

Paid separately: the Kiwi House and the caves cruise

Day 15

Check out of your hotel

Meet your private driver-guide in the hotel lobby

A personal 8-hour sightseeing tour: 'The Exotic Landscapes of Auckland and Its Surrounds' with a transfer to the international airport

Fuel for long distances paid separately (as per New Zealand car-hire rules)

On this panoramic tour of the city you will visit and see: the main Viaduct waterfront; the lookout at Mount Eden, the crater of a dormant volcano; the Auckland Domain and Wintergardens; Mission Bay beach and the street with the area's most expensive homes; the black volcanic sand beach and gannet colony; and Muriwai Beach with its black sand.

Lunch at a winery is possible along the way (lunch not included).

The tour ends at the international airport