This extensive escorted tour from Travelsphere begins with several days in Perth, including a walk through Kings Park and a visit to Cottesloe Beach, before travelling east to Adelaide and Kangaroo Island, where native wildlife and rugged rock formations, such as Admirals Arch, shape the landscape. The journey continues along the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne, then on to Sydney and the striking monolith of Uluru in the Red Centre, with its ancient Aboriginal rock paintings.
Next, the tour visits tropical Darwin and Kakadu National Park, including the Yellow Water Lagoon and Katherine Gorge cruises, then heads to Cairns for a day on the outer Great Barrier Reef. Flights take the group to New Zealand, starting on the North Island in Auckland, the Bay of Islands and Rotorua’s geothermal springs before crossing to the South Island, including a ride on the TranzAlpine train and visits to Franz Josef Glacier and the adventure hub of Queenstown.
After taking in Milford Sound and Dunedin’s historic architecture, the tour culminates with four nights in Rarotonga on the Cook Islands, enjoying an infinity pool overlooking the lagoon and local Polynesian culture. The pace allows for both sightseeing and free time, with several opportunities to pay attention to small details, such as the carving of Mrs Macquarie’s Chair or the glow worms in their caves.
