2009 Itinerary

Day 1: Melbourne and the start of your Australia tour days
Tauck's Australia begins at 1:45 PM at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne. A transfer is included from Melbourne Airport to the Grand Hyatt Melbourne. Welcome to Tauck's grand Australia tour, where friendly g'days greet you from arrival to departure! Take a sightseeing tour this afternoon that provides a valuable introduction to Melbourne; tonight, board a vintage tram-restaurant for a tour of city landmarks while enjoying a welcome dinner featuring regional cuisine.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Australia

Day 2: Melbourne’s Victorian charms
You’ll see a lot of Melbourne on a sightseeing tour of the city, including the High Victorian architecture of Parliament House, the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens and the ANZAC War Memorial – the Shrine of Remembrance. The rest of the day is free to explore as you please. Visit the museums, check out the trendy restaurants, or relax and read a book in the beautiful parks and gardens.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Australia

Day 3 All about Alice, a highlight of any Australia tour
Fly to Alice Springs in the heart of the Red Centre, where you'll be treated to an Aboriginal Dreamtime lunch after your arrival. Pick up some interesting information on Central Australian animals and plants at Alice Springs Desert Park, and learn how the Aborigines have managed the land for thousands of years. Attend a barbecue dinner under a starry sky, where you dine on bush tucker (indigenous Australian food) and are entertained by storytelling.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Alice Springs Resort, Alice Springs, Australia

Day 4: Outback adventure at Uluru
Start your day with an optional (additional $215 per person) hot air balloon adventure, where you'll drift peacefully over the red desert landscape to see wildlife stirring at dawn and vast cattle stations; a champagne breakfast awaits upon your arrival back on land. Fly to Uluru (Ayers Rock), a massive monolith sacred to the Aboriginal people. Witness the sunset spectacle when the Rock changes color from pink to deep red, intertwining with the red desert outback surrounding it. Champagne and canapés complete this essential Australia tour experience!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock, Australia

Day 5: Off to Queensland
Spend a free morning at Uluru where you'll have an opportunity to do some more exploring. Your Australia tour continues with a flight north from the red desert to the tropical rainforests of Queensland. Arrive in Cairns, where your hotel is centrally located, overlooking Marlin Marina; the hotel recently completed a comprehensive multi-million dollar redevelopment.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging: Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns, Australia

Day 6: Luxury, luxury, luxury – it's Hayman Island
Hop a short flight from Cairns to Hamilton Island, where you'll board a catamaran for your three-night stay on luxurious Hayman Island. The multi-award winning resort Hayman lies in a picture-postcard setting... tropical palm-fringed beaches surrounded by the sparkling crystalline waters of the Coral Sea, complete with formal European and manicured Oriental gardens. Indulge in stylishly elegant guest rooms and superb cuisine prepared by acclaimed chefs in the resort's outstanding restaurants. Spend the afternoon as you please, with a variety of activities available such as reef tours, snorkeling, sailing, tennis, a nine-hole putting green, culinary classes and a renowned spa.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hayman, Hayman Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Day 7: Tauck's Australia tour continues on the Great Barrier Reef
Spend a full day exploring one of earth's most incredible "living" sites, the Great Barrier Reef, on an eco-cruise accompanied by a marine biologist. Marvel at the colors and beauty of the coral and fish while swimming, snorkeling, or riding on a glass bottom boat or a semi-submersible watercraft that features enormous viewing windows.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hayman, Hayman Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Day 8: Indulgence and Inspiration at Hayman
It's your day to spend your way on Hayman Island. You can practice your golf strokes. Or play a game of tennis. Or play a round of croquet. Swim in the sea, scuba dive under the sea, or snorkel on the sea. Sunbathe on idyllic tropical shores. Take a lap in the pool – and make sure you allow plenty of time as the Hayman pool is 7 times Olympic size. If you're feeling adventurous, soar over the island by seaplane. Indulge the senses, restore the spirit, and discover nature's best-kept secrets at the extraordinary spa. Sail away on a cocktail cruise under the stars. It's your day, all day, your way.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hayman, Hayman Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Day 9: Fly to Sydney for the final three nights of your Australia tour
Bid a reluctant farewell to this tropical paradise and return to the mainland to fly to Sydney, one of the most exciting cities in the world. Spend the next three nights at a five-star luxury hotel in the Rocks, city center. Your hotel overlooks Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, within walking distance of just about everything from shopping to acclaimed restaurants. Upon arrival, the remainder of the day is yours to explore. A late afternoon cocktail cruise on Sydney Harbour is a fabulous way to unwind and relax, while getting a good look at some of this extraordinary city's landmark sites. The day ends with dinner at a restaurant on the waterfront.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, Australia

Day 10: Behind the chic white sails, and a trip to the zoo
Today begins with a city sightseeing tour to view many of the city's noted attractions. Visit the Sydney Opera House and go "behind the sails" of one of the world's most beloved architectural masterpieces and performing arts centers. Next up – an opportunity to come face to face with one of the iconic symbols of Australia, the koala, at the acclaimed Koala Park Sanctuary. Set on 10 acres of lush rainforest, eucalyptus groves and gardens, the park was created in the 1920s to ensure the preservation of the endangered koala. Today you'll find beloved Australian wildlife such as red & grey kangaroos, dingoes, wombats, echidnas, emus, wallaby species and a large collection of Australian native birds sharing this protected sanctuary. And best of all, during your visit you'll have an opportunity to cuddle, pat, and / or have your photograph taken with a koala! Upon your return to Sydney, the day is free to do what you want.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, Australia

Day 11: Sydney your way, all day
There is so much to see in Sydney, and so many ways to do it, that the entire day is free to explore and dine as you please – Sydney's got it all. From museums to shopping, from Aboriginal art to an array of Australian and international dining options, you'll find many ways to spend the day and make it memorable!
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, Australia

Day 12: Farewell to the Australia tour, hello to New Zealand
Your grand Australia tour comes to an end as you bid a final farewell and board a flight across the Tasman Sea for your grand New Zealand tour! First stop is Auckland, the City of Sails, where your hotel is located in the heart of the city.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Langham, Auckland, New Zealand

Day 13: Adventures in Auckland
A visit to Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World gives you a close-up look at what lies beneath the waters off New Zealand's coast. See extensive collections of Maori and Polynesian artifacts, as well as natural history exhibits at the Auckland War Memorial Museum - and witness age-old Maori song and dance at a presentation. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Auckland and dine as you please.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Langham, Auckland, New Zealand

Day 14: Sheep and farming and thermal geysers
While touring the heart of the North Island, have lunch at Longlands Farm, which is a combination working farm and country garden. Next up is a visit to the Agrodome, a great way to learn about one of New Zealand's most important industries, sheep farming. See bubbling mud pools and geysers at Whakarewarewa Thermal Village in Rotorua, as well as Maori crafts and village life exhibits.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay, Rotorua, New Zealand

Day 15: Tauck Exclusive: Private Charter to Mount Cook
As a Tauck exclusive, enjoy the benefits of VIP travel when you fly on Tauck's private charter flight to the South Island's Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. You have an opportunity to take an optional dramatic helicopter flightseeing excursion, providing the weather cooperates, over the glacier-capped Southern Alps (additional cost of $225 per person). Another private charter flight in the afternoon brings you to beautiful Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas, Te Anau, New Zealand

Day 16: Cruise Milford Sound, then on to Queenstown
A New Zealand / Australia tour is not complete without visiting Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruise the lovely waters of Milford Sound, an inlet carved by glaciers with cascading waterfalls along sheer rock walls that rise thousands of feet from the water – a New Zealand / Australia tour must-do activity! Travel to Queenstown, New Zealand's alpine resort playground. It lies along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, beneath the sawtooth peaks of The Remarkables mountain range.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Crowne Plaza, Queenstown, New Zealand

Day 17: Adventure awaits on the rapids
Ever dream of being a daredevil? Even if you're not all that adventurous, today's thrilling high-speed jet boat ride down a river carved through the narrow, rocky gorges and canyons of Shotover River Canyon will be a highlight of Tauck's New Zealand / Australia tour! Explore the sights of Queenstown on your own for the rest of the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Crowne Plaza, Queenstown, New Zealand

Day 18: Cultural charms of Christchurch, including the museum
Another private charter flight brings you to the gracious city of Christchurch, where you'll think you've landed in England due to the appearance of the landscape and the architecture. Tour notable gardens and the historic part of the city, and visit the Canterbury Museum to see exhibits displaying New Zealand's natural and human heritage.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Crowne Plaza, Christchurch, New Zealand

Day 19: Christchurch as you please
Spend the day any way you choose - from diverse museums to the Botanic Gardens, harbor cruises, train journeys, wildlife centers - Christchurch is a great city to explore. Share experiences at the farewell cocktail reception and dinner, where you'll have a chance to reflect on the many adventures throughout this 20-day New Zealand and Australia tour!
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Crowne Plaza, Christchurch, New Zealand

Day 20: So long to the lands down under
Tauck's New Zealand and Australia tour ends in Christchurch. A transfer is included from Crowne Plaza Christchurch to Christchurch International Airport. Please allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

Say g'day in the lands down under and book this life-changing
New Zealand and Australia tour today!

Inclusive Prices

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All accommodations, entertainment, special dinners, motor coach, 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 Sydney International Airport. You will be provided with transportation to the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, provided we have your updated flight information at least two weeks prior to the tour departure date. All departure transfers from the Langham Hotel to Auckland International Airport on the last day of the tour are included as well.

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 – Each tour is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the duration of the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully-trained employee of Tauck World Discovery. Due to the popularity if this journey, the group size could reach up to 80 guests. Each group departure of this size will be accompanied by two Tauck Directors.

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

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for hotel, ship and restaurant staff, drivers and local guides are 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, pleasant experience for you.

On-Tour Flights

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.

Not Included

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, or take the Fiji excursion, 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 Tauck Travel Protection 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.

Tauck Director Gratuities – The customary gratuity to the Tauck Director and driver is not included. Gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.

Additional Information

Airline Security Measures – You must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocket knife, cigarette lighter, tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or 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. Additionally, you may wish to visit the TSA website at www.tsa.gov.

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 printing.

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 Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney 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 the visit to the Sydney Opera House prior to the welcome cocktail reception . The tour ends upon your arrival at Auckland 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.

Preparing To Go

Air Conditioning - The motor coaches used on this tour are air conditioned for your comfort. All of the hotel rooms in Australia and New Zealand 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:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Swimming attire
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Sun block and sunhat
• Light jacket
• Insect repellent
• Travel alarm
• Raincoat
• Umbrella
  

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.

The Sapphire Princess's onboard medical center is staffed by full-time British registered doctors and nurses. In addition to twice-daily office hours, they are available 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency. Charges for medical services will be added to your shipboard account, and you will be provided with an itemized account to submit to your insurance company. Important: Princess ships are registered in Bermuda. Verify with your insurer if your coverage applies outside the United States, or purchase appropriate travel insurance.

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 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.

Regarding Travel with Oxygen Equipment:

The Sapphire Princess Fleet Medical Department has the following requirements:

• You must travel with a companion
• You must accept responsibility for supplying your own oxygen with a sufficient amount to last through the completion of the trip. The ship cannot refill your oxygen tank and only carries sufficient amounts for its own onboard emergency use.
• You must accept responsibility delivery of your oxygen and other medical supplies onto the ship.
• You must have a doctor's letter approving your travel plans and itinerary. This letter must also include:
• Your diagnosis
  
• You oxygen dosage
• Your present medical condition.

This information may be mailed or sent via fax, along with the booking number to the Fleet Medical Department as quickly as possible but no later that 30 days prior to departure. The Fleet Medical Fax Number: (661) 753-0121.

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.

Currently, 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, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back 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 for download a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Destination Information

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 impact others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine limitations and services that exist for the destinations to which you are traveling.

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 – Australia initiated a GST (Goods & Services Tax) as of July 1, 2000. The tax is 10% 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 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 alcohol and tobacco that can be a part of this exemption - one liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars. 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 website for further details and up-to-date limits at www.cbp.com

If you are a citizen 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.

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.

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.

Climate Chart

Average Temperature
	Cairns, Australia		Melbourne, Australia
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	89 / 74	32 / 23	78 / 57	26 / 14
February	88 / 75	31 / 24	78 / 58	26 / 14
March	87 / 72	31 / 22	75 / 55	24 / 13
April	84 / 71	29 / 22	68 / 51	20 / 11
May	81 / 68	27 / 20	62 / 47	17 / 8
June	78 / 65	26 / 18	57 / 44	14 / 7
July	77 / 62	25 / 17	56 / 42	13 / 6
August	80 / 64	27 / 18	59 / 44	15 / 7
September	82 / 66	28 / 19	63 / 46	17 / 8
October	85 / 69	29 / 21	67 / 49	19 / 9
November	87 / 72	31 / 22	71 / 51	22 / 11
December	88 / 74	31 / 23	75 / 55	24 / 13
	Auckland, New Zealand		Queenstown, New Zealand
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	74 / 61	23 / 16	72 / 50	22 / 10
February	75 / 63	24 / 17	68 / 48	20 / 9
March	73 / 58	23 / 14	62 / 45	17 / 7
April	68 / 56	20 / 13	60 / 43	16 / 6
May	63 / 53	17 / 12	58 / 40	14 / 4
June	59 / 51	15 / 11	54 / 36	12 / 2
July	58 / 49	14 / 9	52 / 32	11 / 0
August	59 / 47	15 / 8	50 / 33	10 / 1
September	62 / 50	17 / 10	55 / 37	13 / 3
October	64 / 52	18 / 11	61 / 42	16 / 6
November	68 / 55	20 / 13	63 / 45	17 / 7
December	71 / 60	22 / 16	69 / 49	21 / 9

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

If You Have to Cancel

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 our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers Tauck Travel Protection

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

Did you know that you can link-up Tauck itineraries to create longer journeys? Many of these trips are in the same region, and depending upon availability you might connect with them before or after your trip. Alternatively, you might find one of these options better suited for your interests and preferences or for when you are available to travel.

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