Solo-ish Down-Under

Introduction

Traveling solo to Australia and New Zealand is an adventure in itself, and this 25-day Solo-ish trip ensures you’ll never feel alone. From the moment you arrive, your expert CEO and built-in travel mates will make you feel at home. Journey through New Zealand from north to south, immersing yourself in Māori culture, cooking Kiwi dishes with locals, and exploring the stunning landscapes of Kaikoura and Franz Josef—whether with your group or on your own. In Australia, embark on a 4x4 adventure to French Island to spot wild koalas, explore the awe-inspiring Uluru while learning about its rich Indigenous history, and cap off the trip near the iconic Great Barrier Reef.

• Mt Eden Summit Walk
• Cruise Lake Rotoiti to hot springs
• Full day immersion with Kohutapu Lodge
• Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
• Visit to Kaikoura Seal Colony
• Hokitika Gorge
• Franz Glacier Trek
• Full Day Cruise at Doubtful Sound
• Tour Queen Victoria Market
• Laneways Street Art Tour with your CEO
• Full day 4x4 excursion to French Island to spot Koalas
• Explore Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
• Day trip to Manly Beach
• Kuranda Skyrail

Duration: 25 days

Start/Finish City: Auckland to Cairns

Service Level: Standard

Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.

Physical Grading: 3 - Average

Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.

Travel Style: Solo-ish Adventures

For solo travellers only, get closer to your group-mates and the world on trips designed for connection.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 16, avg 12

What's Included

Dinner Party: Dinner Party, Auckland
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
We Day: Mt Eden Summit Walk, Auckland
We Day: Kohutapu Tribal Tour, Rotorua
Your Discover Moment: Franz Josef
Me Day: Queenstown Me Day, Queenstown
Dinner Party: Melbourne Cooking Class, Melbourne
G Day: Queen Victoria Market & Melbourne Street Tour, Melbourne
We Day: French Island Day Trip, French Island
Me Day: Sydney Me Day, Sydney. Complimentary arrival transfer. Mt Eden Summit Walk. Cruise Lake Rotoiti to hot springs. Free time in Rotorua. Full day immersion with Kohutapu Lodge. Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. Visit to Kaikoura Seal Colony. Free time in Kaikoura. Hike Hokitika Gorge. Franz Glacier Trek. Free time in Franz Josef. Full Day Cruise at Doubtful Sound. Free time in Queenstown. Tour Queen Victoria Market. Laneways Street Art Tour with your CEO. Full day 4x4 excursion to French Island to spot Koalas. Guided walks at Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. Full Service Desert Tented Camp stay in the Red Centre. Sunset at Uluru. Guided Hiking at Kings Canyon. Visit to Telegraph Station. Day trip to Manly Beach. Free time in Sydney. Kuranda Skyrail. Free time in Cairns. Internal airfare. Transport to/from all included activities.

What are the main highlights of this trip?

Mt Eden Summit Walk, Cruise Lake Rotoiti to hot springs, Full day immersion with Kohutapu Lodge, Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, Visit to Kaikoura Seal Colony, Hokitika Gorge, Franz Glacier Trek, Full Day Cruise at Doubtful Sound, Tour Queen Victoria Market, Laneways Street Art Tour with your CEO, Full day 4x4 excursion to French Island to spot Koalas, Explore Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Day trip to Manly Beach, Kuranda Skyrail

Dossier Disclaimer

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Group Leader Description

All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.

How large will the group be?

Max 16, avg 12

Meals Included

13 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners

Transport

Flight, private vehicle, boat, ferry, walking.

Local Flights

Local flights are included in this itinerary. The max luggage allowance on domestic flights within Australia and New Zealand is 1 checked bag (20 kgs) and 1 carry on (7 kgs) per person.

Solo Travellers

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Accommodation

Hotels (22 nts), Outback Tented Camp (2 nts, shared facilities).

Rooming and "My Own Room" Exceptions

Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single accommodation for all night stops, with the following exceptions: Night 17 and 18

Joining Instructions

For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.

An arrival transfer is included when you arrive on Day 1, or if you arrive up to three days prior provided that you have booked your pre-accommodation through G Adventures in our joining hotel. Due to customer experience and quality considerations, all services related to the tour must be continuous.

Your transfer will be provided by Super Shuttle and they will transfer to your accommodation from Auckland Airport. After collecting your luggage, exit the arrivals area at the International Terminal. Walk 1-2 minutes outside to Door 11, where you’ll find the Transport Pick-Up Zone. This is where SuperShuttle, on-demand taxis, and rideshares pick up passengers. Check-In with SuperShuttle by providing the driver with your first name, last name, and destination (hotel listed on voucher) to locate your booking.

Arrive to your start hotel no later than 3pm in order to head to your cooking class.

During your Welcome Meeting, you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details!

If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.

Emergency Contact

Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call our local office in Melbourne. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so we may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.

AIRPORT TRANSFER
If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that:

Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. Included arrival transfers are provided from the nearest airport to your starting location. If you are advised of a flight schedule change or flight cancellation within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, please call the emergency contact number to advise of your new arrival flight information. If you do not, we will not be able to rearrange your arrival transfer and you will need to make your own way to the starting hotel at your own expense. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please take a taxi to your start point hotel.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
G Adventures Local Office and after office hours emergency number

From outside Australia: +61 49 768 1378
From within Australia: 049 768 1378

From outside New Zealand +64 211935846
From within New Zealand: 0211935846

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local operations manager, please call the numbers listed below which will connect you directly with our Sales team who will happily assist you. Hours of operation by region can be found here..

Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

Packing List

Cold Weather:
• Long-sleeved shirts or sweater
• Scarf
• Warm gloves
• Warm hat
• Warm layers
• Warm waterproof jacket

Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)

Essentials:
• Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket

Health & Safety:
• Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)

Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sturdy water shoes/sandals
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear

Visas and Entry Requirements

Please note that visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself with the Embassy. Please, keep in mind that all countries require passports valid for at least 6 months from the moment of departure from the country.

Visa information specific to your destination and nationality can be found in our Important Pre-Departure Information page here

Spending Money

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Money Exchange

The Australian currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD). The currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD).

Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere and can be used to purchase small and large items. When purchasing products or services with a foreign credit card you may be charged additional fees by your credit card company for foreign purchases.

Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances but you must remember to bring your PIN number (be aware that many ATM machines only accept 4-digit PINs). Both Cirrus and Plus system cards are the most widely accepted debit cards. Both Visa and Master Cards are the most widely accepted credit cards. While ATMs are commonly available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work check with your bank before you travel. A visit to an ATM can be arranged on Day 1 and other days of the trip.

Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of local currency (preferably smaller bills, 5's, 10's and 20's) and credit cards is best. Currency exchange is best obtained prior to travel or at the airport, currency exchange is easy to find in Australia and New Zealand in the gateway cities and most banks do accommodate.

Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.

As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com

Tipping

It is not customary in Australia to tip service providers, but if you do experience outstanding service it is good to do so. Such service would only usually be in places like quality restaurants and it would be very rare that you would tip more than 10%. Unless specifically asked to do so at the time (by your CEO) - do not tip your local guides. At the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $10-15 USD per person, per day can be used.

Optional Activities

Rotorua
- Hot Springs (45-75NZD per person)
- Whitewater Rafting (125NZD per person)
- Rotorua Canopy Tours (189-259NZD per person)

Kaikoura
- Whale Watching (175NZD per person)
- Dolphin Tour (240NZD per person)

Franz Josef
- Heli Scenic Flight with Snow Landing (350-445NZD per person)
- Franz Josef Kayaking (135NZD per person)
- Guided Heli Hike (Heli Transfer) (698NZD per person)

Queenstown
- Vineyard Tour (210-240NZD per person)
- Bungee Jumping (265-450NZD per person)
- Skydiving in Queenstown

Cairns
- Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling

Safety and Security

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it deemed necessary, due to safety concerns. Your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy and explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.

Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards), have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s).

Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk. Read more about travel safety for ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling.

A Couple of Rules

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of people in the sex trade is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they utilize the services of paid sex workers, in any capacity.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.

Planeterra Foundation - the non-profit partner of G Adventures

Planeterra International Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra connects underserved local communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting small community-owned businesses. These businesses support Indigenous people, empower women, grant youth access to employment opportunities, and protect the environment. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating their projects into G Adventures’ itineraries globally.
G Adventures is Planeterra’s largest corporate donor, covering all operating costs, so 100% of your donation will bring opportunity to people in need.

G Adventures Dollar-a-day Program - Make Every Day Count - Turn your travel into impact with Planeterra Foundation.

Did you know? Most communities around the world do not benefit from tourism. Give back to the places you visit on your travels by creating opportunities for local people to earn an income, and protect the environment.

Make every day count by donating $1/day for the length of your trip, and join us in empowering the communities you will visit when you travel. 100% of your donation goes directly to Planeterra projects.

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International Flights

Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.

LGBTQ+ Safety

The safety and well-being of all of our travelers is a priority at G Adventures and that includes our travelers who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. We recognize that there are specific concerns and questions you may have about your adventure in terms of safety and security. We encourage you to visit our LGBTQ+ page for useful resources to ensure you feel safe and comfortable throughout the duration of your trip. The Equaldex tool linked on this page can be of particular help when deciding where you may want to visit next.