Australia and New Zealand for Older Teens

Our first stop in Australia will take us to Sydney, where you will explore the urban and cosmopolitan excitement of the capital city, with its splendid harbor and world-class metropolis. Visit the Botanical Gardens, discover the history of the famed Sydney Opera House, check out a movie on the world’s largest IMAX screen, stroll down Bondi and Manly Beach, enjoy the city’s fantastic shopping in Surry Hills, and explore Sydney’s world-famous fusion food scene. Relive childhood adventures at Luna Park, Sydney’s iconic theme park.

Hop on a quick flight and land in Brisbane. After exploring downtown, we’ll catch a high-speed ferry to the third-largest sand island in the world, Moreton Island. Choose how to spend your days — maybe feed wild dolphins, sand-board down giant dunes, or spend some time relaxing on the gorgeous beaches of the island.

Our next stop will take us to “Far North Queensland”. After landing in Cairns, we will spend a full day in Kuranda, learning how to throw a boomerang, practice playing the didgeridoo, and we’ll enjoy a traditional Aussie BBQ lunch. Then we’re off to spend a full day cruising the turquoise waters on the incredible Great Barrier Reef where we’ll have the the opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive* with sea turtles exquisite sea life. In-between the adventure activities, we’ll take the time to explore the bustling city of Cairns, including visiting the famous night markets where you can pick up a souvenir or two! During our time in Cairns we will give back through Reef Teach, learning how to assist with marine conservation, including a turtle rehab center.

Then it’s off to New Zealand, where you’ll get to know the most populated city on the South Island. Check out the Cardboard Cathedral, built to temporarily replace the city’s cathedral after the 2011 earthquake, relax in the botanical gardens, and even do some souvenir shopping at Re:START, a funky mall built out of colorful shipping containers!

Admire the stunning Lake Tekapo and relax in thermal hot springs right on the shore of the lake while enjoying the mountain views. Lake Tekapo is far away from the lights and glow of cities, and is the largest dark sky reserve in the world. This means the stargazing here cannot be beat! As the sun sets, the sky at Tekapo comes alive, and you’ll be able to admire the constellations, meteor showers, planets, and glowing stars that make Tekapo such an otherworldly experience. We will enjoy a guided tour to learn about the Tekapo’s amazing night skies with a unique combination of astronomy and storytelling. The best part of the tour comes when we revisit the hot pools to star gaze while relaxing on a floating hammock. You’ll feel like you’re soaking in the stars! We will also visit the Mount John Observatory where you will be able to look through a special telescope to see the galaxies and planets up close!

We will also visit Lake Pukaki. This glacier-fed alpine lake draws visitors from around the world to admire the snowcapped peaks reflected in its bright blue water, including the famous Mount Cook. We will visit a special hiking trail across hanging bridges and through the mountains to reach a glacial valley with an up-close view of Mount Cook. This trail is rated one of the top hiking paths in New Zealand and it is easy to see why!

On the road to Queenstown we will stop at the stunning Clay Cliffs of Omarama. These cliffs are completely off the tourist track and every traveler who discovers them appreciates the natural beauty of this hidden gem. You will be able to scramble and climb through them, exploring every nook and cranny at this naturally formed “playground.”

After the cliffs we will arrive in Queenstown. Famous to travelers all over the world for its stunning location and wide variety of adventure activities, we will cruise through the spellbinding Milford Sound, take take in dramatic vistas composed of high mountains and rugged fjords, spot penguins and seals on the rocky shores, and watch dolphins playing in the waters around the boat. For a real adrenaline rush we’ll zoom through rock canyons in the world’s fastest jet boat! To cap off our time in Queenstown you can hike or take the gondola to the top of the city for stunning views and an incredible sunset, and check out some favorite local eateries and hot spots of this bustling ski town.

The next stop on our adventure is Wanaka, Queenstown’s quieter little sister. Wanaka is a tiny ski town directly on a crystal clear lake surrounded by mountains. You will explore Wanaka, admire the famous “Wanaka tree” perched in the center of the lake, and take advantage of the many hiking trails in the area.

Franz Josef Glacier is widely regarded as the gem of the west coast and one of the most impressive sites in the world! We will go on a trek through the valley for some of the best views of this incredible glacier, marveling at its bright blue ice formations.

The glacier itself can only be accessed by helicopter. Those who would like to get in on the action will have to option to take a quick helicopter ride to the top of the glacier to explore the crevices and incredible ice formations. If you are feeling extra adventurous, you will even have the option to try ice climbing! Spending the day on a glacier is a truly unique experience and is a must do for anyone visiting New Zealand’s South Island. After a day of adventures we will relax in glacier hot pools surrounded by rainforest.

We will continue driving up the west coast of New Zealand and visit the stunning Hokitika Gorge. We’ll enjoy a leisurely stroll to the viewpoint overlooking a dramatic granite gorge with milky blue-green pools, surrounded by cliffs and lush forest. Hokitika is also a historical beach town with an artsy vibe home to plenty of local shops and restaurants. We will have time to explore the town and go for a walk along the beach, keeping an eye out for Little Blue Penguins!

At night, we will be in for a special surprise when we visit a glow-worm dell! The glow worms light up this small fern grotto and you will feel like you are surrounded by thousands of stars. It is a truly surreal and one of a kind experience!

For our final full day we will begin our journey into Arthur’s Pass, famous for being one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand. We will stop at several viewpoints and make friends with the friendly keas (New Zealand’s parrot) along the way! One of the highlights of Arthur’s Pass is Castle Hill. Castle Hill is home to amazing limestone rock formations and boulders. Castle Hill has a tangible energy, and we will explore and climb across these formations and discover for ourselves why the Dalai Lama named it “The Spiritual Center of the Universe.”

After Castle Hill we will come full circle and arrive back in Christchurch, where our journey first began. We will celebrate with one final dinner while reminiscing on all of the amazing memories we made together in New Zealand.