A South Pacific Odyssey: Australia, the Outback & New Zealand

Pacing

• 11 locations in 28 days with two 1-night stays; 6 internal flights of 1-4 hours each; 6 drives of 4-8 hours
• International flights from Los Angeles to Melbourne depart around midnight, losing one day en route as you cross the International Date Line, regained on the return trip

Please note: Due to the length, location changes, long land transfers, distances covered, and both internal and international flights, this is a particularly challenging trip.

Physical Requirements

• Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids; agility required for embarking boats
• You must be able to walk 3-4 miles unassisted and participate in 4-6 hours of physical activities each day
• Some walks may be in areas of high heat and humidity in Australia and snow and cool temperatures in New Zealand
• The use of a fly or mosquito net is required in Central Australia
• We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group's experience
• You may encounter animals on this trip. We make every effort to keep these encounters safe, however animals may behave unpredictably or dangerously at times. Please use caution when interacting with animals on this trip: Keep a safe distance, stay alert, and respect the animals
• During our activities, our small groups will walk approximately 10,000-15,000 steps per day on average throughout trip. This is a minimum of 30 days on the road without the pre- and post-trips

Climate

• Daytime temperatures range from 40-118°F
• Central Australia has a hot and dry climate, where temperatures can exceed over 110°F in the peak of summer (December-February), and drop dramatically at night to as low as 40°F (typically in April, May, and September)
• Far north Queensland is warm and humid, where temperatures can exceed 100°F and humidity upwards of 85%
• New Zealand’s climate is temperate and weather conditions change quickly

Terrain & Transportation

• 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
• Travel by 21-passenger minibus (no toilet onboard) and 20-300 passenger boats
• 1 overland drive 7.5 hours long in Australia; 5 overland drives 4-8 hours long in New Zealand; 6 internal flights of up to 4 hours each
• 3 cruises of 1.5-3 hours, one 7-hour cruise to the Reef

Flight Information

• Travel time will be 19-27 hours
• International flights from Los Angeles to Melbourne depart around midnight, losing one day en route as you cross the International Date Line, regained on the return trip
• Airport transfers in Melbourne take approximately 1 hour

Accommodations & Facilities

• Hotel rooms are smaller than those in the U.S., offer simple amenities, and feature private baths
• The private tented camp uses shared restroom facilities within walking distance from the tents and does not have charging facilities
• Twin rooms in South Pacific are usually two single beds. Double rooms in South Pacific are usually a Queen size, but is dependent on the location
• Some hotels and the private tented camp do not have air conditioning