Australia + New Zealand

July 1 – 13, 2026 · Allston + Donnie
Melbourne Sydney New Zealand

13 days · 3 legs · Southern-hemisphere winter

Keep in Mind

  • TodayNIGHT IN — takeaway/delivery (Uber Eats · DoorDash · Delivereasy). Top pick: Terrace Kitchen takeaway — 07 460 1229. Order by ~8 PM.
  • TomorrowDEPART ROTORUA 7:15 AM — not 7:45. Hertz return is at the DOMESTIC precinct — transfer to International adds 25–40 min.
  • TomorrowCheck-in = ZONE B — a standard ground-floor zone, not the Zone T pavilion. Check in + drop both bags in one stop. ⚠️ Confirm the bag-drop cutoff (~60–90 min prior) in the United app.
  • TomorrowBag drop is STILL required even though you're checked in online (~60 min cutoff).
  • TomorrowDECLARE ALL FOOD at SFO — Tim Tams and the emu/kangaroo/crocodile jerky. ✅ It will most likely clear (APHIS allows commercially-packaged, shelf-stable meat/poultry). 🔑 Declaring is a free option — even if refused, no penalty. Not declaring = $300–1,000 + Global Entry revocation risk. 🎒 Keep the food in your CARRY-ON (sealed, original packaging) — not the checked bag.
See the full Keep in Mind list on the Full Itinerary page

Leg 1 — Melbourne

Jul 3 – 6 · 3 nights · flights: UA60 (SFO→MEL)

MEL
Wed Jul 1 In flight

Depart San Francisco (SFO) — evening departure

UA60 · SFO → MEL · overnight
Departure day
Thu Jul 2 In flight

In flight — UA60 over the Pacific

Long-haul
Fri Jul 3 MEL Night 1

Arrive Melbourne (~8 AM) — settle in, CBD ease-in

Arrival First Melbourne meal
Sat Jul 4 MEL Night 2

Phillip Island — San Remo → Koalas → Nobbies → Penguin Parade

San Remo pelican feeding Koala Conservation Reserve Nobbies boardwalk Penguin Parade · 5:31pm sunset Optional: Firelight Festival, Docklands
Sun Jul 5 MEL Night 3

Melbourne — market, Shrine & NGV

Queen Vic Market Shrine + NGV Firelight (final night)

Leg 2 — Sydney

Jul 6 – 10 · 4 nights · flight: JQ534 (MEL→SYD)

SYD
Mon Jul 6 SYD Night 1

Fly Melbourne → Sydney, check in · evening Barangaroo Reserve walk & Chinatown dinner option

JQ534 · MEL → SYD · ~11:00 AM
Inter-city flight Barangaroo Reserve Chinatown / Spice Alley
Tue Jul 7 SYD Night 2

AM whale-watching cruise & BridgeMuseum — The Rocks, Royal Botanic Garden, Manly ferry

Whale-watching cruise BridgeMuseum The Rocks MCA + Observatory Botanic Garden Manly ferry
Wed Jul 8 SYD Night 3

Paddy’s Markets & Darling Square shopping; matcha; Bondi Beach afternoon; Cafe Sydney dinner

Paddy’s Markets Matcha-Ya Bondi Beach Cafe Sydney
Thu Jul 9 SYD Night 4

Pack in the AM · Millers Point + The Rocks + Royal Botanic Garden walk · ARIA pre-theatre dinner (booked) · evening: Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House

Sydney Symphony at Opera House Beilman / Mendelssohn The Rocks + Botanic Garden walk

Leg 3 — New Zealand

Jul 10 – 13 · 3 nights · flights: QF141 (SYD→AKL) · UA916 (AKL→SFO)

NZ
Fri Jul 10 NZ Night 1

Fly Sydney → Auckland · Matariki afternoon in the city (All Blacks + Weta) → drive to Hamilton

QF141 · SYD 07:10 → AKL 12:20 · 🌌 Matariki (NZ public holiday)
All Blacks Experience Weta Workshop Unleashed SkyCity Matariki Night Markets Drive to Hamilton
Sat Jul 11 NZ Night 2

Waitomo Glowworm Caves (morning) → Hobbiton (afternoon) → Rotorua · Matariki drone show (evening)

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Hobbiton Movie Set Aronui Matariki Drone Show Drive to Rotorua
Sun Jul 12 NZ Night 3

Rotorua — Zorb (11 AM) · lunch Atticus Finch · night in (takeaway) + pack → overnight Rotorua

Zorb Rotorua Night in · takeaway
Mon Jul 13 Homebound

Depart Auckland → San Francisco

UA916 · AKL ~1:50 PM → SFO
Drive Rotorua → Auckland (early AM, ~7:30) Return flight