REVIEW: Tauck Grand Australia and New Zealand

Carol and I are just back from Australia and New Zealand, and here is our review of the Tauck Grand Australia and New Zealand 20-day Tour.

You can view photographs and videos from our journey on our Facebook and Instagram pages. I’ve got 81 posts full of stories, pictures, and videos.

If you’re viewing this page in the future, our live stream will have moved on, so you can view our posts at these hashtags:

• Instagram: CLICK HERE
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Roaming Boomers on Milford Sound, New Zealand

Tauck Tours, founded in 1925, is a renowned operator of guided tours and cruises based in Wilton, Connecticut

With over 150 itineraries spanning 70+ countries across all seven continents, Tauck offers a diverse range of travel experiences.

These include land journeys, European river cruises, small-ship ocean cruises, safaris, and family adventures. Known for its upscale, all-inclusive approach, Tauck provides exclusive access to attractions, high-quality accommodations, and local cuisine.

The company’s commitment to personalized service is evident in its small group journeys, which average 24 guests per trip. Tauck has been recognized for 27 consecutive years in Travel + Leisure magazine’s “World’s Best Awards.”

Carol and I made our first land journey with Tauck in Yellowstone this summer. To read that review, please CLICK HERE.

Tauck Grand Australia and New Zealand

CLICK HERE FOR THE ITINERARY

To Date, Tauck Has Operated This Tour 1,633 Times!

Before I begin, I’d like to make sure that two things sink into your brain:

1. Tauck will celebrate their 100th anniversary next year.
2. Tauck has operated this tour 1,633 times to date.

Folks, no one can make such a claim. Think about it: if someone has operated a trip 1,633 times, they’ve probably got it down. Right? And there are precious few travel brands that have been serving clients for 100 years.

An Epic Journey With Flawless Execution

Well, I’m here to tell you that they not only have it down, but they have it down masterfully.

Carol and I have been on small group tours with several other companies, and I’ve never witnessed such mastery on the ground. When problems arose, Jim, our tour guide, responded quickly and professionally and resolved them.

Further, his knowledge of every destination was encyclopedic, and he kept us entertained during those off times. I thought Jim told me that he’s been with Tauck for 30 years. Folks, there are precious few companies that can provide you with that level of expertise in the field.

Carol and I have enjoyed many fabulous travel experiences over the years, and when folks ask, I struggle to come up with a favorite. But I can say that when asked that question in the future, I’ll have absolutely no problem bringing this trip to the top of my mind.

I don’t know that I can speak for all of the people in our group, but I suspect if asked, they would all agree that this was an epic trip of a lifetime that was masterfully curated and executed. I can rarely think of any of our journeys where complaints were nonexistent. Everyone in this photograph loved this trip.

If you want to visit Australia and New Zealand, we highly recommend that you do it with Tauck. I promise you will thank me later.

Our “Red Rocket” private chartered plane.

Highlights of the 20-Day Tauck Grand Australia and New Zealand Tour

• • Days 1-2 – We explored the city of Melbourne (pronounced Mel-Bin). We loved Melbourne’s “laneway culture.” Melbourne’s laneways are narrow streets transformed into vibrant cultural hubs. Featuring street art, boutiques, cafes, and bars, they blend Victorian history with modern urban culture, attracting locals and tourists alike.
  • Day 3 – We flew on our included private chartered jet to Ayers Rock (Uluru). What a stunning landscape! We were very lucky to experience a lightning storm, complete with a spectacular rainbow over Uluru.
  • Day 4: We enjoyed a walking tour at the base of Uluru and then flew on our private charter plane to Cairns. When we arrived, we enjoyed a magical gondola ride over the rainforest. Wow!
  • Day 5 – The Great Barrier Reef. Carol and I tried out helmet diving. Big fun!
  • Day 6 – We stayed at the Silky Oaks Lodge—a stunning 5-star resort in the rainforest. This was a “day of leisure,” so we enjoyed our stay in one of the oldest rainforests on the planet. Wow!
  • Day 7 – We got to pet and feed kangaroos and hang out with wallabies, wombats, crocodiles, and koalas. Then we climbed aboard our private charter flight and flew off to Sydney.
  • Day 8 – We enjoyed a Sydney Harbor Cruise and a tour of the Sydney Opera House, and in the evening, Tauck treated us all to a special “dine around” in renowned local restaurants.
  • Day 9 – A morning walking tour of Sydney and The Rocks, then the afternoon at leisure. I took Carol shopping for one of Australia’s famous opals.
  • Day 10 – We bid farewell to Australia and flew on commercial airlines to Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Day 11 – A morning cable car ride for scenic views, a walking and food tour of the city, and then a visit to the Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum to explore the country’s diverse cultures, history, arts, and geology. The afternoon gave us time at leisure.
  • Day 12 – We boarded our private chartered plane, sipped champagne, and flew to Blenheim on the South Island, where we spent a few hours with a wonderful young family on their sheep farm. Afterward, we enjoyed a fabulous lunch and wine tasting for the incredible New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
  • Day 13 – A spectacular cruise on the Queen Charlotte Sound and a lunch where we dined on green-lipped mussels and local world-renowned salmon. In the evening, an exclusive Tauck event: a three-course dinner showcasing local foods inside the Omaka Aviation Center to dine in and around Sir Peter Jackson’s private collection of WWI and WWII war planes.
  • Day 14 – We boarded our private chartered plane, sipped champagne, and flew off to Ta Anau. In the afternoon, we enjoyed a wonderful glow worm experience in an underground cave.
  • Day 15 – We enjoyed an eye-droppingly dramatic morning drive to Milford Sound and a luncheon cruise of the Milford Sound on a private chartered boat.
  • Day 16 – A stunning morning drive to Queenstown and then some free time for shopping.
  • Day 17 – A white-knuckle drive into the backcountry, a thrilling jet boat ride on the Shotover river, and a scenic helicopter ride back to the city.
  • Day 18 – Back aboard our private chartered flight for more champagne and a hop to Auckland. The evening was at our leisure.
  • Day 19 – A short ferry ride to the lush Waiheke Island for sightseeing, beer and whiskey tasting, a walk on the beach, and a spectacular lunch at a fabulous winery set on the top of the island. We had a fabulous Maori cultural experience in the evening before our farewell dinner.
  • Day 20 – Complimentary transportation to the Aukland airport for our return flight home.

Folks, there is no way that I can begin to explain the diverse experiences we all greatly enjoyed in this review article. Go to the top of this article and click on the links for the social media posts, where I have 81 posts with photos, videos, and stories to share with you. 

Well, it’s time to end this review. If you want an epic, small-group luxury tour of Australia and New Zealand, I have no higher recommendation than to do it with Tauck!

WE HAVE THE PERKS!

HOW TO BOOK A TAUCK JOURNEY

As our clients have learned over the years, there is no financial advantage to booking directly with any travel brand.  The price will be the same if you book with us or book with Tauck directly.

However, we have complimentary perks if you book with us and you are a first-time traveler with Tauck. That’s right.  Book your Tauck journeys with Roaming Boomers Travel, and we will add a complimentary one-night pre or post-journey hotel stay to your booking.

If you have already traveled with Tauck and make a new booking with us before July 31st, we’ll be sure to give you the same complimentary one-night pre- or post-journey hotel stay.

As I’m sure you know, the travel industry is very busy. Therefore, call us today to get the best available options. And, of course, if you have more questions, please feel free to call.

For more information or to book a fun Tauck journey, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here), and we’ll reach out to you.

Recommended Tauck Journeys:

• Australia & New Zealand Tours
• European Tours
• US National Parks
• Africa Tours
• Asia Tours
• USA Tours
• European River Cruises
• Small Ship Ocean/Expedition Cruises
• Family Travel – Bring the Grandkids!
• All Tours

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