15 days in Melbourne & Auckland Itinerary

The state of Victoria crown jewel, Melbourne boasts shaded streets, leafy residential neighborhoods, vibrant street life, and a picturesque city center.

Museum-lovers will appreciate Melbourne Museum and Australian Sports Museum. You'll enjoy a bit of beach vacationing at St. Kilda Beach and Brighton Beach. Change things up with these side-trips from Melbourne: Wine Compass (in Mt Martha) and The Great Ocean Road (in Torquay). There's much more to do: take in nature's colorful creations at Royal Botanic Gardens, don't miss a visit to Fitzroy Gardens, indulge in some personalized pampering at Elite Male Massage, and appreciate the history behind Shrine of Remembrance.

To see reviews, photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, you can read our Melbourne trip itinerary planning site.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Melbourne is an approximately 16.5-hour flight. Traveling from Dubai to Melbourne, you'll lose 6 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Dubai in December, expect a bit cooler with lows of 14°C in Melbourne. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 30th (Fri) to allow enough time to fly to Auckland.

The largest and most populous city in New Zealand, Auckland combines a rich history and thriving contemporary culture in an abundance of museums, art galleries, and performance venues.

Get some historical perspective at St. Patrick's Cathedral and Parnell. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Piha Beach and Red Beach. Take a break from Auckland with a short trip to Orewa Beach in Orewa, about 36 minutes away. And it doesn't end there: brush up on your military savvy at Auckland Museum, take in the spiritual surroundings of Holy Trinity Cathedral, enjoy breathtaking views from Sky Tower, and contemplate the geological forces at Mount Eden.

To find other places to visit, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Auckland trip itinerary builder tool.

Traveling by flight from Melbourne to Auckland takes 7 hours. The time zone difference moving from Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) to New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) is 2 hours. Traveling from Melbourne in December, you will find days in Auckland are a bit cooler (20°C), and nights are somewhat warmer (20°C). On the 6th (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly back home.