Sydney Opera and Birding Tour

The Australia and New Zealand Grand Tour

This is Part 1 of the Grand Tour

Part 1 is September 14 - 20, 2026, 7-day tour in the Sydney, Australia area

Part 2 is September 20 – 29, 2026, 10-day tour of New South Wales

Part 3 is September 29 – October 10, 2026, 12-day tour to New Zealand

If you sign up for all three tours, it is a total of 27 days because there are two days that will overlap. 

Part 1, The Sydney Opera and Birding Festival:  This will be a 7-day tour which starts and ends in Sydney, Australia.  We will stay at the Sir Stamford at Circular Quay Hotel for 6-nights.  This hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Sydney Opera House and an excellent location for daytime activities. There will be 5-nights of evening events*. During the day we will go birding in and around the Sydney area, and travel to birding areas that are within a 1-hour drive from Sydney.

*Evening Events:  The Sydney Opera has not released their schedule for September 2026.  When they do, we will update the webpage itinerary to include the specific performance.  Typically during the month of September, the opera house performs two different operas each week,  On the other nights there are performances such as the symphony, plays, and special events.  This tour includes 5-nights of live performances.

**Not an Opera Fan?  If you are not an opera lover, you can sign up for the daytime activities without the opera, there is a price deduction.

Part 2:  We will travel through New South Whales, starting and ending in Sydney, making a loop through the countryside for a 10-day tour of birding.  Please see our New South Wales Tour page for more details.

Part 3:  This will be a 12-day tour of New Zealand.  The tour starts in Christchurch, New Zealand (south island) and ends in Auckland (north island).  Please see our New Zealand Tour page for more details.

Below you will find the details of Part 1

• Travel Dates: September 14 - 20, 2026
• Group Size: 5 travelers, spots left = 4
• Trip Length: 7 days
• Rates:   Rate per person = $3,150- $4,350** (based on double occupancy, an extra $1,300 for single)
• Rates include:  Lodging, breakfast, lunch on days 2 - 6, dinner on days 2 - 6, daily birding tours, airport transfer to/from Sydney, tickets for five evening performances, basic travel insurance.
• Not included: Airfare to the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), snacks, alcohol, lunch on days 1 and 7, dinner on days 1 and 7, and trip cancelation insurance.
• Adventure level:  Easy, please check the "Welcome" page for definition
• Reservations: To reserve a spot on the trip, a non-refundable 50% deposit is required, and the non-refundable balance is due six months prior to the trip.  

**Rates:  $3,150 is for joining the tour and attending only the daytime birding tours.  $4,350 includes the birding tours, plus 5-nights of evening performances.

2026 Itinerary

September 14:  Arrival at the Sydney Airport

• Shuttle transfer from the Sydney Airport (SYD) to the Sir Stamford Circular Quay Hotel where we will stay for the next 6-nights.  The Sydney Airport is a 20-minute drive from our lodging.
• No activities for the day.  Lunch and Dinner on your own. 

September 15:  Birding and Opera

• Morning and afternoon birding sites close to the hotel:  Royal Botanic Gardens complex and parks, Sydney Harbor, Barangaroo Reserve, Hyde Park, and Rushcutters Bay Park.
• Evening Event at the Opera House:  TBD

September 16:  Birding and Opera

• Morning and afternoon birding sites south of the city within a 1-hour drive:  Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Towra Point Nature Reserve, Royal National Park, and points in between.
• Evening Event at the Opera House: TBD

September 17:  Birding and Opera

• Morning and afternoon birding sites north of the city within a 1-hour drive:  Most of the day will be spent in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park with stops in the vicinity and along the coast.
• Evening Event at the Opera House: TBD

September 18:  Birding and Opera

• Morning and afternoon birding sites west of the city within a 1-hour drive:  Blue Mountains National Park is a large area with many great birding locations.  Specific stops for the day will depend on recent bird sightings and additional stops along the way will be determined by our travel route for the day.
• Evening Event at the Opera House: TBD

September 19: Birding and Opera

• Morning and afternoon birding sites east of the city within a 1-hour drive: The city of Sydney is located in a well-protected harbor west of the coastline.  There are two peninsulas that create the bay.  In the morning we will bird Sydney Harbour National Park and the Grotto Point lighthouse and trails. In the afternoon we will bird Centennial Park and Hornby Lighthouse and trails.  
• Evening Event at the Opera House: TBD

September 20:  Fly home or stay for Part 2

• If you choose to stay for the Part 2 tour, this day you will be on your own because some guests might be leaving, and some guests might be arriving, and that will be the activity for the day while we get reorganized in between tours.
• Your hotel will be included for the night and breakfast, but lunch and dinner are not included.