Luxury tour operator, Scenic (www.scenic.co.uk), offers a range of itineraries that allow guests to take in iconic Australian and New Zealand experiences such as picturesque down Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, a sunset dining experience at Uluru, a cruise on Milford Sound or a visit to the stunning Franz Josef Glacier.
New for the 2023-24 programme are two new itineraries that promise to get under the skin of the destinations for bucket-list worthy trips.
The new 17-day Outback Landscape tour from Melbourne to Adelaide, and 25-day New Zealand Revealed itinerary from Auckland to Christchurch have been developed to appeal to Brits in search of the ultimate taster tours Down Under.
The 2023-24 programme features eight of Scenic’s acclaimed small group luxury land tours, each of which includes all accommodation, meals and internal travel, along with a range of Freechoice and Enrich activities at each point along the way. Tours are designed to take in the best of each nation’s wildlife, natural attractions and heritage, and wine and gastronomy.
And to mark the programme’s launch, guests booking before 31 December 2022 to secure holidays in 2024 are eligible for savings of £2,000 per couple off the brochure price.
Highlights include:
17-day Outback Landscapes Land journey
Experience the best of Australia’s Red Interior, taking in the country’s bustling cultural capital of Melbourne to the barren otherworldly landscape of Broken Hill ghost town and its dystopian Mad Max museum, before heading on to the nature-rich delights of Kangaroo Island. On the way you’ll get to experience Mungo National Park, where Discovery Rangers will walk you back in time on the famous Mungo Walls of China to experience 40,000 years of Aboriginal cultural history. During three nights in Broken Hill you’ll learn more about life as a silver mining pioneer on a Silverton mine tour and dine at the Palace Hotel made famous by Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Visit a Royal Flying Doctors Service station; enjoy a flight over Wilpena Pound to take in the rugged majesty of the Flinders Ranges; before heading on to spend time in Adelaide and the Barossa Valley wine region, including a trip to the famous Maggie Beer’s farm shop.
25-day New Zealand Revealed Land Journey
After falling in love with Auckland, discover ‘Middle-earth’ at the Hobbiton film set before taking in the geothermal wonders of Rotorua. Uncover the coastal and mountainous region of Taranaki, dominated by Mount Taranaki, its namesake volcano, which lies within the rainforest of Egmont National Park. Continue with a visit to Wellington before hopping on a ferry to the South Island. Visit the geographical centre of New Zealand, Nelson, known for its year-round sunshine, and explore the west coast, including Punakaiki, Queenstown and the Franz Josef Glacier. Activities include the chance to enjoy an overnight stay in Milford marina, enjoy a traditional Maori Hangi dinner, sail on a genuine America’s Cup Yacht and revel in a Sauvignon Blanc tasting session in its spiritual home.
Dominic Keely, Brand Manager, Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, explained:
“The Scenic business has its roots in Australia and so we can justly claim to be genuine experts in what is our home turf.
“These new tours build on our existing product, which offers guests the opportunity to get a real taste of what Australia and New Zealand has to offer by enjoying a curated selection of sensational experiences.
“We’re seeing a surge in interest from people wanting to head Down Under now the pandemic travel restrictions have lifted. Guests have been inspired to invest in trips that tick off their bucket list dreams – if you are heading all the way to Australasia, it is worth taking time to do a serious holiday.
“Taking a hot air balloon in the outback, walking among the seals on Kangaroo Island and seeing the shimmer of thousands of glow worms in Milford Sound’s Te Anau caves are the sort of once-in-a-lifetime experiences that we deliver as experts.”
To underline Scenic’s credentials as experts, the operator is also highlighting its Grand Australia and Very Best of Australia & New Zealand itineraries, which are both exclusive to the UK market.
20-day Grand Australia
This itinerary is the perfect introduction to the country, taking guests right across the continent from Perth in the west to Sydney in the east. The itinerary takes in must-see destinations such as Alice Springs, two nights in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National, a trip to Phillip Island near Melbourne to experience Australia’s magical penguin parade, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, and a three-night curated stay in Sydney.
27-day Very Best of Australia & New Zealand
Sweep through both nations, starting in Melbourne before taking in Brisbane, Cairns, Alice Springs and Uluru, Sydney, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Christchurch, Rotorua and Auckland. Among the many highlights are four days spent in Australia’s tropical north with rainforest stay and a hot air balloon flight over Cairns, a catamaran trip to the Outer Barrier Reef, an unforgettable cruise on Milford Sound, and the chance to ride the incredible TranzAlpine route, considered one of the world’s most picturesque rail journeys.
For more information or to book visit www.scenic.com or contact your local travel agent
