Travel Club sponsors 2028 odyssey to the South Pacific
By Rossmoor Travel Club
In print on page 2B
The Rossmoor Travel Club invites anyone who has ever wanted to watch the sun set over Uluru, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, and cruise a New Zealand fjord all in one unforgettable journey to join for Overseas Adventure Travel’s “South Pacific Odyssey: Australia, the Outback, and New Zealand.” Travelers will visit Melbourne, Alice Springs, Cairns, Sydney, and the South and North Islands of New Zealand in this month-long adventure.
The journey begins in Melbourne for a welcome dinner and a visit to the Koorie Heritage Trust to learn about the region’s Aboriginal history and art. From there, the group heads deep into the country’s interior – Alice Springs, the historic Old Telegraph Station, and a night camping beneath the stars at Simpsons Gap.
The itinerary’s heart lies in the Red Centre: Kings Canyon’s dramatic walking trails, and two full days at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, to watch the sun set – and rise – over the ochre monolith that has been sacred to Aboriginal peoples for more than 20,000 years.
From the desert, the trip turns tropical. In Cairns, travelers wade for crabs at Cooya Beach, explore Mossman Gorge on the edge of the Daintree Rainforest, and sail to the Great Barrier Reef itself for a day of swimming and snorkeling above the coral – with an optional helicopter ride for those who want the reef’s full scale laid out beneath them.
A flight south brings the group to Sydney, where a guided tour of the iconic Opera House and a stroll through The Rocks district offer a dose of cosmopolitan polish before the adventure turns south across the Tasman Sea.
In New Zealand, the pace shifts from grand landmarks to quiet, personal encounters: paddling a traditional waka canoe down the Avon River in Christchurch, sharing a home-hosted dinner with locals, and visiting a working sheep farm in the Rubicon Valley for a candid conversation about the country’s “100% pure” reputation.
The scenery only grows more dramatic from there. In Queenstown, travelers cruise the glassy waters of Milford Sound and can opt for a jetboat ride on the Dart River. In Rotorua, they meet baby kiwis at the National Kiwi Hatchery, walk among giant redwoods, and are guided through a living Maori village by one of its own residents.
The odyssey closes in Auckland with a visit to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari – a conservation reserve reintroducing endangered native species – and a farewell dinner to toast a month of shared discovery before the flight home.
Departure is set for Oct. 18, 2028, returning Nov. 16, 2028. This adventure includes 27 nights of accommodations, six internal flights, 54 meals, and 30 small-group activities, all guided by a local O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader. Those wanting even more can add the “Undiscovered Tasmania” pretrip extension – seven nights exploring Hobart, Cradle Mountain and Launceston.
Contact Travel Club trip host June Miller at miller. junem@gmail.com or 1-541-554-4744 for more information. Brochures are available in the Travel Club mailbox in the Gateway Administration building or on the Rossmoortravelclub.com website.