There are bound to be questions when travelling. Information on everything from weather to internet connections can be found below.

• Book This Trip

  To help expedite your booking, please have the following information ready before you call us:

  • Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
  • Traveler Name(s): Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver’s license.
  • Traveler’s Address(es)
  • Traveler’s Phone Number(s)
  • Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
  • Interest in purchasing Tauck’s Travel Protection Product (see below).
  • Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
  • Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

  For reservations, call 800-788-7885 or contact your travel agent to book today!
  
  Tauck Reservation Sales Counselors are available:

  Monday through Friday 6 am - 8 pm
  Saturday 9 am - 5 pm
  Sunday 12 pm - 5 pm (Eastern Time)

  Some additional questions you might have about booking this trip:

  Special Requests
  We will be happy to advise hotels of any special requests, provided we receive them at time of booking. We regret that requests cannot be guaranteed.

  Deposit Date
  Upon your request, we will hold space tentatively for you and give a “Deposit Due Date,” by which a deposit must be received or space is automatically released. Your deposit is $600 per person.

  Final Payment is due at Tauck’s Norwalk, CT office 60 days before departure. Any bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice.

  Final Documents, which may include airline tickets, when applicable, are sent by first class mail upon receipt of final payment. They include joining instructions, hotel lists, tour itinerary, clothing suggestions, luggage tags and other pertinent information. We recommend overnight mailing service for any reservation that is made within 30 days of the tour departure date to ensure timely delivery. The additional expense will be added to your tour cost.

• Inclusive Prices

  Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All accommodations, entertainment, special dinners, motor coach travel, sightseeing, porterage, admissions, and the services of the Tauck Director, local guides and drivers are included. Transportation from Melbourne Airport to The Langham Melbourne is included, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the tour departure date. Transportation from The Langham Auckland to Auckland Airport is also included at the end of the tour. Transportation to and from airports  may be shared with other Tauck guests.
  
  Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.
  
  Tauck Director – Grand Australia & New Zealand is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully-trained employee of Tauck.
  
  Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.
  
  Gratuities Included – All customary gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff and local guides and drivers are included.
  
  No Options Sold - Your Tauck Director will assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

• On Tour Flights

  Airfare While on Tour - Your 8 on-tour flights must be purchased through us as part of your package. The Sydney-to-Auckland trans-Tasman flight on day 11 must be purchased with your international air ticket.

• Not Included

  Transportation to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from us for travel originating in the United States.
  
  Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, we will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through us. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. Airport transfers are included for these extended stays as described above under Inclusive Prices. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult Extend Your Trip in the Accommodations section above on this webpage and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.
  
  Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Tauck Travel Protection Product section below for more information.

  Lost luggage is an unfortunate possibility in today's world of airline travel. We suggest that you:

  • Pack some basic clothing in your carry-on bag
  • Split your items between your suitcase and a traveling companion's suitcase
  • Do not pack any vital medications or valuables in your checked luggage
  • Confirm that your luggage is checked and tagged to your final destination at airport check-in
  • Be sure to place your luggage claim tags in a secure place for your flight
  • File a claim for any missing luggage immediately before leaving the baggage claim area
  • Secure a case number and contact information for follow-up communications
  • Be certain that the airline has your onward itinerary

  Your Tauck Director will assist you with airline communications, but has no inside contacts to guarantee or expedite recovery of lost luggage. All recovery costs, including the communication costs, are your responsibility. Check your travel protection details for covered expenses.
  
  Personal Expenses  such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and other beverages not specifically included, laundry, dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, the New Zealand departure tax (for details please visit New Zealand Travel Guide by clicking  here), and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.
  
  Tauck Director Gratuities – The customary gratuity to the Tauck Director is not included. We ask that gratuities be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.

• Tauck Travel Protection Product / If You Have To Cancel

  Tauck’s Guest Protection and Cancellation Fee Waiver
  
  Guests booking a Tauck journey have the option of purchasing cancellation protection from Tauck in the event they need to cancel their trip after making their reservations.

  Tauck’s Travel Protection Plan is available to all travelers, with the exception of residents of Puerto Rico. Residents of Puerto Rico are eligible for some cancellation protection by purchasing Tauck’s Cancellation Fee Waiver (see below).
  
  Tauck’s Guest Protection
  
  Under Tauck’s all-inclusive Guest Protection, you can cancel your tour for any reason up to the day before departure and receive a money-back refund (except in Extreme Circumstances*) on the land tour cost. The Guest Protection plan waives cancellation fees outlined, provided we are notified of cancellation before your tour departs. Tour cancellation fees are waived regardless of reason, without written notice, and Tauck will refund land tour cost. The cost is $490 per person.
  
  In addition, Tauck’s Guest Protection provides comprehensive travelers’ insurance and 24-hour emergency assistance. Coverage for the following elements is provided by BerkelyCare, Ltd. and is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy:
  

  • Airfare Protection – Should you need to cancel or interrupt your tour for covered reasons, airfares and air penalties will be covered up to the original airfare cost.
  • Medical Protection – You are reimbursed for covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or ill during your trip (including pre-existing conditions if purchased at time of deposit).
  • Luggage Protection – You are reimbursed for lost, stolen, delayed or damaged luggage.

  This optional Guest Protection must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included with initial payment. Details will be provided with written confirmation of your tour reservation. Guest Protection does not protect travel agent commissions. Cost is not refundable under any circumstances. Reimbursements will be made according to original method of payment. The amount of any refund shall be reduced by any recoveries obtained by you from any third parties.
  
  Tauck’s Cancellation Fee Waiver
  
  Should you have to cancel your tour for any reason, Tauck’s non-refundable Cancellation Fee Waiver waives all cancellation fees outlined (except in Extreme Circumstances*), provided we are notified of cancellation before your tour departs. The cost is $400 per person.
  
  This Waiver is not insurance; it does not cover airline penalties, luggage damage, personal injury, or protect travel agent commissions. The advantage of this waiver is that you may cancel regardless of reason, without written notice. Should you wish protection beyond our Cancellation Fee Waiver, your travel agent will recommend insurance companies.
  
  This optional Cancellation Fee Waiver must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included with initial payment. It assures a full refund of land tour costs received by Tauck, except for the cost of the Cancellation Fee Waiver and any extra fees resulting from partial room cancellation.
  
  *Extreme Circumstances: In the event of an act of God, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, accident, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other event or circumstance beyond our control that contributes to or results in cancellation rates above our historical cancellation rates in the absence of such event or occurrence, Tauck reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Tauck journey.
  
  If You Have to Cancel
  
  Cancellations Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. Therefore, the following fees apply.
  
  Guests choosing to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection will incur cancellation penalties of $490 per person regardless of cancellation date prior to tour departure date.
  
  Guests choosing to purchase Tauck’s Cancellation Fee Waiver will incur cancellation penalties of $400 per person regardless of cancellation date prior to tour departure date.
  
  Guests choosing not to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:
  
  

  60 days or more before departure
  $600 per person
  
  59-8 days before departure
  $1250 per person
  
  7-1 days before departure
  $2000 per person
  

  
  Time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office.
  
  In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.
  
  Tour Interruption Fees – If you have to interrupt your tour en route, you may be entitled to a refund of land tour costs if it exceeds 24 hours; certain restrictions apply. Such refunds are based upon the number of overnights missed less $40 per day for unused transportation and other fixed expenses.
  
  Partial Room Cancellation – A person canceling or leaving a tour while a roommate remains constitutes a cancellation of one type of accommodation and rebooking of another type of accommodation. The price charged the remaining person is the new, higher price for the new accommodation.
  
  Click here to download our complete Description of Coverage.
  
  

• Additional Information

  Airline Security Measures –
  
  If you are traveling from the U.S., the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program requires that your name, as it appears on your domestic or international airline ticket, must precisely match your name as it appears on the government-issued photo ID (i.e., passport or driver’s license) that you present during security screening. The ID name must also match any additional airline data, such as frequent-flyer information. For example, if you present your driver's license to security and it says John T. Smith, your ticket must also say John T. Smith, not John Thomas Smith, Jack Smith, or any other variant. Your date-of-birth and gender information provided to the airline must also match your passport.
  
  If you make your air travel arrangements through us, please ensure that the name you provide us precisely matches your name as shown on the identification you will use while traveling. If you make your own airline reservations, please ensure that the airline has the correct information.
  
  For more information on the Secure Flight program, please visit the TSA website by clicking here.
  
  If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S., you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.
  
  Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.
  
  Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through us for travel originating in the United States. By using our air services, you agree that we, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, are acting only as your agent and are not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by us. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline only, even if purchased through us. We are not liable for, and do not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). We must handle ticketing for our special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Our air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a one of our tours. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air booking before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.
  
  Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious and public holidays locally observed.You may wish to log on to Wikipedia to view a list of holidays by country by clicking here.
  
  Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – We pledge to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. We reserve the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by us. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of publication.
  
  Journey Start and End Times – The tour begins at 5:30 PM at The Langham Melbourne on the first day of the tour. When making flight arrangements, please allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends when you check out of the Langham Hotel, Auckland on the last day of the tour. Each carrier and each airport has different rules regarding how early you must arrive for flight check in. Please contact your individual carrier for this information.
  
  Membership will be granted to all persons. We reserve the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.
  
  Photography and Video on Tour – Occasionally, we will use photographs and / or video taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for print, Internet and other media promotional purposes. If you prefer that your image not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

• Preparing to Go

  Travel Document Requirements –
  
  If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay for entry into Australia and New Zealand. Australia also requires a visa.
  
  If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Australia and of New Zealand to determine what travel documentation is required other than the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visa mentioned below.
  
  As a courtesy to our all our guests traveling to Australia, we will facilitate the visa process. You will receive an application for an ETA Visa. The visa is required for travelers visiting Australia for up to three months within one twelve month period. We will send out the application with the “Summary of Purchase” package either to you directly, if you booked the tour through us, or to your travel agent. At this time, we do not charge for this service or for the visa itself.
  
  We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

  Travel with Children –
  
  Age Recommendations ― Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, we have a minimum recommended age for each journey to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.
  
  Babysitting ― Our journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. If you require babysitting services, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer on-site babysitting services; however, babysitting services may not be available at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.
  
  Safety and Welfare Responsibility ― We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with us, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.
  
  Special Travel Documentation for Children
  Authorization for Travel
  
  If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so. CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.
  
  If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (parent deceased, sole custody, etc.), other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, or a death certificate, will be useful.
  
  Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, we require you to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information may be obtained from a country’s consulate or embassy.
  
  Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment
  
  In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents (including other pertinent documents as cited above) authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

  Children who are U.S. citizens must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the completion of the journey.

  We are not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by the improper documentation of any guest, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.
  
  Air Conditioning – All of the hotels and the motor coaches used on this tour are air conditioned for your comfort.

  ATM and Credit Cards - We recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing on your journey to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. We also recommend that you make a photocopy of the front and back of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.
  
  Clothing and Packing - As you prepare for travel "Down Under", select a wardrobe that is adaptable. Many days are spent outside or in transit. Therefore, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Occasionally cool weather will require warmer “layered” clothing.
  
  This itinerary includes accommodations in award-winning hotels and meals in many fine restaurants. For the welcome and farewell dinners, you may wish to dress more formally. On all other nights resort wear is suggested.
  
  Laundry service, including self-service facilities in some hotels, is available on this tour. Additionally, all the hotel rooms are outfitted with hair dryers. Irons and ironing boards are available upon request.
  
  We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription, or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.
  
  We recommend you pack the following items for your journey:

  • Comfortable, cotton clothing
  • Resort wear
  • Swimwear
  • Gym wear
  • Sunglasses, sunhat and sunscreen
  • Light rain-repellent jacket
  • Insect repellent
  • Travel alarm
  • Collapsible umbrella
  • A pair of sturdy, yet comfortable, pre-worn walking shoes for uneven terrain
  • Binoculars
  • Camera, film, memory cards, batteries and other photography accessories
  • Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

  Elevation - The maximum elevation on this itinerary is 3,000 ft (914 m).
  
  Health - You should be in good health and able to walk moderate to significant distances over varied terrain. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Pack sturdy, comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in in order to appreciate fully the challenging terrain of the beaches, rainforests and outback.
  
  We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.
  
  To protect people from the health effects of second-hand smoke, smoking in all hospitality venues, including bars, restaurants, cafés, and casinos, is prohibited in New Zealand. If you smoke, please remember to smoke outside.
  
  If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

  Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.
  
  If you are a resident of the U.S. traveling internationally,  no vaccinations are currently required for entry into Australia and New Zealand; however, an International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required when entering Australia if you arrive from an infected area within 5 days. For complete vaccination information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website by clicking here.
  
  If you are a resident of another country traveling internationally, please contact an embassy or consulate of Australia and of New Zealand to determine what vaccinations may be required for your travel.
  
  Luggage Restrictions –
  
  Specific Luggage Restrictions for this Tour
  
  Due to strictly enforced weight restrictions, checked luggage weight must not exceed 50 lbs. Luggage exceeding the allowable weight is subject to excess luggage charges which can result in a considerable additional expense. Guests are permitted to only 1 piece of checked luggage. Hand luggage may not weigh more than 15 lbs (6.8 kg), and the maximum dimensions are 20 x 15 x 10" (50.8 x 38.1 x 25.4cm) (including all wheels, handles, etc). If these dimensions are exceeded, the carry-on may be checked at the gate. Airport regulations require that passengers handle their own luggage through customs.

  Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, we cannot be held liable for the accuracy of the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers. You may wish to consult the website, luggagelimits.com, by clicking here.
  
  We cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.
  
  For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.
  
  Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home!

   

• Destination Information

  Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel and group functions, or when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually many opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.
  
  Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your cell phone service extends to Australia and New Zealand.
  
  Currency and Exchange Rates - For the best exchange rates, we suggest using ATMs, which are widely located throughout Australia and New Zealand, and major credit cards. Although it is not necessary for you to exchange money prior to your arrival in Australia or in New Zealand, it may be useful to have a small amount of local currency with you when you arrive. If upon arrival you require local currency, you can visit one of the many currency exchange facilities at the airport, use an ATM, or exchange currency at your hotel.
  
  To obtain the latest currency exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website, oanda.com, by clicking here.
  
  Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Each country we visit has its own customs clearing process. You should familiarize yourself with each country’s specific required declarations before you travel. In general, you are not permitted to bring live plants, fresh fruits and other produce items into most countries. You may find additional information by visiting VisaHQ.com by clicking here.
  
  If you are a U.S. resident traveling internationally who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, you are entitled to a duty-free exemption based on the total value of merchandise purchase abroad, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the U.S. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled Know Before You Go.
  
  If you are a resident of another country traveling internationally, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.
  
  Many countries levy Value Added Taxes (VAT) on consumer goods and services. (The tax rate may be higher for luxury items and lower for basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union) in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.
  
  Electrical Current – The electrical current in Australia is 220-240 V, 50 Hz, AC, and uses a three-pin power outlet. If your appliances do not conform to this standard, you may need a voltage converter and plug adapter.

  Internet Access - is available as listed below:
  

  The Langham Melbourne – High Speed Internet in rooms for a fee
  Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock – Wifi available in lobby for a fee
  Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa – Wireless Internet available in rooms
  InterContinental Sydney – Broadband cable in all rooms - No Wi-Fi in rooms
  The Langham Auckland – Broadband cable in all rooms – Wifi only in public areas for a fee - Complimentary computer terminals on levels 5 & 6
  Copthorne Hotel Wellington, Oriental Bay – Wi-FI available in rooms for a fee
  Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas – Wireless Internet available in rooms
  Crowne Plaza Queenstown – Broadboard available in rooms (wifi not good in rooms – but available in public areas) for a fee

  Time Zones – Sydney, Australia, is 10 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time); Auckland, New Zealand, is 12 hours ahead. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, timeanddate.com, by clicking here.
  
  Weather - The seasons in Australia and New Zealand are opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. During the months of October through May, temperatures typically average 70-90 ºF (21-32 ºC) in Australia and 60-75 ºF (16-24 ºC) in New Zealand. During the months of June through September, temperatures average 40-60 ºF (4-16 ºC) in Australia and 50 ºF (10 ºC) in New Zealand. In Northern Australia, you will find tropical weather all year round. 

  To determine current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.

   

  Average Temperature
  	Cairns, Australia		Melbourne, Australia
  Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
  January	89 / 74	32 / 23	78 / 57	26 / 14
  February	88 / 75	31 / 24	78 / 58	26 / 14
  March	87 / 72	31 / 22	75 / 55	24 / 13
  April	84 / 71	29 / 22	68 / 51	20 / 11
  May	81 / 68	27 / 20	62 / 47	17 / 8
  June	78 / 65	26 / 18	57 / 44	14 / 7
  July	77 / 62	25 / 17	56 / 42	13 / 6
  August	80 / 64	27 / 18	59 / 44	15 / 7
  September	82 / 66	28 / 19	63 / 46	17 / 8
  October	85 / 69	29 / 21	67 / 49	19 / 9
  November	87 / 72	31 / 22	71 / 51	22 / 11
  December	88 / 74	31 / 23	75 / 55	24 / 13
  	Auckland, New Zealand		Queenstown, New Zealand
  Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
  January	74 / 61	23 / 16	72 / 50	22 / 10
  February	75 / 63	24 / 17	68 / 48	20 / 9
  March	73 / 58	23 / 14	62 / 45	17 / 7
  April	68 / 56	20 / 13	60 / 43	16 / 6
  May	63 / 53	17 / 12	58 / 40	14 / 4
  June	59 / 51	15 / 11	54 / 36	12 / 2
  July	58 / 49	14 / 9	52 / 32	11 / 0
  August	59 / 47	15 / 8	50 / 33	10 / 1
  September	62 / 50	17 / 10	55 / 37	13 / 3
  October	64 / 52	18 / 11	61 / 42	16 / 6
  November	68 / 55	20 / 13	63 / 45	17 / 7
  December	71 / 60	22 / 16	69 / 49	21 / 9