Day 1: All over the country → Shanghai → Brisbane
All day
Please arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on time on the same day. Your tour leader will check you in for your flight from Shanghai to Brisbane. You will spend the night on board, arriving the following morning.
Note: The itinerary defaults to Shanghai. China Eastern Airlines can arrange nationwide intermodal transportation (intermodal transportation to some cities involves taxes. If you have any needs, please verify and confirm).
Day 2 Brisbane → Gold Coast
·morning
Upon arrival, a Chinese tour guide will pick you up at the airport.
Visit Brisbane's South Bank Parklands: the park has the clear water of Kodak Beach and lush green meadows, where you can see a panoramic view of Brisbane CBD.
Then we will go to Gold Coast for sightseeing.
·afternoon
Wander at Paradise Farm (each family will receive a photo with a koala) (approximately 2 hours): Here, tourists can experience authentic Australian farm life and traditional culture. They can also see Australia's national treasures, kangaroos and koalas. Visitors can hand-feed kangaroos near the bushes where they live and encounter adorable koalas.
Check out Surfers Paradise. The Gold Coast boasts approximately 75 kilometers of beaches, white sand, and azure waters. Australian surfers consider it their ideal playground and arena. Tourists can also admire the iconic Q1 Sky Tower from afar.
Day 3 Gold Coast → Cairns (domestic flight time to be confirmed)
·morning
Reference flight: JQ892 0640-0905
After breakfast, fly to Cairns.
After landing in Cairns, we will proceed to Kuranda Rainforest National Park.
Enter the Rainforest Cultural Village. Inside, tourists will ride an amphibious vehicle into the world's oldest tropical rainforest, gaining a deeper understanding of this beautiful land. The vehicle enters the water, its propellers ignited, and it slowly moves!
In addition, tourists will be led by Aboriginal guides to get a glimpse into the culture and experience of Australian Aboriginals, dance with them, and experience throwing weapons and playing musical instruments.
·afternoon
In the afternoon, we'll arrive at the rainforest town of Kuranda. Since the 1960s, it's been hailed as a hub for alternative living, nurturing many renowned Aboriginal artists. The town is dotted with art restaurants, cafes, and bars renovated from old buildings, reflecting the locals' relaxed lifestyle.
Day 4: Great Barrier Reef Day Trip (No car guide service, tour leader will take you to the pier)
All day
After breakfast, depart from the hotel and head to the pier to board a catamaran.
[Double-Decker Yacht to Green Island] (Approximately 3 hours, including lunch): Cruise for approximately 50 minutes to Green Island, a beautiful coral island surrounded by white sand. Coconut trees and palm trees stand tall and majestic, interwoven with vines, creating a lush, verdant landscape, like a green gem set against the azure sea. Relax on the beach, swim in the sea, stroll along the acacia wood paths in the island's forest, or take an optional helicopter ride for a bird's-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef or take a magical underwater walk. Here, you'll enter a vacation moment, relax, and savor the pure blend of sea, sky, and island.
Take a glass-bottom boat ride to see corals and tropical fish (approximately 15 minutes): The boat's bottom is lined with transparent glass, allowing visitors to see through the bottom and experience the wonders of the marine world. It's said that at least 350 species of colorful and diverse corals thrive in the warm, shallow waters of the mainland. There are also 1,500 fascinating fish species and over 4,000 mollusks, as well as endangered species such as mermaids and giant green turtles.
Recommended exciting optional activities on Green Island:
Snorkeling: Walk straight out to the ocean from the beach. Snorkel or swim in the clear waters. Admire colorful fish and turtles, encounter a variety of marine life, and explore the beautiful coral reefs surrounding Green Island. Snorkeling masks, snorkels, and fins of various sizes are available for rental.
[Scuba Diving]: Scuba diving is a more exciting way to observe the Great Barrier Reef. You can participate in entry-level attempts without any diving experience.
[Undersea Walk]: In a place without gravity, walk among the sea creatures. Whether you can swim or not, the charm of underwater walking is irresistible.
【Beach Entertainment】: Beach umbrellas, beach chairs, canoes, surfboards, beach volleyballs and stand-up paddleboards can all be rented directly on the beach.
Day 5 Cairns → Sydney (domestic flight time to be confirmed)
·morning
Reference flight: JQ951 06:40-10:40
After breakfast, take a flight to Sydney, Australia's largest city.
Upon arrival, head to Sydney Fish Market: established in 1989, it offers over one hundred types of seafood and is a great place to enjoy delicious food.
·afternoon
After a free lunch, check in at Hyde Park: The park is modeled after the London style, with large clean lawns, towering trees over a hundred years old, gentle hills and Archibald Fountain.
Exterior of Santa Maria Cathedral: Built of local sandstone, the "Gothic" architectural style is the architectural legacy of European medieval cathedrals.
Find Mrs. Macquarie's Chair: Mrs. Macquarie's Chair is located at the northeast end of the Royal Botanic Gardens and is known as a good place to take panoramic photos of Sydney city.
Visit the Sydney Opera House (60-minute guided tour in Chinese): Australia's national performing arts center. Standing on Cape Belaun in Sydney, it sits on a small peninsula adjacent to the world-famous Harbour Bridge. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, its unique architectural form resembles a fleet of ships setting sail.
Check in at the Sydney Harbour Bridge: It is like a rainbow across the bay, facing the world-famous Sydney Opera House across the sea, and has become the symbol of Sydney.
Strolling around the University of Sydney: one of Australia's eight largest university campuses, it is hailed by the media as one of the most beautiful university campuses in the world.
·night
In the evening, take a romantic cruise on Sydney's Darling Harbour, where tourists can enjoy a buffet dinner.
Check into hotel after dinner.
Day 6 Sydney → Blue Mountains → Sydney
All day
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll depart for Blue Mountains National Park (including a three-stage cable car ride). This area is blanketed in vast expanses of eucalyptus trees, known as temperate eucalyptus trees. Under sunlight, the eucalyptus leaves release natural oil particles that diffuse into the air, tinting the Blue Mountains canyon a faint, hazy blue, hence the name. The refreshing alpine air, the vast sandstone valleys cascading waterfalls, the Three Sisters, three human-like rock formations, and the unique Echo Valley are all must-see experiences in the Blue Mountains.
Day 7 Sydney → Melbourne
·morning
Reference flight: QF419 08:15-09:50
Upon arrival, you will be met by a Chinese-speaking tour guide and taken to the city for a tour:
Exterior view of the Old Parliament House: Built in 1856, it is the current seat of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria. The building is magnificent and unique in style.
Captain Cook's Cottage: Melbourne's first true 18th-century building.
Visit St. Patrick's Cathedral: the largest and tallest Catholic church in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Gothic spire reaching 103 meters high, fully displaying the architectural style and splendor of the Renaissance.
·afternoon
Take the [City Tram] (about 20 minutes): Trams are one of Melbourne's city images, with dark wine red bodies and dark green roofs, all exuding a strong retro feeling.
Victoria Arts Centre exterior: The Victoria Arts Centre's 115-meter-diameter white metal mesh, illuminated by lasers, is very eye-catching at night. From a distance, it looks like a white ballet skirt or a miniature Eiffel Tower.
Visit the National Gallery of Victoria: Australia's largest art gallery, housing art treasures from Australia, Europe, Asia, and beyond. The gallery boasts over 70,000 works of art, ranging from paintings to sculptures, including Aboriginal art.
Day 8 Melbourne → Twelve Apostles → Melbourne
·morning
After breakfast, we'll board a bus for the famous Great Ocean Road (one-way). Known as Victoria's state treasure, the Great Ocean Road offers breathtaking coastal scenery. Along the way, tourists can admire tranquil coastlines, bustling surf beaches, charming seaside towns, lush eucalyptus rainforests, caves, and wind vents.
·afternoon
Enjoy the Twelve Apostles: After thousands of years of baptism by waves and sea breeze, the stones have been carved by nature into human faces, seemingly sad, yet gentle, and are a masterpiece of nature.
Then drive back to Melbourne city for check-in.
Day 9 Melbourne → Christchurch (domestic flight time to be confirmed)
·morning
Reference flight: QF169 1850-0010+1
After breakfast, tourists start today's fantasy adventure:
Ride the Puffing Billy Steam Train: Embark on a journey full of surprises aboard the Puffing Billy steam train. Experience the charm of travel a century ago, traversing the picturesque Dandenong Ranges, and feel like you've stepped into a fairytale. The unique feature is that you can rest your feet on the outside of the train. Magic Harry has returned!
·afternoon
In the afternoon, we will proceed to the airport to catch our flight to Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city.
Day 10 Christchurch → Tekapo → Twizel or surrounding towns
·morning
After breakfast, visit Christchurch city.
Visit the Cardboard Cathedral: The cathedral was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. It can accommodate 700 people at a time and is mostly built with cardboard tubes.
Check in at the Botanical Garden: Christchurch is called the "Garden City" thanks to this very distinctive botanical garden.
·afternoon
Afterwards, we'll drive to Tekapo. Admire the beauty of Lake Tekapo. From the windows of the famous Shepherd's Church and the altar of the Border Dog statue, tourists can enjoy spectacular views of mountains, snow-capped peaks, and the vast sky. From mid-November to mid-December, the lake is in bloom!
Day 11 Twizel → Mount Cook → Wanaka → Queenstown
·morning
After breakfast, drive to Mount Cook.
Passing Highway 80, we passed Lake Pukaki, the most beautiful lake in the South Island. On a clear day, the water of Lake Pukaki will blend with the light to create different colors, sometimes milky white, sometimes light green, so it is also called Milk Lake.
·afternoon
In the afternoon, we will go to Lake Wanaka. The water here is pure and transparent, blue and clear. From a high vantage point, it looks like a sparkling sapphire embedded in the earth. Tourists can sit on the pebble beach and look around to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains.
Hit the Wanaka Tree. This solitary tree, standing in the center of the lake, sways its shadow, reflecting the tranquility of the lake. It has become the symbol of Wanaka and a famous business card of the city.
Afterwards, we'll head to Queenstown for a quick tour of Lake Wakatipu. Known as the "Emerald Lake," it's a popular destination for outdoor activities in New Zealand.
Day 12 Free time in Queenstown
All day
Recommendation 1: [Mildford Sound Day Tour with Lunch] (Requires a full day)
Milford Sound is a famous scenic spot on New Zealand's South Island, recognized as one of the Eight Wonders of the World. "Sound" means deep fjord. It's a deep valley carved by glacial water during the Ice Age. Surrounded by mountains, the deep glaciers are now submerged by the sea. The fjord is a scene of undulating peaks and majestic waterfalls, nestled among the peaks and granite cliffs. It's also a playground for seals, seagulls, and dolphins, but you'll need luck to see them! Milford Sound, covering 8,000 square kilometers, is a New Zealand national park. Its most captivating natural wonders are the glacially carved canyons. Two million years ago, massive glaciers carved deep valleys into the mountain sides. This is the fascinating Fiordland National Park and Heritage Area. A trip to New Zealand without visiting Milford Sound would be a profound regret.
Recommendation 2: [Skydiving]
Known as the "Adventure Capital of the World," Queenstown is the birthplace of tandem skydiving in New Zealand and a dream destination! The drop zone is nestled at the foot of the famous Remarkables Mountains, surrounded by sheep farms and offering stunning scenery.
In addition, there are many exciting activities in Queenstown and its surrounding areas, such as canyon swings, bungee jumping, paragliding, steamboats and Glenorchy, etc. Tourists can book them according to their preferences.
Day 13 Queenstown → Dunedin → Oamaru
·morning
After breakfast, drive to Dunedin.
·afternoon
After arriving, check in at the First Cathedral: This church is in Gothic style and can be seen from the center of the square.
Baldwin Street: It is the steepest inhabited street in the world, with a total length of 350 meters and a slope of 19 degrees. Climbing to the top of the street feels like climbing a mountain.
Visit the University of Otago: the oldest university in New Zealand, the building has a strong Scottish flavor, and the exterior walls inlaid with black glazed ceramic tiles are full of art and romance.
Octagonal Square: The Octagonal Square has been the city center of Dunedin since 1846. Surrounding the Octagonal Square are the Gothic St. Paul's Cathedral, the City Council Hall, the City Hall, the Tourist Service Center, tree-lined green spaces, and several main streets leading in all directions.
Then we will go to Oamaru and admire the unique Moeraki Boulders on the east coast beach.
·night
In the evening, watch the Blue-eyed Penguin Parade (approximately 60 minutes). Every evening, flocks of blue penguins gather offshore, awaiting darkness. They then swim to the bottom of the viewing platform, climb the steep shore, rest briefly on top of the rock face, and then return to their habitat across the viewing area.
Please note: Penguins are sensitive to light, so please do not disturb them. Please do not photograph penguins and keep a safe distance from them. *Note: Because penguin homing is a natural phenomenon, the specific time of landing is uncertain. Please understand!
Day 14 Oamaru → Christchurch → Auckland (domestic flight time to be confirmed)
All day
Reference flight: JQ236 1350-1510
After breakfast, return to Christchurch by bus.
·afternoon
Take a flight to Auckland, the "City of Sails" on the North Island.
Upon arrival in Auckland, visit the Sailing Club and Labour Party Memorial Park.
Climb Mount Eden: There is an observation deck on the top of the mountain with a wide view, which is a good place to overlook the city.
Day 15 Auckland → Hobbiton → Rotorua
All day
After breakfast, drive to Rotorua.
Visit Hobbiton and explore the dwarven kingdom. [Hobbiton Village]: This is the filming location for "The Hobbit." Visit its 44 unique hobbit huts, including Bag End (Bilbo's house). You'll also see the Green Dragon Inn, the Mill, the Double Arch Bridge, and the Banquet Tree.
·afternoon
Upon arrival in Rotorua, visit the Government Gardens: the Maori called it Papakumana, and the Maori left too many memories of war on this land.
Take in the beauty of Lake Rotorua: it is the largest lake in the area and the city is named after it.
Explore the Redwood Forest: Enjoy a leisurely hike inside the forest. Inside, towering trees rise from the ground, one close to the other, surrounding visitors like a tiny nation.
Day 16 Rotorua → Auckland → Shanghai
·morning
After breakfast, head to Agrodome Royal Farm for a unique farm tour and a true farm experience: ride a hay cart; feed lambs and pack sheep; visit a kiwi orchard and sample fresh kiwi wine; and enjoy a wealth of outdoor activities.
·afternoon
Go to Waitomo Glowworm Caves: Green light dots are dotted on the cave walls, layer upon layer. These green lights flicker on the dark water, doubling the light and shadow. This is a wonderful world belonging to the green elves.
Then return to Auckland.
·night
Then take a flight back to China.
Day 17 Shanghai → All over the country
All day
Arrive in Shanghai this morning, concluding your Southern Hemisphere tour. You can then take a connecting flight back to your home city.
