Tour Number: 2585378AW
Group Leader: Autumn Maddox
Requested Departure Date: 6/3/2025
Requested Return Date: 6/14/2025
Requested Departure Gateway: Houston (TX)

ABOUT EF

For over 55 years, we’ve dedicated ourselves to one global mission: Opening the World Through Education. Our programs help students expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, grow more confident and independent, and understand new people, places, and cultures.

12 days
New Zealand, Australia, extension to Hawaii

From afar, New Zealand and Australia may seem similar. An up-close look reveals distinct cultures and personalities.

Both descend from the same British colonial family tree, so you may struggle to tell the accents apart in the streets of Auckland and Sydney. But as you dig deeper in the Māori culture in Rotorua and Aboriginal roots along the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, each country's individual identity becomes clear.
  • Day 1: Fly to New Zealand

  • Day 2: Cross the International Date Line

  • Day 3: Auckland • Rotorua

    Meet your Tour Director at the airport

    Travel to Rotorua 

    Watch a sheep and dog show at the Agrodome

  • Day 4: Rotorua

    Take a Rotorua duck tour

    Take a tour of a Rotorua geothermal park

    Ride the Skyline Gondola

    Learn about jade carving in a local craftsman's shop

    Visit a Māori Village for a traditional hāngi feast

  • Day 5: Rotorua • Auckland

    Travel to Auckland

    Take a tour of Auckland

    Enjoy time to explore on your own
  • Day 6: Auckland • Sydney

    Fly to Sydney

  • Day 7: Sydney

    Guided sightseeing of Sydney 

    Take a tour of Sydney

    Visit the National Opal Collection

    Take a boat ride across the harbor to Watsons Bay

    Visit the Hyde Park Barracks Museum

    Visit the Sydney Tower

    Take a walking tour of the Rocks neighborhood

  • Day 8: Sydney

    Enjoy time to explore on your own
  • Day 9: Sydney • Cairns

    Fly to Cairns

  • Day 10: Cairns

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

    Enjoy time to explore on your own
  • Day 11: 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 12: Depart for home

  • Day 1: Fly to New Zealand

  • Day 2: Cross the International Date Line

  • Day 3: Auckland • Rotorua

    Meet your Tour Director at the airport

    Travel to Rotorua 

    Watch a sheep and dog show at the Agrodome

  • Day 4: Rotorua

    Take a Rotorua duck tour

    Take a tour of a Rotorua geothermal park

    Ride the Skyline Gondola

    Learn about jade carving in a local craftsman's shop

    Visit a Māori Village for a traditional hāngi feast

  • Day 5: Rotorua • Auckland

    Travel to Auckland

    Take a tour of Auckland

    Enjoy time to explore on your own
  • Day 6: Auckland • Sydney

    Fly to Sydney

  • Day 7: Sydney

    Guided sightseeing of Sydney 

    Take a tour of Sydney

    Visit the National Opal Collection

    Take a boat ride across the harbor to Watsons Bay

    Visit the Hyde Park Barracks Museum

    Visit the Sydney Tower

    Take a walking tour of the Rocks neighborhood

  • Day 8: Sydney

    Enjoy time to explore on your own
  • Day 9: Sydney • Cairns

    Fly to Cairns

  • Day 10: Cairns

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

    Enjoy time to explore on your own
  • Day 11: 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 12: Depart for home


Feel confident helping your child see the world

Visit our parents’ page for everything from payment plans, scholarship opportunities, safety protocols, and more.

Are you the “print it, scribble notes on it, stick it to the fridge” type? You can download a printable version of our Parent Guide, too.

¿Quiere leer la Guía para Padres en español?

Visit our parents’ page

Pagina de padres en español

Visit our video gallery to hear more from fellow parents


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See your tour come to life



Your experience includes

  • Airfare & transportation

    Round-trip flights on major carriers; comfortable motorcoach; 2 internal flights; ferry

  • Hotels

    9 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms (11 with extension)

  • Regional-style meals

    Breakfast and dinner daily.

  • Guided sightseeing

    3 sightseeing tours led by your Tour Director (4 with extension); 1 walking tour

  • Entrances

    Rotorua geothermal area; Māori village; Skyline gondola; “Introduction to Jade in New Zealand” experience; Rotorua duck tour; Agrodome; Great Barrier Reef; Sydney Tower; “Introduction to Opal in Australia” experience; harbor cruise; Hyde Park Barracks Museum (with extension: lei greeting; USS Arizona Memorial; Waimea Valley)

  • 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.

Have questions about this tour?  Give us a call at 800-665-5364

Total price

$6,409 $486*
month
View price details

All your EF tour questions, answered

On our easy-to-navigate Help Center, you’ll find information on everything from our Automatic Payment Plan to college credit to our insightful, culturally knowledgeable Tour Directors.

Book today and lock in your price