Australia & New Zealand: An Adventure Down Under (2012)

We spent February and a part of March 2012 with OAT and the Adventure Down Under. Without question this trip is worth doing.

There were some frustrations and disappointments but not many. The frustration came from the inability to get advance seat assignments with Qantas. Ultimately our seats were fine. We thought the optional excursion to Kangaroo Island was overpriced and we were combined with other travelers which we didn't care for. Lastly, we were disappointed with the Dart River jet boat trip. We have been on enjoyable jet boat trips before but the Dart River didn't measure up to our expectations.

Now on to the good stuff. Our two leaders, Matt in Australia and Alan in New Zealand were very, very good. They were organized, kept the activities on time and went above and beyond in their personal efforts to see that we had a good time.

The pre-trip to Tasmania was a great start to the trip. We recommend it to everyone.

Our hotel accomodations ranged from good to really great as were the included meals.

The length of the trip and the schedule is aggressive but manageable. Our group was very pleasant and traveled together well.

We recommend this trip to anyone as it was well organized, the local people are friendly and the areas beautiful.

Traveler: Rex Leforgee from Twin Falls, ID traveled on February 05, 2012

To begin with, both our tour leaders were excellent-- knowledgeable, helpful, charming and kind. However, we felt very rushed on this trip. In fact, I think during the entire 30 days we were only able to unpack twice! We had to leave the hotel every morning very early, never stayed more than a couple of days anywhere. In addition, for us there was too much hiking and walking on rough terrain seeing scenery that, especially in New Zealand, became quite repetitious. We got taken to a spot in Australia for wine and cheese where one was supposed to see a gorgeous sunset change, which never really happened. Instead, we were surrounded by scads of other tourists doing the same thing. Also, there were many more excursions for which we were charged extra than we imagined there would be. Last year we went to India with OAT and loved every minute of it: we were not rushed from place to place and many more activities were included as part of the trip. Two hotels on this trip were unacceptable: one, in Aukland, was too far from downtown, service was poor and nothing worked. The other, if I remember correctly, somewhere in the Outback, was part of a large complex, and was obviously the lowest level of the group. It was a dump. If the Kangaroo Island trip had been included in the price of the trip and we had stayed there instead of driving and driving for ages to get there and then to get back to Adelaide, that would have helped. We could have stopped in Adelaide to see the wonderful museum and then continued on to Kangaroo Island and stayed there. We needed more time in Melbourne and Sydney, both of which were marvelous. Some of our bus stops in New Zealand weren't really worth the stop, although I guess they were mainly for people to use the facilities. How about more time in Australia, less time in New Zealand?

Traveler: Barbara Shapiro from Washington, DC traveled on January 13, 2012

We really enjoyed this trip. It was our 4th trip with GCTOAT and the longest at 29 days, but we never hit that "travel weary" point and wished that the trip would end so that we could return home. OAT did a great job of choreographing all of our movements and activities. We spent very little time waiting for planes, our buses were always there when we needed them, we had no check-in problems at our hotels, our restaurants were ready when we arrived, and our local guides were always available. If you are reasonably fit and you like sightseeing and adventure, and enjoy experiencing new environments and cultures, you will like this trip. If you like upscale hotels with spas and fine dining, relaxing on a warm beach, and lingering over a glass of wine before dinner, this is probably not the trip for you.

We were fortunate to have a great trip leader (Tessa Clarke), excellent weather, and a congenial group of fellow travelers. While you can't control these three things, you can move the odds in your favor somewhat. We chose a tour company that has a reputation for hiring the best trip leaders, we chose a time to travel that statistically has the best weather, and we chose a trip that is likely to attract people who are interested in the kinds of things that we enjoy.

The "culture shock" that you experience on this trip, going from modern cities, to the Outback, to the rain forest, and then to cities, mountains, rain forests, and back to cities is amazing. We particularly liked Ayers Rock (of course) and Sydney. We were mildly disappointed in the Great Barrier Reef, but that was probably because our expectations were so high. You see specials on TV about the GBR, but you forget that these specials were likely filmed in many locations over a long period of time. In New Zealand, we really enjoyed our stay in the Queenstown area. Millbrook Resort was outstanding, Milford Sound was all that it was supposed to be, and the Dart River optional trip was excellent. The weather was perfect for our helicopter ride from Fox Glacier to Franz Josef, so this little adventure was indeed very special. We ended our trip with an excellent visit in Wellington. The Te Papa museum there really is terrific.

There are more expensive ways to see Australia & New Zealand, and less expensive ways, but overall we were very pleased with our choice to travel to Australia & New Zealand with OAT.

Traveler: Steve Ayers from Lakewood Ranch, FL traveled on October 23, 2011

This trip was a true "adventure." Each day held a wonderfully new experience. So many different cllimates from outback to sea to rainforest to mountains. Our guide, Tessa Clarke, was terrific, so knowledgeable and always finding something of interest for us to experience. The food and wine was very good. Best of all, the people of both countries were a pleasure to meet. I really enjoyed the hiking each day and especially appreciated times I could spend on my own to explore, as the city of Adelaide and a restful day at the beautiful resort near Arrowtown. In all, a perfect trip!

Traveler: Gail Bickel from Valparaiso, IN traveled on September 16, 2011

I just came back from this trip and it was fantastic. I would highly recommend it. Australia was so diverse. Thanks to efficient internal flights we saw cities, rainforests, the outback all without long bus trips. Seeing kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles up close was one of the highlights for me.

New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited, with beaches, rocky seashore, snow topped mountains and so much green.

In both places we were able to interact with the people both informally and during our home hosted visits.

I loved the experience. Just pack layers for the different climates, don't forget a rain jacket (all that New Zealand green comes with a bit of rain) and enjoy.

Traveler: Paula Santacroce from Peekskill, NY traveled on October 12, 2011

My husband and I hit the jackpot when we chose this trip Down Under with OAT as our 'kick-off' for retirement! The adventures never stopped with each day filled with multiple activities and fantastic scenery throughout both countries. Starting in Melbourne and hopping around Australia, we were constantly amazed at the diversity of the countryside, the friendliness of the people and the quality of each accommodation along the way. We petted kangaroos one day and ate them the next! YUM! From wine country to outback to rainforest to tropical coast to big city - more adventures than can be told in this review.

New Zealand is a beautiful country that offers a totally different experience than Australia. The natural beauty of the countryside seems spiritual and reverent. Overwhelming! We were blessed with great weather everywhere we went-even though we were at the end of winter. There was still snow on the ground in Queenstown and snowcapped mountains throughout NZ. Yet the temps were quite pleasant - expecially coming from HOT Florida!

A huge factor in the success of our trip was the professionalism and enthusiasm of our trip leader, Mike Buchanan. There was no doubt at anytime that Mike loves his job! And he made it his mission to ensure that each member in our small group of 10 had nothing less than a fantastic experience! Mike's knowledge of both countries (he has dual citizenship) assured us of a very educational adventure. Due to his personal love of walkinghiking and the outdoors, Mike provided us with MANY interesting walks enabling us to truly experience the countryside and city streets.

Bravo to Mike and to OAT for providing such a rewarding and enjoyable trip. We are already planning our next adventure with OATGrand Circle. If this trip is on your "bucket list" - don't wait - GO!!!

Traveler: Norma Layton from Fleming Island, FL traveled on August 08, 2011

This was our first OAT trip and we're hooked! This was a fabulous experience much due to our outstanding guide, Wayne Robertson!! Every day he went out of his way to be sure that day was the best possible day for us. Traveling in a group of 16 made extra stops possible. In Adelade we really enjoyed the Cleland Wildlife Park - getting to pet a koala and feed the wallabys. In Alice Springs our optional tour with an Aborigine guide was a wonderful learning experinence. At our dinner in Alice Springs we got to sample Kangaroo, emu and camel!

It rained on our Great Barrier Reef day - but, hey, we were going to be wet anyway. Enjoyed the snorkeling along the reef - the coral was beautiful and the giant clam was awesome. The Daintree National Rainforest stop was spectacular!! The accomodations were great with a feeling of being in a treehouse. We did have rain and the Cooper River was high, but we made it in. Wayne earned his pay finding a way to get us out over the flooding river - but he got it done and we made our plane to Sydney. He also arranged for 6 of us to do the Sydney Harbor Bridge climb - even walking us to the starting point so we wouldn't get lost. \

We really lucked out in New Zealand with 4 days of sun on the normally rainy West Coast. Milford Sound was spectacular in the sunshine. Our 2 hosted lunches on this trip were the BEST we've experienced. For a city girl, our New Zealand lunch at a small dairy farm gave me the chance to have a glass of milk fresh from the cow!

Before you go be sure to register for a frequent flyer program with an airline that's linked to the 'One World' group. You'll add up lots of miles for a future trip. Bring flymosquito nets and rain gear. We had no problem with laundry - never had to go more than 3 days without self-service laundry in our hotel.

Traveler: Deidra Franz from Roseville, CA traveled on March 16, 2010

Our first day was in Melbourne. The leader took us on a short walk close to our hotel. We visited Queen Victoria Markets. Here is my top reccomendation, buy your arts, craft, T-Shirts, etc. at this QVM it has the best selection and prices, which will not be found elsewhere on this trip. Good selectionof Boomerangs, Aboriginal art and music instruments, T-Shirts, Bush Hats and more. Seems strange to buy most of your souvenirs the first day but you will be glad you did. In Alice Springs abd Ayers Rock the temperature was near 100.In Alice Springs some people purchased mosquito net for over their heads $7. The problem was flys not mosquitos. Ayers Rock at sunset was a nice view with snacks. There was time for a Camel Ride along thr way $6. Cold rain all day at Great Barrier Reef. We could not go to Cape Tribulation the road was under water. We went to Cairns instead. Here I visited "The Rainforest Habitat" and got to hold a Koala and have picture taken $20. Seeing the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge was a highlight. In New Zealand we had a lot of rain causing some optional trips to be cancelled. A best bet in Rotorua is the optional tour "TE PUIA Dinner and concert " a tour highlight. In Auckland if you want a thrill you can Bungy Jump from the top of the Sky Tower. It was fall in New Zealand and the trees around Arrowtown showed nice fall color. One morning we woke up to snow on some of the nearby mountains.

Traveler: James Nelson from San Jose, CA traveled on March 24, 2010

We had been planning this trip for sometime, so we had high expectations. Needless to say, Mike Buchanan, our trip leader, and OAT more than delivered.

We definitely recommend that people start with the pre-strip to Tasmania. We saw wombats, wallabys, tasmanian devils, possums, a number of different birds, echidna, etc. all in the wild. The scenery at Cradle Mountain was amazing. The travel from Hobart to Cradle Mountain to Launceston was absolutely beautiful and the small towns along the way have done some interesting things to "sell" themselves (murals, statues, bricks, ect.). Our driver Mike was extremely knowledgeable and he and Mike Buchanan made a remarkable and humorous team always looking for a variety of learning and discovery activities.

On the mainland of Australia, we started in Melbourne and enjoyed getting to know the city. A real pleasure of the entire trip was all of the beautiful gardens that we visited in both countries. As we were there in early spring, the flowers were just blooming.

Mike, ou trip leader, is a great walker, so be prepared. He will often stop the coach and take a walk into a park, or wildlife sanctuary, or national reserve area. One day we actually had 14 stops,
There was great variety as we continued to Adelaide, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and Sydney. A couple of us even got to see a Cassowary in the wild.

For the time of year we were there, it was important that we toke clothes that could be layered. We went from cold (in the 30's) to rather warm at Ayers Rock (around 100). Also a fly net i needed. They can be purchased prior to your trip at one of the large discount stores in their camping department for less than $2 or you can buy them once you are there.for around $7.

Do not expect to see lots of wildlife on the Kangaroo Island optional trip, but there are outstanding rock formations as well as the rare Australian Sea Lions. We also saw Koalas in the tree.

We would strongly recommend that you go to the Raintree Habitat in Port Douglas. The most disappointing part of the trip was the snorkeling at the Low Isles. The biggest draw is the coral; unfortunately you will see few fish. All of your snorkling supplies are supplied and even mild sea sick preventitives are provided.

The time spent in Sydney was pretty spectacular including the harbor cruise and that tour of the Opera House.

It was cooler in New Zealand than in Australia, so the layering of clothes was important again. Rotorua was a very interesting city with all of the Maori culture that is around. While the Geyserland Hotel was not up the par, the location with the best view of the geysers and mud puddles couldn't be better. We would take the view over everything else.

Milbrook Resort near Arrowtown was a really nice respite even though it wasn't within walking distance of any place. The van could be booked to Queenstown. The ride to Milford Sound was long (4+ hours)and fortunately very scenic. We had hoped to take the optional flight back, but the weather was not cooperative. Good traveling companions, an outstanding driver and Mike made it all acceptable.

The weather did not cooperate for us to take the helicopter ride over Franz Josef Glacier, but we still were able to walk up to the glacier.

Mike shared with us a list of foods that we should try while traveling in Australia and New Zealand and made sure that we had the opportunity to try them all. He also had games to keep us busy on flights. Every few days, detailed itineraries were provided so that we knew exactly what we were doing each day, even though he still threw in additional side trips.

We think the time of year we chose for our trip was perfect--even though there was some cool weather, it was unbearably hot in the outback. Should you go around the same time, please make sure to take gloves and a hat. Some travelers were pleased that they had their silk long underwear. A waterproof jacket is a must and several people had waterproof pants that also came in handy, You just have to remember that you will have all types of weather.

Both Australia and New Zealand are amazing countries and OAT packs a great deal into the trip's itinerary. We strongly recommend that you take this trip and learn about two fascinating countries with interesting histories that are evident in the day to day lives of their people as well as breath-taking scenery.

Traveler: Cynthia traveled on October 16, 2009

Our first OAT trip was a fantastic adventure. The guide's (Wayne Robertson) knowledge of the area and people greatly enhanced our experience and provided memories that will last a life time. The group of travelers(12) form through out the US were great folks with everyone participating in the activities, making sure we stayed on schedule by being ready to go on time, and helping each other when needed. Everyone very kindly rotated where we sat on the bus to make sure everyone got a good seat. It’s difficult to say what we enjoyed the most since there are so many things, but we can say without hesitation and with a strong voice, the guide and local drivers made the trip more than it would have been by keeping us on schedule and kindly “pushing and pulling” us to see and do things we probably would not have done. It is some of these experiences that will be told to our friends many times over. We thoroughly enjoyed the pre-trip to Tasmania and were glad we did this so our bodies could adjust to the time changes and long flight over before beginning the main adventure. The pacing was brisk but reasonable with plenty of opportunities to relax if that's what you wanted. As others have stated the hotels are mostly fine with a few that need some updating but it these are in the most wonderful locations like Rotorua where your room has a view of the geysers and bubbling mud! The weather didn't impact our ability to do all planned activities except for the helicopter ride at the Franz Josef Glacier but we did hike to it and get to see and touch it. Also, it was hotter than normal in the outback when high temperature records were set for these dates, but the guide driver made adjustments to keep us with fresh cool water and adjusting activities so they were appropriately paced for the conditions. Qantas Airlines did a great job of traveling us across the ocean and throughout the countries. They keep us well feed even providing ice cream which was a nice. Checking into flights and getting through security within the countries was much easier than the United States. They have group check in that saves lots of time at the airports since this trip has lots of flights. Most hotels had refrigerates which was nice so we could keep some drinks and foods. Almost no where has ice so don't expect to get a cold drink with ice! Overall the trip was outstanding and exceeded all our expectations and then some!

Traveler: Dennis and Vicky from Leesville, SC traveled on October 30, 2009

The trip was wonderful and most of the hotel were great, with one or two exceptions.
What I think is important for people to know is weather is dependent on where you are from. Of the 9 people on our trip, 5 were from FloridaArizona and found the weather cool. Whereas, I thought the
weather was perfect.
It was just ending winterstarting spring and was warmer often then Wi in the same season.
Also, every hotel we were in had a refrigerator and a hair dryer (if I had known about the hair dryer) I wouldn't have brought mine.
Also, They are particular about food, but all I had to do was declare it. I told them I had sealed breakfast bars and they said fine and they didn't ask to see them. Also the dogs in the airport did not sniff them out.
As long as it isn't meat, dairy or fruit, there didn't seem to be a problem.

Traveler: Carol Ann from Franklin, WI traveled on August 19, 2009

The 30 day Australia and New Zealand: An Adventure Down Under is an excellent and very active itinerary with five internal flights and some long days. We stayed in city center hotels in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and Christchurch; 5-star resorts in Port Douglas (Queensland) and Arrowtown (New Zealand); and in good quality, well located properties everywhere else. All breakfasts, some lunches and several dinners were included. Where dinner was not included, our guide, Rosie Stewart (who was excellent, interesting and considerate) suggested a local restaurant and we could join her or not. I always did and it was a good experience . There were a lot of extras thrown in (thanks to the guide), along with printed materials, maps, suggestions for our free time and even recipes for the some of the unique things we ate.

Our group had 12 persons and another OAT group a day ahead of us on the same itinerary had 9. We used either 24 seat Coaster busses or full size busses in Australia and super comfortable busses in New Zealand. The New Zealand bus company refitted their 30 seat busses for 20 passengers adding wide leather seats and lots of legroom. It was almost like a business class bus.

With the regular discount it is a good value overall; with the waiving of the single supplement ($1800), it was an extraordinary value.

These are some suggestions if you are interested in traveling to this part of the world:

1. if going in Winter (June, July, August) take a minimum of summer clothes (for just the Queensland and Ayers Rock area) as you need fall clothes for the main cities and warm, and possibly wet weather clothes for the South Island of New Zealand. Be aware that the days in winter are shorter so activities are compressed. A good time to visit is MarchApril as days are longer and the weather is more temperate.

2. Don’t think about bringing any food or snacks into Australia and New Zealand. Customs will want to look at everything and with 350+ people getting off these Qantas 747’s at the same time, you might well be stuck in long lines. There are mini-marts and supermarkets everywhere to pick up snacks.

3. Though OAT requests seats on the LAX to Australia flight for assignment at check-in, go ahead and call the airlines directly and try to pre-select your seat. Some travel sites are reporting that Qantas will offer to pre-assign exit row seats (in economy) for a $125. fee (price not finalized) on its international flights starting in July. This might be a small price to pay for those precious extra inches on a 15 hr. flight!

4. Its easy to phone home - especially for about 2 (US) cents a minute. In Australia buy the G’Day telephone card;in New Zealand buy Cheap Chat. You will have a toll-free access number and a pin. In Australia some hotels charged for the use of the hotel phone (about 75 cents a call) in New Zealand, not one hotel charged for using the room phone to dial the toll-free number.

Traveler: Esther from Arlington Heights, IL traveled on May 07, 2009