Australia & New Zealand 360°: Hobbiton, Sydney, Whitsundays

Route: Auckland→Rotorua→Waimarino→Wellington→Sidney→Sydney→Sidney→Airlie Beach

1. 1Day 1Welcome to Auckland, New ZealandOvernight: Auckland

   • First views from the Sky Tower

     Flights are not included in the package, so you’ll have the freedom to choose your departure airport, time, and preferred airline. This gives you maximum flexibility in planning your journey.

     The trip starts in Auckland and, once the immigration formalities are done, we dive straight into the vibrant local culture waiting outside.

     • The Sky Tower welcomes us with its impressive height and panoramic views over the city — perfect for the first round of photos.
     • Auckland gives us an immediate taste of the incredible adventure waiting across New Zealand.
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2. 2Day 2Hobbiton Village and the geothermal parkOvernight: Rotorua

   • The Green Dragon Inn

     Our New Zealand road trip starts for real this morning: rental cars collected, keys in hand, and the road heading south.

     • If you love this country, you probably love The Lord of the Rings: today we walk its film locations among the rolling hills.
     • And yes, there's a pint at the Green Dragon Inn, plus caves lit by thousands of glowworms along the way.

   • Pōhutu Geyser and Māori storytelling

     • At Te Puia, geysers, bubbling mud pools and steaming vents show the earth's raw power, framed by silica terraces and sulfur-rich ground.
     • Pōhutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, erupts regularly, firing hot water high into the air.
     • A Māori cultural performance closes the stop: traditional carving, dance and storytelling, rooted in the region's heritage.
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3. 3Day 3A slow morning before TongariroOvernight: Waimarino

   • Polynesian Spa or the redwoods

     No alarm today. The morning is ours, slow and flexible, before we point the cars south towards the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

     • One option: the thermal waters of Polynesian Spa, warm mineral pools with lake views, for a last moment of doing nothing.
     • Or stay active among the towering redwoods and trails of Whakarewarewa Forest, or walk the shore of Lake Tikitapu, striking blue and calm.
     • In the afternoon we drive towards the volcanic heart of the North Island, where the landscape turns dramatic and wild.
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4. 4Day 4Tongariro National Park, a day in MordorOvernight: Waimarino

   • Taranaki Falls and alpine trails

     Ready for the big one? Today we're inside the park that stood in for Mordor, and the volcanoes do all the talking.

     • Tongariro National Park opens up with towering volcanoes and views so evocative they were chosen as Mordor in The Lord of the Rings.
     • Trails suit every level: Taranaki Falls, the Tongariro Northern Circuit, or the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, one of the most spectacular hikes in the world.
     • Up on the crossing, the route threads past turquoise lakes set in ancient craters. Boots laced: time to earn them.
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5. 5Day 5Wellington, museums and Middle-earthOvernight: Wellington

   • Te Papa or the Weta Cave

     After days of raw, primordial nature the pace drops. Wellington is relaxed and welcoming, and today the choice is entirely ours.

     • The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is rich in Māori culture and the country's history, easy to lose hours in.
     • Or step into the Weta Cave, home of the creative wizards who brought Middle-earth to life through set design and special effects.
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6. 6Day 6From Wellington across the Tasman to SydneyOvernight: Sidney

   • Waterfront morning, then the flight

     Last hours in New Zealand. We squeeze the capital for what it has left before the Tasman Sea takes us somewhere completely different.

     • A final stroll along the Wellington waterfront, a coffee in one of its lively cafés, or a quick look at the harbour area, timing permitting.
     • Then the flight to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport across the Tasman Sea: Sydney waits with its iconic skyline, harbour views and completely new energy.
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7. 7Day 7A full day across SydneyOvernight: Sydney

   • Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Chinatown

     A whole day to take this stunning city apart, from the postcard landmarks to the neighbourhoods where the mood changes street by street.

     • The Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge first: the two views that define the city, best taken in slowly.
     • Then the lively commercial district — skyscrapers, shopping arcades, busy streets — before Chinatown, where aromas and colours feel like stepping into Asia.
     • If time allows, Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, or a short ferry ride for the skyline seen from the water.
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8. 8Day 8Bondi Beach to Coogee along the cliffsOvernight: Sidney

   • Surf lesson and Wylie's Baths

     Good morning, Australia! Today is all white sand and ocean, and the only real decision is how much of it we spend lying down.

     • A few slow hours at Bondi Beach, pure sun and sea, or a surf lesson for anyone after one of Australia's most iconic waves.
     • Then the coastal trail along the cliffs, ocean views the whole way, down to Coogee Beach and the famous Wylie's Baths.
     • That natural saltwater pool is carved straight into the rock: we swim, we float, we do laid-back Australia properly.
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9. 9Day 9Into the Blue Mountains National ParkOvernight: Sidney

   • Three Sisters and Katoomba

     City behind us, and the landscape turns into endless valleys, eucalyptus forest and canyons running to the horizon. The air changes too.

     • The Blue Mountains work like a vast natural playground: viewpoints, forest trails, hidden waterfalls and dramatic lookouts over the gorges.
     • First stop is the iconic viewpoint over the Three Sisters, wrapped in the soft blue haze that gave the region its name.
     • The rest mixes scenic walks, optional descents into the valley by trail or cableway, and a break in a mountain village like Katoomba.
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10. 10Day 10North to Airlie Beach and the WhitsundaysOvernight: Airlie Beach

    • Flight into tropical Queensland

      Today we leave Sydney and head north, where tropical Australia announces itself long before we land: the colour of the water gives it away.

      • A last few hours in Sydney, then the flight to Whitsunday Coast Airport, the main gateway to the Whitsundays.
      • From above, the coastline shifts from city to green stretches to the turquoise water of northern Queensland, then a short transfer reaches Airlie Beach.
      • This lively seaside town launches us towards the Whitsunday Islands: palm-lined streets, a relaxed marina, the Great Barrier Reef region right there.
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11. 11Day 11A day sailing the Whitsunday IslandsOvernight: Airlie Beach

    • Whitehaven Beach and snorkelling stops

      Everything today happens on the water. We're on a boat from morning, threading between islands, and the blues keep multiplying.

      • We sail across crystal-clear turquoise water, past untouched nature and white sandy beaches, through one of Australia's most breathtaking island groups.
      • Whitehaven Beach is the highlight: pure white silica sand, swirling turquoise patterns, and a regular on lists of the world's most beautiful beaches.
      • We stop to swim in secluded bays, stretch out on deck, or snorkel over the vibrant marine life of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.
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12. 12Day 12–13From Dingo Beach to Conway National ParkOvernight: Airlie Beach

    • Hideaway Bay and empty sand

      For these last two days we set our own pace: more than one way to spend them, and nobody picks the same one.

      • One option is pure stillness: the most peaceful, least crowded beaches of the Whitsundays, at Dingo Beach and Hideaway Bay.
      • Small bays surrounded by nature, calm clear water, long breaks on the sand with a book, in a still authentic setting.

    • Cedar Creek Falls and king ferns

      • The other option mixes sea with the wildest nature here: Conway National Park, rainforest, towering trees, king ferns, marked trails.
      • Then Cedar Creek Falls, cooling off in crystal-clear rock pools under the warm Queensland sun, with scenic viewpoints and extraordinary biodiversity around us.
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13. 13Day 14Last morning in Australia

    • Until the next WeRoad

      And that's a wrap: two weeks, two countries, and a lot of unforgettable moments. Bye bye Australia, see you next time!

      • Incredible landscapes and new friendships: we'll all meet again on the next WeRoad adventure, ready for new experiences.
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