Being busy professionals, Amanda and I knew that we wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand for our next vacation, but we didn’t have time to plan out all of the details.  While searching online, we noticed that there were several great tour packages available that would meet our needs and the best were provided by Collette tours.  When we read the itineraries and descriptions for the South Pacific Wonders tour, we knew we had our tour of choice.

This was a huge relief for me, because I had more important things to worry about.  The real reason for my trip was that I planned to ask Amanda to marry me.  You can imagine the anxiety that comes along with carrying an engagement ring 9,000 miles across the globe. While I had my energy focused on solidifying our future together, we left the rest up to Collette.

Good news: she said yes! Now we had a fortnight of touring relaxation in front of us in Cairns, Sydney, and the South Island of New Zealand.  When Joani (our fantastic tour guide) found out about our recent engagement, she went out of her way to show us great hospitality.  Champagne, hotel upgrades, you name it – Joani went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure we had a great time.

And how couldn’t you have a great time when you are snorkeling and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, visiting the Sydney Opera House, taking a Helicopter ride to the top of a glacier, Fjord cruises and soaking in the sights of Middle Earth.

Our time in Australia and New Zealand was truly one for the ages.  We will always remember the beauty of the South Pacific and the hospitality we witnessed throughout our tour.

About the author: Jeff Sauer is a partner in a Minnesota Online Marketing company and has been traveling internationally since his senior year in college.  He has been blogging about his experiences on his personal travel blog for nearly a decade.  Jeff and Amanda are planning their marriage for 2012 at a winery in Sonoma Valley, CA.  They are deciding whether to honeymoon in Bora Bora or Mauritius.  While not traveling, Jeff serves on the board of directors for two non-profits, is an avid Minnesota Twins fan and loves gourmet cooking with Amanda.  Amanda enjoys cooking and studying international tax code.

Inside the pages of the Exotics brochure are 28 tours to some of the world’s most sought out destinations including Namibia, Israel, Thailand, China, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica and the South Pacific.

New tours featured in the Exotics brochure include Collette’s Israel: A Journey to the Holy Land; Flavors of Thailand; The Wonders of South America; Avenue of the Volcanoes; and Three Kingdoms of Indochina, a 19-day Explorations tour which travels with no more than 28 passengers.

The brochure is available in print and  an e-brochure can soon be found online at http://www.collettevacations.com/ebrochure.cfm.

With competitive pricing and companion air offers on select Australia and New Zealand tours, Collette’s Exotics brochure is definitely worth taking a look at!

The Aussie & Kiwi Experience, our small group Australia and New Zealand package, is packed with highlights.  This tour to the “lands down under” offers an unparalleled cultural adventure.

1. Overnight aboard the Sunlander Train.
2. Stay two nights in the renowned wine region, the Barossa Valley.
3. Travel to Fraser Island, the world’s  largest sand island.
4. Immerse yourself in the indigenous culture on a rainforest walk.
5. Experience a day in the life of an ordinary New Zealander  when you dine with a family in their home.
6. Spend the night at the Bayview Chateau Tongariro in Tongariro National Park.
7. Visit a Maori Village and witness how the Maoris keep their culture alive.
8. Taste the best wine of New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay region.
9. Head to the outer Great Barrier Reef aboard a high-speed catamaran for a day on Green Island
10. Raise your glass for a champagne toast as you watch Uluru (Ayers Rock) change color with the fading sun light.

Plus, set foot on famed Bondi Beach and explore the rigorous training lifeguards must go through during your “surfing lesson.”

Find out what Bondi is really like…

Wanda Leas, one of our seasoned Tour Managers, has been a Tour Manager for over 25 years. She leads tours to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and throughout the USA, has traveled to 28 countries and lived in 25 of them. She wants to take you on a virtual trip through some of her favorite parts of New Zealand!

New Zealand is my favorite place in the world.

I love to see the wonder in the eyes of those travelers seeing NZ’s beauty for the first time. Putting on my tour manager cap, I’d love to show this place to you. Pretend we’re there.

New Zealand is comprised of three major islands. The North Island is more industrial; the South Island is more agricultural; and Stewart Island is more protected due to the large populations of Kiwi, the national bird.

“The City of Sails.”

Auckland is a city with countless sights to see: the American Cup Village, Maritime Museum, some art galleries, and the Sky Tower among them. An extinct volcano blends with the landscape here – Mt. Eden.

The Bay of Islands is where the country began; touring Paihia and Waitangi Treaty grounds, you’ll learn how the country got its start. Waitangi is where Captain James Cook and Chiefs of the local Maori tribes signed the Waitangi Treaty, in 1840 blending the two cultures of the British Crown and Maori together. The Treaty is the linchpin of race relations in New Zealand today.

Our virtual  tour moves on to Rotorua, home to mineral springs and many spas. Our scenery shifts, becoming filled with lovely rolling hills and historic, extinct volcanoes. A highlight for many is a visit with a Kiwi family for the night. Travelers love the opportunity to learn all about the culture and daily life of New Zealanders over a warm, home hosted dinner.

Wellington, the San Francisco of the South Pacific.

Until 1865, Auckland was New Zealand’s capital city. Now Wellington holds the title – and much beauty to go with it.  Huka Falls is where you’ll find nature at its best, with water that’s clear and turquoise.

Leaving the North Island behind – beauty surrounds and overpowers. Crossing Cook Strait, we enter the South Island. On a clear day, the water sparkles like diamonds dancing on waves. Enter Christchurch – the most English city in New Zealand. A wine tasting is a great way to start our adventure on the South Island.

The next morning, climb aboard the Tranz Alpine Train to ride across the Canterbury Plains, some of the most beautiful farmland in the country. Our train winds up into the Southern Alps, where sheep stations flourish, and pristine rivers of glacier runoff flow through the mountains. The beautiful turquoise of the water against the golden hills and white-capped peaks offers an awe-inspiring sight.

Queenstown welcomes you.

The city known as New Zealand’s outdoor adventure capital. If jet boating, paragliding, parasailing or bungee jumping inspires the adventurer inside you, take advantage of the activities offered here. There’s plenty of beauty to entertain those who want to stay grounded, as well. The Queenstown Gardens are lovely; boutique-browsing is a must and there are galleries to check out.

Perhaps we’ll opt to take “A Journey Through Middle Earth.” Let’s experience the South Island’s Tolkienesque landscape as you explore the cinematic backdrop that brought The Lord of the Rings to life on the silver screen.

Milford Sound, a must-see for anyone visiting New Zealand.

Milford Sound, a breathtaking fjord and a World Heritage Site, never fails to inspire visitors. A leisurely cruise takes us deep into the majestic scenery. Travel around Lake Wakatipu, through farmland, sheep and deer country, overnighting on the banks of Lake Te Anau.

Mount Cook is the highest mountain in NZ at about 12,000 feet. Our journey to Mount Cook takes us through fruit orchards and vineyard country – where we stop and enjoy a sample.

And the adventures just continue in this amazing country – Auckland, Bay of Islands, Wellington, the Franz Josef Glacier Region, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mt. Cook, Christchurch… and so much more. Extinct volcanoes, famous mountain chains that set Academy Award winning scenes, fjords, wildlife, turquoise waters, romantic islands… this is New Zealand.

When it is time to go home, you have so much more than you came with – new friends and many fond memories of an adventure you will never forget. Many people are concerned about the long flight to NZ but the only concern you’ll have when its time to leave is how soon it’ll be before you can return.

To live your own New Zealand adventure check out: Exploring New Zealand.

Don't Forget to ask about the Fiji optional extension!

• The Canadian Rockies – From the Icefields Parkway to spectacular resorts, this locale has something for everyone.
• Mt. Cook National Park (New Zealand) – Our sales team just got back from NZ. We know because we go that this is a stunning place to visit.
• Yellowstone – See it on our National Parks tour or with the kids on The Wild West and Yellowstone Family Adventure.
• The Great Barrier Reef – Part of several Australia and New Zealand packages. One of those big time bucket-list items.
• The Taj Mahal – India’s gem, along with the Pyramids of Giza, is right up there on the man-made wonders totem pole. Of course, I’d put Fenway Park on that list too!

For more information on all these tours visit collettevacations.com

Just another day at the office?

Oh, the perks of working at a travel company… there are many but travel to New Zealand has got to rank up there with the best of them – unless you dislike long flights.

Collette Vacations’ bi-annual global sales meeting was held in New Zealand from May 9 – 19, 2011, and100 or so Collette employees made the journey, many for the first time. Collette believes in getting its sales force of 70+ District Sales Managers and office staff out to destinations they might not have traveled to before and exposing them to the sights that our passengers see on tour. It’s not just meetings in a hotel as the photo of our group enjoying(?) a thrilling boat ride on the Shotover River in Queenstown illustrates. This is definately NOT a typical day at the office.

Collette’s last sales meeting was held in Israel and Jordan.

Dan Sullivan, Collette president and CEO, said upon returning, “For anyone left wondering about the state of New Zealand’s South Island in light of the earthquake in Christchurch, everything is business as usual and travelers should have no reservations about going here.  It’s a fabulous destination and our passengers agree – Collette’s revenue from travel to Australia and New Zealand is up 49% for 2011.”

Maybe that’s why our passengers are always raving about the Sydney Harbour dinner cruise.

Mix a beautiful skyline and two of Australia’s most famous icons –  the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge – and you have one of those inclusions that sets Collette apart.

Look for it on our Australia and New Zealand tours:

• South Pacific Wonders
• From the Outback to the Glaciers
• Journey to the South Pacific
• The Aussie & Kiwi Experience

If you need more convincing, here are 5 great highlights from this Australia and New Zealand tour.

• Sail past the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House on a Sydney Harbour dinner cruise.
• Learn to throw a boomerang and play the didgeridoo during an interactive lesson lead by the local Aboriginals!
• Search for crocodile in their natural habitat at the world-famous Hartley’s Crocodile Farm.
• Explore the the Great Barrier Reef from a glass bottom boat or your own goggles.
• Cruise the fjords of New Zealand’s Milford Sound.

PS - Don’t underestimate this cute Australian icon.

Travel from the rugged Outback to the Sydney Opera House and all the way to New Zealand’s Franz Josef Glacier on this amazing escorted adventure.