15 or 18 days
Auckland, Hokianga, Paihia, Russell Island, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island, Surfers Paradise, Sydney, extension to Cairns

Embark on the path less traveled during this expedition to New Zealand and Australia.

Meet with the Aboriginal and Māori people to learn about their customs. Spend time beneath the Southern Hemisphere stars. Stretch your legs on beaches, rainforest paths, and city streets. It won’t take long for you to fall for the land down under.

  • Day 1: Fly to New Zealand

  • Day 2: Cross the International Date Line

  • Day 3: Auckland

    Meet your Tour Director at the airport

    Take a tour of Auckland

    Visit the Auckland Sky Tower

  • Day 4: Auckland • Hokianga

    Travel to Hokianga

    Visit the Kawiti Glow Worm Caves

    Take a twilight walking tour through the magnificent Waipoua Forest

  • Day 5: Hokianga • Paihia

    Meet with students at a local school

    Travel to Paihia

    Visit a Māori marae, or meeting house

    Enjoy a Māori spear-wielding and weaving demonstration

  • Day 6: Paihia

    Enjoy a Bay of Islands dolphin cruise

    Explore Russell Island

    Return to Paihia by ferry

    Participate in a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Museum

    Enjoy a traditional hāngi dinner

  • Day 7: Paihia • Auckland • Brisbane • Sunshine Coast

    Travel to the Auckland airport

    Fly to Brisbane

    Travel to the Sunshine Coast
  • Day 8: Sunshine Coast

    Spend the day exploring the Sunshine Coast by canoe 

    Enjoy a tea and picnic lunch

  • Day 9: Sunshine Coast • Fraser Island

    Take a ferry to K'Gari (Fraser Island)

    Return to the mainland by ferry
  • Day 10: Sunshine Coast • Surfers Paradise

    Travel to Surfers Paradise

  • Day 11: Surfers Paradise

    Explore on your own or
    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Surfers Paradise Hinterland rainforest

    Surfers Paradise Hinterland rainforest

    Take in Australia’s largest preserved subtropical rainforest! On this full-day optional tour, you’ll learn how to throw a boomerang and attempt to play a didgeridoo, all before enjoying an included Aussie barbecue lunch. 

  • Day 12: Surfers Paradise • Brisbane • Sydney

    Travel to Brisbane

    Fly to Sydney

    Take a walking tour of the Rocks neighborhood

  • Day 13: Sydney

    Take a walking tour of Sydney

    Visit the National Opal Collection

    Enjoy a guided tour of the Royal Botanical Gardens

    Visit the Hyde Park Barracks Museum

  • Day 14: Sydney

    Explore on your own or
    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Sydney Harbor & Opera House

    Sydney Harbor & Opera House

    Explore the Sydney Harbor area from multiple perspectives, starting with the arched Harbor Bridge and its stunning pylon lookout offering 360-degree views. Then, take in the sea and sky—perhaps upside down—while enjoying rollercoasters and other rides at the iconic Luna Park. Lunch is included (just try not to lose it!). Finally, take a tour of the world-famous Opera House where you’ll go behind the scenes and see what it takes to get a live production on stage.  

  • Day 15: Depart for home

Add 3 more days

  • Day 15: Sydney • Cairns

    Fly to Cairns

  • Day 16: Cairns

    Board a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef for a full day of snorkeling

    Explore on your own or
    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Snorkeling with a marine biologist

    Snorkeling with a marine biologist

    Enhance your time in the world’s largest reef system by opting for a snorkeling adventure with a marine biologist. Learn about the sights and sounds of the Great Barrier Reef from an expert who can teach you more about the animal and plant life you spot in this interactive, aquatic classroom.

  • Day 17: Cairns

    Explore on your own or
    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Kuranda

    Kuranda

    Take an excursion to the picturesque mountain town of Kuranda, where you’ll learn about traditional Aboriginal culture and customs, along with a guided walk through the rainforest, at the Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout. Then head to the Skyrail gondola, which you’ll board to take a journey through a pristine rainforest that spans Red Peak and Barron Falls stations’ dramatic mountain lookouts.

  • Day 18: Depart for home

Interested in learning more about this tour?
  • Day 1: Fly to New Zealand

  • Day 2: Cross the International Date Line

  • Day 3: Auckland

    Meet your Tour Director at the airport

    Take a tour of Auckland

    Visit the Auckland Sky Tower

  • Day 4: Auckland • Hokianga

    Travel to Hokianga

    Visit the Kawiti Glow Worm Caves

    Take a twilight walking tour through the magnificent Waipoua Forest

  • Day 5: Hokianga • Paihia

    Meet with students at a local school

    Travel to Paihia

    Visit a Māori marae, or meeting house

    Enjoy a Māori spear-wielding and weaving demonstration

  • Day 6: Paihia

    Enjoy a Bay of Islands dolphin cruise

    Explore Russell Island

    Return to Paihia by ferry

    Participate in a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Museum

    Enjoy a traditional hāngi dinner

  • Day 7: Paihia • Auckland • Brisbane • Sunshine Coast

    Travel to the Auckland airport

    Fly to Brisbane

    Travel to the Sunshine Coast
  • Day 8: Sunshine Coast

    Spend the day exploring the Sunshine Coast by canoe 

    Enjoy a tea and picnic lunch

  • Day 9: Sunshine Coast • Fraser Island

    Take a ferry to K'Gari (Fraser Island)

    Return to the mainland by ferry
  • Day 10: Sunshine Coast • Surfers Paradise

    Travel to Surfers Paradise

  • Day 11: Surfers Paradise

    Explore on your own or
    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Surfers Paradise Hinterland rainforest

    Surfers Paradise Hinterland rainforest

    Take in Australia’s largest preserved subtropical rainforest! On this full-day optional tour, you’ll learn how to throw a boomerang and attempt to play a didgeridoo, all before enjoying an included Aussie barbecue lunch. 

  • Day 12: Surfers Paradise • Brisbane • Sydney

    Travel to Brisbane

    Fly to Sydney

    Take a walking tour of the Rocks neighborhood

  • Day 13: Sydney

    Take a walking tour of Sydney

    Visit the National Opal Collection

    Enjoy a guided tour of the Royal Botanical Gardens

    Visit the Hyde Park Barracks Museum

  • Day 14: Sydney

    Explore on your own or
    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Sydney Harbor & Opera House

    Sydney Harbor & Opera House

    Explore the Sydney Harbor area from multiple perspectives, starting with the arched Harbor Bridge and its stunning pylon lookout offering 360-degree views. Then, take in the sea and sky—perhaps upside down—while enjoying rollercoasters and other rides at the iconic Luna Park. Lunch is included (just try not to lose it!). Finally, take a tour of the world-famous Opera House where you’ll go behind the scenes and see what it takes to get a live production on stage.  

  • Day 15: Depart for home

Add 3 more days

  • Day 15: Sydney • Cairns

    Fly to Cairns

  • Day 16: Cairns

    Board a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef for a full day of snorkeling

    Explore on your own or
    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Snorkeling with a marine biologist

    Snorkeling with a marine biologist

    Enhance your time in the world’s largest reef system by opting for a snorkeling adventure with a marine biologist. Learn about the sights and sounds of the Great Barrier Reef from an expert who can teach you more about the animal and plant life you spot in this interactive, aquatic classroom.

  • Day 17: Cairns

    Explore on your own or
    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Kuranda

    Kuranda

    Take an excursion to the picturesque mountain town of Kuranda, where you’ll learn about traditional Aboriginal culture and customs, along with a guided walk through the rainforest, at the Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout. Then head to the Skyrail gondola, which you’ll board to take a journey through a pristine rainforest that spans Red Peak and Barron Falls stations’ dramatic mountain lookouts.

  • Day 18: Depart for home

Interested in learning more about this tour?

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Your experience includes

  • Airfare & transportation

    Round-trip flights on major carriers; comfortable motorcoach; 2 internal flights (3 with extension); ferry

  • Hotels

    10 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms; 3 overnight stays in cabins with shared camp-style bathrooms (15 total overnights with extension)

  • Regional-style meals

    Breakfast and dinner daily

  • Guided sightseeing

    2 sightseeing tours led by your Tour Director (3 with extension); 1 walking tour

  • Entrances

    Auckland Sky Tower; Waipoua Forest; Kawiti Glowworm caves; Māori marae; spear wielding and weaving demonstration; Bay of Islands dolphin cruise; Waitangi Treaty Museum; hāngī dinner; canoe excursion; Fraser Island; Hyde Park Barracks Museum; “Introduction to Opal in Australia” experience; Royal Botanical Gardens; with extension: Great Barrier Reef

  • Full-time Tour Director

    Your culturally connected Tour Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all on-tour logistics.

  • Expert Local Guides

    Your expert local guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and global perspective on your sightseeing tours.

  • Personalized Learning Support

    Our personalized learning experience engages students before, during and after tour, with the option to create a final, reflective project for academic credit.

  • Continuous Support

    Your dedicated EF team helps you every step of the way—from recruiting and enrolling travelers to planning and managing your tour.

  • Worldwide Presence

    EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide so wherever you go, we're there too.

  • 24-hour Emergency Service

    Travelers and their families can count on EF's dedicated emergency service team.

  • Peace of Mind Program

    Feel secure knowing your group can change their destination or travel dates due to unforeseen circumstances. Learn more about your flexible options at eftours.com/peaceofmind.

Lowest price

Includes airfare, hotels, meals, full-time Tour Director, and more.
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      $5,659*
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      Price is valid for students under the age of 20 at the time of travel that room in triples and quads. Minimum participation is required. Change and cancellation fees of up to the total price will apply. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included and can be found at www.eftours.com/baggage. Program price is valid today only.

      Price displayed includes an Early Enrollment Discount; restrictions apply. To determine if you qualify, please contact your Tour Consultant. Tours departing between 10/1/2023 and 9/30/2024 may be eligible for a $100 discount. Tours departing 10/1/2024 and beyond may be eligible for a $200 discount; restrictions apply.

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