Shoulder season really is the best time to visit Australia and New Zealand because not only are the airfare and package prices lower, but spring, late summer and early autumn are sensational climate-wise. Keep in mind that when you fly to Australia or New Zealand, you arrive two days after your depart (a combination of the 14+ hours of flying and crossing the International Dateline, which is why on the surface, so many package deals looks confusing -- i.e. 12 days with nine or ten nights' accommodations). But don't despair -- on the way home, you arrive the same day as your leave, in fact if you fly to the U.S. west coast (Los Angeles or San Francisco) or Hawaii, you actually land before you take off!
Air Tahiti Nui (tel. 877/824-4846; www.airtahitinui-usa.com) is currently promoting its "Steal the Moment Sale" and with prices like these, you'll think that someone really has stolen these tickets. These are without doubt the lowest fares I have ever seen from New York to Australia and New Zealand -- in fact the prices are even cheaper than regular rates from Los Angeles. And to sweeten the deal, they are also throwing in a free stop-over in Tahiti. Prices start at $788 round-trip from New York to Auckland and $888 from New York to Sydney. So what's the catch you may ask? Well there really isn't one, as long as you book by September 26, 2006 and travel between now and December 8, 2006. Sydney-bound flights depart New York on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Auckland-bound flights depart on Monday and Wednesdays. Complete your trip with a South Pacific stop-over in Tahiti either on the way there or on the return journey. If this deal doesn't make you want to jump on a plane, then nothing will. Taxes are additional.
The Australian government's official tourism website, Australia.com (www.australia.com) features a number of package deals from various Qantas partner U.S.-based travel suppliers. Dive Australia's famed Great Barrier Reef on an eight-day/five-night trip priced from $2,200. The package includes round-trip airfares from Los Angeles to Cairns with Qantas Airways, a three-day/two-night Reef trip on a live-aboard dive boat, up to 11 dives, gear package, comprehensive dive insurance, all onboard meals, transfers to and from the vessel from Cairns, three-nights at a three-star hotel accommodation in Cairns and a "Reef Teach" -- Marine biology presentation. Travel between September 22 and December 8, 2006 for the $2,200 rate, or during peak season, December 9 to 31, 2006 -- the price goes up to $2,675.Telephone 800/392-0348 or visit the website for further information.
Newmans Vacations (tel. 800/342-1966; www.newmansvacations.com) has a wide selection of packages to both Australia and New Zealand. Its New Zealand "Classic Wine Trail" is a nine-day/six-night fly-drive trip that lets you discover the best of New Zealand's leading wine regions -- Hawke's Bay, Martinborough and Marlborough, responsible for 70 percent of New Zealand's total wine production. The Trail is 240 miles in length so you'll spend more of your days at the vineyards and enjoying the beautiful scenery than behind the wheel. Included in the package price is round-trip airfare on Air New Zealand from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Auckland, domestic flights on Air New Zealand from Auckland to Napier and Blenheim to Auckland, seven-days car rental (Hertz group D), inter-island ferry from Wellington to Picton and six nights' accommodations (two at County Hotel in Napier, two at the Martinborough Hotel and two at Chateau Marlborough). This trip is priced from $2,199 per person based on double occupancy for travel from now until December 9, 2006. Prices are based on midweek travel. US/foreign taxes/fees of approximately $190 are additional.
Its "Tasmanian Wilderness and Melbourne's Fashion" package includes international airfare from Los Angeles to Hobart and from Melbourne to Los Angeles, domestic flight from Hobart to Melbourne, round-trip airport transfers in each city, all domestic flights in Australia, seven nights' accommodations (three at the four-star Rydges Hobart and four at the four-star Novotel Melbourne on Collins), a luxury small group twilight wildlife discovery tour including dinner, a full day Port Arthur historic sights experience, a half-day Melbourne City Sights tour, a full-day Yarra Valley wineries, Puffing Billy Australia's oldest steam train ride and Healesville Sanctuary tour with lunch and a full-day escorted, two-course lunch, city sightseeing and outlet shopping in Melbourne's designer district tour. During shoulder season (from September 22 to December 8, 2006 this trip is priced from $2,699 per person. In high season (December 9, 2006 to January 31, 2007), the price goes up to $3,099. US/foreign taxes/fees of approximately $200 are additional.
Goway (tel. 800/387-8850; www.goway.com) offers an "Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Great Barrier Reef and Sydney" from $2,399 for travel between September 22 and December 6, 2006. Adelaide is one of the prettiest cities in Australia and also the gateway to the arguably the best wine regions in the country including the Barossa Valley, the Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills and Coonawarra. It is also the step off point for Kangaroo Island offering unparalleled access to Australian native fauna, magnificent limestone caves and beautiful rugged and remote beaches. The trip price includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles, domestic airfares within Australian and 12 nights' accommodations (two in Adelaide at the Mercure Grosvenor, two at the Kangaroo Island Lodge on Kangaroo Island, four in Cairns at the Coral Tree Inn and four in Sydney at the Park Regis Hotel). Prices are for travel Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. A surcharge of $40 each way is applicable to other departure/return days.
Goway's "New Zealand On Sale" specials include an Auckland getaway package priced from $1,300 which features round-trip airfare with Air New Zealand from Los Angeles to Auckland, five nights' accommodations round- trip airport transfers and a half-day Discover Auckland tour. This price is valid for travel from September 22 to December 9, 2006 and February 1 to April 30, 2007. Even the summer rates (peak season), are quite affordable at $1,880 per person in a twin share or for travelers traveling solo $2,080 for the single rate for travel between December 10, 2006 and January 31, 2007.
A similar Christchurch package is priced from $1,410 and includes round-trip airfare with Air New Zealand from Los Angeles to Christchurch, airport transfers to your hotel, five nights' accommodations at the Scenic Circle Cotswold Hotel and a half-day Discover Christchurch tour. Valid for the same dates as above. Peak season price is $1,980 or $2,230 for single travelers.
Its combination Auckland and Christchurch13-day package is priced from $1,730 in shoulder season or $2,290 in high season. It includes round-trip airfare with Air New Zealand from Los Angeles, a domestic flight between Auckland and Christchurch, ten nights' accommodations, round-trip airport transfers and touring as above.
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