18 Day Trip with the Regent
"South Pacific Wonders"
Fiji . Cairns . Great Barrier Reef . Sydney . Queenstown . Milford Sound .
Mount Cook National Park . Christchurch
June 19 -July 6, 2011
Per Person Rates: Double $4,899; Single $5,899
Included in Price:
Package includes round trip international airfare from Chicago O'Hare, all internal flights, internal airport transfers and land transportation.
15 nights hotel, 24 meals and guided tours as listed per itinerary.
Not Included in Price:
Air taxes and fees/surcharges of $300 per person (subject to increase until paid in full) Optional Cancellation Waiver and insurance of $240 per person. Optional Round-trip transfer from The Regent Ballroom to O'Hare airport. Price to be determined.
Day 1 -Day 2: Depart from Home
Today you board your flight and begin the adventure of a lifetime. Crossing the
International Dateline, you skip a day ahead.
Day 3: Nadi, Fiji -Tour Begins
Today you will arrive in the beautiful paradise island of Fiji. Fiji retains all the primitive cultural fascination of the South Pacific and boasts expansive sandy beaches and clear ocean waters. Today dinner will be included.
Day 4: Fiji
Your day is free to relax and enjoy your surroundings. An optional island tour is
offered. Today breakfast will be included.
Day 5: Fiji
Your day is free to relax and enjoy Fiji. Today breakfast will be included.
Day 6: Fiji -Cairns, Australia
Today you leave Fiji and head to Australia. Cairns is known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Don't forget to look up at the Southern Hemisphere's stars this evening after you join your mates for dinner. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 7: Great Barrier Reef
Board a high speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier
Reef. This is an immense series of 2,800 coral reefs which are home to amazingly
diverse marine life. From your base on Green Island, you are able to explore the
reef in many ways. Enjoy a glass bottom boat ride*, a stroll on the walking trail to
take in the rain forest, relax on the beaches, snorkel or just watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier. For a more adventurous encounter with the reef,
optional scuba diving and an outer reef tour are also available. Whichever way youchoose, you’ll see some of the world’s most fascinating marine and plant life. Today breakfast and lunch will be included.
Day 8: Cairns
Today visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center. You’ll see traditional Aboriginal dances, learn about the Aboriginal lifestyle, and even throw a boomerang or play a
didgeridoo, a traditional instrument. Browse the renowned art gallery and visit the
interpretation center, which houses a collection of interesting artifacts. This
afternoon a great experience awaits as you search for crocodiles in their natural habitat during a visit to Hartley's Croc Farm! Boardwalks take you on a path of adventure through rainforests and woodlands to see animals such as wild birds, reptiles and wallabies. While visiting you also have the chance to meet some of the local koalas and have a private talk with a wildlife naturalist to learn more about these cuddly creatures. Then, enjoy an exciting cruise in the lagoon looking for crocodiles before enjoying a delicious Aussie barbecue. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 9: Cairns -Sydney
Fly to the bustling city of Sydney this morning. Enjoy a city tour of Sydney where
the English explorer James Cook first weighed anchor in 1770. Highlights of your
exploration include Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens and the fashionable Paddington suburb. Today breakfast will be included.
Day 10: Sydney
Enjoy a leisurely day to explore Sydney your way. Your Tour Manager will be on
hand to offer suggestions. Tonight, experience the best of Sydney. Chat with
new friends and take in the sights during a delightful dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour during which you’ll pass by two of Australia’s most famous icons: the renowned Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Today breakfast and
dinner will be included.
Day 11: Sydney
This morning discover one of the world’s most fascinating architectural wonders
during a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. Next, enjoy a unique opportunity to learn first-hand how raw opals are transformed from the dark mine shafts to
beautiful works of art. This evening is free to explore Sydney’s many famous
restaurants! Today breakfast will be included.
Day 12: Sydney -Queenstown, New Zealand
You leave Australia behind and fly to New Zealand and the Alpine city of Queenstown, nestled in the beautiful Southern Alps. Queenstown is known for its active lifestyle and there will be an abundance of activities you can partake in from hiking to shopping to other types of adventurous activities. Before having some free time, enjoy a stop at a local fruit stand to gain an inside look at the produce of New Zealand. Today breakfast will be included.
Day 13: Queenstown -Milford Sound - Queenstown
En route to Milford Sound, enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley. You’ll travel through beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. During a cruise of the breathtakingly beautiful Milford Sound you’ll see why this fjord is one of the most visited sites on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet on
either side, the scenery will take your breath away. Following your cruise, you
return to Queenstown. You may choose to return via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of NewZealand’s Southern Alps. Today breakfast and lunch will be included.
Day 14: Queenstown
A leisurely day in Queenstown offers several options to enhance your vacation.
Shop or people watch in the village or perhaps take the optional "Safari of the Rings" which takes you through the majestic Remarkable Mountains and the breathtaking Queenstown countryside where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed. This evening, take in the city of Queenstown from above and soak in the breathtaking views during a gondola ride to dinner at the Skyline Restaurant overlooking Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the mountains. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 15: Queenstown -Mt. Cook Region - Christchurch
Traverse the spectacular countryside to New Zealand’s most famous national park, Mt. Cook. Mt. Cook is one of the most impressive mountains in the world. You may
choose to view the massive glaciers and extensive snow-covered mountain top
terrain on an optional glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting), or perhaps enjoy the park during a nature walk. After spending time in the park, head to the historic city of Christchurch. Upon arrival enjoy a short sightseeing tour of "the most English city outside of England." Highlights include magnificent gardens, the Neo-Gothic Cathedral and the downtown park district.
Today breakfast will be included.
Day 16: Christchurch
This morning visit a Canterbury farmyard where you’ll enjoy a sheep shearing demonstration and see the herding of the farm’s animals! It’s a great opportunity to learn how a New Zealand family farm operates. This afternoon you are free to explore Christchurch independently before a truly special evening. Tonight you are the guest of honor at a private dinner inside the restored Riccarton House mansion.
Step back in time and experience a world of Victorian and Edwardian splendor
during a guided tour that teaches you the history of the first family of Christchurch.
Then, relax in the elegant dining room and enjoy a sumptuous dinner. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 17: Christchurch
Today, enjoy a day of exploration on your own in beautiful Christchurch. This English city – the charming international gateway to New Zealand’s South Island – boasts countless cafes and boutiques. Stroll its cobblestone streets and enjoy the many sights that “the Garden City” has to offer.
Make yourself right at home this evening when a New Zealand family welcomes you into their home for dinner! This is sure to be an unforgettable evening during which you will make new friends, learn aboutnthe customs of the “Kiwi’s” and enjoy a home-cooked meal. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 18: Christchurch -Auckland - Depart for Home
Today you think back on the wonders of the South Pacific as you depart for home. Today breakfast will be included.
Itinerary Preliminary and subject to change.