Explore Australia & New Zealand in 18 Days
An 18 day route through Australia and New Zealand, from Melbourne to Rotorua.
From Melbourne to Auckland
This journey runs from Istanbul to Melbourne and on through Australia and New Zealand. The Puffing Billy steam train and the Phillip Island penguins lead to the Twelve Apostles, Hobart's colonial streets, the Sydney Opera House and the Hobbiton Movie Set, then to the geysers of Rotorua and the glowworm-lit Waitomo Caves. The route brings together the nature, history and culture of both countries.
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Two countries and the island of Tasmania fit into fifteen nights on this Australia and New Zealand tour. In Melbourne it offers the Puffing Billy steam train, the Phillip Island penguin parade and the Great Ocean Road. Hobart and Port Arthur come next, then Sydney with the Opera House, Bondi Beach, the Blue Mountains and a dinner cruise on the harbour. In New Zealand the route centres on the Hobbiton film set, the geysers of Rotorua, a Maori haka show and the glowworm caves of Waitomo.
Phillip Island penguins
The world's smallest penguins walking ashore at the Penguin Parade.
The Twelve Apostles
Limestone stacks carved by the ocean along the Great Ocean Road.
Hobbiton Movie Set
A walk among the hobbit holes from The Lord of the Rings.
Planning your budgetAustralia and New Zealand visa fees and service charges, together with a recommended gratuity of 150 USD per person for local guides, drivers and service staff, and any lunches, dinners or drinks not expressly included, are not covered in the tour price. See details →
The route of the journey
- Melbourne4 nights
- Hobart2 nights
- Sydney3 nights
- Auckland1 night
- Rotorua2 nights
- Auckland2 nights
- Sydney1 night
We spend the night at the 4-star Mercure Welcome Melbourne hotel. We spend the night at the 4-star Mercure Welcome Melbourne hotel. We stay at the 4-star Mercure Welcome Melbourne hotel.
01DAY 1: ISTANBUL - MELBOURNECheck-in at Istanbul Airport, then a night flight south.
Overnight flight to Melbourne
We meet at 14:00 at the tour desk in the International Departures Terminal at Istanbul Airport. After completing check-in and baggage procedures, we depart for Melbourne at 17:15 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 168. We spend the night on board.
02DAY 2: ARRIVAL IN MELBOURNEPassport control, customs and a transfer to the hotel.
Arrival in Melbourne
We arrive at Melbourne Airport at 21:00 local time. After completing passport control and customs procedures, we transfer to our hotel in a private vehicle. We stay at the 4-star Mercure Welcome Melbourne hotel.
03DAY 3: MELBOURNE CITY TOUR and FREE TIMESt. Patrick's Cathedral, Parliament House and Federation Square.
Melbourne city tour
After breakfast, we set out on a city tour of Melbourne. In Melbourne, Australia's cultural capital, the places we will see include St. Patrick's Cathedral, Captain Cook's Cottage, Parliament House and Federation Square. In the afternoon, we provide free time for guests who wish to explore the city on their own.
We spend the night at the 4-star Mercure Welcome Melbourne hotel.
04DAY 4: PUFFING BILLY and PHILLIP ISLAND (PENGUIN PARADE)The Puffing Billy steam train and the Phillip Island penguin parade.
Puffing Billy and the penguins
We begin the day with a ride through the rainforests on the Puffing Billy steam train, which has been operating in the Dandenong Mountains for over 100 years. In the late afternoon, we head to Phillip Island to watch the world's smallest penguins come ashore from the ocean and walk to their nests during the Penguin Parade.
We spend the night at the 4-star Mercure Welcome Melbourne hotel.
05DAY 5: GREAT OCEAN ROADThe Twelve Apostles rock formations and Loch Ard Bay.
The Great Ocean Road
On our Great Ocean Road tour, we visit the 12 Apostles, formed by ocean waves eroding limestone, and Loch Ard Bay. Throughout the day, we have opportunities for nature photography.
We stay at the 4-star Mercure Welcome Melbourne hotel.
06DAY 6: MELBOURNE - HOBART [TASMANIA]Hobart's historic quarter, colonial architecture and harbour.
Arrival in Hobart
We fly to Tasmania. Upon arrival, we explore the historic character, colonial architecture and harbour area of the capital, Hobart.
We stay at the 4-star ibis Styles Hobart hotel.
07DAY 7: TASMANIAN DEVIL and PORT ARTHURBonorong Wildlife Centre and the Port Arthur prison complex.
Tasmanian devils and Port Arthur
At Bonorong Wildlife Centre, we see Tasmanian devils, koalas and kangaroos up close. We then visit the Port Arthur prison complex, one of Australia's historic settlements and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We stay at the 4-star ibis Styles Hobart hotel.
08DAY 8: HOBART - SYDNEY AND DINNER CRUISEA dinner cruise with views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Sydney harbour dinner cruise
We fly to Sydney. After checking in at the hotel, we join the Harbour Dinner Cruise (Yacht Tour with Dinner) aboard our private yacht in the evening. We view the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the water, with Sydney harbour lit up around us.
We stay at the 4-star Holiday Inn Darling Harbour hotel.
09DAY 9: SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE and CITY TOUR and BONDI BEACHThe Opera House, The Rocks district and Bondi Beach.
Sydney Opera House and Bondi
Our stops include the Sydney Opera House, the historic The Rocks district and Bondi Beach, a popular spot for surfers. During our tour, we observe everyday life in the city.
We stay at the 4-star Holiday Inn Darling Harbour hotel.
10DAY 10: BLUE MOUNTAINS and FEATHERDALEThe Three Sisters rock formations and Featherdale Wildlife Park.
Blue Mountains and Featherdale
We see the Three Sisters rock formations and canyons in the Blue Mountains. On the way back, we stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park and spend time with animals native to Australia.
We stay at the 4-star Holiday Inn Darling Harbour hotel.
11DAY 11: SYDNEY - AUCKLAND [NEW ZEALAND]A flight over the Tasman Sea and a panoramic city tour.
Arrival in Auckland
We fly over the Tasman Sea and arrive in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. After a panoramic city tour of Auckland, known as the "City of Sails", we check in to our hotel.
We stay at the 4-star The Grand Millennium Auckland hotel.
12DAY 12: AUCKLAND - HOBBITON - ROTORUAThe Hobbiton Movie Set, then on to geothermal Rotorua.
Hobbiton and Rotorua
Today we head to Middle-earth to visit the Hobbiton Movie Set, where The Lord of the Rings series was filmed. After walking among the hobbit holes, we continue to Rotorua, known for its geothermal features.
We spend the night at the 4-star Distinction Hotel Rotorua.
13DAY 13: ROTORUA (GEYSERS and MAORI CULTURE)Te Puia's geysers, a Haka performance and a traditional Hangi dinner.
Geysers and Maori culture
We visit the geysers and mud pools at Te Puia. In the evening, we enjoy a local Maori dinner (Hangi), cooked in underground ovens, accompanied by a traditional Haka dance performance.
We spend the night at the 4-star Distinction Hotel Rotorua.
14DAY 14: ROTORUA - WAITOMO - AUCKLANDA boat ride through the glowworm-lit Waitomo Caves.
Waitomo Caves to Auckland
We take a boat ride through Waitomo Glowworm Cave, watching thousands of creatures glowing on the ceiling. After the tour, we return to Auckland.
We spend the night at the 4-star The Grand Millennium Auckland hotel.
15DAY 15: AUCKLAND FREE TIMEA full free day to explore the city at your own pace.
Free day in Auckland
Enjoy a full day of free time in Auckland to explore the city at your own pace, visit the harbour, shop or relax.
Accommodation at The Grand Millennium Auckland hotel, 4 stars.
16DAY 16: AUCKLAND - SYDNEYA return flight to Australia and a last stay in Sydney.
Back to Sydney
We fly back to Sydney, Australia. As the tour draws to a close, we check into our hotel in Sydney for the last time. Afterwards, you have free time.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Darling Harbour, 4 stars
17DAY 17: SYDNEY - ISTANBULLast-minute shopping, then a night flight home.
Overnight flight to Istanbul
Free time is provided until the evening for shopping and final sightseeing. This is followed by a transfer to the airport, with the return journey departing at 21:45 with Turkish Airlines.
Overnight on board.
18DAY 18: ISTANBULThe 18 day tour closes on arrival in Istanbul.
Arrival in Istanbul
Our 18-day tour ends upon arrival at Istanbul Airport at 11:25 in the morning.
Flight details
Outbound · 21 March 2027Return · 7 April 2027Times are local, taken from the programme. Baggage allowance is given in your booking documents.
Where will you stay?
Mercure Welcome Melbourne or similar · ibis Styles Hobart or similar · Holiday Inn Darling Harbour or similar · The Grand Millennium Auckland or similar · Distinction Hotel Rotorua
Sold as: 4-star
Places visited
Included and extra costs
Included in the price
16
- Main international flights: Istanbul - Melbourne outbound and Sydney - Istanbul return economy class flight tickets with Turkish Airlines.
- Regional connecting flights (4 in total): * Melbourne - Hobart (Tasmania) flight. Hobart - Sydney flight.
- Sydney - Auckland (New Zealand) flight.
- Auckland - Sydney return flight.
- Selected accommodation: 15 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in total in the 4 star hotels specified in the programme.
- Special dining arrangements: the harbour dinner cruise in Sydney with its remarkable harbour views.
- A traditional Maori evening and dinner in Rotorua.
- Iconic excursions and entrance fees (no extra tours): Melbourne, the historic Puffing Billy steam train ride and watching the Phillip Island penguin parade.
- Melbourne: full-day Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles tour.
- Tasmania: Bonorong Wildlife Park (the Tasmanian devil) and a visit to the Port Arthur Historic Site.
- Sydney: the Blue Mountains and Featherdale Wildlife Park excursion.
- New Zealand: the Hobbiton Movie Set (The Lord of the Rings) tour.
- New Zealand: the Waitomo Glowworm Caves boat tour.
- Guiding and transfers: a professional Turkish-speaking guiding service accompanying the group throughout the tour.
- All airport-hotel transfers and intercity transport are provided in private air-conditioned vehicles.
- Insurance: compulsory travel insurance.
Not included in the price
6
- Visa fees: the Australia and New Zealand visa fees and service charges (citizens of the Republic of Turkiye require a visa for both countries).
- Meals and drinks: the lunches and dinners not expressly stated as included in the programme, and the drinks at all meals.
- Personal expenses: hotel extras, telephone, laundry services and personal shopping.
- Departure tax for travel abroad: the exit duty stamp paid to the official authorities of the Republic of Turkiye.
- Gratuity contributions: a recommended gratuity of 150 USD per person in total for the local guides, drivers and service staff.
- Gratuity for guides, drivers and service staff · 150 USD · per person
Good to know
Cancellation and change conditions
Cancellation and change conditions are set out in the Online Sales Agreement.
Guiding
All of our guides speak Turkish.
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