February 5 – 26, 2008
$6,312.00pp
We have had many requests to offer this tour again. This vacation is probably one that you have often thought about, but didn’t think it would ever come true. But now it can!!! It’s a dream tour!! This tour filled very quickly after the newsletter was mailed in July. We would be happy to add your name to the waitlist. We will be running this tour again in 2010. The following is an abbreviated itinerary.
Day 1: We’ll depart Yoder on our own motor coach for our drive to the airport for our flight, which will take us to California and then on to the great “Down-Under”. We’ll board our overnight flight for our trip to Melbourne, Australia where we begin to see the sights, in their late summer time.
Day 2 & 3: Crossing the International Dateline, we lose a full day. We will arrive in Melbourne, a beautiful Victorian city. The afternoon is yours to relax and adjust to the new time zone. Dinner is included tonight. The night will be in Melbourne.
Day 4: This morning on our city tour we will enjoy the sights of Melbourne including the Fitzroy Gardens, the Queen Victoria Gardens, and the Parliament House. This afternoon we will travel out into the countryside with a stop at Maru Park to hand feed kangaroos, and wallabies. We’ll enjoy an included Australian Bar-B-Q before leaving the park. Then it’s out to see the world’s largest reserve of Tiny Penguins on Phillip Island. Back to the same hotel in Melbourne.
Day 5: Mid-morning we’re out to the country again, this time to become a real Aussie as we experience the life of an Australian family in their home. This will also be our overnight accommodation.
Day 6: Following our breakfast with our host family, our flight will take us into the central part of Australia, the “Outback”. Arriving in Alice Springs, we’ll enjoy a city tour including an Old Telegraph Station, and Anzac Hill and the Royal Flying Doctors. After checking into the hotel, we’re in for a real treat as we leave town and head out into the “bush.” We’ll overnight in Alice Springs.
Day 7: What an experience is in store for us today, as we again drive out into the bush to spend the morning learning about the culture of the Aborigine. This evening included, is a camel ride through the outback before our included dinner. Back to the same hotel in Alice Springs.
Day 8: This morning we will board the coach for our day’s ride into the heart of the Australian Outback. Ayers Rock, a huge monolith and the sandstone domes of The Olgas have developed through the process of upheaval and erosion. Our accommodations are at the resort at Ayers Rock.
Day 9: Our flight from Ayers Rock takes us to Cairns. From dry outback to lush tropical forests!! This is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. This will be our first of 3 nights in Cairns.
Day 10: Today we will board a high speed catamaran for the adventure of a lifetime to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Back to the same hotel in Cairns.
Day 11: Still in Cairns, today we see some of the lushest tropical growth in all of Australia!! We’ll ride a train through the midst of it to the village of Kuranda. This evening we’re in for a real Aussie experience again – an Australian night out!! We’ll experience nocturnal wildlife in the tropics at the night zoo. A real experience with an included Bar-B-Q and live entertainment. Our last night in Cairns.
Day 12: This morning it’s time for our flight to the busiest and largest city in Australia, funloving Sydney. We will visit Sydney Harbor with fabulous views of the Harbor Bridge and the world famous Sydney Opera House. Sydney will be home for two nights.
Day 13: This morning will include a city tour of Sydney, seeing the Botanic Gardens, the Harbor Bridge, Bondi Beach and more.
Day 14: This morning, it’s up in the skies again for our transfer into New Zealand. Following a short city tour in Christchurch, viewing of the Neo-Gothic Cathedral and downtown park district, we’ll check into our hotel.
Day 15: Today, our coach will take us for the ride across New Zealand’s spectacular Southern Alps. Tonight we’ll be on the West Coast for the night in the Franz Josef Glacier Region.
Day 16:We will make a picture stop at either the Fox Glacier or the Franz Josef Glacier before traveling to the South Island’s lush, rugged, and magnificent west coast. Driving through rain forests, we will marvel at the Southern Alps and view New Zealand’s spectacular coastline. After crossing the Haast Pass, we will arrive in Queenstown, one of New Zealand’s prettiest towns for our 2-night stay.
Day 17: This is a LONG day but SO rewarding as we experience the Beech Forest and into the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley via the Homer Tunnel coming out into an unbelievable view of the grandeur of Milford Sound. Back to the same hotel.
Day 18: Leaving Queenstown this morning our route will take us along the beautiful Kawarau River as we cross the Lindis Pass. Our destination is Mt Cook National Park, New Zealand’s most famous National Park just in time for lunch at the Old Hermitage Hotel. We’ll continue our route on north for another highlight of the tour, as we meet “real kiwis” in the warm, friendly environment of their own homes. They are famous for their hospitality and eager to show us their way of agriculture. You will be welcomed in to stay and experience their lifestyle. Dinner, bed and breakfast is included.
Day 19:The North is bidding us visit now as we continue along the east coast of the South Island with awesome views. We’ll make a stop at the picturesque town of Kaikoura for some free time and lunch. Continuing North on this scenic drive we’ll enjoy the views as we approach the North Island. We’ll overnight just on the South side of the Cook Strait which separates the two Islands of New Zealand ready for our crossing in the morning
Day 20:What fabulous views as we sail through the sounds of the Cook Strait. The towering mountains, the clear waters, the forested hillsides are the photographers dream. Just after lunch we will be on the other side, The North Island of New Zealand. A delightful drive indeed is in store for us this afternoon. We’ll go from lush green forested areas, into definite agricultural farming, from mountain tops to desert like conditions. The North Island is a land of contrasts!! The Maori culture is a very important part of this land both in history and present. By evening we will be in the ancient Maori town of Rotorua. It’s a Thermal area with its boiling mud pools, steaming hot springs and soaring geysers. You will want to take advantage of the world famous therapeutic pools of the natural hot mineral springs. This will be home for two nights.
Day 21: Our morning starts off with a visit to the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where our guide will explain the origins and history of the Maori people. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and see some of the traditional crafts, cravings and weavings. Some free time, will again give you a chance to experience the hot pools. Next it’s to the Agrodome to enjoy a live and entertaining sheep show and shearing display and a farm tour. This evening a real cultural entertainment and Hangi (feast) are waiting for us. It’s an unforgettable experience with the Maori people. What a way to spend our last evening on the beautiful and historic Island of New Zealand.
Day 22: Our first stop this morning is at a Kiwi Fruit orchard and market, then we must head on into New Zealand’s largest and busiest city - Auckland. This modern city is home to the yachts that race for the American Cup. It is sandwiched between stunning twin harbors and built on 48 volcanoes. We’ll visit the city’s most striking modern landmark Sky Tower, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere before flying out on our afternoon flight. What a spectacular tour it has been!!! Thanks to the people from “so far away” for having shown us such a great time. We will fly out of Auckland. Re-crossing the International Dateline, we regain one day. Our coach will be waiting for us at the airport for our return back to Yoder.