AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND | February 20-March 10, 2027

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

February 20-March 10, 2027

16 nights from $11,995 plus flight (air services available)

Trip Brochure | Real-Time Details | Claim Your Spot!
Ready to Sign Up or Have Questions? Contact 325-670-1377 or travel@hsutx.edu

PERFECT PAIRING This epic 19-day voyage offers a fresh take on Australia and New Zealand for an incomparable fusion of adventure and luxury—including elegant hotel accommodations for 16 nights, authentic local meals and internal airfare for flights between Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, Queenstown, Christchurch and Aukland.

EXCLUSIVE EXCURSIONS From iconic Sydney to Melbourne, our exclusive itinerary immerses guests in the unique history, culture and natural beauty of both countries with excursions that include a Pamigirri Aboriginal experience in Cairns and a visit to the UNESCO-designated Great Barrier Reef for a day of diving and snorkeling.

OCEANIC SPLENDOR Our visit to the South Island of New Zealand offers guests a rare opportunity to experience natural wonders not found anywhere else. They will be captivated by the beauty of the region’s world-famous glaciers, towering cliffs, pancake rocks, caves, calderas, turquoise waters and white sand beaches.

Tour Description

This epic adventure blends the best of both nations: iconic landscapes, vibrant cities, remarkable wildlife, and meaningful encounters that illuminate the spirit of these lands and their people. Carefully selected accommodations, most meals included, and exclusive experiences throughout ensure both comfort and discovery at every stage of this remarkable journey.

Tour Highlights

– Syndey: Scenic harbor dinner cruise • Guided panoramic city tour • Ferry excursion to Circular Quay with time to explore independently • Guided VIP Sydney Opera House tour

– Cairns: Rainforestation Nature Park exploration featuring Pamigirri Aboriginal experience—gain insight into the fascinating customs and ancient traditions still practiced in the Kuranda rainforest • Kuranda Scenic Railway journey through UNESCO-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland

– Great Barrier Reef: Full day to snorkel and dive through vibrant coral and encounter vast marine life in this UNESCO World Heritage Site

– Melbourne: Guided panoramic city tour • Scenic dinner atop Eureka Tower’s Melbourne Skydeck • Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges exploration • Healesville Animal Sanctuary tour • Rochford Vineyard tour, tasting and lunch

– Queenstown: Cruise Lake Wakatipu on a historic steamship • Walter Peak High Country Farm experience • Jet boat wilderness tour in Mount Aspiring National Park

– Te Anau: Special guided evening tour through limestone caves to see mesmerizing glowworms

– Milford Sound: Full day of exploration—rainforests, waterfalls, fur seal colonies, penguins, dolphins plus unique coral and other intriguing marine life

– Christchurch: Trotts Gardens tour plus a special lunch • Christchurch Botanic Gardens walk

– Auckland: Guided panoramic sightseeing tour • Special farewell dinner

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: En Route from U.S.
Day 2: Full Day in Flight
Day 3: Arrive in Sydney, Australia
Day 4: Sydney
Day 5: Sydney
Day 6: Sydney • Fly to Cairns
Day 7: Cairns • Great Barrier Reef
Day 8: Cairns • Flight to Melbourne
Day 9: Melbourne • Yarra Valley
Day 10: Melbourne • Fly to Queenstown, New Zealand
Day 11: Queenstown • Glenorchy
Day 12: Queenstown
Day 13: Queenstown • Te Anau
Day 14: Milford Sound
Day 15: Te Anau • Lake Tekapo
Day 16: Lake Tekapo • Christchurch
Day 17: Christchurch • Fly to Auckland
Day 18: Auckland
Day 19: Auckland • Depart for U.S.

Activity Level: 4 (Active!)

Tour days tend to be long and include many full-day excursions via various modes of transportation, flow at a brisk pace and may include extended travel days with morning and/or evening activities. Excursions may require standing and walking to city centers where coaches are prohibited, along with extended periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces including cobblestones and paths and/or trails that may be gravel, sand, dirt or other unpaved surface. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct variations in altitude and/or temperature.

• Guests are expected to board transportation without assistance. Elevators are not always available at accommodations or sites visited.
• Guests should be able to walk up and down the steps to board and deboard aircraft including at airports without traditional jetways.
• Guests will travel through multiple time zones and experience time zone changes between destinations.

What’s Included

• 16 nights accommodations at 4- and 5-star properties
• 16 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 9 dinners including a farewell dinner
• All excursions described in the itinerary including admission and park fees
• Local guides throughout plus an Orbridge Travel Director
• Internal airfare for flights between Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, Queenstown, Christchurch and Auckland
• Transfer and excursion transportation aboard air conditioned motor coaches
• Gratuities for Orbridge Travel Director, local guides, porters, attendants and wait staff for included meals
• Airport transfers for guests arriving and departing during the suggested times

Trip Brochure | Real-Time Details | Claim Your Spot!
Ready to Sign Up or Have Questions? Contact 325-670-1377 or travel@hsutx.edu

Alumni, Friends, Family – All Are Welcome!