We recently had the pleasure of arranging an unforgettable journey through Australia and New Zealand for two of our longtime Frontiers clients, Alan and Maria. Their travels took them from the sights of Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef to New Zealand’s remarkable landscapes, luxury lodges, and wine country. Along the way, they experienced everything from snorkeling and fly fishing to scenic helicopter flights over the Southern Alps.
Upon returning home, Alan and Maria were kind enough to share their experiences, favorite moments, and a few helpful observations from their travels. We’re delighted to share their story in their own words.
We arrived in Sydney at the Park Hyatt on the morning of our first day. The staff checked us in and got us into our room very quickly. Alan is allergic to down, so they replaced the pillows and comforter very quickly. The rain cleared, and we did the 3-hour Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb that afternoon. Not only did the climb provide extraordinary views and vistas of Sydney, but getting outside and exercising helped us get over our jet lag more quickly. Dinner at the Park Hyatt restaurant was very good, too.
The tour of the Opera House the next daywas excellent. We were impressed by the originality, creativity, and beauty of this architectural landmark. We were able to see the inside of the concert hall with its petals and beautiful design. Next time, we need to add a concert to our schedule; the acoustics must be great. Celine, our Opera House guide, was very engaging and enjoyable. Half of our tour was in French…
The city tour for the rest of the day was fun, but less inspiring than the Opera House. Dinner at Quay was great. However, some of our dinners later in the trip were even better (especially at Huka).
The Blue Mountains tour was enjoyable, even though it was raining and much of the mountain vistas were shrouded in mist. Our driver/guide was quite good and creatively found a few activities that were interesting and out of the rain. Featherdale Park was a good place to see koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and wallabies. It’s unfortunate that they are not easier to spot in the wild.
Silky Oaks is definitely in the rainforest. Emphasize rain… The staff was great, the room extremely nice, and the food and wine excellent, accompanied by a beautiful open-air view of the Mossman River. Unfortunately, the mosquitoes were everywhere, and the repellent didn’t keep them away from us.
The next day, we enjoyed the catamaran ride to the Low Isles on the Great Barrier Reef. Again, the crew of the boat was great, the food was good, and the boat was comfortable, accommodating 12 guests. Alan enjoyed the snorkeling. Maria enjoyed the Low Isles’ beaches, spotting several turtles and a few of the tern chicks nesting on the island.
On Wednesday, we thoroughly enjoyed Will, who we agree was probably our best guide of the trip. Will guided us through a drive and a hike through the Daintree, where we spotted a cassowary and his chick. We also had a nice lunch at a fun little restaurant in the forest, where Will insisted that Australian beef is the best in the world! An assertion that we tested in several of our following meals. Our authentic painting experience at the Jabal Gallery was unique; we tried our hand at painting in the style suggested by Binna Swindley. Although we had trouble understanding Binna, we had a great time and took home our works of art!
The flights to Auckland were uneventful, the best kind. The A&K duo that met us at the airport and drove us to the Park Hyatt were also great, even at 2 a.m. The Park Hyatt night manager was also great at getting us into the room and had already changed out the feather pillows and comforter. Maria and I agree that while this was a wonderful place to stay, slightly less luxurious accommodations near the airport might have allowed us to sleep a bit more.
Stopping at the Footwhistle Cave on our way to Taupo was a great interlude for the drive. Our guide in the caves was intriguing. He is a member of the farming family that has owned the land where the caves exist. He regaled us with stories of how, as children, he and his brother explored the caves. His knowledge of the extraordinary glowworms was also fascinating.
We arrived at Huka Lodge in the pouring rain. Nonetheless, it was perhaps our favorite lodge. The dinners, Maria and I agree, are worthy of at least two Michelin stars. The setting and ambiance are lush, the service was a cut above, and the creativity of the food was beautiful and delicious. Alan thoroughly enjoyed the wine pairings, while Maria found a great rosé. If the weather had been more cooperative, this would have rivaled any place we stayed on our 2022 trip to Provence.
Fly fishing was beautiful, even though the rain had swollen the rivers and there was no catching. Later in the day, the weather cleared, and Alan caught both a volcanic stone and a rainbow trout during a very enjoyable cruise on Lake Taupo. Captain Pete and his assistant, Mackenzie, were great hosts.
Sunday in Rotorua started with the National Kiwi Hatchery. Our guide, Emma, is also the manager. Her passion for the Hatchery and its mission was infectious. We enjoyed learning how Operation Nest Egg has improved the survival rate of kiwis from 5% to 65%. This was among the best excursions of our trip!
Our driver/guide for the day also took us through the Māori cultural center and the geothermal valley. The haka performance was fun. The highlight was the Arts and Crafts Institute, where Māori students are learning and displaying wood, bone, and stone carvings and weavings based on their cultural history.
The ATV tour of Rosewood Cape Kidnappers was another great excursion! The rough, hilly terrain was beautifully enhanced by the dramatic vistas overlooking the cliffs and the sea. We were also treated to being very near the gannet colony and a seal on the beach! The staff, the room, and the dining were also superb.
In the Hawke’s Bay region, we visited three wineries: Pask, Trinity Hill, and Craggy Range. Craggy Range wins the most interesting sculptures, Pask the most genial hostess, and Trinity Hill the best wines.
Queenstown was a wonderful end cap to our voyage! Azur Lodge was beautiful, with an awe-inspiring view of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains. The room itself was worthy of the view; with nicer weather, we would have loved to spend more time on the spacious deck! The staff was very helpful, especially with the shuttle service to downtown.
During our car ride from the airport to the lodge, our driver, Phil, was very entertaining, but also warned us that the helicopter excursion might not occur due to the rainy weather. Thankfully, the clouds parted for a few hours on Thursday, and we had a glorious tour of the Southern Alps!
Our final day of exploring started with the Kinross Winery collective, where we enjoyed the tasting so much that we also did
some purchasing. How can you not buy a delicious wine that has been named “The Light Within”? Lunch here was also very nice, although a touch chilly, as all tables were outside. We also enjoyed the museum in Arrowtown, noting the Chinese influence on gold mining. We managed to purchase some local possum products. Possum hair mingled with merino wool and a bit of silk makes a wonderfully warm and lightweight garment!
With that, our time in New Zealand came to a close, and we began our journey home. All flights were on time, and we had no luggage problems (although we waited about 45 minutes in San Francisco to get our luggage to pass customs and check onward to BWI, with only a few minutes to spare before our connecting flight). All the A&K drivers and guides were wonderful, on time, and very helpful.
We want to thank the Frontiers team for the breathtaking and awe-inspiring bucket list experience that you assembled for us:
Sydney’s Opera House and the Harbour Bridge
The rich beauty of the Daintree forest and Mossman River, experienced at Silky Oaks Lodge
The Great Barrier Reef, both snorkeling and sailing to the Low Isles
The fascinating, otherworldly illumination of the glowworms in Footwhistle Cave
The lush green beauty of Huka Lodge and the Waikato River, and the view of the mountains surrounding Lake Taupo
The wild, endless beauty of Cape Kidnappers
The magnificent Southern Alps and Milford Sound from the air
The constantly changing views of Cecil and Walter Peak from our room at the Azur
Interested in planning your own adventure to Australia and New Zealand? Contact the Frontiers team to learn more about the destinations, accommodations, and experiences we can arrange for you.