Amazing Australia & Naturally New Zealand With Chef

The best time to visit New Zealand depends on your interests and what you want to experience. Its typically an all year round destination with October to May being the summer months and June to September being the colder winter months. 

Always carry layers, as it might get cold during evenings and mornings. Even in summer the weather is cold for us so do carry proper jackets, woolens, mufflers etc? Don't forget sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes. Check the weather for your specific destinations. It is suggested to carry umbrella or ponchos too. 

Avail of New Zealand visas by applying online. We do Visa process applications for our guests. We ensure a seamless application process to avail of a New Zealand Tourist Visa for Indians. The processing time is around 6 to 8 weeks. 

Firstly please note, to get New Zealand visa you need to have good IT returns, liquid assets and good travel history. 

Here are the general steps:

• Determine the Visa Type:

New Zealand tourist visas are typically issued under the subclass 600 category. There are different streams within this category, such as the Tourist stream, Sponsored Family stream, and Approved Destination Status stream. You should choose the one that best suits your purpose of visiting New Zealand.

• Eligibility Check:

Before applying, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria for the chosen visa category. Eligibility criteria may include financial requirements, health and character checks, and the genuine temporary entrant requirement.

Gather Required Documents:

• Prepare all necessary documents, which may include:

A valid passport with a validity of a minimum of six months beyond your intended stay.

Visa application form, which you can complete online on the official website.

Passport-sized photographs as per specific requirements.

Proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in New Zealand - like bank statements.

Travel itinerary, including flight and hotel bookings.

Proof of ties to India, like employment letters, property documents, or family connections.

Are any additional documents required for your specific visa stream?

• Send the Docs to us:

Once you have all documents ready, then you can share the same with us to process further. 

• Biometrics and Health Checks:

Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to undergo biometrics (fingerprints and photos) and/or a medical examination. Follow the instructions provided in your application.

• Attend an Interview:

In some cases, you may have to attend an interview at the nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.

• Wait for a Decision:

Visa processing times can vary, so be patient

• Visa Grant:

If your visa is approved, you will receive a visa grant notification. Please read and understand the terms and conditions of your visa.

• Travel to New Zealand:

Once you have your visa, you can travel to New Zealand for the specified period.

Comply with Visa Conditions:

While in New Zealand, adhere to all the conditions stated in your visa, including the duration of your stay. Always verify the latest requirements and procedures on the official New Zealand government website or consult with the New Zealand embassy or consulate nearest to you. Visa rules and conditions may change, so it is vital to have the most current information.

For more detailed information regarding this, please refer to our Visa portal -

www.flamingotravels.co.in/visa

The flying time to New Zealand from India is Approximately 16-17 hours.

The main cities of New Zealand are Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Queenstown, and Christchurch.

Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, VietJet, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Air India, Thai, and Sri Lankan Airlines flies from all major cities of India via their Hubs.

Please refer to our ticketing portal https://portal.flamingotravels.co.in/flight

Capital City : Wellington

Major Cities : Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Rotorua, Queenstown

Population : 5 million.

Languages : English.

Best time to visit:   Any time is a good time to Visit New Zealand.

Flying Time : 16 Hrs

Time Difference: 6:30 Hrs Ahead India

The official currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). You need to change the currency to New Zealand dollars. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in NE zealand, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. ATMs are also readily available.

While it's a good idea to have some local currency on hand, you can exchange money at banks, currency exchange offices, or use ATMs upon arrival in New Zealand for competitive rates.

• Yes, it’s mandatory to carry an International Credit Card / Forex Card / Debit card. You need to provide the details of the booked accommodation. A refundable deposit will be blocked for 30 working days and released after you check out. Any damage to the room/property will be charged to this credit card.
• Also, if you hire a self-drive car, you must bring the same credit card used to make the reservation.

• Wi-Fi is available at most International airports, Public access areas of Hotels, and trains in New  Zealand. Buses do not necessarily have Wi-Fi. The speed quality and speed may vary.
• Some places may have access to Wi-Fi at a fee.

AUCKLAND: 

• Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, with 1.7 million citizens and the main arrival point for visitors to the country.
• It is a vibrant multicultural city, set around two big natural harbors, and ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world.
• It is in the warm northern part of the North Island, on a narrow isthmus that joins the Northland peninsula to the rest of the island.

Places to Visit:

- Sky Tower

- Auckland War Memorial Museum

- Eden Park

- Viaduct Harbour

ROTORUA: 

• Rotorua is a unique and geothermal active city on the North Island. 
• It's known for its distinctive landscapes, Maori culture, and outdoor recreational opportunities. 
• Rotorua is situated within the Taupo Volcanic Zone, making it one of the world's most geothermal active areas. 
• Visitors can witness bubbling mud pools, steaming geysers, and colorful mineral terraces at various geothermal attractions, including Te Puia, Wai-O-Tapu, and Whakarewarewa.

Places to Visit:

- Te Puia  

- Wai – O – Tapu Thermal wonderland 

-Agrodome farm 

- Waitomo Glowworm Caves

CHRISTCHURCH: 

• Christchurch is on the east coast of South Island, along the Canterbury Plains. 
• It is the largest city on the South Island and serves as the gateway to the South Island for many travelers. 
• The city is known for its proximity to the Southern Alps and beautiful coastal areas. Christchurch has a rich colonial history and is often referred to as the "most English" city in New Zealand due to its historical connections to England. 
• It was severely affected by a series of earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, which caused significant damage to the central city but also led to rejuvenation and rebuilding.

Places to Visit:

- Christchurch Botanic Gardens

- International Antarctic Centre

- Canterbury Museum 

- The Avon River 

- Christchurch Cathedral

QUEENSTOWN: 

• Queenstown is on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by the Southern Alps. The town is in the Otago region. 
• Queenstown is a picturesque resort town on New Zealand's South Island, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes and a wide range of outdoor and adventure activities.  
• Queenstown has earned its reputation as the "Adventure Capital of the World" due to the plethora of outdoor activities it offers. Activities include bungee jumping, skydiving, jet boating, white-water rafting, zip-lining, and paragliding. 
• The town is known for its stunning alpine scenery, including the Remarkable mountain range and pristine lakes. It's a popular destination for photographers and nature enthusiasts. 
• Queenstown is a destination that appeals to adventurers, nature lovers, and those seeking relaxation in a breathtaking setting. 
• The range of activities and the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape make it a popular year-round destination.

Places to Visit:

- Skyline Gondola

- Milford Sound

- Lake Wakatipu

- Arrow town

New Zealand is divided into two islands - North & South Island. The major cities on the North Island are Auckland, Wellington & Rotorua. While in South Island the major cities are Queenstown and Christchurch. The flight times from major cities are as 

Auckland to Queenstown ------ 1 hour and 55 minutes

Auckland to Christchurch -------- 1 hour and 25 minutes

Queenstown to Christchurch ----- 1 hour and 10 minutes

English is the official language of New Zealand. You'll have no trouble communicating in English. English is widely spoken throughout New Zealand.

Yes, as New Zealand uses Type I electrical outlets and plugs. If your devices have a different plug type, carry a universal adapter.

Mainly for Group tours to New Zealand, we have, itineraries covering both North and South Island with major cities; Auckland – Rotorua – Queenstown – Twizel – Christchurch.

Yes. One can combine New Zealand with 

Australia, Fiji, Bora Bora, Bali, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia

New Zealand has a lot of Indian restaurants in all  major cities across the country. You can get very good Guajarati style, Maharashtrian style, south Indian meals, Punjabi and Rajasthani style, Mumbai style fast food in New Zealand with flamingo tour. 

A: Yes, most restaurants and cafes offer vegetarian and vegan menu items. New Zealand is accommodating of various dietary preferences. Veg thai, veg Mexican, veg pizza, veg burgers are easily possible. 

• Breakfast: Your breakfast is normally a continental or American breakfast which usually will have Tea or Coffee, Juices, Cereals, Milk, Breads, Butter, Jam, cheese.  Some hotels may provide hash brown potatoes or hot potatoes or hot beans. No Indian item or Jain item will be available. 
• Lunch & Dinner: may be a combination of Indian / Continental or local vegetarian or packed. Local lunch can be pizza, pasta or Mexican or subway. But all vegetarian. 
• Jain passengers: Please note, the Jain food which may be provided will be without onion, garlic & potatoes. Any further restriction from the above for vegetables etc cannot be accommodated. Also there will be restricted choice of vegetables, curries items for jain passengers. 
• A meal doesn’t include any Water Bottles, Beverages Hard/Soft drinks, Fruit Juices.  

*In the cruise, the meals will be served as per the cruise policy. 

Chef Tour Meal Notes:

Breakfast: 

Cold Breakfast spread with items like Milk, Cereal, Fruits, and breads along with 1 hot Indian Items. In Christchurch we will have hotel breakfast as per their menu.

Lunch: 

Afternoon lunch will be a minimum of two or three Items such as Pav Bhaji, Puri Bhaji, Bhel, Chole Puri, Biryani Curd, Handva etc. will be served in outside Picnic areas & Parks. (Subject to weather conditions &  permissions, the time of this meal can vary) Lunches will be a combination of restaurant & casserole lunches.

Dinner:

Indian Dinner will be served in the hotel or in an Indian restaurant with a full set menu of that city. Despite having a chef on board, some meals will be prepared by the restaurant due to logistic reasons. (Specifically on days with intercity flight or long distance road travel)

In few hotels we will provide hotel breakfast

In Christchurch meals will be in Indian Restaurant.

Due to unavoidable circumstances any meal on tour can be packed meal due to operational issues.

Tap Water throughout New Zealand is Safe to Consume and therefore request you to carry an empty bottle with you which you can refill whenever you wish to.

Most public toilets are free of charge for general use. 

There is a shortage of manpower in New Zealand which makes porter service either very expensive or not available for most hotels. Porterage in Any of Tours is not included. It will be passenger’s responsibility to carry their bags to and from the Coach and their room. We recommend you to carry light so you can pull your bags in and out of the rooms on own easily. 

On the tour luggage allowance in the coach will be one handbag and one 23/20 kgs check in bag per person. Even when flying within New Zealand, in domestic flights, one 23/20 kgs check in bag and one 7 kgs hand carry will be allowed. 

Yes, Tipping is compulsory in New Zealand. 

You will have to pay NZD 5.00 per person per day for the Duration of your tour. Kindly pay the same on arrival to the Tour Manager (Applicable on both adult and child) 

• Flamingo strongly advises that you should carry a travel insurance with you, with a minimum of USD250,000 coverage. We will not release any tour documents, unless the insurance copy is submitted to us. 
• Please note the insurance cost is not included in the tour cost. It is going to be additional. 

Standard check in time is 3 pm and check out time is 11 am. 

When you book the tour, the sales staff will provide you with the itinerary which specifies all details and is day wise. You last and final updates itinerary with all hotel names and address as well as internal flights (If any) will be shared with you by your sales representative before 7 days of your departure. 

Best Time to Visit Australia's climate varies by region. But Australia is an all year round destination. If you want to avoid cold winter months, then the best time to travel is from October to May.  

Always carry layers, as it might get cold during evenings and mornings. Pack lightweight clothing for summer and warm layers for winter. Don't forget sunscreen, a hat, comfortable walking shoes, and swimwear if you plan to hit the beaches. Check the weather for your specific destinations. It is suggested to carry umbrella or ponchos too. 

Australian visas are obtained by applying online. We do Visa process applications for our guests. We ensure a seamless application process to avail of an Australia Tourist Visa for Indians. The processing time is around 25 to 40 days. 

Firstly please note, to get Australia visa you need to have good IT returns, liquid assets and good travel history. 

Here are the general steps:

• Determine the Visa Type:

Australian tourist visas are typically issued under the subclass 600 category. There are different streams within this category, such as Tourist stream, Sponsored Family stream, and Approved Destination Status stream. You should choose the one that best suits your purpose of visiting Australia.

• Eligibility Check:

Before applying, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria for the chosen visa category. Eligibility criteria can include financial requirements, health and character checks, and the genuine temporary entrant requirement.

Gather Required Documents:

• Prepare all necessary documents, which may include:

A valid passport with a minimum of six months validity beyond your intended stay.

Visa application form, which you can complete online on the official website.

Passport-sized photographs meeting specific requirements.

Proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Australia, such as bank statements.

Travel itinerary, including flight and hotel bookings.

Proof of ties to India, like employment letters, property documents, or family connections.

Are any additional documents required for your specific visa stream?

• Send the Docs to us:

Once you have all documents ready, then you can share the same with us to process further. 

• Biometrics and Health Checks:

Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to undergo biometrics (fingerprints and photo) and/or a medical examination. Follow the instructions provided in your application.

• Wait for a Decision:

Visa processing times can vary, so be patient

• Visa Grant:

If your visa is approved, you will receive a visa grant notification. Make sure to read and understand the conditions of your visa.

• Travel to Australia:

Once you have your visa, you can travel to Australia for the specified period.

Comply with Visa Conditions:

While in Australia, make sure to adhere to all the conditions of your visa, including the duration of your stay. Always verify the latest requirements and procedures on the official Australian government website or consult with the Australian embassy or consulate nearest to you. Visa rules and requirements can change, so it's crucial to have the most current information.

For more detailed information regarding this, please refer to our Visa portal https://www.flamingotravels.co.in/visa

The flying time to Australia from India is approx. around 14 hours.

Main cities of Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane, Perth.

Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Air India, VietJet, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Thai, Sri Lankan Airlines flies from all major cities of India via their Hubs.

Please refer to our ticketing portal https://portal.flamingotravels.co.in/flight

Capital City : Canberra.

Major Cities : Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth

Population : 20 million.

Languages : English.

Best time to Visit: Any time is good time to Visit Australia.

Flying Time : 13 Hrs

Time Difference : 4:30 Hrs Ahead India

The official currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD). You need to change the currency to Australian dollars. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Australia, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. ATMs are also readily available.

While it's a good idea to have some local currency on hand, you can exchange money at banks, currency exchange offices, or use ATMs upon arrival in Australia for competitive rates.

• Yes, it’s mandatory to carry an International Credit Card / Forex Card / Debit card. You need to provide the details of the booked accommodation. A refundable deposit will be blocked for 30 working days and released after you check out. Any damage to the room/property will be charged to this credit card.
• Also, if you hire a self-drive car, you must bring the same credit card used to make the reservation.

• Wi-Fi is available at most International airports, Public access areas of Hotels, and trains in Australia. Buses do not necessarily have Wi-Fi. The speed quality and speed may vary.
• Some places may have access to Wi-Fi at a fee.

• SYDNEY: Sydney – Australia’s Olympic City.  Sydney is the capital city of the, and the most populous city in Australia. 
• Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about 70 km (43.5 mi) towards the Blue Mountains to the west, Hawkesbury to the north, and the Royal National Park and Macarthur to the south and south-west. 
• Aboriginal Australians have inhabited the Greater Sydney region for at least 30,000 years, and Aboriginal engravings and cultural sites are common. 

Places to Visit:

- Bondi Beach  

- Opera House

- Sydney Tower eye

- Harbour Cruise

- Sydney Zoo

- Blue mountain and Featherdale Wildlife Park

• Melbourne: Melbourne- known as most livable city.
• Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in Australia (although the most populous by contiguous urban area). 
• Its name generally refers to a 9,993 km2 (3,858 sq mi) metropolitan area known as Greater Melbourne. 
• The metropolis occupies much of the northern and eastern coastlines of Port Phillip Bay and spreads into the Mornington Peninsula, part of West Gippsland, as well as the hinterlands towards the Yarra Valley, the Dandenong and Macedon Ranges. 
• The area of Melbourne has been home to Aboriginal Victorians for over 40,000 years and serves as an important meeting place for local Kulin nation clans.

Places to Visit:

- MCG cricket stadium  

- Great Ocean Road 

– Twelve Apostles

- Yarra Valley Wineries

- Go Hot Air ballooning across the picturesque Yarra Valley|

- Adventure Snow Tours – Mount Buller Day Trip (in winters)

Cairns: is a city in Queensland, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. 

• The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, following the discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson River.
• Throughout the late 19th century, Cairns prospered from the settlement of Chinese immigrants who helped develop the region's agriculture.
• Cairns also served as a port for black birding ships, which crews transported slaves and indentured labourers to the sugar plantations of Innis fail. 
• Cairns is a popular tourist destination because of its tropical climate and access to tropical rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Places to Visit:

- Kuranda Village  

- Big Cat Green Island

- Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience 

- Hot air Ballooning

- Skydive

Gold Coast:

• A Surfers Paradise. The Gold Coast is a coastal city and region in the state of Queensland, Australia, approximately 66 kilometers (41 mi) south-southeast of the center of the state capital Brisbane. 
• The Gold Coast is a major tourist destination with a sunny, subtropical climate and has become widely known for its surfing beaches (such as Surfers Paradise), high-rise dominated skyline, theme parks, nightlife, and rainforest hinterland. 
• The city is part of the nation's entertainment industry with television productions and a major film industry. The city hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Places to Visit:

- Dream world

- Movie world 

- Hinterland

- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour

- Sky point observation deck

- Jet Boating Gold Coast

- Hotair Ballooning 

Perth:

• Perth is the capital and largest city of Western Australia and the fourth most  populous city in Australia. 
• It contains a number of important public buildings as well as cultural and heritage sites. 
• Notable government buildings include Parliament House, Government House, the Supreme Court Buildings and the Perth Mint. 
• The city is served by Fremantle Harbour and Perth Airport. It was a naval base for the Allies during World War II 

Places to Visit:

- Rottnest Island 

- Margaret River

- Optus Stadium

Adelaide:  

• Named in honour of Queen Adelaide, the city was founded in 1836 as the planned capital for the only freely-settled British province in Australia. 
• It has been noted for its leading examples of religious freedom and progressive political reforms, and became known as the "City of Churches" due to its diversity of faiths. 
• Today, Adelaide is known by its many festivals and sporting events, its food and wine, its coastline and hills, its large defence and manufacturing sectors and its emerging space sector, including the Australian Space Agency being headquartered here.

Places to Visit:

- National Wine Centre of Australia

- St Peter's Cathedral

- Adelaide Botanic Garden

- River Cruise

- Grand Barossa

The distances between the major cities are large, so we prefer travel by Air. The major cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, and Gold Coast.

The approximate flying times are;

Sydney to Melbourne ------ 1 hour and 35 minutes

Melbourne to cairns -------- 3 hours and 25 minutes

Melbourne to Brisbane ----- 2 hours and 25 minutes

Sydney to Cairns -------------2 hours and 55 minutes

Sydney to Brisbane --------- 1 hour and 35 minutes

Brisbane to cairns ----------- 2 hours and 15 minutes

Brisbane to Gold Coast ------ 100 kms by road

English is the official language of Australia. You'll have no trouble communicating in English. English is widely spoken throughout Australia. 

Yes, as Australia uses Type I electrical outlets and plugs. If your devices have a different plug type, you may need a universal adapter.

Mainly for Group tours to Australia, we have, Australia – Melbourne, Sydney, Cairns and Gold coast, the major 4 cities tour. 

The itineraries can be anywhere between 8 nights to 12 nights depending on the time of the year and season.

Yes. One can combine Australia with New Zealand, Fiji, Bali, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia

Australia has a lot of Indian restaurants in all  major cities. across the country. You can get very good Guajarati style, Maharashtrian style, south Indian meals, Punjabi and Rajasthani style, Mumbai style fast food in Australia with flamingo tour. 

A: Yes, most restaurants and cafes offer vegetarian and vegan menu items. Australia is accommodating of various dietary preferences. Veg thai, veg Mexican, veg pizza, veg burgers are easily possible. 

• Breakfast: Your breakfast is normally a continental or American breakfast which usually will have Tea or Coffee, Juices, Cereals, Milk, Breads, Butter, Jam, cheese.  Some hotels may provide hash brown potatoes or hot potatoes or hot beans. No Indian item or Jain item will be available. 
• Lunch & Dinner: may be a combination of Indian / Continental or local vegetarian or packed. Local lunch can be pizza, pasta or Mexican or subway. But all vegetarian. 
• Jain passengers: Please note, the Jain food which may be provided will be without onion, garlic & potatoes. Any further restriction from the above for vegetables etc cannot be accommodated. Also there will be restricted choice of vegetables, curries items for jain passengers. 
• A meal doesn’t include any Water Bottles, Beverages Hard/Soft drinks, Fruit Juices.  

*In the cruise, the meals will be served as per the cruise policy. 

Chef tours Meal Notes:

Breakfast: 

Normal hotel breakfast spread with items like Milk, Cereal, Fruits, breads along with 1 hot Indian Item. 

Lunches:

Lunches may be a combination of restaurant & casserole lunches / Packed Lunches.

Afternoon lunch will be minimum of two or three Items such as Pav Bhaji, Puri Bhaji, Bhel, Chole Puri, Biryani Curd, Handva etc. will be served in outside Picnic areas & Parks. (Subject to weather conditions &  permissions, the time of this meal can vary)

Dinner: 

Indian Dinner will be served in the hotel or in Indian restaurant with full set menu of that city.

Despite having a chef on board, some meals will be prepared by the restaurant due to logistic reasons. (Specifically on days with intercity flight or long distance road travel)

In Cairns & Gold Coast Meals Will Be In Indian Restaurant cooked by our chef.

Due to unavoidable circumstances any meal on tour can be packed meal due to operational issues.

* If you are non vegetarian please request us at the time of booking. 

Tap Water throughout Australia is Safe to Consume and therefore request you to carry an empty bottle with you which you can refill whenever you wish to.

Most public toilets are free of charge for use. 

There is a shortage of manpower in Australia which makes porter service either very expensive or not available for most hotels.

Porterage in Any of Tours is not included. It will be passenger’s responsibility to carry their bags to and from the Coach and their room. We recommend you to carry light so you can pull your bags in and out of the rooms on own easily. 

On the tour luggage allowance in the coach will be one handbag and one 23/20 kgs check in bag per person. 

Even when flying within Australia, in domestic flights, one 23/20 kgs check in bag and one 7 kgs hand carry will be allowed. 

Yes, Tipping is compulsory in Australia. You will have to pay AUD 5.00 per person per day for the Duration of your tour. Kindly pay the same on arrival to the Tour Manager (Applicable on both adult and child) 

• Flamingo strongly advises that you should carry a travel insurance with you, with a minimum of USD250,000 coverage. We will not release any tour documents, unless the insurance copy is submitted to us. 
• Please note the insurance cost is not included in the tour cost. It is going to be additional. 

Standard check in time is 3 pm and check out time is 11 am. 

When you book the tour, the sales staff will provide you with the itinerary which specifies all details and is day wise. You last and final updates itinerary with all hotel names and address as well as internal flights (If any) will be shared with you by your sales representative before 7 days of your departure.