Just came back from Australia and New Zealand Tour

COHNY · February 10

Thought I would let the forum know how the tour went. It was our first Tauck tour. Everyone else on the tour ( except for us and one other couple) were Tauck veterans. It was a small tour so 24 people. We went early to enjoy the Australian Open. The tour opens in Melbourne which is a beautiful city with numerous great restaurants. We did a bit of walking on our own because we arrived early so we skipped the first day of the tour which was a walking as well a bus tour of the city. The next day we flew by private jet to Uluru and had tours of Ayer's rock and watched the rock turn red at sunset with champagne and a catered meal. We then flew ( same jet, same crew)- to Cairns where we stayed at Slippery Oaks- a unique hotel in the rainforest that consists of individual huts. We had wonderful entertainment from an Australian cowboy. One day we snorkled out at the Great Barrier Reef while staying there. The ocean life there is indescribable. After a couple days in Cairns/Queensland- we flew to Sydney ( same jet, same crew) We stayed at the Intercontinental- on the Harbor- with a spectacular view of the bridge and Opera House. We needed to find a place to do laundry and we found Elegant Dry Cleaning, a half a block from the ICH. They will wash, dry and fold clothes for $30 a bag - and we gave them two large bags and it was $60. The hotel wanted 3X that much. We gave it to them at 9:00 and had it back by 4:00. Also- if you want to see something at the Sydney Opera House I suggest you get tickets ahead of time as several people on our tour could not get tickets. I had bought tickets in November- we saw the opening night of La Traviata- excellent performance.
From there we flew to New Zealand. We fell in love with New Zealand. Again- flying from Wellington to Blenheim, to Te Anau, to Queensland to Auckland. It is a breathtaking country. One of our highlights was a trip to a sheep farm and watching the dogs work and the sheering of sheep ( of course with tea, coffee and scones). They also had a small shop with sweaters, hats, scarfs and stuffed animals made from the wool of the Merino sheep from their farm. I think our group almost bought out the store! The sweaters are soft and warm. The family that owned the farm could not have been nicer-- www.kaitunaridges.com -- we loved it. The hotel in Marlborough is okay- I mean you are in the middle of nowhere! Then on to Te Anau. The trip to the Milford Sound, while in Te Anau was one of the highlights of this trip- the scenery took our breath away. The hotel there again was - okay- again - you are in the middle of nowhere- our only complaints - from everyone in the group were the beds were lousy- but for 2 nights we dealt with it. On to Queensland and a gorgeous Sofitel hotel in the heart of Queenstown. So much to do- so little time. We would like to have had another week there. There is a gondola ride to the top of the mountain. A rather harrowing ( think cliff hugging) ride to the jet boat. A thrilling jetboat ride on the Shotover River and then a helicopter ride back to Queenstown- and that was just one morning! We flew to Auckland and the only day we had there we spent at a distillery and winery on a nearby island. Then it was time to go home.
We had a fabulous time, we did not have one bit of rain except in the rainforest. We met some great people- we are planning to vacation together next year. Our tour director was fabulous. She was so organized and knowledgeable and FUNNY. We sang her a song our last night that we had made up to the tune of Waltzing Mathilda.
Anything I would change- yes- too much eating- we don't need that much food- there were several days where we ate 5 times and were fed on the planes!! We wasted a lot of food. Also we felt we could do without the bus tour of Sydney, that was almost three hours we could have spent walking around Sydney. Also the last day in Auckland, we would have rather spent in the city. But other than that- we are thinking of returning and doing just the New Zealand tour in a few years. It is a very long tour and you are tired by the end. But wow was it worth it!!