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Queensland
Beautiful
one day perfect the next…
Having been born in Australia and now living on the East
Coast of the United States, each time I fly Downunder to Oz,
I still say I’m going home! I suppose that is because of the
friendliness that the Aussie’s exude, not just to the
welcome Americans, but to everyone – including their own!
It is so nice to arrive and hear a cheery “G’day” at the
immigration counter when you land in Australia, “Have a
great time while you’re here!”
 Generally,
our clients visiting Australia fly into Sydney or Melbourne,
but now with QANTAS Airlines offering new non-stop flights
from Los Angeles to Brisbane, Queensland, a new door has
been opened. Fly into beautiful Brisbane (my birth city) and
from there take a quick 50-minute drive to the amazing Gold
Coast, where you’ll want to stay at the stylish Palazzo
Versace Hotel or at the Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Resort. A
few gorgeous days on the coast where you’re surrounded by
the best beaches in the country is a spectacular way to
start your Aussie adventure! For the kids there is an array
of fun theme parks such as Dream World, Sea World and Movie
World. And, for the adults, Jupiter’s Casino is very
enticing, as well as heaps of wonderful places to delight in
Australia’s great food and wine – Take a stroll around the
marina just opposite the hotels and you will find a myriad
of restaurants from Chinese, Thai, traditional and some of
the freshest and tastiest seafood you will ever eat!
 When
you land in Brisbane, you may choose to head north to the
islands – the lush, tropical north of Queensland with its
rainforest and reef are always fascinating. The reef, which
is about 1,200 miles long, is home to such favorite resorts
as Hayman and Hamilton Islands in the beautiful Whitsunday
Island chain, or you may decide to go farther north to Dunk,
Bedarra and Lizard. There is such a wide variety of islands,
each with a different flavor and lifestyle! I’m extremely
pleased in the pride my team takes in knowing each island
characteristic, making sure that the island you choose is
right for your unique experience. For example, because
Lizard and Heron are the only two resorts at the Outer Reef,
they are perfect for those who want to go diving. Hayman, of
course has every convenience imaginable, along with many
choices for dining each evening. Hamilton really has five
different resorts in one, and it offers many activities
along with a plethora of choices for all different dining
styles. Dunk, along with Hamilton are ideal for the family
experience. Bedarra is for those who want to unwind and
escape the world. Bedarra is the ultimate indulgence, and
the Pavilion allows guests to be totally private while
enjoying the best!
 A
short charter flight with Reefwatch Air Tours takes you over
the reef (at low levels for some spectacular sights of the
reef) to the Daintree National Park, home to several
enchanting rainforest lodges that offer everything from
luxury to moderate accommodations – there is definitely
something for everyone! Silky Oaks and Daintree Eco Lodge
offer great spa facilities along with tree houses in the
rainforest canopies. Coconut Beach and Ferntree Lodge
feature being where the rainforest meets the reef, so you
have the unique opportunity to experience both. A safari in
the area is a must. The safaris usually include a boat
cruise along the mighty Daintree River for up-close viewing
of amazing wildlife. No matter what lodge you choose, take a
rainforest walk and experience it all up close!
Other activities while in and around the Tropical North
include hot air ballooning – an early start allows you to
view the sunrise over the reef and rainforest – something
you will always remember! Because you start early, you can
also fit in a day reef trip with either Quicksilver from
Port Douglas or Ocean Spirit from Cairns and Palm Cove area.
Option to dive, snorkel or see the coral through
semi-submersibles and not even get your feet wet!
Speaking of Palm Cove, the Sebel Reef House’s spa, won the
Australian National award for best spa – and it is great!
The rooms have a very homey feeling. When you arrive, feel
free to grab a beer from their “honor bar” in the main lodge
– you will definitely feel at home. Newer, larger resorts
such as Sea Temple have opened, also offering vast
amenities. Plus, the cove’s many beachside restaurants make
this a wonderful destination, not to mention the many
championship golf courses make the cove a golfer’s paradise!
 After
your reef experience, trek inland on a day tour that takes
you on the world’s longest gondola, Kuranda Skyrail. It
travels over the rainforest to Kuranda, a quaint little
village in the mountains with lots of interesting shops and
activities. Check out the butterfly farm and the Tjapakai
Dance Theater on the way back down and learn about
Australia’s ancestors. My favorite is a pie – very
Australian!
 For
those avid divers, take advantage of the low Aussie dollar
and experience some great diving. For a world-class escorted
scuba diving trip, there is Pro Dive which is a live-aboard
dive boat that takes divers out for 2, 3, 4 and 7 nights,
with at least 2 or 3 dives per days – all in some of the
best dive spots on the planet. Similarly, for those wanting
to cruise the reef, Coral Princess, Captain Cook and Orion
Cruises offer fantastic 3, 4 and 7 night experiences
cruising the area – just another perfect way to enjoy what
Queensland has to offer. Are you a bit more adventurous?
Then, take Orion or Coral Princess cruises to New Guinea (11
to 13-day cruises) and round to the North Western coast of
Australia – the Kimberley’s (more on that corner of the
continent in a later newsletter).
 Wrotham
Park offers what I would call the best Outback Experience in
Australia! Opened just this year by Voyages (they also have
Lizard, Bedarra, Heron, Cradle Mountain and Ayers Rock
Resorts to name a few!), it is a 10-room “resort” on a 1.4
million-acre cattle station located about 200 miles west of
Cairns. The rooms are quite rustic but certainly deluxe.
There are views over the escarpment from all areas of the
property including your shower! Sitting back on the deck
after a hearty dinner in the main building star-gazing
reminds me so much of being on a safari camp in Botswana
(keep an eye out for that newsletter soon).
 Your
day is enjoyed with an early morning walk along the
beautiful river bank with Matt the General Manager, before
either taking a horseback ride, or a 4WD drive-tour across
the amazing property to the cattle station house or to where
the mustering is taking place. You fly in from Cairns on a
small aircraft, but really this can simply be added to your
North Queensland ultimate experience – arrive into Cairns
and fly to Wrotham Park, spend a couple of days in the bush
and then fly to Silky Oaks Lodge for your rainforest
experience and then top it of with a short flight to Lizard
for the island/reef experience. This island has it all! We
have aptly named this experience “Colors of Australia”. This
innovative SWAIN TOURS itinerary provides travelers the
unique opportunity to explore Australia’s vast diversity in
minimum time and maximum sophistication. Perfect for your
clients wanting to ‘see it all’ in just 12 days!
Suggested Itineraries including
Queensland
|
Gold Coast Sampler |
From $1359 |
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Length |
8
Days / 5 Nights |
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Cities |
Gold Coast |
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Ideal For |
Family, Beach |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Introduction to Australia |
From $1499 |
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Length |
11
Days / 8 Nights |
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Cities |
Sydney, Cairns |
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Ideal For |
Collection,
Family, Adventure, Beach |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Eastern City Explorer |
From $1399 |
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Length |
11
Days / 8 Nights |
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Cities |
Sydney, Brisbane |
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Ideal For |
Family, Nature |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Ultimate City & Reef |
From $3959 |
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Length |
11
Days / 8 Nights |
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Cities |
Sydney, Hayman Island |
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Ideal For |
Romance, Family, Groups, Spa, Adventure,
Beach |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Sydney, Rock & Reef |
From $3098 |
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Length |
12
Days / 9 Nights |
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Cities |
Sydney, Ayers Rock, Cairns |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Family, Groups, Adventure,
Beach, Nature, Culture |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Colors of Australia |
From $4798 |
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Length |
12
Days / 9 Nights |
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Cities |
Wrotham Park, Silky Oaks, Lizard Island,
Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Romance, Boutique, Spa, Beach, Nature,
Cruise |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Sydney, Reef & Rainforest |
From $2838 |
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Length |
13
Days / 10 Nights |
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Cities |
Hamilton or Hayman, Daintree, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Family, Groups, Adventure,
Beach, Nature, Culture |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Tropical Escape |
From $3039 |
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Length |
13
Days / 10 Nights |
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Cities |
Daintree, Dunk or Lizard Island, Sydney
or Brisbane or Melbourne |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Groups, Spa, Beach, Nature |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Endeavour Adventure |
From $3129 |
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Length |
13
Days / 10 Nights |
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Cities |
Melbourne, Reef Endeavour, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Family, Groups, Adventure, Cruise |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Princess Adventure |
From $4429 |
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Length |
13
Days / 10 Nights |
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Cities |
Sydney, Coral Princess, Gold Coast |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Romance, Family, Boutique,
Groups, Adventure, Beach, Cruise |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Cities & Island Escape |
From $2529 |
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Length |
14
Days / 11 Nights |
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Cities |
Melbourne, Hamilton or Hayman, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Family, Groups, Spa, Beach |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Australian Experience |
From $1899 |
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Length |
15
Days / 12 Nights |
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Cities |
Melbourne, Cairns, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Family, Adventure, Beach |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Circle Australia |
From $3514 |
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Length |
15 Days / 12 Nights |
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Cities |
Melbourne, Ayers Rock, Cairns, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Groups, Adventure, Beach,
Culture, Cuisine |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Taste of Australia |
From $3389 |
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Length |
15 Days / 12 Nights |
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Cities |
Hamilton or Hayman, Daintree, Adelaide,
Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Family, Groups, Adventure,
Beach, Nature |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Natural Wonders |
From $4360 |
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Length |
16 Days / 13 Nights |
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Cities |
Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Adelaide,
O'Reilly's, Fraser Island, Brisbane |
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Ideal For |
Groups, Adventure, Nature, Culture |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Length |
16 Days / 13 Nights |
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Cities |
Adelaide, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock,
Cairns, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Groups, Adventure, Beach,
Train, Nature, Culture |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Australian Retreat |
From $4265 |
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Length |
18 Days / 15 Nights |
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Cities |
Brisbane, Lockyer Valley, Dunk or
Lizard, Blue Mountains, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Boutique, Adventure, Self
Drive, Nature |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Aussie Adventure |
From $3795 |
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Length |
20 Days / 17 Nights |
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Cities |
Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island,
Ayers Rock, Cairns, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Family, Groups, Adventure,
Beach, Nature, Culture |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Pacific Highlights |
From $3031 |
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Length |
16 Days / 13 Nights |
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Cities |
Fiji, Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne |
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Ideal For |
Family, Groups, Adventure, Beach, Nature |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Australia New Zealand Encounter |
From
$2755 |
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Length |
Days / Nights |
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Cities |
Queenstown, Christchurch, Cairns, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Family, Groups, Spa,
Adventure, Beach, Nature |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Discover New Zealand & Australia |
From
$3645 |
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Length |
17 Days / 14 Nights |
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Cities |
Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown,
Christchurch, Cairns, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Groups, Spa, Adventure,
Beach, Nature, Culture |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Australia New Zealand Indulgence |
From
$8369 |
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Length |
17 Days / 14 Nights |
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Cities |
Queenstown, Christchurch, Blue
Mountains, Hayman, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Romance, Boutique, Spa, Adventure,
Beach, Nature, Cuisine |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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All Over Australia & New Zealand |
From
$4798 |
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Length |
21 Days / 18 Nights |
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Cities |
Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown,
Christchurch, Melbourne, Ayers Rock,
Cairns, Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Groups, Spa, Adventure,
Beach, Nature, Culture |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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Taste of South Pacific |
From
$3569 |
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Length |
18 Days / 15 Nights |
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Cities |
Fiji, Queenstown, Christchurch, Cairns,
Sydney |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Family, Groups, Spa,
Adventure, Beach, Nature |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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South Pacific Explorer |
From
$3085 |
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Length |
17 Days / 14 Nights |
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Cities |
Fiji, Auckland, Cairns, Sydney,
Christchurch |
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Ideal For |
Collection, Groups, Spa, Adventure,
Beach |
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Details |
Itinerary &
Information |
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