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G Adventures
OFFER ID 1569686
Australia And New Zealand: Bushwalks & Beaches
Australia and New Zealand's South Island are calling, and this adventure answers with a resounding "yes!" Discover the best of New Zealand from Wellington to Queenstown to Franz Josef, with epic explorations by boat and on foot. Then, hop over to sunny Sydney for a taste of true Aussie life, kicking things off with hiking and surfing. If it's an adrenaline-packed, down-under adventure you're after, this trip has your name all over it.
Highlights
Spend free time in the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown, Explore Sydney, Australia's biggest city, Learn to surf in one of Austrlia's best beach town, Byron Bay.
Accommodation
Hostels & basic lodges (23 nts, multi-share with 2-10 people).
Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Group Size Notes
Max 20, avg 16
Meals Included
17 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 6 dinners
What's Included
Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Franz Josef
Your Discover Moment: Queenstown
Your Big Night Out Moment: Wellington
Your Hands-On Moment: Surfing Lesson, Spot X
Your Discover Moment: Byron Bay. Lake Taupo Sailboat Trip (Lake Taupo). Sea kayaking excursion (Raglan). Surf lesson in Raglan. Maori cultural experience. Free time in Sydney. Sydney orientation walk. Beach time in Byron Bay. Kangaroo trek. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
23 nights from $4,094 per person
G Adventures: Australia And New Zealand: Bushwalks & Beaches
Day 1: Wellington
Arrive at any time.Tonight, get to know your group on a night out in Wellington. Choose to head to your CEO’s favourite local spot for dinner together before enjoying a social evening of bar games, music, and singing.
There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city.Check out New Zealand's National Museum, a must-see with great displays of historical Maori artifacts and relatively modern exhibits such as the motorbike that was built in a shed and won the world championships. Afterwards, opt for a night out on the town. Wellington has an abundance of nightlife, bars, cafes and restaurants all located on and around the entertainment district of Courtenay Place.
Day 2: Wellington/Abel Tasman National Park
Don't forget those cameras before hopping on the morning ferry to cross the Cook Strait. Pro tip: make sure you stand outside and marvel at the views of the Marlborough Sounds at the tip of the South Island. Then drive past lush native forests, beautiful clear waters, blue skies, and golden sands as the group travels to Abel Tasman National Park.
Catch a morning ferry and cross the scenic Cook Strait. Make sure to stand outside and enjoy the views of the Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island. Disembark and transfer to Abel Tasman National Park, well-known for its stunning white sand beaches.
Day 3: Abel Tasman National Park
Picture this: birdsong ringing from the treetops as you wander through the undergrowth stumbling upon occasional waterfalls nestled in the midst of the forest. You take a dip in one of the refreshing pools before finding your way to pristine coastline and turquoise bays where you can soak up the sun and relax in the sand.This is the kind of day that awaits you in Abel Tasman NP, you are free to explore the golden beaches and winding waterways any way you’d like! So have fun, build a sand castle for us, and let the adventures continue!
Day 4: Abel Tasman National Park/Westport
It’s off to Westport today! Breathe in the fresh air and soak in the beautiful views as the group heads south down the coast of black-sand beaches. Make a (very cool) pit stop to a seal colony in Cape Foulwind and watch these majestic animals in their habitat before continuing on to Westport for the evening. Once you arrive grab a beer, talk to some locals, and discover the true charm of this coal mining town.
Day 5: Westport/Franz Josef
Continue on a scenic drive south along the coast to Punakaiki; think pancake rocks and blowholes (man, those are two random things we never thought would be in the same sentence). As a special spot full of local secrets, Punakaiki is a great place to hop out of the bus, stretch those legs, and appreciate the strange beauty nature can create.
Continue following the coastal road towards Franz Josef arriving at a unique wilderness lodge set in the rainforest for the night.
Day 6: Franz Josef
Enjoy a free day in Franz Josef. Today is all yours to spend as you please! From hiking to kayaking and walking on a glacier, there’s bound to be something you’ll want to check off that bucket list.If your goal is to make actual contact with the glacier then try a heli-hike or guided ice walk. Or you could let nature be your guide and lose yourself in the rainforests, lakes, and waterfalls that surround Franz Josef. If you’d rather stay in town, then grab a bite to eat before booking a spa treatment at the Glacier Hot Pools... the choice is yours!
Day 7: Franz Josef/Queenstown
Hit the road to the adventure capital of the world — Queenstown. Sit back, relax and gaze out the window as you drive away from Glacier Country and wind through lush forests back to the coast and into the mountains over Haast Pass. The photo opportunities will seem endless (make sure those cameras are charged.) Then gear up and get ready because the adrenaline is going to be pumping the next few days.
Day 8: Queenstown
Let’s put it this way, if you’re the sort of person that loves adventure mixed with adrenaline all while exploring one of the most scenic places in the country, then Queenstown is for you!Gear up for a free day that is sure to leave you breathless. Opt to be a dare devil and get ready to have those hearts pumping with some adrenaline-filled options like jet boating, bungee jumping, or skydiving.
Day 9: Milford Sound Day Trip/Queenstown
Let your breathing return to normal today as the group heads out for a visit to Fiordland National Park. After arriving, soak up the chill vibes on a boat cruise through one of the most iconic places in New Zealand — Milford Sound. Marvel at the views of one of the wettest places on Earth before we make our way back to Queenstown for the night.
Day 10: Queenstown
Gear up for round two of free time in Queenstown that is sure to leave you breathless. Choose to be a dare devil and get ready to have those hearts pumping with some adrenaline-filled options like jet boating, bungee jumping, mountain biking or skydiving or simply take in the breathtaking scenery and vibrant atmosphere as you find restaurants to try and cafes to wind down and relax.
Day 11: Queenstown to Tekapo
Depart Queenstown and travel to Aoraki/Mt Cook National park. Once in the park enjoy free time for hiking and visiting the Sir Edmund Hillary Visitors Centre. Afterwards, travel to Lake Tekapo where we will be staying for the next two nights.
Day 12: Tekapo
Start the day with a relaxing 21km bike ride along the canals with stunning mountain views. Spend the rest of the day exploring Tekapo on your own. Opt to visit the hot springs, relax on the shores of Lake Tekapo, or hike to the Mt John Observatory and check out the incredible Dark Sky Reserve.
Day 13: Tekapo to Christchurch
Scoot on up to Christchurch to explore the South Island’s largest city and one of the places in New Zealand with the strongest English influences. Enjoy free time to explore and see what the nightlife is all about with your travel tribe, and grab some shut eye in a converted jailhouse to finish the evening.
Day 14: Christchurch/Kaikoura
Mountains, marine life, and magic! Kaikoura is pretty darn special, so special in fact, that it may be the South Island’s best kept secret. The best way to experience it is to get out there and witness what this rugged coastal town does best. Book a whale watching cruise, swim with seals, or just take a walk along the coast admiring the scenery. In the afternoon try bird watching, swim with dolphins or splurge on flight over the peninsula.
Spend the afternoon swimming with dolphins or taking a scenic flight over the peninsula.Bird watchers will be pleased to know that big ocean birds such as albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters frequent the area.
Day 15: Kaikoura/Wellington
Reminisce and reflect on your time in New Zealand as you and the group travel to Picton to catch a ferry back to Wellington. Watch the majestic scenery of this country unfold before you and simply appreciate the moment (we know you’re probably already making plans to return.) Once back in the city grab some grub with your travel crew and let the good times roll for one last night out in New Zealand together.
Day 16: Wellington/Sydney
Today we say goodbye to New Zealand and fly to Australia. Departing out of Wellington, we'll touch down in Sydney after about 4 hours in the air. Enjoy an evening at leisure in Australia's biggest city.
A great way to start your time in the city is to head down to the harbour's edge to 'The Rocks' historic area.
Day 17: Sydney
Join your CEO as you climb aboard the local ferry and travel from Sydney to Manly Beach. Manly is one of Australia's most famous beaches, which is quite the praise for a giant island nation. With world class surfing, beautiful water and lined with pine trees, you'll quickly learn why its so popular amongst locals and travelers alike. Take a surf class, relax on the beach or hit one of the many shops or restaurants in the town.
Day 18: Sydney
There is so much to do in Sydney. Even though just a few free days aren't enough to see it all, it's still worth it! Opt to visit the Sydney Opera House, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, check out some of the famed museums or eat at some incredible restaurants.
Day 19: Sydney
Enjoy one last day in Sydney! Make sure to tick off those last few must do's in this amazing city. If you need ideas for today, make sure to ask your CEO, as there is always something to do here.
Day 20: Sydney/Arrawarra
It's all aboard today as you take the train north to Coffs Harbour. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the views. After pulling into Coffs Harbour station, the group will travel to Spot X Surf Camp, our base for the next few days.
Day 21: Arrawarra
As the sun rises along the ocean hit the beach for an included surf lesson with Spot X. Located in one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the country they are completely devoted to the surf lifestyle. Spend some time in the sun and laughing in the waves with your travel tribe before heading out on a kangaroo trek. Then it’s time for a free afternoon to enjoy your surroundings. Soak up views of Solitary Islands Marine Park, embark on a rockpool scramble to look for fish traps and sea creatures, or wander over to Mullawarra beach for a picnic. Your only real job today is to have fun!
Day 22: Arrawarra/Byron Bay
Adventure through lush national parks, stunning beaches, rolling green hills, and small but vibrant towns full of charm and authentic Australian culture as the group drives from Arrawarra to Byron Bay. Grab lunch in the surf and arts town of Byron Bay, before walking to Cape Byron Lighthouse to see the easternmost point in the country. If luck is on your side you may glimpse migrating whales and pods of resident dolphins.
Travel the coastal road to the stunning surf and arts town of Byron Bay. Enjoy plenty of free time to experience the hippie surfing town.
Day 23: Byron Bay
Welcome to Byron Bay… the city of surfing and sunbathing! The day is yours to explore; walk along hidden beaches, play in the surf, grab a massage. Want to get your adrenaline pumping? Go skydiving, try sea kayaking, or go on a dolphin watch.
At the end of it all hop on that surfboard for one last ride because as the locals say, “You haven’t surfed until you’ve surfed Byron Man!"Opt to pre-book the "Byron Bay Ocean Kayaking" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Day 24: Byron Bay/Brisbane
Venture north with your group to the capital of Queensland; Brisbane. Along the way, stretch those legs one final time on an included walk at the Daisy Hill Koala Centre. Nestled amongst eucalyptus trees, the centre features multi-level viewing of the resident rescue koalas and interactive educational displays, making it a unique place to learn about koalas and their conservation.Tour ends upon arrival to Brisbane in the afternoon, but we recommend extending to enjoy what this fun city has to offer. Besides, you probably aren’t ready to go home just yet.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
(707) 484-3836