Nov_Dec Journal

Extended Travel

Second departure added!

New Zealand and Australia March 3-25, 2020 or March 24-April 15! Call and sign up for the second departure! Join us on this trip of a lifetime in New Zealand and Australia with tons of excursions, call for the full itinerary. Day 1-2: Transfer to Chicago airport for our flight to Auckland. Day 3: Arrival in Auckland, check into our hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner. (D) Day 4: Auckland sightseeing includes Auckland Harbor Bridge, Viaduct Harbor, Auckland Domain, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Parnell Village, and Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park. (B,L) Day 5: Auckland–Rotorua. Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set, Te Kauwhata, Huntly, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and discover the uniqueness New Zealand’s Maori people. (B) Day 6: Visit Rotorua’s geothermal wonderland with bubbling mud pools, and natural hot springs. We stop at the Agrodome and ride eight-seater Gondola cabins to experience scenic views of Lake Rotorua. This evening enjoy Te Po Tour, a feast of storytelling, enter- tainment, and Maori cuisine while absorbing the unforgettable sights at nightfall. (B,D) Day 7: Flight to Christchurch. Travel to the hotel located in the heart of Christchurch and have time to explore on your own before dinner together. (B,D) Day 8: Explore Christchurch; Hagley Park, the Avon River, the International Antarctic Centre, Cardboard Cathedral, and the Botanical Gardens. (B) Day 9: Journey to Mt. Cook to view Geraldine, the spectacular landscape that saw the filming of Lord of the Rings, and where Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki reside. (B,D) Day 10: Depart for Oakridge Resort Lake Wanaka to see remote farmland, brilliant turquoise canals, lakes, and alpine meadows. Along the way we visit Puzzling World. (B,D) Day 11: Enjoy a leisurely morning in Wanaka, before we depart for Queenstown. (B) Day 12: Travel to Milford Sound with scenic stops at Eglington Valley, Mirror Lakes, Homer Tunnel and The Chasm. While at Milford Sound we enjoy a lunch cruise. (B,D) Day 13: Full day of sightseeing in Queenstown; Arrowtown, the Bungee Jumping site, Shotover Jetboat ride site, and Skyline Queenstown. Dinner is at the Stratosfare Skyline Restaurant and Bar at the top of the Gondola. (B,D) Day 14: We fly to Melbourne to meet our guide and enjoy an overview as we transfer to our hotel. (B) Day 15: See the Shrine of Remembrance, Fitzroy Gardens, drive past the Sports Pre- cinct, Parliament House, Queen Victoria Market, Flinders Street and Federation Square.

This afternoon we go to Phillip Island’s Koala Conservation center, the Nobbies and later watch the Penguin Parade waddle from the sea to their burrows before we have dinner together. (B,L,D) Day 16-17: Experience beautiful Yarra Valley, and a farm-to-table lunch at Divino’s. This evening we have dinner in Docklands before proceeding to the Melbourne Star . In the morning we fly to Cairns. (B,L,D,B) Day 18: Enjoy a full day at the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling in the cay’s protected shallow waters, and cruise in the semi-sub for a diver’s view, both are included. If you prefer a more leisurely day, relax on the beach or onboard Ocean Spirit’s spacious decks. (B,L) Day 19: Today we visit Tjapukai and enjoy an Aboriginal experience at the Tjapkai Cultural Center, ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, visit Kuranda Village, and conclude with a scenic ride back to Cairns onboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway. (B,L) Day 20: Today we travel to Sydney to view the Sydney Opera House, then to the Sydney Tower Eye, Sydney’s highest attraction. This afternoon is on your own. (B) Day 21: Discover Blue Mountains National Park with a guide, Scenic World for the Blue Mountain rides; Scenic Railway, Cableway, or Skyway. Tour Featherdale Wildlife Park to have a photo taken with a cuddly koala. See kangaroos, wombats, dingoes and pen- guins. We drive by the site of the 2000 Olympic Games before we return to the city. (B,L) Day 22-23: Experience Australia at your leisure. We gather together this evening for a farewell dinner cruise aboard the prestigious MV Sydney 2000 and enjoy quality dining, wine, live music and dancing, all set to the spectacular backdrop of Sydney by night. The next morning we fly home. (B,D,B) Cost is $11,539 per person for double occupancy, and $13,839 for single. First departure is full. Second departure final balance is due November 5, 2019.

16 Connections Club

Connections Club 17