15 Nights in Australia & New Zealand

About the destination: Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Hawkesbury River, Sydney is considered one of the world's most beautiful and liveable cities in the world. It has an iconic skyline, some wonderful museums, delicious restaurants, a lively atmosphere and tons of natural beauty. As with any large city there are many attractions, but the most important are the Sydney Opera House, set on the Sydney harbor, it is one of the world's most recognized landmarks, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney's main catholic cathedral, St Mary's Cathedral, the Royal Botanic Gardens and a vast array of beautiful beaches. Sydney's most famous beach, Bondi Beach has a lively promenade and it is a famous spot amongst surfers. Just outside of Sydney, we have the Blue Mountains, an unspoiled mountain range filled with Eucalyptus trees. Sydney is a city of immense vitality and it is an amazing and fascinating destination. There is something for every visitor, history, art, culture, nature, fashion, gastronomy, architecture and above all, Sydney is a city that knows how to have fun.

About the destination: Located on Port Phillip Bay, astride the Yarra River, Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. With a trendy and lively atmosphere, it is considered the cultural, gastronomic, sporting, fashion and shopping capital of Australia. There're lots of beautiful examples of architecture throughout the city such as its modern and vibrant skyline. Some of Melbourne’s main attractions are the stunning Botanical Gardens, the Royal Exhibition Building, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the magnificent Anglican cathedral of Saint Paul's and one of Melbourne’s most famous landmarks, the Shrine of Remembrance. St Kilda is Melbourne's bohemian neighborhood. Here you’ll find sunny beaches and a great restaurant, bars and nightlife scene. Just outside of Melbourne, we have the spectacular Twelve Apostles, a unique rock formations by the shore. Dynamic and cosmopolitan, Melbourne is Australia’s proud cultural capital. Considered one of the world's most livable cities, the capital of the south-eastern state of Victoria is a pleasant visit and a perfect base to explore the surrounding region.

About the destination: Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland, and the third most populous city in Australia. The Brisbane central business district stands on the original European settlement and is situated inside a bend of the Brisbane River from its mouth at Moreton Bay. The metropolitan area extends in all directions along the floodplain of the Brisbane River valley between Moreton Bay and the Great Dividing Range. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Brisbane City Hall and King George Square. • Museum of Brisbane. • Churches and Cathedrals. • City Botanic Gardens. • Queensland Cultural Centre. • South Bank. • Alma Park Zoo. • Parliament House. • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. • Courier-Mail Piazza, Within South Bank often hosts free live events and movies. • University of Queensland, One of Australia's oldest and most prestigious institutions situated on a bend of the Brisbane River. Its majestic sandstone buildings are surrounded by ornamental lakes, Jacaranda lined boulevards and some of the finest architecture. • Wheel of Brisbane. A ferris wheel that allows you to observe the city from 60 m with views across the Brisbane River.

About the destination: Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory comprising the island of the same name. It is located in the Indian Ocean, around 350 kilometres (220 mi) south of Java and Sumatra and around 1,550 km (960 mi) north-west of the closest point on the Australian mainland. It lies 2,600 km (1,600 mi) northwest of Perth and 1,327 km (825 mi) south of Singapore. It has an area of 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi). Christmas Island had a population of 1,843 residents as of 2016, the majority living in settlements on the northern edge of the island. The main settlement is Flying Fish Cove. Historically, Asian Australians of Chinese, Malay, and Indian descent formed the majority of the population. Today, around two-thirds of the island's population is estimated to have Straits Chinese origin (though just 21.2% of the population declared a Chinese ancestry in 2016), with significant numbers of Malays and European Australians and smaller numbers of Straits Indians and Eurasians. Several languages are in use, including English, Malay, and various Chinese dialects. Islam and Buddhism are major religions on the island. The religion question in the Australian census is optional and 28% of the population do not declare their religious belief, if any. The first European to sight Christmas Island was Richard Rowe of the Thomas in 1615. Captain William Mynors named it on Christmas Day (25 December) 1643. It was first settled in the late 19th century. Christmas Island's geographic isolation and history of minimal human disturbance has led to a high level of endemism among its flora and fauna, which is of interest to scientists and naturalists.[8] The majority (63 percent) of the island is included in the Christmas Island National Park, which features several areas of primary monsoonal forest. Phosphate, deposited originally as guano, has been mined on the island since 1899.