13-Day Australia & New Zealand

A city of stunning natural beauty, Auckland blends the best of the modern cosmopolitan world with that of a Polynesian paradise. Nestled between two beautiful harbors, this marine playground offers breathtaking views and more than 1,000 bays and beaches. Shop the colorful Victorian Park Market or the charming boutiques of Parnell Village. Explore museums brimming with artifacts of the Maori culture. Or enjoy the natural splandor of the city, from English-style rose gardens to extinct volcanic sites. Popular landmarks are One Tree Hill and Mount Eden.

The ‘Bay of Islands’ was how Cook described the area two centuries ago, and the simplicity of his name masks the diversity of its charm.The subtleties of its attraction lie as much in the graceful fusion of sea with land as in the manoeuvres of Man – of Maori, whaler, missionary, and later, settler. The Bay, studded with over 150 islands, is a ‘drowned river system’, an area where the sea has invaded and drowned a number of river valleys. Its sheltered waters offer some of the finest boating and fishing to be found anywhere, and the menus of local restaurants reflect the abundance of marine life in the Bay.

With its miles of parks and tranquil gardens, striking Gothic architecture, and meandering Avon River, Christchurch is resplendent with English style and charm. Bustling Cathedral Square is the heart of the city, dominated by the spired Christchurch Cathedral. The serpentine Avon River invites strolls along its banks, dotted with weeping willows
and small romantic bridges. And throughout the “Garden City,” carefully tended streets and parks are ablaze with the color of classic English landscaping. Christchurch is the base for Antarctic exploration programs–visit the International Antarctic Centre located to the east of the city.

Panoramic views of twisting Otago Harbour await you in Dunedin, a Victoria enclave in the South Pacific. Steeped in history, the city has maintained the Scottish character of its founders, and has a rugged shoreline to match. The tranquility of the past is everywhere, from the oft mist-draped tower of Larnach Castle to the ancient English oaks of Glenfalloch Garden. The undulating volcanic landscape provides sanctuary to colonies of yellow-eyed penguin and royal albatross, the world’s largest sea bird.

Hobart, capital and chief port of Tasmania, SE Australia. Its harbor is one of the world’s finest. Manufactures include processed food, textiles, chemicals, and glass. Founded in 1804, it is the site of the Hobart Theatre Royal (1836), Australia’s oldest major theater.

The region surrounding Rotorua offers both thermal features and insights into Maori culture. Trout fishing is abundant
as well as golfing at the famed Mount Maunganui.