What to Expect
- Physical requirements:
This trip is only for physically fit and healthy travelers and is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. You must be comfortable participating in 4-6 hours of daily physical activities and sightseeing, and are able to walk 2-3 miles unassisted over the course of each day for up to an hour at a time. We reserve the right for our Trip Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group's experience.
- Climate & terrain:
The tropical regions in northern Australia often reach temperatures approaching the high 90s during the rainy summer months (December–March). In the desert Outback, temperatures can exceed 100 degrees during the day, and be as low as 60 at night. We’ll travel over city streets, wildlife sanctuary paths, sandy beaches, and rugged Outback trails. New Zealand’s climate is temperate. December-February are the warmest months with temperatures in the 70s. May-September are the coolest months with temperatures between 50-60. We’ll travel over city streets on foot, with occasional uphill walks along uneven glacial and rocky mountain terrain, sandy beaches, and rugged Outback trails.
- Pacing:
13 locations in 30 days with 2 one-night stays. Early mornings. There are 4 overland transfers of 4-5 hours in length; 3 cruises of 90-minutes to 3 hours in length; one 7-hour cruise; 6 internal flights, the longest of which is 3 hours.
- Transportation: We travel by air-conditioned minibus. We’ll also board boats to cruise Sydney Harbor and Milford Sound.
- Accommodations
We stay in hotels and resorts that have been carefully selected for comfort, location, and a uniquely Australian and New Zealand experience.
- Group size & leadership:
16 maximum, with 1 resident Australian Trip leader in Australia and 1 resident New Zealand Trip Leader in New Zealand..
Visa Information
U.S. citizens will need a visa (or visas) for this trip. In addition, there may be other entry requirements that also need to be met. For your convenience, we’ve included a quick reference list, organized by country:
- Australia: Visa required.
- New Zealand: No visa required, but travelers making their own international air arrangements will need to send us their flight ticket numbers. The form to do this will be mailed with the Australian visa application.
Travelers who are booked on this adventure will be sent a complete Visa Packet— with instructions, applications, and a list of visa fees—approximately 100 days prior to their departure. (Because many countries limit the validity of their visa from the date it is issued, or have a specific time window for when you can apply, we do not recommend applying too early.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen, do not travel with a U.S. passport, or will be traveling independently before/after this trip, then your entry requirements may be different. Please check with the appropriate embassy or a visa servicing company. To contact our recommended visa servicing company, PVS International, call toll-free at 1-800-556-9990.
Vaccinations Information
For a detailed and up-to-date list of vaccinations that are recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC’s “Traveler’s Health” website.