Thoughts on Australia and New Zealand ABD itineraries?

[Marthasor]

Hi everyone! We had planned to do the Australia ABD a few years ago, but the timing was off so I never booked. I see now they have added Australia and New Zealand as private adventures, but also noticed the Australia itinerary changed a bit. I'm just curious, for those who have been to Australia and New Zealand, what are your thoughts on the ABD itineraries? Are they a good overview of the countries? Are they missing key landmarks, sites or attractions? I'm considering doing these ABDs back-to-back (once travel to those countries opens to us again!) either as private tours or a group/private combination, if possible. Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[TravelJunkieHubby]

My family did Australia in 2017 and overall we still consider it the best ABD that we have done so far.

Perhaps what I liked best about the previous itinerary was that we started in Sydney. Since our family prefers pre-nights as opposed to post-nights… we got there a few days early to adjust to the time difference. We also did the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb and saw an actual children’s play at the Sydney Opera House (on ABD you only had time to do the tour of the opera house). We really enjoyed the food scene and the Royal Botanic Garden the as well.

Uluru: fantastic but admittedly it was a lot of effort to get there. ABD packed a ton into a 24 hour period with flying to Uluru from Sydney, stargazing that night, waking up before dawn the next morning for a sunrise camel ride, and flying to Cairns that afternoon. Again I’m glad we saw it, doubt I would have ever made the effort to go to Uluru on our own.

The drive to Byron Bay near the end was a bit long, but I’m glad I got to try canoeing on the open sea. We met the new destination manager for this trip 2 years later and he told us taking out Byron Bay was the first change he made because the feedback in general was “too far/not worth the effort”.

Prior to our trip, ABD had an itinerary that went to Tasmania, which I would have wanted to see as well.

I think the bottom line is that Australia is HUGE and unless you go for a month you’re not going to see everything- I think ABD will get you to most of the highlights and you can do some things on your own if time permits. I suspect they took out some things you would have liked to see but added others you’ll be happy with.

Fingers crossed - we are booked on ABD New Zealand in December 2022! We were pretty exhausted after Australia so I know for our family back to back ABDs wouldn’t be feasible. I think without little kids though, if you are able to build in some low key days, it will be fantastic!

 

[Eastridge]

The ABD New Zealand trip does not include Milford Sound, but if you extend your trip at the end, there should be day trips out of Queenstown that you can book on your own. They mention this in the FAQ.

 

[Grifdog22]

Hi everyone! We had planned to do the Australia ABD a few years ago, but the timing was off so I never booked. I see now they have added Australia and New Zealand as private adventures, but also noticed the Australia itinerary changed a bit. I'm just curious, for those who have been to Australia and New Zealand, what are your thoughts on the ABD itineraries? Are they a good overview of the countries? Are they missing key landmarks, sites or attractions? I'm considering doing these ABDs back-to-back (once travel to those countries opens to us again!) either as private tours or a group/private combination, if possible. Thank you for your thoughts.

Hi everyone! We had planned to do the Australia ABD a few years ago, but the timing was off so I never booked. I see now they have added Australia and New Zealand as private adventures, but also noticed the Australia itinerary changed a bit. I'm just curious, for those who have been to Australia and New Zealand, what are your thoughts on the ABD itineraries? Are they a good overview of the countries? Are they missing key landmarks, sites or attractions? I'm considering doing these ABDs back-to-back (once travel to those countries opens to us again!) either as private tours or a group/private combination, if possible. Thank you for your thoughts.

As Traveljunkiehubby described the 2017 2017 Australia trip. Remains our family favorite trip (wife now thinks Italy was as good but the rest of us still vote for Australia). I am not too excited by the current version and personally would look elsewhere. Oz is a great place to visit. We are booked for 10/31/22 to New Zealand as this new trip sounds more like the old Aussie trip. Totally agree that Milford sound is a must do add on at the end. There is a buffet of adventure out there- dog in!

 

[TravelJunkieHubby]

Also forgot to add... when you go to Australia, "In A Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson is a great read/funny audio listen for the plane rides in between the various cities.

 

[Marthasor]

Thank you, all, so much!

 

[Grifdog22]

Well we are about a year out for our New Zealand trip, ABD portion begins 10/31. This is when we start putting the pieces together. We believe that either we won't be alive or COVID will be contained by then. As eternal optimists we vote for the latter. Since our debacle on American Airlines when we went to Australia now about 4 1/2 years ago we try to arrive a little early expecting the airlines to screw it up. Looked at the New Zealand hotels for beginning and end of trip. Contacted both. Fully reserved. Rats. Unless, yes of course, ABD has rooms reserved for pre and post nights. They even recommend a post night if you want to see Milford Sound, which of course we want to do. Yep, added two predays and one post on today with Karen at ABD no issues. (She is such a great lady!) Includes breakfast each morning and airport shuttle transfers. Now we are looking at booking the helicopter at Fraz Josef to view, visit, perch, stroll and explore the tops of the glaciers during the OYO afternoon/evening. The map of the township makes this look very easy to do. Also booking the full day trip to Milford Sound, and looking at bungie jumping in Queenstown earlier in the week. My cousin was a military attache' here some years back, and she reports that other than Milford Sound, ABD is hitting the best spots for the country. She also reports the wine and food is unsurpassed.

We are expecting the airlines to add some flights in another four months or so, but right now for us it will take a full three days to get there....patience patience patience as it's always worth the wait.

In the meantime, please be nicer to each other, patient and follow the rules. Clean up behind yourself and try some gratitude. Adventure is out there.

 

[TravelJunkieHubby]

Well we are about a year out for our New Zealand trip, ABD portion begins 10/31. This is when we start putting the pieces together. We believe that either we won't be alive or COVID will be contained by then. As eternal optimists we vote for the latter. Since our debacle on American Airlines when we went to Australia now about 4 1/2 years ago we try to arrive a little early expecting the airlines to screw it up. Looked at the New Zealand hotels for beginning and end of trip. Contacted both. Fully reserved. Rats. Unless, yes of course, ABD has rooms reserved for pre and post nights. They even recommend a post night if you want to see Milford Sound, which of course we want to do. Yep, added two predays and one post on today with Karen at ABD no issues. (She is such a great lady!) Includes breakfast each morning and airport shuttle transfers. Now we are looking at booking the helicopter at Fraz Josef to view, visit, perch, stroll and explore the tops of the glaciers during the OYO afternoon/evening. The map of the township makes this look very easy to do. Also booking the full day trip to Milford Sound, and looking at bungie jumping in Queenstown earlier in the week. My cousin was a military attache' here some years back, and she reports that other than Milford Sound, ABD is hitting the best spots for the country. She also reports the wine and food is unsurpassed.

We are expecting the airlines to add some flights in another four months or so, but right now for us it will take a full three days to get there....patience patience patience as it's always worth the wait.

In the meantime, please be nicer to each other, patient and follow the rules. Clean up behind yourself and try some gratitude. Adventure is out there.

Well said! I’m hoping our Dec 2022 trip goes as well. American was supposed to start a direct flight to NZ from DFW, we are hoping conditions will allow this is happen by next year.

 

[aggiedog]

We are 1 for 3 in "transatlantic flights going as planned" so completely agree with adding pre-days as a cushion. I hope everything works out for you!

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Well we are about a year out for our New Zealand trip, ABD portion begins 10/31. This is when we start putting the pieces together. We believe that either we won't be alive or COVID will be contained by then. As eternal optimists we vote for the latter. Since our debacle on American Airlines when we went to Australia now about 4 1/2 years ago we try to arrive a little early expecting the airlines to screw it up. Looked at the New Zealand hotels for beginning and end of trip. Contacted both. Fully reserved. Rats. Unless, yes of course, ABD has rooms reserved for pre and post nights. They even recommend a post night if you want to see Milford Sound, which of course we want to do. Yep, added two predays and one post on today with Karen at ABD no issues. (She is such a great lady!) Includes breakfast each morning and airport shuttle transfers. Now we are looking at booking the helicopter at Fraz Josef to view, visit, perch, stroll and explore the tops of the glaciers during the OYO afternoon/evening. The map of the township makes this look very easy to do. Also booking the full day trip to Milford Sound, and looking at bungie jumping in Queenstown earlier in the week. My cousin was a military attache' here some years back, and she reports that other than Milford Sound, ABD is hitting the best spots for the country. She also reports the wine and food is unsurpassed.

We are expecting the airlines to add some flights in another four months or so, but right now for us it will take a full three days to get there....patience patience patience as it's always worth the wait.

In the meantime, please be nicer to each other, patient and follow the rules. Clean up behind yourself and try some gratitude. Adventure is out there.

We are scheduled to fly Toronto to London (5 days there), London to Melbourne (3 nights), Melbourne to Auckland (2 pre-nights booked at the PH using points -- must see Hobiton!). Now we just need NZ to open to tourists by March, 2022 . Coming back we are staying a post night (to see Milford Sound), then flying Queenston to Brisbane (2 nights there), Brisbane to Sydney (4 nights at the PH on points), then Sydney to Vancouver, Vancouver to Toronto. To say that it took a little work to schedule the flights (all on points in biz or first class) is an understatement .

ITA that the itinerary for this trip is AMAZING. I was so sure when I rescheduled our Egypt, 2020 trip that the world would be open by January, 2022. Now it's a waiting game to see when NZ opens to tourists (they are currently talking about allowing overseas citizens and PRs to come back and do quarantine at home, instead of at MIQs, starting maybe in January, so we shall see).

Try looking at availability for the PH Auckland every few days. They likely haven't opened up availability yet for next fall.

 

[Mathmagicland]

We are scheduled to fly Toronto to London (5 days there), London to Melbourne (3 nights), Melbourne to Auckland (2 pre-nights booked at the PH using points -- must see Hobiton!). Now we just need NZ to open to tourists by March, 2022 . Coming back we are staying a post night (to see Milford Sound), then flying Queenston to Brisbane (2 nights there), Brisbane to Sydney (4 nights at the PH on points), then Sydney to Vancouver, Vancouver to Toronto. To say that it took a little work to schedule the flights (all on points in biz or first class) is an understatement

I am tired just reading this - LOL. Good for you they are all biz or first class. Sounds like a wonderful trip. And Hobbiton is on my list too, whenever I can rebook the trip.