📷 Every photo
A father & son adventure

Brian & Tucker

Fiji · Australia · New Zealand  •  July 5 – 25, 2026

Sixteen days, five stops, and one kid who never once complained about a 6am start. Walk through the whole thing one photo at a time — or pick a chapter and wander.

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The journey

Five stops, one long way around the world.

Map of the South Pacific tracing the trip: Fiji, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, then across New Zealand from Queenstown up to Auckland, with a numbered pin at each stop. ↗ Enlarge
Fiji down to the far south of New Zealand — the pins mark each stop along the way.
Jul 7 · Fiji

Fiji

A tropical pause on the way down under — the Coral Coast.
Nadi forecast📷 Photos
Where they stay
◆Radisson Blu Resort, Denarau Island
What they'll see
Malamala Beach Club Malamala Day Pass (South Sea Cruises) Nadina (Fijian dinner)
Options we considered
Natadola Beach Cuvu Beach Mamanuca Islands 3hr Tour Mamanuca Island Full Day Tour
Itinerary
Malamala Beach Club Denarau marina
Jul 8–10 · Australia

Sydney

Harbour city — the Opera House, the ferry to Manly, and a day in the Blue Mountains.
Sydney forecast📷 Photos
Where they stay
◆Sydney Harbour Marriott at Circular Quay
What they'll see
Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks Manly–Sydney Ferry Shelly Beach Freshwater Beach North Head Lookout Sydney Tower Eye St Mary's Cathedral Royal Botanic Garden Blue Mountains Tour Scenic World Featherdale Wildlife Park
Itinerary
Day 1Manly & the beaches Day 2Blue Mountains Day 3Harbour, then out
Jul 10–14 · Australia

Melbourne

Staying with Alfred — penguins, the Great Ocean Road, and the city.
Melbourne forecast📷 Photos
Where they stay
◆Alfred's place — Pakenham, Victoria
◆Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Little Collins
What they'll see
Penguin Parade Great Ocean Road Twelve Apostles Gables Lookout Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Museum
Itinerary options
Penguins with Alfred Great Ocean Road Melbourne & out
Jul 14–17 · New Zealand

South Island

Queenstown under a new-moon sky, then over the Southern Alps to Christchurch.
Queenstown forecast📷 Photos
Where Brian stays
◆Crowne Plaza Queenstown
◆then with Wayne in Christchurch
What he'll see
Skyline Gondola & Stargazing Kiwi Birdlife Park Milford Sound Tour Milford Sound Eglinton Valley Mirror Lakes Walk Tour to Christchurch Mt Cook Lake Tekapo Lake Pukaki Lindis Pass Christchurch Gondola Christchurch Tram
✦ Middle-earth from Queenstown
The Wakatipu basin played a big slice of Middle-earth — some of it in view right from town.

Right from town

  • Dimrill Dale & the Misty Mountains—The Remarkables, across the lake
  • Rohan (Edoras to Helm's Deep, the Warg attack)—Deer Park Heights, the peninsula across the bay
  • Best panorama—the top of the Skyline gondola

Near Queenstown

  • River Anduin & Pillars of the Kings—the Kawarau River (passed en route to Christchurch)
  • Ford of Bruinen & Gladden Fields—the Arrow River at Arrowtown

Up the lake · Paradise & Glenorchy

  • Ithilien (the Oliphaunts)—Twelve Mile Delta
  • Isengard & Beorn's House—Glenorchy & Paradise
  • Lothlórien & Amon Hen—Paradise & Closeburn
Itinerary options
Queenstown · arrival day Milford Sound Over the Alps Christchurch with Wayne
Jul 17–19 · New Zealand

North Island

Auckland and the rolling green of the Shire.
Auckland forecast📷 Photos
Where Brian stays
◆Hotel Indigo Auckland
What he'll see
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Waitomo Glowworm Caves Volcanoes & Beaches Heli Flight Weta Workshop Sky Tower Albert Park University ClockTower Auckland Art Gallery Aotea Square Queens Wharf The Cloud The Lighthouse Ferry Building Hobson Wharf Wynyard Quarter Westhaven & Harbour Bridge Devonport Ferry Mt Victoria (Devonport) Auckland Museum Holy Trinity Cathedral Auckland
Itinerary options
Clear skies (heli) The big walk Rainy day
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