Is the train travel included in the price?

Yes. The from-price covers Royale and Scenic Class rail travel, including the Kuranda Scenic Railway and the TranzAlpine train, plus all coach and cruise travel. Flights are not included.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

This is an escorted tour. A Tour Manager accompanies from start to finish. However, you have free days in Cairns, Sydney, Queenstown, Christchurch, and Auckland to explore on your own.

What trains are included?

The Kuranda Scenic Railway (Cairns to Kuranda through the Barron River Gorge) and the TranzAlpine (Arthur's Pass to Christchurch through the Southern Alps in panoramic viewing carriages).

What meals are included?

17 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners, including a Sydney Harbour dinner cruise and a farewell dinner at the Auckland Sky Tower.

How many nights do you stay in each city?

Melbourne 3 nights, Cairns 4 nights, Sydney 3 nights, Queenstown 2 nights, Franz Josef 1 night, Christchurch 2 nights, and Auckland 2 nights.

How much walking and physical activity is involved?

The operator rates this as Mobility Rating 3. Activities include a full-day catamaran excursion to the Great Barrier Reef with snorkeling, a Dreamtime Walk at Rainforestation, multiple guided coach tours with stops, and scenic train journeys.

No longer offered

Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Highlights of Australia & New Zealand

20-day escorted tour of Australia and New Zealand by rail, coach, and cruise

Vacations By Rail operates this 20-day escorted journey through Australia and New Zealand, departing from Melbourne and concluding in Auckland. A Tour Manager accompanies throughout, while you stay in four and five-star hotels and travel by rail, coach, and cruise across both countries' major attractions. The itinerary balances guided group experiences with free time: you spend three nights in Melbourne exploring the city and driving the Great Ocean Road, four nights in Cairns visiting the Great Barrier Reef and riding the Kuranda Scenic Railway through rainforest, three nights in Sydney with a dinner cruise on the harbour, two nights in Queenstown with a full-day Milford Sound cruise, and two nights in Christchurch after traveling the TranzAlpine train through the Southern Alps. The trip suits travelers who prefer the security of a guide and included activities but also value downtime to wander cities and towns independently. Couples, photographers, and repeat rail travelers will find the two named train journeys and scenic variety particularly rewarding.

What to know before you look closer

Flights from Melbourne to Cairns, Sydney to Queenstown, Queenstown to Auckland, and international flights to/from Australia are not included in the from-price.
Airport transfers are not included; you make your own way to the first hotel and from the final hotel to the airport.
Three optional activities (winery tours near Queenstown, helicopter tour over Franz Josef Glacier, and ferry to Waiheke Island) are available at extra cost payable locally.
Several days are free (Day 7 in Cairns, Day 10 in Sydney, Day 13 in Queenstown, Day 17 in Christchurch, Day 19 in Auckland); on an escorted tour, you explore independently on these days.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Melbourne
Welcome to Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne
Arrive independently and check into a five-star hotel on Melbourne's South Wharf.
Day 2overnight: Melbourne
Getting to know Melbourne
Free morning, then a guided coach sightseeing tour including the Old Treasury, the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Cricket Ground, plus the Skydeck.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Melbourne
Along Australia's Great Ocean Road
Coach excursion along the Great Ocean Road via Lorne and Apollo Bay, through Great Otway National Park, with lunch at Laver Hill and a stop at the Twelve Apostles.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4overnight: Cairns
To Cairns on the northern coast
Flight from Melbourne to Cairns; introductory coach tour on arrival.
Day 5railovernight: Cairns
Exploring Rainforestation & Kuranda Scenic Railway
Army Duck ride and Dreamtime Walk at Rainforestation Nature Park, a barbecue lunch, then the Kuranda Scenic Railway through the Barron River Gorge back to Cairns.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6overnight: Cairns
A day on the Great Barrier Reef
Full-day catamaran excursion to the Great Barrier Reef, including Green Island, an underwater observatory, snorkeling and a glass-bottom boat.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7overnight: Cairns
Relaxing in tropical Cairns
Free day at leisure in Cairns.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8overnight: Sydney
Traveling to Sydney
Flight to Sydney; transfer to a hotel on Darling Harbour for a three-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9overnight: Sydney
Sydney's iconic sights
Coach tour including Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, The Rocks and Bondi Beach, followed by an evening dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10overnight: Sydney
A free day in cultural Sydney
Free day to explore Sydney independently.
Day 11overnight: Queenstown
Flying into Queenstown, New Zealand
Flight from Sydney to Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island; group dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Day 12overnight: Queenstown
Fiordland National Park and cruise on Milford Sound
Full-day coach excursion into Fiordland National Park with a cruise on Milford Sound from Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea, picnic lunch onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 13overnight: Queenstown
Queenstown at your own pace
Free day in Queenstown, with optional winery tours in the Central Otago wine region (payable locally).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14overnight: Franz Josef
Franz Josef Glacier via glacial lakes and mountain passes
Scenic coach drive via Cromwell, Lake Dunstan, Wanaka and the Haast Pass to Franz Josef; optional helicopter tour (payable locally).
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15railovernight: Christchurch
The TranzAlpine to the Southern Alps
Coach via Hokitika (Greenstone Factory) and Greymouth to Arthur's Pass, then the TranzAlpine train through the Southern Alps to Christchurch.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 16overnight: Christchurch
Getting to know Christchurch
Panoramic coach tour of Christchurch and a visit to the Botanic Gardens, including punting on the Avon River.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 17overnight: Christchurch
Spending a day at leisure in Christchurch
Free day using a complimentary all-day pass on Christchurch's heritage trams.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 18overnight: Auckland
To New Zealand's North Island
Flight to Auckland; guided coach tour including Bastion Point, Viaduct Harbour and the Auckland Museum.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 19overnight: Auckland
A day to explore Auckland
Free day, with an optional ferry to Waiheke Island (payable locally); farewell dinner at the Auckland Sky Tower.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 20
Traveling home
Tour concludes after breakfast; make your own way to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 5The Kuranda Scenic Railway carries you through the Barron River Gorge from Kuranda back to Cairns after a rainforest walk and barbecue lunch.
Day 6A full-day catamaran excursion to the Great Barrier Reef includes Green Island, an underwater observatory, snorkeling, and a glass-bottom boat.
Day 9An evening dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour follows a coach tour of Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, The Rocks, and Bondi Beach.
Day 12A full-day coach excursion into Fiordland National Park ends with a cruise on Milford Sound from Mitre Peak toward the Tasman Sea, with picnic lunch onboard.
Day 15The TranzAlpine train travels through the Southern Alps in panoramic viewing carriages from Arthur's Pass to Christchurch, passing via Greymouth and Hokitika.

Included

Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
19 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
Royale & Scenic Class rail travel
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
17 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
Complimentary all-day tram pass in Christchurch
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?: Yes. The from-price covers Royale and Scenic Class rail travel, including the Kuranda Scenic Railway and the TranzAlpine train, plus all coach and cruise travel. Flights are not included.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: This is an escorted tour. A Tour Manager accompanies from start to finish. However, you have free days in Cairns, Sydney, Queenstown, Christchurch, and Auckland to explore on your own.
What trains are included?: The Kuranda Scenic Railway (Cairns to Kuranda through the Barron River Gorge) and the TranzAlpine (Arthur's Pass to Christchurch through the Southern Alps in panoramic viewing carriages).
What meals are included?: 17 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners, including a Sydney Harbour dinner cruise and a farewell dinner at the Auckland Sky Tower.
How many nights do you stay in each city?: Melbourne 3 nights, Cairns 4 nights, Sydney 3 nights, Queenstown 2 nights, Franz Josef 1 night, Christchurch 2 nights, and Auckland 2 nights.
How much walking and physical activity is involved?: The operator rates this as Mobility Rating 3. Activities include a full-day catamaran excursion to the Great Barrier Reef with snorkeling, a Dreamtime Walk at Rainforestation, multiple guided coach tours with stops, and scenic train journeys.

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