The Australian Outback and New Zealand
17 Nights Featuring Sydney, Ayers Rock, Fiordland National Park, Dunedin and Auckland
February 13, 2027
Discover the best of Australia on this Enrichment Journey, from iconic Sydney and Bondi Beach to the heart of the Outback, where you'll witness Uluru at sunrise and sunset. Encounter kangaroos, explore Aboriginal culture, and tour the famed Opera House—then set sail aboard the Celebrity Edge for a stunning cruise to New Zealand’s South and North Islands.
Veranda from $10,599 per person
Journey Highlights
Memorable Experiences, Scenic Views, and Exciting Moments
At a Glance
Get Up Close and Personal with Australia’s Wildlife
At a wildlife park in Sydney, you’ll encounter some of Australia’s most famous animals, including koalas, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, and cassowaries. For a truly interactive experience with the kangaroos, you may wish to purchase some feed and enjoy the fun of hand-feeding them.
Experience the Wonder of the Outback
Witness the stunning sunrise and sunset as Uluru is illuminated in a fantastic array of ever-changing colors. In Walpa Gorge, see ancient rock paintings and hear stories of Aboriginal legends.
Step Inside the Sydney Opera House
Visit the iconic Sydney Opera House for an exclusive tour that unveils its legendary history and architectural marvels. From its soaring sails to its hidden stories, this unforgettable experience is the perfect finale to your journey through Sydney and the Outback.
Admire the Natural Beauty of New Zealand
Set sail on a breathtaking cruise around New Zealand’s North and South Islands, where you’ll explore the majestic fiords of Fiordland National Park, the Scottish charm of Dunedin, art deco Napier, coastal Tauranga, vibrant Auckland, and the stunning beaches of the Bay of Islands.
Day 1 – Arrive Sydney
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to the hotel. After check-in, you’ll have time to get settled in before joining your Tour Manager and fellow travelers for a dinner welcoming you to Australia.
Ask your Personal Vacation Manager about the optional hotel extension – which will add one night to your Sydney hotel stay.
Day 2 – Sydney
Today we will explore the beauty of Sydney. Depart to Featherdale Wildlife Park where you’ll get to see some of Australia’s most famous animals. For a truly great interactive experience with kangaroos, you may wish to purchase some feed and engage in the fun of hand feeding them.
Then set off to visit The Gap and Bondi Beach. Located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, the cliff formations of The Gap and golden sands of Bondi Beach attract visitors year-round from all corners of the world. At Bondi, you will have time to stretch your legs, stroll along the esplanade and grab lunch, all the while enjoying the spectacular views. Following your visit to Bondi, we will continue to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, located adjacent to the Botanical Gardens. Here, you will stop for the quintessential photo of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Return to the hotel for the evening at your leisure.
Day 3 – Sydney to Ayers Rock
Check out of the hotel and proceed to the airport for your flight to Ayers Rock. To travel lightly, your larger luggage will be stored at the hotel for your return to Sydney. Just be sure to pack 3 days’ worth of clothes, medication and your walking shoes! Ayers Rock, or Uluru, is one of Australia’s most identifiable icons. The large sandstone rock formation lies in the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. The Ayers Rock site is considered sacred to the local Aborigines. Travel to your hotel for lunch and check-in.
Reunite for your walking tour around the base of Uluru. On the tour around the base of the rock, see ancient rock paintings, water holes and hear stories of Aboriginal legends. Then an evening of beauty awaits you at the Uluru sunset viewing area. Enjoy the scenic landscape as the sun sinks over the western horizon and the evening sky brings out the many shades of color for which Uluru is famous. Following the Uluru sunset viewing experience, you will return to your hotel for an evening at your leisure.
Day 4 – Ayers Rock
After breakfast, depart for a walk of the Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge. These rock formations are to the west of Ayers Rock and stand more than 1600 feet above the plain. The gigantic domes of Kata Tjuta/Mt. Olga, the traditional name meaning “many heads,” are indeed just that and in fact include thirty-six domes! You will be able to walk along the path of the natural creek bed between the red walls of Walpa Gorge.
After, you will travel to the western section of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park where the guide will provide information about the unique and interesting history of the area. Learn of the flora and fauna of the region – some of the plants you will see are so rare that they are only found in and around these rocky formations. Here, you will have a photo stop that will take in the complete vista. Return to the hotel with free time for lunch and relax before a special cultural activity that awaits you this afternoon. Enjoy a group dinner in the hotel this evening as our last night in the outback.
Please note: The Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge walk is about 1 mile each way on an uneven, rocky surface and takes approximately 1 hour to do. Please refer to our physical activity section for more information.
Day 5 – Ayers Rock to Sydney
Rise early to catch the stunning Uluru sunrise and watch the day’s first light illuminate Uluru in a fantastic array of ever-changing colors. Then it’s back to the hotel for breakfast before departing for the airport. Enjoy a takeaway lunch from the resort for the plane ride back to Sydney. Transfer back to your Sydney hotel and check-in, where you’ll be reunited with your luggage stored for safekeeping. Enjoy the evening at your leisure. Perhaps take a stroll through Hyde Park and have dinner at one of the many local restaurants.
Day 6 – Sydney Embarkation
After breakfast in the hotel and check-out, get ready for one of those bucket list items—a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House! Step inside and discover the legendary history and extraordinary secrets of the Opera House on an exclusive tour of this amazing venue and soak in every curve of its ornate architecture. What a way to finish your land Journey through Sydney and the outback! You’ll then be transferred to the cruise terminal where you’ll board the Celebrity Edge for a 12-night cruise circumnavigating breathtaking New Zealand.
Please note: The Opera House tour includes up to 300 steps with limited elevator access.
Day 6-17 – Cruising onboard the Celebrity Edge
Ports of call include Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds (Scenic cruising), Dunedin, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland and Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
Day 18 – Sydney Disembarkation
Enjoy breakfast onboard, then disembark the Celebrity Edge and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
For meals not included in your land programs, all hotels chosen include a restaurant on property where you may relax and enjoy a meal. In addition, your guide is available to make suggestions on nearby dining, shopping or sightseeing.
Celebrity Edge
Celebrity Edge is the first of four sister Edge-class ships and contains many unique features and a modern design unseen on any other ships.
Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
This 5-Star hotel is situated in the heart of Sydney, Australia, and is a great destination for savoring incredible views of downtown and Hyde Park.
Sails in the Desert Ayers Rock Resort
In the heart of Australia’s Red Centre, Sails in the Desert hotel beautifully contrasts Uluru’s raw natural beauty with a decidedly luxurious outback holiday experience.
Please note this list is preliminary and subject to change. Although we contract for hotels a year or more in advance, unforeseen circumstances do occasionally require a change of hotel. Should it be necessary to change a hotel, one of equal quality or value will be substituted and you will receive confirmed hotel information with your final itinerary.
Special Offer
Limited Time Bonus $200 Gift Card
Journey on Celebrity Cruises with Exclusive Savings and FREE Tips on select sailings. Drinks & Wi-Fi are All Included. Plus, enjoy a Limited Time $200 Bonus Gift Card of Your Choice!
This Journey
5-night pre-cruise land program in Australia
5 guided tours
9 meals on tour (5 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners) and all meals onboard
Intra-tour airfare, including transfers and baggage handling
12-night sailing aboard the Celebrity Edge
Drinks and Wi-Fi Onboard
Always Included
International airfare, including transfers and baggage handling
English-speaking Local Guide during land program on most departures
Guaranteed early hotel check-in on arrival day (pre-cruise tours only)
Centrally located four- and five-star hotels
Inclusive pricing: includes airfare, land program, cruise, transfers, and all taxes and fees
Exclusive amenities onboard your cruise (see special offers)
10% off shore excursions
Say G'Day! Journey to Australia & New Zealand
Discover the best of Australia on this Enrichment Journey, from iconic Sydney and Bondi Beach to the heart of the Outback, where you'll witness Uluru at sunrise and sunset. Encounter kangaroos, explore Aboriginal culture, and tour the famed Opera House—then set sail aboard the Celebrity Edge for a stunning cruise to New Zealand’s South and North Islands.
Extend Your Journey
More time to relax, explore and make the most of your trip.
Extension
Want an extra day to adjust to the new time zone? With this optional extension you will arrive to Sydney a day early and have one extra day to relax at the hotel before the tour starts. Note: tours are not included. Price of $249 per person (based on double occupancy) includes 1-night hotel accommodations in Sydney with daily breakfast and private transfer from airport to hotel (applicable when air is booked through Enrichment Journeys).
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More Information
What to Know Before You Go
The land portion of the trip should be considered active and includes a considerable amount of walking.
While in the outback, the Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge walk is about 1 mile each way on an uneven, rocky surface and takes approximately 1 hour to do. Guests are encouraged to go at their own pace and may decide to head back to the coach whenever they feel comfortable and wait for the group to return. While on the Sydney Opera house tour you can be expected to climb approximately 300 steps during the duration of the tour, with little or no elevator access.
Enrichment Journeys will do everything in our power to ensure comfort through our third-party providers, including air-conditioned buses and comfortable accommodations where applicable. However, some areas cannot be accessed by coach, so our drivers will get you as close to sites as is legally allowed. Sensible, rubber-soled walking shoes are strongly recommended. Historical sites often do not have elevators, escalators, or ramps due to the age of the building/structure. Steps can be steep and uneven. Based on crowds and traffic, order of visits may be changed. You may have to walk a moderate distance to transfer to coach stations and airport terminals. Time spent on the road and traveling can be long, so you will need to be prepared for stretches of down time in between destinations.
Wheelchair access at many sites is limited. A fold-up wheelchair may be able to be stored on the bus but requires prior arrangements. Guests must be able to transfer from their chair to the transportation. Guides/drivers are not allowed to lift or push wheelchairs, so guests requiring physical assistance must travel with a companion who can assist. Motorized wheelchairs and scooters cannot be accommodated on this group program.
Included airfare is from select airports only. To inquire about a different airport, please contact your Personal Vacation Manager.
Enrichment Journeys is committed to providing remarkable experiences at extraordinary value. As a result, airlines and routes are selected to maximize that value and may involve multiple stops and extended layovers versus non-stop or direct flights. Passengers wishing to utilize specific carriers, direct/non-stop flights, Business Class upgrades, or to extend their time in any of our beginning or ending destination cities may do so by contacting Enrichment Journeys and inquiring about the Custom Airfare Program. There is a $100 per person charge for this service, however this charge will be applied toward any flights or upgrades you choose to purchase. The $100 charge must be paid prior to receiving a custom air quote.
To travel internationally, you must have a passport in good condition, and it must be valid for at least 6 months after the last day of your trip. Visa requirements change frequently and for various reasons. As a result, our Personal Vacation Managers are not always able to provide visa information. The best way to obtain up-to-date information regarding visa requirements is to visit the official US government website for Americans traveling abroad, Travel.State.Gov (Canadian citizens should visit https://travel.gc.ca/, for all other countries please visit your government website or local embassy), which details specific information on the countries you would like to visit, including visa requirements. You may also use a third-party visa service, such as Expedited Travel. These services require an additional service fee but make the process of applying for a visa much simpler.
To extend a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your Journey, please speak to a Personal Vacation Manager for assistance in making those arrangements.
If you are interested in customizing your Journey, pairing it with a different cruise, or arranging a private tour for your party, you may be interested in our Private Journeys program. You can learn more about this program here, or speak to a Personal Vacation Manager for more information.
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