12 days
Auckland, Rotorua, Sydney, Cairns

See for yourself why Aussies and Kiwis have more in common than hopelessly endearing accents. From spiny echidnas to small flightless birds, neither suffers from a shortage of natural beauty. New Zealand’s Auckland is arguably one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and by the time you reach the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef, you may find you’re not quite ready to leave.

  • Day 1: Fly to New Zealand

  • Day 2: Cross the International Date Line

  • Day 3: Auckland • Rotorua

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Travel to Rotorua, known for its geothermal activity and Maori influences 

    Visit the Maori Cultural Centre and learn about Maori legends and customs 

    Visit the Whakarewarewa geothermal area, where you can marvel at bubbling pools of mud, crystal springs of hot mineral water, geysers, and richly colored craters

  • Day 4: Rotorua

    Enjoy a Rotorua Duck Tour, an amphibious duck boat, and see Rotorua’s historic landmarks and natural wonders

    Ride the Skyline Gondola and view Mount Ngongotaha from hundreds of feet up

    Learn about jade carving in a local craftman's shop

    Enjoy a traditional Hangi feast and Maori song and dance in Rotorua

  • Day 5: Rotorua • Auckland

    Travel to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest and most populous city

    Take a tour of Auckland where you will see:

    • Domain, a hilltop park
    • The bustling downtown area
    • Head to the waterfront for beautiful views of Rangitoto Island and the Harbor Bridge
    • Browse the goods and wares at Victoria Park Market
  • Day 6: Auckland • Sydney

    Fly to Sydney

    Take a walking tour of the Rocks neighborhood, a well-preserved neighborhood where Australia’s first fleet of European settlers landed in 1788

    Enjoy dinner in Sydney

  • Day 7: Sydney

    Take a tour of Sydney, one of Australia's biggest and best-known cities, with your Field Director

    Enjoy a ferry ride to Watson's Bay

    Visit the observation deck of Sydney Tower, which at 1,063 feet is the second-tallest building south of the equator 

    Visit the National Opal Collection and learn about Australia's national gemstone

    Visit the Barracks Museum, where tens of thousands of convicts were transported and housed from 1819 to 1848

  • Day 8: Sydney

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Sydney Opera House

    Sydney Opera House

    This multi-venue performing arts center hosts over 1,600 performances every year—and also happens to be one of the 20th century’s most famous buildings. During this excursion, you’ll tour the world-famous Opera House for an up-close look at areas that are off-limits to the public—and even have the chance to capture photographs from rare vantage points. 

  • Day 9: Sydney • Cairns

    Fly to Cairns
  • Day 10: Cairns

    Visit the Great Barrier Reef by boat, one of the natural wonders of the world and home to 1,500 species of fish

    Enjoy lunch

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Snorkeling with a marine specialist

    Snorkeling with a marine specialist

    Enhance your time in the world’s largest reef system by snorkeling adventure with a marine biologist. Learn about the sights and sounds of the Great Barrier Reef from an expert who can teach you more about the animal and plant life you spot in this interactive, aquatic classroom. 

  • Day 11: Cairns

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Kuranda

    Kuranda

    Your full-day optional excursion begins with a scenic train ride to the quaint rainforest village of Kuranda. On your way up you will pass through the lush Atherton Tablelands, a tropical rainforest home to waterfalls and dramatic mountain lookouts. After free time, descend via a gondola where you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the rainforest canopy below as rangers provide you with informative details about the rainforest. Upon reaching the valley, visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Park and learn about traditional Aboriginal culture and customs through live dancing and boomerang throwing. (Please note: Due to uneven terrain comfortable walking shoes are recommended.) 

    Enjoy dinner in Cairns

  • Day 12: Depart for home

  • Day 1: Fly to New Zealand

  • Day 2: Cross the International Date Line

  • Day 3: Auckland • Rotorua

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Travel to Rotorua, known for its geothermal activity and Maori influences 

    Visit the Maori Cultural Centre and learn about Maori legends and customs 

    Visit the Whakarewarewa geothermal area, where you can marvel at bubbling pools of mud, crystal springs of hot mineral water, geysers, and richly colored craters

  • Day 4: Rotorua

    Enjoy a Rotorua Duck Tour, an amphibious duck boat, and see Rotorua’s historic landmarks and natural wonders

    Ride the Skyline Gondola and view Mount Ngongotaha from hundreds of feet up

    Learn about jade carving in a local craftman's shop

    Enjoy a traditional Hangi feast and Maori song and dance in Rotorua

  • Day 5: Rotorua • Auckland

    Travel to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest and most populous city

    Take a tour of Auckland where you will see:

    • Domain, a hilltop park
    • The bustling downtown area
    • Head to the waterfront for beautiful views of Rangitoto Island and the Harbor Bridge
    • Browse the goods and wares at Victoria Park Market
  • Day 6: Auckland • Sydney

    Fly to Sydney

    Take a walking tour of the Rocks neighborhood, a well-preserved neighborhood where Australia’s first fleet of European settlers landed in 1788

    Enjoy dinner in Sydney

  • Day 7: Sydney

    Take a tour of Sydney, one of Australia's biggest and best-known cities, with your Field Director

    Enjoy a ferry ride to Watson's Bay

    Visit the observation deck of Sydney Tower, which at 1,063 feet is the second-tallest building south of the equator 

    Visit the National Opal Collection and learn about Australia's national gemstone

    Visit the Barracks Museum, where tens of thousands of convicts were transported and housed from 1819 to 1848

  • Day 8: Sydney

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Sydney Opera House

    Sydney Opera House

    This multi-venue performing arts center hosts over 1,600 performances every year—and also happens to be one of the 20th century’s most famous buildings. During this excursion, you’ll tour the world-famous Opera House for an up-close look at areas that are off-limits to the public—and even have the chance to capture photographs from rare vantage points. 

  • Day 9: Sydney • Cairns

    Fly to Cairns
  • Day 10: Cairns

    Visit the Great Barrier Reef by boat, one of the natural wonders of the world and home to 1,500 species of fish

    Enjoy lunch

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Snorkeling with a marine specialist

    Snorkeling with a marine specialist

    Enhance your time in the world’s largest reef system by snorkeling adventure with a marine biologist. Learn about the sights and sounds of the Great Barrier Reef from an expert who can teach you more about the animal and plant life you spot in this interactive, aquatic classroom. 

  • Day 11: Cairns

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Kuranda

    Kuranda

    Your full-day optional excursion begins with a scenic train ride to the quaint rainforest village of Kuranda. On your way up you will pass through the lush Atherton Tablelands, a tropical rainforest home to waterfalls and dramatic mountain lookouts. After free time, descend via a gondola where you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the rainforest canopy below as rangers provide you with informative details about the rainforest. Upon reaching the valley, visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Park and learn about traditional Aboriginal culture and customs through live dancing and boomerang throwing. (Please note: Due to uneven terrain comfortable walking shoes are recommended.) 

    Enjoy dinner in Cairns

  • Day 12: Depart for home


Learning outcomes on this program

Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness


EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources

With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development
See the resources you get
EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources


With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development

See the resources you get


Your experience includes

  • Round-trip airfare

    Your price includes round-trip airfare for your whole group

  • Accommodations

    Safe, comfortable hotels with private bathrooms will be waiting for you at your destination.

  • On-tour transportation

    Land and water transportation

  • Regional-style meals

    Daily breakfasts and select local dinners are included in your program. Generally, we leave lunch up to you so your group has an opportunity to explore its own tastes.

  • End-to-end support

    Your team helps to secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides recruiting tools and helps establish your program's ongoing presence on campus.

  • EF Global Learning Toolkit

    To capitalize on moments for building empathy, awareness, and adaptability in a global environment, we offer a number of different tools designed to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.

  • Full-time Field Director

    Your Field Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all program logistics.

  • Expert Local Guides

    Your expert Local Guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and enhancing teaching moments wherever your curriculum takes you.

  • Guided sightseeing

    Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides who join your group for select experiences on tour.

  • Entrances

    Whaka geothermal area, Maori Village, Skyline Gondola, Rotorua Agrodome, Sydney Tower, National Opal Collection, Harbor Cruise, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Barrier Reef

  • Worldwide support, safety and security

    EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide. We provide 24-hour emergency support service along with a comprehensive $50 million liability policy that covers you and your institution while abroad.

  • Flexible payment options

    Give more students the opportunity to study abroad by offering them two different payment plan options, along with our TripFunder website to help fundraise for the program.


Programs in real life

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Programs in real life

EF College Study Tours Instagram page     Instagram →

EF College Study Tours Facebook page     Facebook →

EF College Study Tours blog page     Blog →

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