Exploring Wild Frontiers Down Under

Arrive in Adelaide and enjoy a private transfer to Sequoia Lodge, perched above the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills. Rolling vineyards, German heritage towns, and cool-climate wines define the region, which is just 20 minutes from the city. Here, misty valleys, artisan producers, award-winning wineries, and forested trails wait to be explored. Your adults-only retreat blends Japanese onsen-like hot pools with curated on-site experiences. Unwind in your suite's sunken lounge or enjoy a welcome drink on the deck.  

Hop on an e-bike and cruise through the bucolic green valleys to explore the Adelaide Hills wineries. Cycle through Hahndorf, a historic German town, taking in the charming main street and stopping for a cheese tasting at Udder Delights. Pick your own sweet, fresh strawberries at Beerenberg Farm, then set out for wine tastings at Shaw + Smith and The Lane Vineyard. Return to the lodge for a soak in the spring-fed hot pools. 

From the Adelaide Hills, fly to the Arkaba Conservancy, a beautiful heritage property in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia's outback. The region offers staggering landscapes and intimate wildlife encounters—think red rock gorges, fossil-studded escarpments, and grassy plains dotted with eucalyptus trees. On this 60,000-acre private reserve, kangaroos outnumber people, offering plenty of opportunity to spot these iconic Aussie animals.

Once a working sheep station, the Arkaba Conservancy is an incredible conservation success story, rewilded over decades and now home to a thriving ecosystem. From your remote and idyllic homebase at the homestead, rumble along red dirt roads on open-top safari drives, keeping your eyes peeled for kangaroos and wallabies, watch wildlife from the hide, and head out on outback hikes—or opt for an overnight outback adventure on the Arkaba Walk. Evenings bring communal dining, fireside drinks, and stargazing under dark skies.  

Fly to Melbourne and check into 1 Hotel, a sustainable riverside property that brings nature indoors. With laneway cafes, historic markets, and a thriving arts scene, Melbourne is a city that rewards curious travelers with an appreciation for local culture. Settle in and explore the historic South Wharf district before dinner. 

Discover hidden corners and under-the-radar highlights on a full-day Melbourne city tour, exploring boroughs and laneways full of rooftop bars and tucked-away artisan shops. Visit the St. Kilda, Docklands, Fitzroy, and Carlton neighborhoods before ending with a stroll through the city’s vibrant graffiti alleys. Next, spend a day in the countryside and indulge in a Yarra Valley cheese tasting—paired with award-winning, estate-grown wine, naturally. Chase a tasting with a delicious, locally sourced lunch at the renowned, family owned De Bortoli Estate. 

Today, a private transfer takes you from Melbourne to Great Otway National Park, a landscape where the ocean meets the rainforest. The park is also home to the 27-mile Twelve Apostles Signature Walk, one of the Great Walks of Australia. Tackle the first section, a three-hour coastline trek along Blanket Bay, and celebrate with a glass of sparkling as you arrive at your private lodge.  

Over the next two days, you’ll hike along the trail’s sandy beaches, undulating plains, and steep forested ridges, keeping your eyes peeled for abundant native wildlife—including fur seals, wallabies, and koalas—and shipwreck ruins while learning about the region’s history from your guide. Evenings are spent unwinding at the lodge in your contemporary eco-villa, a luxurious place to land after a day of hiking, boasting views of the lush, green forest from every window. Savorchef-prepared meals, foot spas, and fireside wine.

It’s time to leave Australia and continue your adventure in New Zealand. Catch a flight from Melbourne to Christchurch. Known as the Garden City, Christchurch’s botanical gardens, riverside markets, and Gothic Revival architecture make it a perfect overnight stop. Arrive and check into The Observatory Hotel, a historic boutique property housed in a 19th-century observatory tower that was once part of Canterbury College. Unwind in the Library Bar or explore the nearby Botanic Gardens.  

Your private driver will transfer you from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass National Park, the gateway to New Zealand’s Southern Alps, where you’ll check into Flockhill Lodge. Since 1857, Flockhill has been a working sheep station with 36,000 acres of mountains, forested slopes, winding streams, and pasture. Today, it’s also one of New Zealand’s most spectacular properties. Remote and rugged, rivers and looming peaks frame this luxurious alpine escape.  

Over the next two days, immerse yourself in station life. Join shepherds and their dogs on a traditional sheep muster, saddle up and venture into the wilderness on horseback, and hike through a dramatic boulder landscape. This exclusive guided trek leads you across rolling tussock hills and past the iconic boulders, whose location was famously named the "spiritual centre of the universe" by the Dalai Lama when he visited. Evenings are spent unwinding fireside and stargazing with a telescope and hot toddy in hand under brilliant skies. 

Get a bird’s eye view of the Southern Alps from a helicopter as you’re transferred from Flockhill back to Christchurch, then fly onwards to Napier in Hawke’s Bay. New Zealand’s oldest wine region blends Art Deco architecture with golden vineyards and orchard-draped hills. In Napier, collect your car, and settle into Craggy Range Vineyard Cottages. Enjoy a full-day private tour of wineries, artist studios, local farms, and historic towns.  

Hike up the North Island’s beloved Te Mata Peak and explore this Hawke’s Bay landmark with a local guide who’s full of stories about local history, flora and fauna, and the region’s culture. After, drive to Taupo and check into the riverside Huka Lodge, one of New Zealand’s most iconic luxury stays. At the heart of the North Island, the Lake Taupo region is a geothermal and freshwater wonderland, ideal for fishing, hiking, and heli-adventures.  

Try your hand at fly fishing in New Zealand on a guided backcountry adventure. At the end of a day in the fresh air, return to the lodge for a massage and riverside aperitif. The following day, take to the skies on a full-day helicopter adventure, soaring over herds of wild horses thundering across geothermal valleys. Return to Lake Taupō along mountain ranges seething with volcanic activity and over the vast craters of the Tongariro National Park. Land at a secluded bay for a private lake cruise and lunch, with the chance to try trout fishing along the way.

Drive several hours north to the Coromandel Peninsula today. Known for its white-sand beaches and forested mountains, the Coromandel is laid-back and picturesque. Enjoy lunch on arrival and check in at Mercury Ridge, an Italian-style villa perched above Cooks Beach. Relax in natural hot springs, stroll along the beach, or paddle a kayak to iconic Cathedral Cove.

Check out at Mercury Ridge and drive to Auckland along roads that wind through the stunning coastal scenery of the Coromandel Peninsula.  On arrival in Auckland, you will return your rental car at the Auckland Airport and check in for your international flight home. You’ll leave with the dust of the Australian Outback in your shoes, the wind of New Zealand’s mountains in your hair, and a deep, quiet wonder from your journey through Oceania.