Just back from 38 days NZ + Australia with G Adventures

Did the full Month Down Under trip from Auckland to Cairns in August and it lived up to the hype. 38 days is long but it doesn't drag. The itinerary moves at a good pace and you get proper time in the places that matter.

New Zealand was the standout for me. Milford Sound cruise was unreal, the Queenstown free days let you pick your own adventure level, and Abel Tasman walks were stunning without being hardcore. Franz Josef glacier area is beautiful even if you don't do the heli hike.

Australia portion starts strong in Sydney then gets very beach-focused. Three surf lessons across the trip which is either great or repetitive depending on how much you like surfing. Spot X surf camp near Coffs Harbour was a highlight for the group vibe. Fraser Island 4x4 camping experience was rough but memorable. Whitsundays boat day was gorgeous.

Group peaked at 18 people, average age probably 26-27. Mix of solo travelers and a few couples. Everyone got along which made long bus days bearable. Our CEO Josh was fantastic, very organized and knew when to give space versus when to rally everyone.

The pace is busy. You're moving accommodation every 1-2 nights for most of the trip. If you need downtime you have to claim it deliberately. Queenstown and Sydney have multiple free days which helped.

Honestly the biggest surprise was how much I loved the Kiwi portion. Came for Australia, left wanting to move to New Zealand.

Happy to answer specific questions if anyone's considering this one.