Holiday of a Lifetime Waltzing Matilda
We live in a world of go-getters, of people wanting to handcraft perfect experiences for themselves and bask in the satisfaction of a job well done. Naturally, this carries over to travel, with people being more likely than ever before to use the resources of the internet to help them craft a dream vacation. It means a lot of work and a lot of research, but it is possible for someone to put together their own dream vacation.
But why should clients go through all that trouble if they don’t have to?
At Goway we offer our Holiday of a Lifetime series that does the heavy lifting of putting together your client’s dream vacation. These handcrafted trips offer the best of their respective destinations and luxury accommodations that make sure your clients stay in style as they follow their ideal itinerary. They are not simple overview tours, but instead, painstakingly-planned and executed journeys through some of our most popular destinations, which tend to be travellers’ favourite destinations as well. There’s perhaps no trip we take greater pride in than the Waltzing Matilda journey through Australia and New Zealand.
Luxury and Convenience
There are many reasons your clients should forgo intensive planning in favour of a Holiday of a Lifetime. For one, it saves you and your clients’ time, which is not inconsiderable in the modern world. More significantly, it promises your client a seamless trip with a diverse array of experiences—for instance, if they’ve never been to Australia or New Zealand before, they’ll be amazed at how many types of landscapes they’ll come across in these countries. As well, Holidays of a Lifetime offer the best accommodations and excursions available through Goway. To make things even more convenient for your clients, most meals, tours, and even tips are included in the cost.
Named after Australia’s unofficial national anthem, the Waltzing Matilda Holiday of a Lifetime takes travellers across Australia and New Zealand to see the icons. However, it’s not just an introductory tour to the most popular highlights of each country. Staying in the best accommodations and focusing on the iconic experiences of each destination, Waltzing Matilda tries to capture the essence of the world Downunder and share it with Globetrotters. It can also be conveniently broken down into the Best of Australia and Best of New Zealand Holidays of a Lifetime, in case your clients want to focus exclusively on one country.
Harbours and Geothermal Wonders
The 20-day Waltzing Matilda Holiday of a Lifetime begins in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, situated on the North Island. It won’t take long for your clients to understand why Auckland ranks among the Most Livable Cities in the World on The Economist’s yearly lists. In terms of nature, Auckland is second-to-none. It sits on a narrow isthmus between two massive natural harbours, making it one of the rare cities with two waterfronts to boast of. But it’s also spectacular culturally. After touring the waterfront and climbing Mt. Eden to enjoy breathtaking views of both harbours, your clients will have the opportunity to engage with Maori culture in the city’s many arts and crafts centres.
From Auckland, they’ll head south on route to Rotorua, stopping off at two incredible spots along the way. If they’re film buffs, they’re in luck as they’ll visit the Hobbiton Movie Set, where Peter Jackson and company filmed the epic The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and forever set New Zealand’s film industry on the map. After strolling through the rolling hills of Hobbiton, your clients will pass on to Waitomo, home to the spectacular glowworm caves. They’ll descend into the caves to journey through an underground complex of tunnels illuminated by the glowworms.
When they reach Rotorua, they’ll experience bubbling mudpools and steaming hot springs that seem like holdovers from the planet’s early years. Beyond the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, which include mighty Pohutu Geyser, they’ll also deep-dive into Maori culture as they visit the Te Puia Arts and Culture Centre, where they’ll enjoy an evening of food and live performances. To complete their iconic kiwi experience in Rotorua, they’ll also attend a Sheep and Shearing Show at the Agrodome to engage with the country’s most populous denizens: sheep.
Lakes and Fjords
Your clients will pass onto the South Island to reach Queenstown, the nation’s adventure capital. This picturesque town sits in the mountains alongside a sparkling lake. If they’ve ever harboured the desire to skydive out of an airplane or bungee jump off a towering bridge, Queenstown is the place to indulge that desire. However, it’s also great for non-adrenaline junkies; the mountain trails offer spectacular views of the area, while the town’s promenades will satisfy all your clients’ shopping urges.
While they’re in Queenstown, they’ll take a day to explore Milford Sound, which is commonly referred to as the most beautiful spot in all of New Zealand. This fjord culminates in Mitre Peak, a mountain that’s known as the most photographed sight in the country. The best way to see Milford Sound is by the water, so your clients will join the tour group on a fjord cruise across the waters to snap incredible photographs of Mitre Peak and the surrounding landscape.
After enjoying the beauty of Fiordland and Queenstown, they’ll head to their final spot in New Zealand: the Garden City of Christchurch. With its gorgeous architecture and abundant gardens, Christchurch remains the most British of the cities in New Zealand and a great spot to close out your clients’ time in the country. On the way to Christchurch, they’ll also pass through some of the South Island’s gorgeous countryside, including the wine area of Gibbston Valley and coastal roads alongside Mount Cook, the country’s tallest mountain.
Australia’s Culture and Wildlife
Luckily for your clients, their Waltzing Matilda Holiday of a Lifetime is not even half over by the time it heads from Australia to New Zealand. First stop in Australia is Melbourne, which was consistently ranked the Most Livable City in the World over the past decade. They’ll find plenty to engage with here, from the chic bars and restaurants that populate rooftops and laneways in Federation Square to the bohemian neighbourhood of Fitzroy. Melbourne is also tantalizingly close to some incredible natural highlights. One is the Great Ocean Road, which stretches along the coastline of Victoria and features the amazing geographical landmarks, the Twelve Apostles. Perhaps even better and more appealing to travellers who love wildlife is a trip to Phillip Island, where the adorable Little Penguins, who stand barely one foot tall, march out of the ocean and onto land each evening to the delight of all onlookers.
After getting all warm and cuddly from witnessing the Little Penguin Parade, your clients willl head west to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Adelaide is a bit quieter than other major cities in the country, but it’s not lacking in culture. The city’s Victorian architecture is stunning and it’s also a great gateway for wine tours and wildlife excursions. Your clients will have the chance to visit the National Wine Centre, where they’ll get to taste five different vintages from nearby wine regions like the Barossa Valley. They can also add on a trip to Kangaroo Island, which is Australia’s own answer to the Galapagos Islands. This island off the south coast features a stunningly diverse array of animals. They’ll see koalas, seals, and of course kangaroos as they explore the island which essentially serves as a zoo without fences or walls.
From Adelaide, your clients will head to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. To get there, they’ll enjoy one of the most luxurious and charming journeys in the country: a ride aboard the famed Ghan Train. The Ghan transports travellers back to the golden age of train travel and takes them across the southern Australian landscape in timeless comfort. At the end of your clients’ journey lies Alice Springs, in the heart of the Red Centre.
Icons of the Red Centre and Tropical Northeast
Alice Springs is the quintessential Outback town, situated smack-dab in the middle of the country. It was built in 1872 as a stop on the Overland Telegraph Line and exists today as a place to get in touch with indigenous Australian culture and historical traditions. While in Alice Springs, your clients will learn about the Flying Doctors who use airplanes to service remote communities in the Outback. In the evening, they’ll head on a sunset Outback experience to explore the wilderness and enjoy a dinner beneath the stars, while also gaining insight into indigenous culture and traditions.
From Alice Springs, your clients will pass onto Uluru/Ayers Rock, the sandstone monolith that is perhaps the main icon of the Australian Outback. As they walk around the base of this massive stone monolith, they’ll learn about the indigenous legends that describe its creation and as well as the geological composition of the rock. That evening, they’ll enjoy the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo as they dine on Outback cuisine with Uluru as their magnificent backdrop. Before they turn in for the night, they’ll enjoy the night sky as they’ve never seen it before.
From the Red Centre, your clients will fly northeast to Cairns in the tropical north of Queensland. Cairns is their base for exploring both the Great Barrier Reef and the Kuranda Rainforest. On their first full day in Cairns, they’ll board a catamaran and head out onto the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel or dive through the waters and discover the colourful ecosystem of the world’s largest living structure. On their next day, they’ll ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway into the rainforest to explore the Kuranda Rainforest and engage in indigenous traditions like the Dreamtime Walk.
Final Stop: Spectacular Sydney
The final stop on the unforgettable Waltzing Matilda Holiday of a Lifetime is Sydney, Australia’s largest city and one of the most picturesque metropolises in the world. Blessed with an incredible natural harbour and easy access to a wide variety of natural wonders, Sydney has it all. First day in Sydney, your clients will head into the Blue Mountains and enjoy the breathtaking views of the coastline and the hazy blue forests, waterfalls, and rock formations that populate the mountain range. The next day they’ll see the highlights of Sydney on a sightseeing tour, starting in the historic Rocks neighbourhood, where convicts founded the city, and working their way to the surfing mecca Bondi Beach, as well as the Harbour Bridge and unforgettable Sydney Opera House. They’ll close out their time in Australia with a sunset dinner cruise across Sydney Harbour, where they’ll enjoy sumptuous cuisine with unbeatable views of the city’s icons.
The Waltzing Matilda Holiday of a Lifetime is a chance to experience the essence of Australia and New Zealand. It does the heavy lifting for you and your clients, planning a trip full of the best experiences in the most fascinating and beautiful locations in these incredible countries. It’s a dream vacation all made up and ready to enjoy.
Call Goway now at 1-800-387-8850, email [email protected], or use the online chat function at www.goway.com to connect with your favourite Goway Agent.
