Explore Australia & New Zealand: 17-Day Tour

Overnight flight to Melbourne

At 11:00, we meet tour representatives at the International Terminal of Istanbul Airport. After completing baggage check-in and passport control, we depart at 13:50 on our QATAR AIRWAYS flight to Melbourne via Doha. We spend the night on board.

Arrival in Melbourne

The following day, we arrive at Melbourne Airport at 18:25 local time. After completing customs and passport formalities, we travel to our hotel by private vehicle. After the long journey, we check in and settle into our rooms. There is free time after dinner.

We spend the night at our hotel in Melbourne.

Our hotel is the 4-star Mercure Melbourne or similar.

Puffing Billy's steam train

After breakfast at our hotel, we will set off for the Puffing Billy train tour.

We will travel by steam train on the Belgrave - Lakeside route. During the journey of approximately 1 hour, we will pass through forests, over wooden bridges and through valleys. We will have the chance to take in the surroundings and take photos from the open carriages.

We will take a short break at Lakeside Station, then return by train to Belgrave station. In the afternoon, we will return to Melbourne city centre and enjoy free time for the rest of the day. Guests can go shopping, spend time in cafés or explore the city by following walking routes.

We will spend the night at our hotel in Melbourne. Our hotel will be the 4-star Mercure Melbourne or similar.

Melbourne to Philip Island

After breakfast at our hotel, we begin our Melbourne city tour. In this city, regarded as Australia's capital of culture and art, we explore St. Kilda Road, Arts Centre Melbourne, Federation Square and the banks of the Yarra River.

After visiting the Shrine of Remembrance (Anzac Memorial) and Royal Botanic Gardens, we take a short break at Queen Victoria Market. Free time is provided here for shopping and observing local life.

After lunch, we leave Melbourne city centre and travel by vehicle to Philip Island, a journey of approximately 2 hours. We make a short stop at a chocolate factory along the way.

In the evening, we arrive at the Penguin Parade area. At sunset, we watch little blue penguins emerge from the sea onto the shore in their natural habitat. Photography and the use of flash cameras are prohibited.

After the tour, we return to Melbourne late in the evening and transfer to our hotel. We spend the night at our hotel in Melbourne.

Accommodation: Mercure Melbourne, 4 stars, or similar.

Landing in Tasmania

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel. We fly from Melbourne to Hobart with Jetstar Airlines at 12:00, arriving at 13:15.

We transfer to our hotel in the private vehicle waiting for us at Hobart Airport. The rest of the day is free time in Hobart. Guests who wish can explore the historic harbour area or spend time at Salamanca Place.

We stay overnight at our hotel in Hobart.

Our hotel is the 4-star ibis Styles Hobart or similar.

Port Arthur's penal past

After breakfast at the hotel, we set off on a full-day tour of Port Arthur and the surrounding area. We visit the Port Arthur Historic Site, a former penal colony. We also take a short boat tour to see Tasmania's natural scenery.

As part of the program, we also visit the zoo known for its Tasmanian devils. We return to Hobart in the evening and spend the night at our hotel in Hobart.

Accommodation: 4-star ibis Styles Hobart or similar.

Flight to Sydney

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we take our Hobart - Sydney flight with Jetstar Airlines at 14:10. We arrive in Sydney at 16:00.

Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel in the city centre by private vehicle. The rest of the day is free time to relax and explore the surrounding area independently.

We spend the night at our hotel in Sydney.

Our hotel: The Grace Hotel Sydney, 4 stars.

On to New Zealand

In the morning, we transfer to Sydney Airport. We depart from Sydney at 06:20 on Jetstar Airlines flight JQ202. After a flight of approximately 3 hours and 55 minutes, we arrive in Auckland at 11:30 local time. After completing passport control, we travel by private vehicle to our hotel in the city centre.

We spend the night at the 4-star Grand Millennium Auckland or a similar hotel.

Waitomo's glowing caves

After breakfast at the hotel, we set off for Waitomo Caves. During the cave tour, we have the opportunity to observe light-emitting creatures known as glowworms. After the tour, we continue to the Rotorua area. We check in to our hotel in this city known for its geothermal areas, hot pools and geysers. We spend the night in Rotorua.

Our hotel: Millennium Hotel Rotorua, 4 stars or similar.

Maori culture, Hangi and Haka

After breakfast, we will tour Rotorua, seeing Government Gardens, Kuirau Park, Blue & Green Lakes and Lake Rotorua. In the afternoon, we will visit a Maori village to learn more about Maori culture. Here, we will take part in a traditional welcome ceremony, enjoy a traditional meal called Hangi Feast and watch a Haka dance performance. After the program, we will return to the hotel. Overnight in Rotorua.

Hobbiton's Middle-earth

After breakfast, we set off and make our first stop for photos on the shore of Lake Taupo. We then visit the Hobbiton Movie Set. After walking around the site where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films were shot, we stop for a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. At the end of the day, we return to Auckland and spend the night in Auckland.

Our hotel is the 4-star Grand Millennium Auckland or similar.

Auckland's bridge and tower

After breakfast at our hotel, we set off on a half-day tour of Auckland. Sights viewed from the outside during the tour include Auckland Harbour Bridge, Queen Street, Auckland Domain, the city's largest park, and Auckland War Memorial Museum. We stop for photos at Mount Eden, where you can enjoy views of the city.

After the tour, the afternoon is free time. Guests may go shopping, walk around Viaduct Harbour or go up Sky Tower for panoramic views of the city.

Overnight in Auckland at the 4-star Grand Millennium Auckland or a similar hotel.

Flight back to Sydney

We leave our hotel early in the morning and transfer to the airport. We depart from Auckland at 07:35 on Jetstar Airlines flight JQ202 and arrive in Sydney at 09:30.

On arrival, we transfer to our hotel in Sydney and check in. There is some final free time in Sydney before the return journey. We spend the night at our hotel.

Our hotel is the 4-star Holiday Inn Darling Harbour or similar.

Opera House and harbour cruise

On the morning of Day 14, after breakfast at our hotel, we set out on a city tour of Sydney. During the tour, we stop for photos outside the Opera House. Our itinerary includes Harbour Bridge, the historic district of The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Hyde Park & St. Mary's Cathedral, and Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, where we can enjoy views of Sydney.

After the tour, we have free time in the city centre around midday. You can spend this time shopping or exploring the area around Circular Quay.

Then, after a walk of approximately 10 minutes, we join the Harbour Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour in the evening. During the cruise, we view Sydney's illuminated skyline, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the water while enjoying a dinner featuring local cuisine.

At the end of the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight in Sydney at the 4-star Holiday Inn Darling Harbour or a similar hotel.

The Blue Mountains' Three Sisters

After breakfast at our hotel, we set off for a full-day nature and sightseeing tour of the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located approximately 1.5 hours west of Sydney.

Our first stop is Featherdale Wildlife Park. Here, you can see kangaroos and koalas and learn about local wildlife.

We then continue to the Blue Mountains and reach the Echo Point lookout. Here, we photograph the Three Sisters rock formations. We then take a ride on the Skyway, Cableway or Railway at Scenic World. There will also be an opportunity to take a short nature walk along the rainforest trails.

During the tour, we have lunch at a local restaurant. At the end of the day, we return to Sydney and spend the night at our hotel.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Darling Harbour, 4 stars, or similar.

Heading home

After our final breakfast at the hotel, there is free time. At the designated time, we check out of the hotel and transfer to Sydney Airport. We begin our return journey to Istanbul via Doha on a scheduled Qatar Airways flight.

Qatar Airways flight QR909 departs from Sydney at 21:40 and arrives in Doha at 04:45+1. Then Qatar Airways flight QR239 departs from Doha at 08:15 and arrives in Istanbul at 12:20.

We spend the night on board.

Seventeen days, journey's end

Our Australia & New Zealand tour ends with our arrival at Istanbul Airport at 12:20 local time.

See you on your next trip!