Judy Miron, a Travel Advisor with Martin Travel, recently traveled to Australia and New Zealand. She experienced everything from cuddling koalas to watching penguins waddle home at sunset. Fresh from her adventure, Judy shares highlights of her experience.
In a word—amazing! My husband and I embarked on a 28-day journey across Australia and New Zealand, with a 20-day guided Collette tour as the centerpiece. We started in Melbourne, visiting Phillip Island at sunset for the Penguin Parade, during which we watched the penguins as they marched across the sand to bed down in their burrows, and the Great Ocean Road’s Twelve Apostles, seven tall limestone stacks (remaining from nine) jutting out of the ocean along the coast. Then we flew to Sydney for our Collette tour, Australia's Outback to New Zealand's South Island. We explored Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) in the Outback.
In New Zealand’s South Island, we experienced Milford Sound, Queenstown and Mount Cook, before ending in Christchurch. My husband and I added time after the tour for the coast-to-coast TranzAlpine Train ride from Christchurch to Greymouth, which traverses New Zealand’s Southern Alps, and then visited the North Island to tour the Hobbiton™ movie set near Auckland.
Every place we visited on our trip was completely different. Unlike European trips where you might feel like ‘I've already seen this,’ there was never a moment when we felt ready to go home because each destination offered something new and exciting.
Collette is a family-owned American tour company based in Rhode Island that’s been operating since 1918. Collette consistently delivers four-star experiences at reasonable prices. The company specializes in guided bus tours worldwide and offers classic large-group tours (44 to 50 people) and small-group options (24 people), which is the type we were on.
Our guide was exceptional. He was funny and accommodating, and he went above and beyond for everyone. He was a New Zealander, and he knew both countries incredibly well. Our hotels were close to restaurants and attractions, and Collette offered great optional excursions that enhanced the experience, like the sunrise camel ride at Uluru, which my husband did, where you could watch the stars fade as the sun came up over the Outback.
The wildlife experiences were incredible, from seeing wild kangaroos just outside Melbourne to seeing koalas at sanctuaries and in the wild.
In Sydney, we toured the Opera House and then bought tickets for a musical there. Seeing the natural beauty of New Zealand, with its mountains and teal lakes, was wonderful. Our Milford Sound cruise was spectacular, especially when Collette offered us the opportunity to take a 45-minute flight back over Milford Sound instead of taking a five-hour bus ride around it.
One of Collette’s signature touches is arranging dinner experiences with local families. Our dinner with a local family in Queenstown was certainly a highlight. The food was phenomenal, but what made it really special was sharing a beautiful home-cooked meal while exchanging stories about our different cultures.
You will never be bored. The diversity of experiences is incredible—from the friendly atmosphere of Sydney to the tropical Great Barrier Reef area, from the Arizona-like dry heat of the Outback to the mild temperatures we experienced in New Zealand during our late December to January trip. Every destination offers something unique.
This trip is perfect for animal lovers and anyone who enjoys nature. While it includes city experiences, much of the focus is on getting out into the countryside. It’s ideal for travelers who've already done Europe and want something completely different.
