Sophisticated Melbourne extends a warm welcome as your first stop on this epic adventure through Australia and New Zealand. On arrival, transfer to your hotel (flights to arrive prior to 12pm). Then it's on to the famous Colonial Tramcar Restaurant this evening for a Welcome Reception and dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travelers.

Dive into culture and into the little lanes, arcades and café society of stylish Melbourne. Discover its edgy street art and immerse yourself in the robust aroma of coffee for which this city is so famous.

We fly north to Cairns, where we'll meet a Local Specialist for a private wildlife encounter at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures. Here the crocs are the star of the show as we take to Hartley's Lagoon to see them cruise the murky waters or laze on the bank. This evening, enjoy an evening at leisure to sample some of the city's famous seafood.

Dip more than your toes in the tropical waters that surround the Great Barrier Reef—a full day to explore this underwater wonderland up close. Board a high-speed catamaran, then don your mask and fins for a leisurely snorkel (equipment provided) or stay dry in your semi-submersible craft to see the tropical species that live in the world's largest coral reef system. A tropical buffet lunch is served on board under the glorious Aussie sunshine before returning to Cairns.

Soak up the leisurely atmosphere of Cairns with a free day to explore the city and its surrounds on your terms. Consider joining an Optional Experience to Kuranda, traveling by Scenic Rail to the 'village in the rainforest' and return to the lowlands on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. This evening, connect with locals at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, where you'll hear stories of the Dreamtime and witness an entertaining high-impact performance by the indigenous dance group. Your Be My Guest dinner is served to the hypnotic sounds of the didgeridoo.

We leave the golden beaches of Cairns behind, bound for Sydney. Settle into your splendid surrounds before boarding a Captain Cook Sunset Dinner Cruise. Watch day turn to night against the backdrop of the beloved Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as you enjoy a two-course à la carte Regional Meal on the water.

Admire one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century during a guided sightseeing tour of the Sydney Opera House with a Local Specialist. Later, rub shoulders with the bronzed, beautiful people of Bondi Beach as you visit the Returned Servicemen's Club for a Regional Meal. Join a local surf lifesaver who will take you on an exclusive tour through Australia's oldest surf lifesaving club and share insights into surf lifesaving and the history of Bondi, which has been welcoming beach-goers since 1882.

Indulge in a full day at leisure to connect with the energy of this vibrant harbor city or consider joining an Optional Experience to the nearby Blue Mountains. Watch as the shimmering blue haze on the horizon turns to a dense canopy of eucalyptus trees and see the Three Sisters that tower above Jamison Valley. This evening, join your travel companions for dinner in a waterfront restaurant.

Say a fond hoo roo to Australia as you board your flight to Auckland, New Zealand. Ease into the warm, welcoming embrace of the City of Sails before meeting your Travel Director for dinner at your hotel.

Embark on a city sightseeing tour, starting your journey at the city's beautiful waterfront. Ascend to Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial for magnificent views of Waitemata Harbour, which you'll have an opportunity to cruise on before the rest of the day at leisure.

Immerse yourself in New Zealand's horse racing culture during a visit to Lance and Bridgette O'Sullivan's home. Connect with locals over a sumptuous country-style lunch at the Red Barn on their beautiful Waikato farm. Later, dive into culture and gain a deeper understanding of Māori traditions at the Tamaki Family Marae where you will enjoy a traditional Hangi Regional Meal and concert.

Keep a keen eye out for the shy kiwis that find sanctuary in the lush surrounds of Rainbow Springs Nature Park, joining your Local Specialist for an immersive nature walk. Then, continue to Te Puia Thermal Reserve in Rotorua to see its bubbling geysers, mud pools and thermal springs in the company of a Local Specialist. We fly to Christchurch next.

Experience a tor highlight this morning—a TranzAlpine train ride through the snow-capped Southern Alps to Arthur's Pass. This spectacular train journey dates to 1914 and is rated as one of the world's most scenic train trips, forging through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys. Later, admire vivid hues of greenstone during a visit to a jade factory in Hokitika, where you'll witness first-hand a Local Specialist master carver at work. Journey along the coastal road to Franz Josef Glacier for a short walk to view the imposing glacier and perhaps an optional scenic flight (weather permitting). Tonight, enjoy dinner with wine at your hotel in the midst of a rainforest.

Follow the Tasman Sea coastline en route to Queenstown. Continue over the Haast Pass, winding through Mount Aspiring National Park and past Lakes Wanaka and Hawea before arriving in historic Arrowtown with its lovingly restored mining cottages and tree-lined streets that were once home to determined gold prospectors. Later, get your bearings during an orientation tour in Queenstown, then spend the rest of your evening at leisure.

Journey south, over the Devil's Staircase and along the shore of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau, the gateway to South Island's spectacular fiords. The ancient rainforests of Fiordland National Park provide a lush, green backdrop for our drive past glaciers and mountain ranges. Emerging from the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel, we'll encounter the fragile beauty of Cleddau Valley and natural splendor Mirror Lake, the Chasm and Bowen Falls before reaching Milford Sound. Take to its still waters for an exclusive nature cruise with lunch, filled with pinch me moments. Return to Queenstown for an evening at leisure.

Push your boundaries today as you discover why Queenstown is New Zealand's adventure capital, joining a recommended Optional Experience. Ride the Shotover Jet or take a 4WD mini-bus tour through Skippers Canyon. This evening, we take a step back in time with our Travel Director for dinner at The Boatshed, set in the historic Railway Shipping Office built in 1936. Restored and relocated to its lakefront setting, The Boatshed, with its spectacular views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables, is the perfect venue for your exclusive Farewell Dinner.

Our journey together has sadly come to an end. Say farewell to newfound friends as we transfer you to Queenstown Airport for your onward flight (flights anytime).