Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Australia – New Zealand – Melbourne – Tasmania – Adelaide – Flinders Ranges – Auckland – Wellington – Abel Tasman – Queenstown
100% customisable for you
Grab your bags, your Australasian nature sabbatical kicks off today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and settle into the lounge. With a quick connection, flights to Melbourne take around 22 hours, giving you plenty of time to sit back, relax and free up some space on your camera roll.
After landing the following morning, spend your first few days meandering Melbourne, the ideal place to shake off your jetlag. Wander along the city streets, indulge in some fantastic food and settle into the rhythm of life down under.
Of course, there’s also plenty of sightseeing to be done here. Start with a stroll through the Collingwood, Fitzroy and St Kilda districts, then dive into Aboriginal art with a visit to the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre. For modern art lovers, there’s also D’Lan Contemporary and the Vivien Anderson Gallery.
Make sure to head to St Kilda Pier after sunset to see some penguins, too. Not just any penguins, we should add, but little penguins (referred to by locals as ‘fairy penguins’). These bite-sized birds are only 12-16 inches tall and weigh just 2lbs. Hearts are sure to melt.
Rise and shine: Tasmania awaits. Following a speedy one-hour flight to Launceston, pick up your hire car and strap in for the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Cradle Mountain – playlists at the ready.
Spend a day hiking your way through this UNESCO-listed gem, surrounded by dramatic peaks, glacial lakes and ancient rainforests, before setting off on a nighttime observation of the one and only Tasmanian Devil (as well as the lesser-known but equally endearing eastern quoll).
Then, it’s on to Freycinet National Park, a 20-minute drive away from Cradle Mountain. Hit the water on a sea kayak for another day of exploring, with a stop in Honeymoon Bay for some tasty tea and well-earned beachside bliss.
Next up? Hobart, the jewel in Tasmania’s crown. Australia’s southernmost city, this pretty place boasts waterfront warehouses, charming architecture and a buzzing arts-and-crafts scene.
While hopping around Hobart, we suggest visiting the MONA, the summit of Mt Wellington and the towering cliffs of the Tasman Peninsula. We’ve also arranged a flight over Tasmania’s Maria Island for you, followed by an exploration on foot and (of course) a wine tasting.
Catch the two-hour flight back to mainland Australia this morning for a few days in Adelaide. SPF at the ready, now’s your chance to indulge in some downtime on the shores of the city’s many (and we do mean many) beaches.
Bronzed and blissful, transfer to picturesque Port Lincoln, a 20-minute drive away. The following day, head three hours north to Baird Bay for a day of coastal safaris and marine marvels – it’s time to tick swimming with sea lions and bottlenose dolphins off your bucket list.
Then, make tracks to the coastal city of Port Augusta, where you’ll spend one night before heading deeper inland (or should we say Outback?) to Wilpena Pound in Flinders Ranges National Park.
Kick off with a tour of the delightfully named Bunyeroo and Brachina gorges. Then, strap on your walking boots – or, failing that, a pair of well-worn trainers – for a trek through the Sacred Canyon with an indigenous guide.
Having marvelled at some Aboriginal rock carvings, head back to Adelaide for your final night in Australia. This calls for a toast, don’t you think?
Hear that? New Zealand is calling your name. This morning, catch the four-and-a-half-hour flight to Auckland and pick up your hire car for two days of beach, bars and bliss. While you’re here, don’t miss a visit to Tiritiri Matangi Island – a birdwatcher’s paradise.
Next, head to Taupo, a three-hour drive away. Here, glide in canoes past Maori rock carvings on Lake Taupo before wading into the water or – if you fancy yourself a daredevil – cannonballing in from above. Afterwards, be sure to visit the geological gem of Orakei Korako.
Break up your road tripping with an overnight stay in the fun-to-say town of Peka Peka, four-and-a-half hours away. Come evening, drive a little further south to dine on fabulously fresh seafood in nearby Paraparaumu Beach.
Hit the water the following morning for the 15-minute ferry crossing to Kapiti Island, where you’ll spend the day being wined, dined and guided through a brilliant bird sanctuary before spending the night immersed in nature.
Board the ferry back and continue one hour south to New Zealand’s capital, Wellington. Here, visit Te Papa Tongarewa (the country’s national museum) and the Botanical Gardens, before savouring – and snapping – the views from Kelburn Lookout.
Your adventure in New Zealand’s South Island begins with a three-and-a-half-hour ferry ride to the small port of Picton. From here, head to Abel Tasman National Park, a three-hour drive away.
Despite being the country’s smallest reserve, Abel Tasman is jam-packed with natural wonders. Explore its fascinating flora and fauna with hikes along its beautiful beaches, wooded hills and ancient rainforest. For more animal encounters, visit the Tonga Island Marine Reserve, home to seals, penguins and dolphins.
Then, hop back on the road to mellow Murchinson, where you’ll spend the night, before journeying on to Hokitika, the ideal base for a day of cycling along the West Coast Wilderness Trail.
Trade two wheels for four with a two-hour drive to the tiny town of Fox Glacier, home to (you guessed it) a pretty epic glacier, best explored on foot.
Finish your wilderness wanderings in Wanaka with a tour of Mou Waho Island’s nature reserve, home to rare weka birds and the beautiful Pic Tyrwhitt viewpoint. Spend the rest of your time hiking one (or several) of the area’s nature trails – there’s no such thing as too much scenery.
Leave the wilderness behind as you begin the last leg of your epic Australasia adventure. Today, drove one hour south to Queenstown, the ‘Adventure Capital of the World.’
Giddy up – we’ve arranged a horseback riding excursion through the remote Rees Valley, a landscape Lord of the Rings fans are sure to recognise. The rest of your days are free to spend how you please, from jet boat rides along the Dart River to scaling the 5,735ft-high Mount Ben Lomond. The world (by which we mean Queenstown) is your oyster.
After plenty of adrenaline-fuelled adventure, it’s sadly time to head home. Your return journey consists of a two-hour flight to Auckland and a connecting long-haul flight to the UK. You’ll arrive home the next day, just in time to regale friends and family with tales of your spectacular sabbatical over dinner.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
