13 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Eating is a big part of traveling. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility. Our groups tend to eat together for most meals but there is no obligation to so. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip.

We love checking out what the locals are doing and what makes up their daily routines. In Italy that could be starting the day with an espresso and cornetto standing at the bar in a local café. in Australia it might include an iced coffee and sausage roll by the beach and in Vietnam it could be slurping a steaming bowl of pho sitting on a plastic stool on a busy street corner. Hey, variety is the spice of life!

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

1. Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.

2. Please be aware that wifi and internet access is not as readily available in Australia as in other parts of the world. There are often additional charges to connect to the internet, and speeds may be slower than what you are used to.

3. Over public holidays in Australia and New Zealand (such as Christmas, New Years Day, Easter, and Anzac Day) there may be some limitations of services and disruptions to schedules. In general our tours still operate effectively over public holidays, but there may be closures of optional activities and restaurants, and slight itinerary adjustments in order to provide all tour inclusions.

4. ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Bookings for the America’s Cup are at either 11am, 1pm or 2pm – this is dependant on the season and availability. Please be sure to reconfirm your sailing 24 hours prior by phoning Explore (while in New Zealand): 0800 397 567 or International: +64 9 359 5987.

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders, otherwise known as a Chief Experience Officer (CEO). The CEO will be the group manager, leader and driver – this person is experienced in the routes travelled and will organize and lead the meal preparations and has experience in cooking a variety of local and international dishes for large groups.

As the group coordinator and manager, the aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. They will also offer suggestions for things to do and to see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends.

We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.

Accommodation will be varied throughout your adventure.

The max luggage allowance on domestic flights within Australia and New Zealand is 1 checked bag (20 kgs) and 1 carry on (7 kgs) per person.

You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible.

We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. Heavy luggage is not recommended for the health of the CEO, who will take a lead in loading the storage trailer. Due to space in the trailer, we will not be able to accommodate more than one piece of main luggage per person. A good size day-pack (20-35L) is also essential to carry your personal gear for the day, as access to luggage between destinations will be limited. This daypack will be used to carry your personal gear for the day, your lunch and a water bottle.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Soak in mineral-rich thermal pools surrounded by alpine gardens and mountain air. Choose from sulphur pools, soothing cascades, or private baths for quiet unwinding.

It’s a restorative interlude between road journeys, ideal for easing hiking legs. Spa treatments are available on site. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Get your bearings in the capital on a guided stroll past the waterfront, laneways, and Cuba Street. Note key landmarks and museums, including Te Papa Tongarewa, and learn how to ride the historic cable car to the Botanic Garden.

Compact and creative, Wellington blends coffee culture, street art, and maritime views. Your CEO’s practical pointers help you tailor time for galleries, craft beer, or hillside lookouts.

Pause among vine-clad valleys to sample Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and other regional varietals at a welcoming cellar door. Gain insight into the soils, climate, and winemaking that shaped New Zealand’s global reputation.

From citrusy aromatics to mineral-driven finishes, compare profiles while soaking up views of sunlit rows stretching to distant hills. Non-alcoholic options are typically available for those who prefer them.

Cruise the remote Doubtful Sound, reached via Lake Manapouri and Wilmot Pass, to encounter a vast fiord of cascading waterfalls, rainforest, and sheer cliffs. Silence descends when engines pause and the landscape seems to breathe.

Watch for bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and seasonal penguins against a backdrop carved by ice and weather. This deep, serene waterway feels far from the modern world.

Walk alpine trails beneath Aoraki/Mount Cook, past tussock meadows, milky glacial lakes, and swing bridges with peaks towering above. Conditions permitting, short tracks offer big scenery without technical difficulty.

At the Visitor Centre, exhibits on Sir Edmund Hillary, mountaineering, and natural history add context to the views. Look for the Mount Cook lily in season and listen for kea calls riding the wind.

Orient yourself in the Garden City with a guided walk by the Avon River, new civic spaces, and striking street murals. See the innovative Transitional “Cardboard” Cathedral and learn how the city continues to evolve.

Discover café-lined lanes and green pockets near the Botanic Gardens as your CEO shares tips for galleries, heritage precincts, and dining. It’s a concise introduction to a resilient, creative city.

Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef from a local operator’s vessel, exploring coral bommies alive with anemones, parrotfish, and perhaps a cruising turtle. Guides brief you on reef etiquette and marine life identification.

Between water sessions, unwind on deck in the tropical breeze and hear how this vast ecosystem is protected. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to weather and availability.

Launch from the beach to paddle beyond the break across Cape Byron Marine Park. Guides help you spot bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles while sharing coastal stories and safety tips.

Views of the lighthouse and the curve of the bay accompany a steady rhythm of paddles and swells. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; conditions determine wildlife sightings and route.

Enter an active geothermal field to walk past bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, and mineral-rich terraces. Boardwalks bring you close to geyser eruptions and vividly coloured silica formations.

Interpretive displays explain the volcanic forces shaping Rotorua and the long Maori relationship with this powerful landscape. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Grab a paddle to tackle Grade IV–V rapids on a jungle-lined river famed for its waterfalls, including the dramatic Tutea Falls. Professional guides coach strokes and safety throughout.

Between churning drops, calm pools reveal ferns and canyon walls dripping with moss. Expect an adrenaline surge and soaked smiles. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Strap in to blast through narrow canyons on a high-powered jet boat, skimming mere centimetres from rock walls with signature 360-degree spins. Dramatic river gorges and tawny hills set a cinematic stage.

Pilots weave speed with precision while sharing local lore of the Shotover or Kawarau Rivers. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Stand on the historic span and leap from the birthplace of commercial bungy, freefalling 43m toward the turquoise Kawarau River. Staff fit harnesses, explain technique, and cheer you on.

The rush is brief, the grin lasts all day. Choose ankle or full-body harness and opt for a water touch if conditions allow. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Ride the Skyline Gondola above town for sweeping views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Boardwalks and terraces invite you to pause for photos and reflection over the alpine scenery.

It’s an easy, time-flexible way to pair fresh mountain air with a coffee or sundowner. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Lift off by helicopter to a pristine landing zone and crampon up for a guided ice trek among blue crevasses and sculpted seracs. Guides share glacier lore and route-finding on this alpine adventure.

The juxtaposition of rainforest valley and stark ice makes Franz Josef unique in the temperate world. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather permitting.

Step aboard to sail Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour on an authentic racing yacht. Help hoist sails or grip the grinder as the crew shares tactics from the world’s premier sailing competition.

Views of the skyline and volcanic cones unfold as the boat powers up in the breeze. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; departure times vary by season and availability.

Glide by boat through vaulted limestone caverns as thousands of Arachnocampa luminosa glowworms shimmer overhead like a galaxy. The gentle current and darkness heighten every drip and echo.

Guides share 19th-century exploration tales and the natural history of this subterranean world. Emerging into daylight, you’ll appreciate how rivers carved these chambers over millennia, leaving formations that sparkle in torchlight.

Head to the beach to hit the waves with a surf lesson led by qualified instructors. Learn paddling, pop-up technique, and ocean safety on stable beginner boards before practising in forgiving breaks.

Framed by the lighthouse at Cape Byron and a golden arc of sand, the scene captures Australia’s laid-back surf culture. Feel the board catch, rise to your feet, and ride shoreward on a rolling green wall of water.

Discover sandstone escarpments veiled in the eucalyptus blue haze of the Blue Mountains. View the Three Sisters at Echo Point, descend the Giant Stairway, and wander rainforest trails on the Jamison Valley walk.

Cap the experience with a thrilling ride on the Scenic Railway (52° incline), once a miners’ tramway, now plunging through ferny gullies. Sheer cliffs, waterfalls, and birdsong set an atmospheric World Heritage backdrop.

Stroll Circular Quay and The Rocks on an easy-paced introduction to Sydney’s harbourfront. Your CEO points out essentials and icons, including the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and leafy Royal Botanic Garden.

Pick up insider tips on neighbourhoods, ferries, cafés, and coastal walks so you can shape time in the city to your interests. Expect a lively blend of colonial history, modern architecture, and sparkling water views.

Explore Mossman Gorge on an interpretive rainforest walk and follow an Indigenous guide through the ancient Daintree Rainforest, part of the UNESCO-listed Wet Tropics. Learn traditional uses of bush food and medicinal plants, and see ochre painting demonstrated.

Hear stories of Country and the enduring connection of the Kuku Yalanji people to this lush ecosystem. The sound of rushing water, birdsong, and the scent of wet leaf litter set a powerful scene of living culture and biodiversity.

Cruise the Whitsunday Islands past forested isles and turquoise shallows, calling in at Whitehaven Beach to sink your toes into silica-white sand. Don a mask to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, drifting over coral gardens alive with reef fish.

Walk to the Hill Inlet lookout for sweeping views where sands and tide create swirling patterns below. Expect warm tropical breezes, clear water, and the possibility of sea turtles gliding through the shallows.

Begin your journey by gathering to meet your CEO and group. Learn how the tour flows, review essential logistics, and get personalised tips for exploring both countries with confidence.

Use this chance to ask questions, share interests, and set intentions for the weeks ahead. The relaxed briefing helps you feel prepared and connected before the adventures begin, with suggestions for local eateries should you wish to continue the conversation over dinner.

Enter a living cultural space for a powhiri welcome and performances of haka and waiata that recount migrations of the Te Arawa people. Afterwards, share a traditional hangi feast of meats and root vegetables steam-cooked over hot stones.

Stories, carving, and kapa haka illuminate tikanga (customs) and whakapapa (lineage). The aromas of earth-cooked kai and the warmth of manaakitanga (hospitality) make this a resonant evening of connection.

Head offshore to search for giant sperm whales drawn by nutrient-rich Kaikoura Canyon upwellings. Expert crews interpret behaviour as you scan for albatross and dusky dolphins between sightings.

Snow-capped peaks frame a powerful meeting of mountains and sea. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with departures weather-dependent to ensure safety and respectful viewing.

Suit up for an ethical open-ocean experience and swim with wild dolphins in their natural environment. After detailed briefings, slip into the water as curious pods may circle and play.

Wildlife interactions are on the dolphins’ terms, guided by responsible protocols that prioritise marine welfare. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with swims contingent on conditions and animal behaviour.