If you are inspired by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and baby Prince George's, royal visit to venture Down Under as they are for the next few weeks, then how about exploring New Zealand or Australia by train with escorted tours specialist, Great Rail Journeys?

Alex Roberts, Marketing & Sales Director at Great Rail Journeys says, “Wherever Kate and William, and now Prince George, travel abroad captures everyone's imagination and we are certain that spectacular New Zealand and Australia will be no exception.  But whilst the Royal Family are understandably on a tightly managed schedule our tours offer some of the great highlights that the Royal trio will sample, but with the wonderful experience of exploring these beautiful countries by rail.”

Great Rail Journeys has put together tours which highlight the best of Australia and New Zealand and feature some of the places the Royal Family trio will visit on their three week official tour.  For example, in Australia, they will be visiting the Blue Mountains, Sydney, Uluru & the Red Centre plus Adelaide all of which are featured in Great Rail Journeys' 'Australia and the Ghan' tour. And in New Zealand their tour will feature Auckland, Dunedin, Queenstown, Wellington and Christchurch, all of which are also included in Great Rail Journeys' 'Adventures in New Zealand' tour, detailed below.  And for the explorers amongst you, on selected dates these stunning tours can be taken back to back to make a 44 day Antipodean Adventure.

The 'Adventures in New Zealand' http://www.greatrail.com/tours/adventures-in-new-zealand-.aspx#NZS4 tour is 22 days in total and is priced from £4,625 per person for departures on 2 November when the New Zealand climate is at its best.   The tour takes in the spectacular scenery and breathtaking views found in this 'youngest country on Earth' which showcases both New Zealand's North and South Islands.  

The price includes: return scheduled flights in Economy Class from London Heathrow to Auckland and Christchurch to London Heathrow (including flight taxes and charges); all rail, coach and ferry travel; 18 nights' hotel accommodation  on a room only basis; one lunch cruise and four dinners, a visit to the Waitangi Treaty House, Bay of Islands Cruise, guided city tour of Auckland and a rail journey on Glenbrook Vintage Railway; Visit to Moeraki boulders, a lake cruise and glow worm cave visit and a guided sightseeing tour of Queenstown; visits to Rotorua, Lady Knox Geyser, a trip to the International Antarctic Centre, a guided city tour of Wellington, a trip on the Taieri Gorge Railroad and the Kingston Flyer; scenic journey on the Interislander Ferry and a cruise on Milford Sound, plus scenic rail journeys on the Northern Explorer, TranzCoastal and the TranzAlpine Express, Transfers and luggage handling in New Zealand and the services of a professional Tour Manager throughout.  Single room prices include the supplement for single occupancy throughout and are priced at £1,095 per person.

Great Rail Journeys' 'Australia and the Ghan' http://www.greatrail.com/tours/australia-and-the-ghan-.aspx tour is also 22 days long and is priced from £6,075 per person for departures on 15 October.  This rail adventure takes in many of Australia's highlights including the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and the Blue Mountains. A train journey on the legendary Ghan from Alice Springs to Adelaide is a real highlight, and time to explore Melbourne and Sydney completes this holiday.

The price includes return scheduled flights in Economy Class from London Heathrow to Cairns, Cairns to Uluru and Sydney to London Heathrow, rail travel from Alice Springs to Sydney, 17 nights' hotel accommodation, one night on The Ghan in two-berth sleeper cabins with all meals included, four lunches and two dinners, full day excursions to the Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda Scenic Railway, Barossa Valley, Melbourne guided city tour and Puffing Billy, the Great Ocean Road and the Blue Mountains, half day excursions to Uluru including dinner under the stars, a 'Sunrise & Olga' tour, Kings Canyon, a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and School of the Air, Adelaide guided city tour, Phillip Island and a cruise around Sydney Harbour, transfers in Australia, Australian entry visa, flight taxes and charges and the services of a professional Tour Manager throughout.  Single room prices include the supplement for single accommodation throughout and are priced at £1,500 per person.
 
For bookings or further information call Great Rail Journeys on 01904 521 980 or visit  www.GreatRail.com

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For press information please contact:

Sarah Lloyd-Morrison

Tel: 07971411212

Email: sarah@magentapublicrelations.co.uk