My wife and I are going on the Aus/NZ tour on Nov 4, 2013

Is anyone else signed up to join us on the tour of Aus/NZ starting on November 4, 2013? Have you ever been on a Tauck tour and what is your impression of the tour group (we have been told that they are extraordinary). Have you ever been to Aus/NZ? Is there anything that we need to know that Tauck will not inform us about before we leave (we have been told that they are extremely informative) weather,clothing, etc?
When are you arriving in Melbourne? Art Jacobs screen name- Artie J

Comments

  • edited October 2013
    Hi Artie. I am going on the Aussie only trip in April 2014.

    I did Hawaii in 2012 and really enjoyed the Tauck experience. They had special events that, I am almost sure, other tours don't do. On Kauai the St. Regis Hotel opened especially to serve us lunch. On Maui we had a private cooking lesson at a Japanese restaurant. I wanted to tour the Wakameia Canyon and within 1 hr of asking about the tour my guide had acquired information including pricing. I was not on the tour the first night but I think the opening reception was at the Palace. During the bus trips the guide rotates seats, therefore you get a chance to meet others and are not always in the back or front of the bus. the luggage pickup and delivery from one location to the next is seamless. In fact I got so accustomed to having my luggage moved around that I suffered on the way home, because it was all on me. lol
  • Just returned from this trip on Tuesday. Great trip - we are from England and it was our 5th Tauck trip. You see lots and experience lots. Just remember that the temperatures in NZ are usually quite below those of Australia (especially those in the Red Centre and in Cairns).
    Enjoy.
    Richard
  • Hi Richard,

    I'm really pleased to see your comments, particularly given that your are (as an Aussie and sort of family in that Commonwealth way;) I feel that between friends I can use the moniker) a Pom. I have often wondered how a trip to Australia written with a first-time, US client in mind would translate to a wider demographic. I would love to hear more detailed observations from you, but I'm really glad you did post in the affirmative. And I'm really glad to had a good time down under.

    I don't travel exclusively with Tauck. I do travel independently and to parts not covered by Tauck. I've taken 18 Tauck tours, some land-based trips in the US and Canada, some small ship cruising in Alaska and the Galapagos and river cruising in Europe. I'm taking another river cruise with them next August. I don't keep using Tauck because I'm bored or moribund! (Although some days I do wonder!) I continue to travel with them because I can't find a better product or method of delivery and give the best value for money. I have looked. I continue to look. It's not a competition, but I do love to travel, I don't want to compromise on quality and I travel solo. As a five times Tauck traveller you already know some of this.

    And to Art who posted earlier … safe travels. I hope you made it through LAX without too much disruption to your timetable and that you arrive safely here in Melbourne tomorrow. You are in for a wonderful experience. Enjoy!

    Cheers,

    Jan

  • Jan
    As I said earlier this was our 5th Tauck trip. So long as one remembers the well worn phrase of our illustrious very first tour director that "this is a TOUR not a VACATION" everyone will be fine at getting up early to get to places before the crowds arrive. We have found without exception that the logistics work faultlessly once one is within the "Tauck Bubble" - bags get where they should be on time, events run to time, and Tauck seems to get you where general tourists don't get. In short, one has total assurance that within the tour you can just sit back and relax so long as you do what you are told when you are told. What also makes it good for us is that on each tour we have been perhaps the only two Brits amongst a tour of Americans and we do enjoy exchanging views and of course lots of friendly banter. Being so confident with Tauck care we did the Portrait of India tour some months ago but would not have done that with anybody else. Incredibly interesting and indeed humbling in places. Tour Directors can make or break an experience, and generally we have found them to have deep experience of the subject matter having lived and breathed the area. To be fair we did have one exception of local inexperience, but the tour content was still conducted precisely and ran without a hitch, it was just a case of more shallow local knowledge. Care and accommodation are usually of an extremely high standard so long as one accepts that to experience some locations one must accept a slightly lower level.
    I think that one important piece of general advice is to make sure that long haul flight drag is considered up front. We try to get to the tour start point a day before start, and certainly the intensity of information from the tour content demands at least a day of R & R before heading home - but maybe that is age showing through!
    Richard
  • Richardb wrote:
    I think that one important piece of general advice is to make sure that long haul flight drag is considered up front. We try to get to the tour start point a day before start, and certainly the intensity of information from the tour content demands at least a day of R & R before heading home - but maybe that is age showing through!
    Richard
    Couldn't agree more, Richard. I just can't see the sense in paying a lot of money for the best it can buy, on a much-anticipated trip (anywhere) only to spend half the trip in a total, jet lagged fog. That seems like a complete waste of money and travel experiences to me. I don't think age has anything to do with it, says she indignantly! ;)) I have always suffered from jet lag after a long haul flights … even in my 20s when I couldn't afford a Tauck trip even if I had known about them! I can't tell you how many times after landing in London that I spent days and days feeling totally disoriented. I know, the whole travel experience for Australians in the UK has changed significantly since the 70s! (Aren't we all glad it has!!)

    Cheers,

    Jan
  • For the past several years, we have taken advantage of Tauck's "Gift of Time". This extra day in our destination city gives us the opportunity to recover from jet lag, or spend a little time on our own before the tour begins.
  • Hi Artie. I am going on the Aussie only trip in April 2014.

    Hi Va Aussie,

    We are also going on the Australia only trip that begins in Melbourne on April 11, 2014. This will be our 4th Tauck trip and they have all been great. We were lucky enough to secure free business class flights but this means we will arrive in Melbourne 2 days early. (early enough to recover from the flight and still have at least a full day and 1/2 to see some of Melbourne on our own. We are planning to go to Philip Island to see the fairy penguins, but have not booked that excursion yet.

    Where are you from? We are from California. Sherry

  • Hi Everyone,
    We are going on the April 28 2014 Aus/NZ trip. Regarding jetlag, I arrived a day early for the China and Yangtze River Tauck trip (AWESOME TRIP!) in Sept 2012 and I didn't have any jetlag at all. Until the 3rd or 4th day when I started waking up at 2 in the morning, wide awake, no hope of sleeping. So for the Aus/NZ trip we aren't getting there early, because apparently I'd need to get there a week early. I guess it is different for everyone -- and possibly also different every time. I'm so hoping not to be in a fog in Australia. I can't wait for the trip.
  • Hi Florida Traveler,

    Absolutely, everyone is different. But I am intrigued. Why do you need to … "get there a week early"? Apart from a really great time getting to know everything my home city has to offer, and the hinterland, of course … Is it a condition of your flights?

    Either way, get ready for a real travel experience!

    Cheers,

    Jan
  • Hi Jan, I think it may have taken me a week to truly settle in to the 12 hr time difference in China. I wouldn't say I was in a fog that whole time, but about 3-4 days after I arrived until maybe day 7, I had real troubles sleeping at night, and that never happens to me at home. So I figure it took me a week to get over the jetlag, and yet arriving a day early didn't help me so much (though I had a really fun day!), because the jetlag wasn't noticeable until day 3 or 4. So during the free time that first week, I took more naps than I would have preferred, but I still had a magnificent time.
    I'm scared of flying, even though I know it's quite safe, so I have medicine for long flights which also helps me sleep, so I will try to use that in Aus if I encounter the same kind of sleeping problems at nights. I'd love to get there a day or two days or a week early, but it was hard enough for me to get three weeks in a row off work, so we are going to arrive on the morning of the tour, provided our connection in Brisbane goes smoothly (only a two hour layover, hope it's enough.).
  • I don't know what it is, but flying to the States, as distinct from anywhere else, really seems to mess me about. My inner clock seems to be even more jumbled, if that's possible, when I fly to the east coast across Europe from Australia. When I can't sleep (at night when you are supposed to!) I really suffer. On reflection, I think like you, it can strike me a few days in as well. I follow my usual procedure of arriving in a destination with 5 clear days before I have to do anything, except potter about to my own weird timetable. That's when I walk a lot, perhaps shop a little and visit all the art galleries & museums I can fit in. My theory is that then I'm all set to enjoy whatever Tauck trip I've chosen. What do they say about the best laid plans … This last July I struck the terrible heat wave in Boston and even though I had my extra time under my belt I was cactus for the first couple of days of the Grand New England trip. I was beginning to think I was coming down with a bug … but it really was just lack of the right kind of sleep. In bed, not on the bus! That can be a real pain, too, because as a solo traveller there's no one to give me a dig in the ribs and/or tell me where I have to be at what time! I don't even know I've missed anything!

    Regarding your connection time in Brisbane … I'm assuming you will be clearing customs & immigration there, as your first port of call? I would feel more comfortable if you had more than 2 hours to do that, then get yourselves and your luggage to the domestic terminal in good time (and mental condition!) for your flight to Melbourne. If it's at all possible, I'd encourage you to try for a later domestic flight. You do want to make the most of those 3 weeks! Gosh, we Aussies just don't realise how hard it can be for you guys to get holidays. You certainly have to make the most of them when you do!

    Cheers,

    Jan

  • Wow, that is great that you can arrive 5 days early when you travel! My parents, who are retired, could arrive that early to Melbourne, but we are traveling together and they were so kind to want to be on the same flights. Yes you are right that we Americans don't have enough vacation time. I actually have it pretty good with 22 days per year, and I have more than 4 weeks saved up for emergencies, but taking more than 3 consecutive weeks off is still not easy for me because I have to make sure that I'm not leaving anyone in a lurch while I'm away.

    Yes we were somewhat concerned about the 2 hr timing in Brisbane too. But I researched customs and connections at that airport and it seems that, while there were a few disgruntled commenters, most people said 2 hours was doable. And there are hourly flights on Qantas to Melbourne from there, so we decided to go for it with the thinking that we could get on one of the next fights in case we needed to. But hopefully we can arrive in Melbourne at 9:25am as planned, then get to the hotel for some shut eye in advance of the beginning of tour dinner that evening. We are flying economy class so we will be pretty exhausted I am sure. But American Airlines gave us free roundtrip tickets from Florida to Aus/NZ and also including the segment from Aus to NZ for only 85,000 miles each, so that's what we decided to do. I noticed online that the exceptionally long Qantas flight from Dallas to Brisbane has only been going for a couple of years, and in the beginning they had a couple of flights that didn't have enough fuel for the entire trip due to headwinds -- had to land in the islands once and in New Zealand the other time. Hopefully that is all sorted out now and our headwinds won't be too bad!

    It is wonderful that you've been able to go on so many Tauck trips! The China trip was my first and it was so awesome that I convinced my parents to do this AusNZ one with me. I think they will love it. My Mom was a travel agent and so she is used to orchestrating all of their trips herself, but she will love being able to relax and enjoy and have Tauck work their magic, and they will also really enjoy meeting all the others on the trip. Have you done the China trip?
  • Well, in another life when I worked "other people's" hours, I specialised in self-propelled, solo travel! I used to arrange my trips so that I had 5 or so days in my first port of call, do much the same as I do now … galleries, museums, shops, lots of walking gazing at the architecture, before venturing off into the hinterland or another location.

    With your Brisbane stop, I was thinking of the time queuing for Immigration & Customs can take. It can be the luck of the draw, or rather, the luck of how many flights might land around the same time as yours. Of course, Brisbane is not a busy port like Sydney or Melbourne, so you make a good point. And yes, there are regular flights and as long as your flights aren't restricted by the ticket status, you'll be good. You have plenty of time to check that out.

    Free flights! What's not to like! Oh yes, the Australia to Dallas flights were very funny in the beginning! You would think airlines would sharpen their pencils and so the sums and work that kind of thing out before selling their Big Idea, wouldn't you! The early flights involved regular, unscheduled, stopovers and the regular dumpling of luggage. Kinda confirms what many of us think about Qantas these days. [Spoken as a life QFF member, with a 4 digit number beginning in 2. Who chooses never to fly international with them now.]

    No, I haven't been to China, if you don't count stopovers at Hong Kong airport on the way to and from San Francisco! Although I have been working on my bucket list since I was a teenager, it's still a Very Long List! Next year is Macquarie Island (an Australian, World Heritage listed speck in the sub-Antarctic) and the Mosel & Rhine. But I, too, have some ff points that need to be used, so I'm looking at the map of the world and wondering where I could go for a week or so that won't break the bank with other costs. That narrows the field somewhat! Maybe Christmas shopping in Singapore?

    Cheers,

    Jan
  • Ooh, Xmas shopping in Singapore sounds like fun! I've never been to Singapore. Nor to Macquarie Island, which sounds very interesting. Probably the most similar place I have been is the Falkland Islands -- very far south and penguins too! My Mom really wants to go to Antartica, so maybe one day we will go there. You are right there are so many places to go. Have you been everywhere you want to go in the US? I am currently on a mini vacation along Florida's Forgotten Coast, which I think rivals California's Lost Coast, just a different type of beauty but both relatively undeveloped and awesome. One day you really should visit China, too! That trip was full of surprises. We had virtually no pollution, great weather, and lots of fun. The tour director recommended reading Lost on Planet China, a very funny traveller's journal, which I recommend too but don't let it prevent you from visiting what is sure to be a fascinating destination.
  • One of the reasons I haven't travelled widely in Asia is that I don't do well with humidity, which, without offending everyone, tells you just what I really thought of NYC in August! If I had to twist my ankle I can't think of a better place to spend 5 days in a hotel room watching HGTV just waiting to leave! The shame of it was that it had to be the Marriott at Times Square! Next time (if I can ever bring myself to return) I'll stay at a nice hotel in a pleasant location.

    I haven't seen everything I want to see in North America, but, I have been visiting for about 6 weeks at a time for about the past 10 years. I have been giving it my best shot and I have seen quite a lot, but not nearly everything! There's a lot of geography to cover!

    Singapore hardly counts as an Asian location. Of course it is in Asia, but it is such a cosmopolitan place you could be almost anywhere in the world. The locals are friendly, polite and always obliging and their behaviour seems to rub off on everyone else. I have mastered the art of slipping around the place from one air-conditioned space to another! I know it's a cop out, but it's the best I can manage.

    Macquarie Island, at 54.6167 S, is further down than the Falklands. The only human residents are researchers for the Australian Antarctic Division. And lots of breeding birds and sea lions. And lots of weather …. mostly wiiiinnndddd…..

    China …. it is on the list. I would need quite a bit of time for that trip I think. At least a month, ++. My idea of a heavenly Chinese tour would be a trip consisting exclusively of a week at every grand hotel. I realise that's another cop out! ;))) And totally shallow! Not a worthy thought for a true bucket list! ;))

    Cheers,

    Jan
  • My goodness Jan, I am sorry to hear of your twisted ankle! New York City in August! Now that's more oppressive even than say, Bangkok in April (which is pretty pretty bad). i've only been to China and Thailand in Asia. But I want to see so many more places there, and also to go back to those two countries! I really hope you have been to NYC in other months. Winter even! What a wonderful city. But not when the taxi and bus exhaust is floating on the humid hot hot air in August, right at nose level! I had a lot to get used to when I moved to Florida from California, indeed when I stepped off the plane that July I thought for a moment that I was in a swimming pool! And oh did I complain. But I was surprised to find that a year later it didn't feel so bad anymore. Go to China in their autumn. And enjoy those hotels, wow, they are tops, what with the electric toilets and heavenly Chinese food and sumptuous buffet breakfasts and incredible service, they are luxury destinations worthy of a bucket list.

    Enjoy Macquarie Island! I thought the Falklands were just ok, but they were only a quick stop on a South American cruise. Your Island sounds much more interesting, and yes, further south!

    Me, I can't wait for Australia and New Zealand...can't believe it's taken my Mom and Dad this long to get there, given their travel agent past. They are overdue, and so am I, and I'm sure I'll want to go back several times.
  • BEWARE............BE VERY AWARE..........Australia & New Zealand is incredibly addictive. We have been three times but have to say the latest Tauck trip was best of all.
    Richard
  • Very good to hear, Richard!
  • Richardb wrote:
    BEWARE............BE VERY AWARE..........Australia & New Zealand is incredibly addictive. We have been three times but have to say the latest Tauck trip was best of all.
    Richard
    And it's BIG! You need to select a region and spend quality time. Then repeat the process. Multiple times!

    Cheers,

    Jan
  • edited November 2013
    My goodness Jan, I am sorry to hear of your twisted ankle! New York City in August! Now that's more oppressive even than say, Bangkok in April (which is pretty pretty bad).
    I was aware what it would be like, but I was keen to visit the Met and the Frick, which is why I scheduled extra time after the tour. I fell off the bus 2 days out of NYC. As a solo traveller, it wasn't fun. It was very, very difficult and unpleasant all round. It wouldn't have been as bad if I'd had a travelling companion, but on my own, well, I did feel very frightened and isolated. The absolute worst thing that can befall a traveller is to have an accident or be taken ill in the States. If I am going to face bankruptcy I would prefer to do that at home! Luckily, after I recovered from the initial shock, I could tell it was a soft tissue injury and that rest was all that would help. Sadly I didn't get to the Met, the Frick or anywhere else. Luckily, I avoided the rude hordes inside the hotel and the general hordes out in the lunacy and humidity of Times Square by staying in my room and watching the eye candy on HGTV! That was much more pleasant!

    I don't mean to frighten solo travellers … I am a determined solo traveller with years of experience. But that was my experience. The first night was really dreadful. But I was very grateful for the kindness of strangers. A delightful lady in the room opposite mine saw me in the corridor. A total stranger and good Samaritan, both. She checked out the poor old foot, confirmed I wouldn't die and really wanted to bring me dinner. And kept checking on me. How sweet was that! If I ever do that again I hope she's there! I couldn't be so lucky as to meet another total stranger like her! I know this is not the typical experience. But it was the luck of my draw.

    Cheers,

    Jan
  • edited November 2013
    How horrible! And what luck to meet that very kind fellow traveller. I am glad it all turned out fine. But yes that must have been very frightening. It is always frightening to be unwell and alone. A very long time ago I wound up with a blister on my heel in Yugoslavia (which had actually developed from wearing bad shoes walking around Florence) and played some soccer and got dirt in it and things progressed from there and I wound up in the Yugoslavian hospital in a room for 6 for a couple of days on an IV with antibiotics. The other 5 ladies were all there recovering from mastectomies (we couldn't understand each other but one showed me!) and they made me really good Turkish coffee each morning. My Mom ended up flying over to escort me home, so very wonderful of her. You really never know what might happen on a trip. I've been lucky since then but we're all taking the Tauck insurance just in case.
  • How horrible! And what luck to meet that very kind fellow traveller. I am glad it all turned out fine. But yes that must have been very frightening. It is always frightening to be unwell and alone. A very long time ago I wound up with a blister on my heel in Yugoslavia (which had actually developed from wearing bad shoes walking around Florence) and played some soccer and got dirt in it and things progressed from there and I wound up in the Yugoslavian hospital in a room for 6 for a couple of days on an IV with antibiotics. The other 5 ladies were all there recovering from mastectomies (we couldn't understand each other but one showed me!) and they made me really good Turkish coffee each morning. My Mom ended up flying over to escort me home, so very wonderful of her. You really never know what might happen on a trip. I've been lucky since then but we're all taking the Tauck insurance just in case.
    Just to clarify, my good Samaritan was not a fellow traveller, just a kind and thoughtful lady I passed in the hotel corridor. I always take the Tauck insurance, on the premise that I want to make it easy to help me, should I need it. That's the theory, anyway. The funning thing is, when travelling in the States, the locals always tell my how brave I am to travel alone! I reply that I can just as easily fall off a gutter (curb) at home … which is basically what I did (plus adding the bus to the gutter!) in NY.

    Black humour is always a release, usually after the event! With my foot almost back to normal now, since early August, … gosh, ankles take a long time … I can look back a see the advantage of avoiding NYC humidity in August. I wouldn't really recommend it, though. I am positive you are dynamite on treating blisters these days! And I bet you have developed a secret passion for good Turkish coffee! I hope you have a local source! ;)

    Cheers,

    Jan
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