Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, entertainment, special dinners, shore excursions, land sightseeing, luggage handling, admissions, and the services of the Tauck Director and drivers are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at Melbourne International Airport, regardless of the time and date of your arrival, and provide transportation to the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight information at least two weeks prior to the start of your tour. Tauck will also provide transportation from the Crowne Plaza Hotel Christchurch to Christchurch International Airport on the last day of the tour. Those who choose to extend their stay at the Christ Plaza Hotel Christchurch will also receive transportation to the airport whenever they choose to depart.

Hotel Accommodations – Tauck’s price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available hotels without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ from place to place, Tauck's commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

Tauck Director – Grand Australia & New Zealand is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully-trained employee of Tauck World Discovery.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff and local guides included.

No Options Sold - Tauck Directors sometimes assist with information on free-time activities, based on honest opinion and guidance but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.

 

Airfare While on Tour - Seven of the on-tour flights must be purchased through Tauck as part of your package. The Sydney-to-Auckland trans-Tasman flight on day 12 must be purchased with your International air ticket. The Mount Cook helicopter sightseeing excursion is an additional cost as well

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States (subject to availability).

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, many guests prefer to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following their tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle guests’ luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. Therefore, it is important for your own protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Tauck Protection Plan for more information.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Airline Security Measures – In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, and aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.

 

You may also visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Internet website to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items by clicking here.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States (subject to availability). By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to passengers. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of publication.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at time of booking. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to the schedule. The tour begins upon your arrival at the Melbourne International Airport on the first day of the tour. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time for a buffet lunch at Collins Kitchen at 12:30 PM and dinner at the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant at 5:15 PM.  The tour ends upon your arrival at Christchurch International Airport on the last day of the tour. We suggest you allow 2½ hours for check-in.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any persons who are abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

Air Conditioning - The motor coaches used on this tour are air conditioned for your comfort. All of he hotel rooms in Australia and New Zealand except for the Te Anau Hotel & Villas are air conditioned.

ATM and Credit Cards - Tauck recommends that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this event to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. Tauck also recommends that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Clothing and Packing - As you prepare for travel, select a wardrobe that is adaptable. Many days are spent outside or in transit. Therefore, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Occasionally cool weather will require warmer “layered” clothing.

This itinerary includes accommodations in award-winning hotels and meals in many fine restaurants. For the welcome and farewell dinners, many guests like to dress up, but by all means be comfortable; on the remaining nights “smart casual” is suggested.

Laundry service, including self-service facilities in some hotels, is available throughout the entire New Zealand and Australia tour. Additionally, hairdryers are located in your guest room, and irons and ironing boards are kept in most guest rooms or may be immediately available upon request. Laundromats are centrally located in all cities in both Australia and New Zealand.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription (or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you), a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

When packing, the following items are essential:

Elevation - The maximum elevation on this itinerary is 3,000 ft (914 m).

Health - You should be in good health and able to walk moderate to significant distances over varied terrain. Some of the sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot and it is strongly suggested that you pack sturdy, comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in in order to fully appreciate the challenging terrain of the beaches, rainforests and the outback.

We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

To protect people from the health effects of second-hand smoke, smoking in all hospitality venues, including bars, restaurants, cafes, and casinos, is prohibited in New Zealand. If you smoke, please remember to smoke outside.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a U.S. citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for entry into Australia and New Zealand; however, an International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required when entering Australia if you arrive from an infected area within 5 days. For complete vaccination information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, pre-recorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov.

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of Australia and of New Zealand to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

Luggage Restrictions -

Checked Luggage - General
While it is common that airlines allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable for the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.

Carry-on Luggage – General

Although oversized bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, which may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements – If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay for entry into Australia and New Zealand. Australia also requires a visa.

If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Australia and of New Zealand to determine what travel documentation is required.

As a courtesy to our all our guests traveling to Australia, Tauck will facilitate the visa process. All guests who book this journey will receive an application for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visa. The visa is required for travelers visiting Australia for up to three months within one twelve month period. Tauck will send out the application with the “Summary of Purchase” package either to the guest directly if booked through Tauck or to the guest’s travel agent. There is no charge at this time for the visas that Tauck obtains for its guests or for the service itself.

Tauck recommends that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children -

Age Recommendations – Children who are 8 years of age and older at the time of travel are welcome on this journey. All activities are available for children 8 years of age and older. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility – Tauck welcomes the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children

Authorization for Travel
If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

All children who are citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment

In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, Tauck does offer a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child, which you may access by clicking here.

 

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that guests refrain from cell phone usage during motor coach travel, group functions, sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually ample opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine is your service extends to Australia and New Zealand.

Currency and Exchange Rates - For the best exchange rates, we suggest using ATMs, which are easily available throughout Australia and New Zealand, and major credit cards. Although it is not necessary for you to exchange money prior to your arrival in Australia or in New Zealand, it may be useful to have a small amount of local currency with you when you arrive. If upon arrival you require local currency, you can visit one of the many currency exchange facilities at the airport, use an ATM, or exchange currency at your hotel.

To obtain the latest currency exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website www.oanda.com

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Each country visited has its own Customs clearing process. You should familiarize yourself with Australia and New Zealand’s specific required declarations before you travel. In general, you are not permitted to bring live plants, fresh fruits and other produce items into most countries.

 

Australia – Customs.Gov

New Zealand – Customs.Gov

 

If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled Know Before You Go.

If you are a resident of another country, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

 

Currently, Australia has a 10 % GST (Goods & Services Tax) and is paid at the time of purchase, use, or consumption. Please consult the Australian government’s Internet website, at www.ato.gov.au to learn how to claim a refund. There is also a 12.5% GST in New Zealand but there is no refund method at this time.

 

If you wish to claim a refund, you must get an original tax invoice from the store where you purchased the goods. All stores registered for GST will be able to give you a tax invoice. A refund cannot be given without it.

 

A tax invoice prominently states the words ‘tax invoice’ and the Australian Business Number (ABN) of the retailer, the purchase price including the GST paid, a description of the goods, the name of the retailer and the date the purchase was made. Tax invoices for purchases of $1000 or more must contain additional information, such as the name and address of the purchaser.

 

More information on tax invoices is available by contacting the Australian Taxation Office.

 

Electrical Current – The electrical current in Australia is 220-240V, 50Hz, AC. The Australian three-pin power outlet is different from some other countries so you may need an adaptor. If your appliances are 110V, you may need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240V or 110V shavers are usually found in leading hotels.

 

Internet Access is available as indicated below:

 

Grand Hyatt Melbourne – High-speed internet access in guest rooms

Shangri-la Hotel Sydney – Complimentary broadband internet in guest rooms

Langham Hotel Auckland – Internet access via television and high-speed broadband service in guest rooms

Alice Springs Resort – Internet access in guest rooms and kiosk and wireless access available in public area

Hayman Island – Wireless internet available in guest rooms

Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay – High-speed internet access in guest rooms

TeAnau Hotel & Villas – Internet services

Crowne Plaza Queenstown and Crowne Plaza Christchurch provide wireless high-speed internet access in lobbies

 

Business Centers are also available at all properties except the Sails in the Desert and Alice Springs Resort.

Time Zones – Sydney, Australia, is 10 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time); Auckland, New Zealand, is 12 hours ahead. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.timeanddate.com

Weather - Remember, “Down Under”, the seasons are opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere. During the months of October through May, temperatures typically average 70 to 90 °F (21 to 32 °C) in Australia, and 60 to 75 °F (16 to 24 °C)
in New Zealand. During the months of June through September, temperatures average 40 to 60 °F (4 to 16 °F) in Australia and 50 °F (10 °F) in New Zealand. In Northern Australia, you will find tropical weather all year round.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.weather.com.

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in its Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers a Tauck Protection Plan

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have the cancellation penalties waived.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

 

60 days or more before departure
$600 per person (the cost of the deposit)

59-8 days before departure
$1,250 per person

7-1 days before departure
$2,000 per person