Cunard New Zealand Voyage and Luxury Australia Rail Adventure

Begin your holiday by flying to Australia’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. Known for iconic landmarks including its harbour bridge and opera house, Sydney also offers a feast of cultural treats, from restaurants that are the envy of the world to first-class museums and galleries. There are also dozens of places to simply hang out and admire the scenery, from the revolving restaurant on the top floor of the Sydney Tower to the many beaches just a short journey from the centre.

Today you’ll embark the regal Queen Elizabeth in Sydney. She’s one of the finest cruise liners sailing the five oceans and a ship that offers a little of the finer things in life to all her passengers. Enjoy Cunard’s spectacular heritage, sense of occasion and huge array of activities, including glamorous ballroom-dancing, lawn bowls played amongst new-found friends and much more.

A relaxing two days at sea gives you the opportunity to experience all that your ship has to offer. There are so many activities to choose from, whether you relish the elegant traditions of Afternoon Tea served by white-gloved waiters in sumptuous surroundings or savour dazzling stage shows by a talented cast in the opulent Royal Court Theatre.

Get on deck and have your cameras primed as you glide through the jaw-dropping terrain of New Zealand’s largest national park, a rugged Lost World of steep, forested mountain-sides streaked with gushing waterfalls. With diverse wildlife that includes dolphins, penguins and kakapos – the world’s only flightless parrot – you couldn’t ask for a better welcome to this famously scenic country.

Once a Scottish settlement, Dunedin retains strong links to Scotland even today and even boasts its very own tartan. The mock-Gothic Lanarch Castle, built by a nineteenth century local businessmen with Scottish roots, is billed as New Zealand’s only castle and the building and its gardens are now open to the public. With quaint harbourside villages, endless green hills and low-rise buildings, Dunedin has an enticingly laidback and understated atmosphere.

From Lyttelton you can head to Christchurch, the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island, but small enough to be explored on foot. Perhaps the best way of seeing this compact city is on the hop-on, hop-off tram. There are 17 stops, which include punting on the River Avon, which runs through the heart of the city. However, to really soak up the spectacular surroundings of the city, take the Christchurch Gondola - a scenic cable-car ride.

New Zealand's pint-sized capital curls itself around the hillsides on the southern point of the North Island, looking out at the blustery Cook Strait. With a passion for coffee and craft beer, Wellington is bursting with energy and creativity and has a lively art, film and culinary scene. It’s also home to the much-loved ‘Te Papa’ museum with its fascinating and engaging interactive exhibits, as well as a funicular railway that ascends into the hills overlooking the city.

You’ll always find a place to bask in the sun on board Queen Elizabeth as you make your way to your next destination. Find outdoor whirlpools, swimming pools and ample sun loungers, surrounded by stylish Art Deco design touches. Relax and sip on a cocktail in the cooling breeze while revelling in the company of new-found friends or play a fun game of shuffleboard in the sea breeze.

As you sail into Tauranga’s scenic harbour, you’ll pass the Bay of Plenty’s iconic Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano crossed with walking trails and dotted with hot saltwater pools. On arrival you’ll find many delights in this beachside city: art, culture, boutique shopping and delicious food. You could take an excursion to Rotorua to experience Maori culture or visit the ‘Hobbiton’ film set where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies were made.

Auckland is home to the largest Polynesian population in the world and you’ll find plenty of Maori influences dotted around the city, from street names to statues. With a satisfying mix of modern skyscrapers, beautiful black-sand beaches and hiking trails around Mount Eden, a dormant volcano, there’s something for everyone. A scenic ferry ride will take you to some of the 50 island gems in Auckland's majestic Hauraki Gulf or you could wander the meandering paths of Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park.

This stunningly beautiful bay is one of New Zealand’s most popular destinations and it’s easy to see why. Clear turquoise waters peppered with remote islands that are home to unspoilt beaches and an abundance of wildlife make it the perfect place for water-based activities such as kayaking, diving and sailing. If you have the time, take the boat out to the largest of the islands, Urupukapuka, which is a bird haven with plenty walking trails and a bar to quench your thirst afterwards.

The entertainment options on board Queen Elizabeth are perfectly attuned to the ambience of the ship. Get into the swing of a vibrant West End show performed by one of the most talented casts at sea at the Royal Court Theatre. Or you could glam up and sip expertly mixed signature cocktails and delicious canapes at the Commodore Club.

Sydney offers a feast of cultural treats, from first-class museums and galleries to boutique pint-sized cinemas. Why not get the adrenalin flowing by taking the dizzying 360-degree Sky Tour around Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, or even climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, known locally as the ‘Coathanger.’  And don’t forget the city’s globally acclaimed food scene, with everything from gourmet street stalls to innovative fine dining to tempt your tastebuds.

With a further four days here, watch surfers crest the waves at the iconic Bondi Beach or the more sheltered Balmoral Beach with its calmer waters. Embrace the city’s cultural heritage and seek out the aboriginal rock carvings near Mackenzies Point, or tour The Rocks district for artisanal products and independent breweries. To escape the bustle, find tranquillity in the leafy surroundings of the Royal Botanic Gardens, one of Sydney’s most popular attractions which features curious sculptures, pavilions and ponds.

Embark the magnificent Indian Pacific in Sydney for your transcontinental voyage to Perth. Cocooned in luxury, you’ll savour all-inclusive dining in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant, relax in your private cabin with en-suite, and leave the train for several off-train excursions, including the majestic Blue Mountains of New South Wales, awash with lush eucalyptus forests and striking rock formations such as the Three Sisters.

Today you’ll visit the artistic town of Broken Hill, with its plethora of galleries and studios, as well as a lively pub scene. Later you’ll travel on to Adelaide where you could take a city tour, head for the nearby town of Hahndorf, in the Adelaide Hills, known for its German roots, or even tour the acclaimed wineries of the Barossa Valley. Here you’ll get to sample the award-winning produce for which the area is known.

After rolling through the barren beauty of the Nullarbor Plain, you’ll then stop at Rawlinna for an enchanting dinner under a star-lit sky. This tiny, remote railway siding is also the location of a lime mine, used in the production of the gold that’s mined in nearby Kalgoorlie. Dine on a menu featuring local produce and wines and reflect on the journey so far with new-found friends.

Today you'll arrive in Perth, Western Australia's cosmopolitan capital, having completed an epic Australian end-to-end journey. Perth is a city that combines sophisticated attractions and cultural landmarks with beautiful beaches and an easy-going attitude to create one of Australia’s most liveable cities. A stone’s throw away are numerous nature and national parks, where forests are carpeted in wildflowers, roped in walking and cycling trails, which are home to various wildlife.

Today you’ll fly home from Perth.