Australia & New Zealand: Sydney, Melbourne, Queenstown & Rotorua
Sydney's harbour and Melbourne's laneways and coast, then across the Tasman to Queenstown's lakes and mountains, the fiord of Milford Sound and the geysers and Māori culture of Rotorua.
- Best time to go
- October to April for both countries; February and March are ideal, with warm days, settled weather and fewer school-holiday crowds.
- Flying from India
- Fly into Sydney (non-stop from Delhi in about 12 to 13 hours, or one stop via Asia), then home from Auckland via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Sydney. Sydney to Queenstown is about 3¼ hours.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Indian passport holders need an Australian Visitor visa (subclass 600), applied for online through ImmiAccount. Allow several weeks; biometrics may be requested at a visa centre. New Zealand needs a separate Visitor Visa, also applied for online.
- Currency
- Australian dollar in Australia; New Zealand dollar in New Zealand. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in both.
Australia & New Zealand at a glance
Combining the two countries works best as two halves of one trip. Start in Sydney for the harbour, the Opera House and the coast, then fly to Melbourne for its laneways, galleries and food, and a day along the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles. Wildlife sanctuaries in both cities offer close encounters with koalas and kangaroos.
Cross the Tasman to Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital on Lake Wakatipu: gondola views, jet boats, wine in Central Otago and a full day to Milford Sound. Finish in the North Island at Rotorua, with geysers and mud pools, an evening of Māori culture and a hāngī feast, Hobbiton's film set and the glowworm caves of Waitomo, before flying home from Auckland.
Must-see
- Sydney Opera House and the harbour
- Melbourne's laneways and the Great Ocean Road
- Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu
- Milford Sound
- Rotorua's geysers and Māori culture
Food to try
- Sydney rock oysters
- Melbourne coffee and brunch
- New Zealand lamb and green-lipped mussels
- Central Otago Pinot Noir
- A Māori hāngī meal cooked in the earth
Where to shop
- The Rocks Markets, Sydney
- Melbourne's arcades and Queen Victoria Market
- Merino and possum-wool knitwear in Queenstown
- Pounamu (greenstone) carvings
- Manuka honey
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Sydney, Circular Quay
Harbourside hotels
Hotels with harbour and Opera House views, close to the ferries and the old streets of The Rocks.
Melbourne, central city
Laneway and riverside hotels
Design hotels in the city centre, a short walk from the laneway cafés, the galleries of Federation Square and the Yarra river.
Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu
Lake-view lodges and hotels
Hotels on the lakefront in town or luxury lodges on the hillsides with views across the lake to the mountains.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Australia & New Zealand journeys around
The Blue Mountains
A day trip from Sydney to the Three Sisters lookout at Katoomba, rainforest walks and the steep Scenic Railway.
Wildlife close up
Meet kangaroos and wombats at a sanctuary near Melbourne, or watch the little penguins come ashore at dusk on Phillip Island.
Shotover Jet
A high-speed jet boat ride through the narrow Shotover River canyons near Queenstown, with 360-degree spins.
Stargazing at Lake Tekapo
The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve has some of the clearest night skies in the world; tours run from the lakeside village.
Hobbiton
A guided walk through the Shire film set near Matamata, with its hobbit holes and the Green Dragon Inn.
Waitomo glowworm caves
A silent boat ride beneath thousands of glowworms lighting the cave ceiling like stars.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Australia & New Zealand traveller
When to visit
October to December
Spring: wildflowers, waterfalls in full flow and long evenings, before Christmas crowds.
January to March
Summer: the warmest weather, ideal for beaches, lakes and hiking.
June to August
Winter: skiing near Queenstown and fewer crowds; Sydney stays mild.
Getting there and around
International
Into Sydney, home from Auckland (or the reverse), connecting through Singapore or another Asian hub.
Between countries
Sydney or Melbourne to Queenstown about 3¼ to 3½ hours; Queenstown to Rotorua or Auckland by domestic flight.
Insider notes
Apply for both visas together
Australia and New Zealand each require a visa for Indian travellers. Apply for both early with the same itinerary.
Fly into one, out of the other
Open-jaw tickets (into Sydney, home from Auckland) save a day of backtracking.
Keep a spare day for Milford Sound
The road and flights can be affected by weather. A flexible day in Queenstown helps.
Biosecurity is strict
Both countries check food, plant and animal products at arrival. Declare anything you carry, including spices and snacks.
Australia & New Zealand: Common Questions
Two weeks is a minimum: around six nights in Australia and seven in New Zealand. Eighteen days allows Uluru or the reef as well.
Plan your Australia & New Zealand journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our Australia & New Zealand specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
Journeys from here
Itineraries that include Australia & New Zealand
Journey · Iconic Australia
Sydney to Uluru Signature
Journey · Adventure & Landscape
New Zealand South Island Escape
Journey · Coastal & Nature
Bay of Islands & Coromandel
Journey · City & Coast
Sydney, Harbour & Headlands
Ready to plan Australia & New Zealand?
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