From the geothermal valleys of Rotorua to the reef-blue waters off Cairns, the Great Kosher Downunder: New Zealand & Australia Tour is a fully guided, fully kosher tour of New Zealand and Australia built for observant travellers who don't want to choose between seeing the world and keeping kosher. Running 23 February – 14 March 2027, this 20-day journey covers both islands of New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia, with every breakfast, lunch and dinner — including full Shabbat meals in Rotorua, Melbourne and Sydney's Bondi — prepared and supervised for a kosher-observant group. This is not a Passover departure; it sits comfortably in the weeks beforehand, making it a relaxed, uncrowded window to travel.
🧭 Great Kosher Downunder — Trip Snapshot
DATES
23 Feb – 14 Mar 2027
DURATION
20 Days / 19 Nights
ROUTE
Auckland → Rotorua → Queenstown → Franz Josef → Christchurch → Melbourne → Sydney → (optional) Cairns
MEALS
Full Board throughout most of the tour
PRICE
Price on request
🌏 Who This Tour Is For
Built specifically for kosher-observant travellers from the US and Europe.
This departure is designed for kosher-observant families, couples and individuals travelling from North America and Europe who want to explore New Zealand and Australia without compromising on kashrut or Shabbat observance. Every day of touring is planned around Shacharit, kosher meal times, and — not on Shabbat — a full stop with hotel-based or community-based services and meals rather than travel. If you've hesitated to book Australia or New Zealand because of the logistics of eating and observing Shabbat on the road, this itinerary removes that barrier entirely.
🍽️ Kosher Meals & Shabbat Arrangements
What to expect at the table and over Shabbat.
Daily Meals
Full Board (breakfast, packed or hot lunch, dinner) for most of the tour, with breakfasts built around local fresh fruit, vegetables and kosher milk products, supplemented with items brought from Israel. Dinners are meat, chicken or fish based, prepared using kosher or new utensils under the strict supervision of the tour escort throughout.
Shabbat Stops
Three full Shabbatot are built into the route: Rotorua (hotel-based, private conference room for meals and prayers), Melbourne (hotel plus the shul next door, with davening and kiddush alongside the St Kilda community), and Sydney's Bondi (hosted by Chabad Bondi, all meals by special kosher catering, a short walk to shul — Bondi has an eruv).
Special Touches
A kosher traditional Hangi dinner at Te Puia's Māori village experience, dinner at a kosher restaurant in Sydney's Rose Bay, and dietary accommodations (gluten-free, dairy-free, diabetic and more) catered for where possible.
Note: Pat Israel and Chalav Israel are not guaranteed on this tour. For specific kashrut questions about this itinerary, please contact the tour operator directly or your own local Kashrut Authority before booking.
🗺️ The Journey, Leg by Leg
Six stops across two countries, twenty unforgettable days.
🏔️ Franz Josef Glacier — 1 night
A scenic drive along the Haast Pass, then a helicopter flight with landing on Franz Josef Glacier itself.
🚂 Christchurch — 1 night
A journey through Arthur's Pass and a ride on the scenic KiwiRail TranzAlpine train into the city, ahead of an early flight to Melbourne.
🇦🇺 Melbourne — 4 nights (incl. Shabbat)
The Royal Botanic Gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne's laneways and Federation Square, Shabbat at the hotel and the shul next door in St Kilda, a visit to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and the St Kilda Jewish community, and an evening with the little penguins of Phillip Island.
🐠 Optional Extension: Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef — 5 nights (incl. Shabbat)
For those extending the trip: the Kuranda Skyrail rainforest cableway, the Pamagirri Aboriginal cultural experience, a full day sailing and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, and a final Shabbat back in Sydney with the Chabad Bondi community before the tour concludes.
✅ What's Included & What's Not
The essentials, laid out clearly.
Included
- 4–5 star accommodation, meals, coaches, activities and local guides in Australia
- Internal flights: Auckland–Queenstown, Christchurch–Melbourne, Melbourne–Sydney
- Private scenic flight, Queenstown–Milford Sound, return
- Daily breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, plus all Shabbat meals
- Mineral water on buses and headphone whispers for guided tours
- Entrance fees and tips for service providers
Not Included
- International flights to New Zealand and departing from Australia
- Entrance visas and airport taxes
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended — see below)
- Covid tests, if applicable
- Items of a personal nature
🧳 Travel insurance is essential for this trip. Given the length and remoteness of parts of the itinerary, a comprehensive policy covering trip cancellation or curtailment, loss or damage to property and baggage, medical costs and personal accident, and Corona coverage is strongly recommended. Pack a copy of your policy and claims contact numbers before you go.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you're wondering before you book.
Is this tour during Passover?
No. This departure runs 23 February – 14 March 2027, well before Passover. It's an ideal window for kosher travel to New Zealand and Australia without the constraints of a chag or a Yom Tov season.
How is kashrut handled throughout the trip?
Meals are prepared using kosher or new utensils under the strict supervision of the tour escort throughout the journey. Pat Israel and Chalav Israel are not guaranteed. If specific kashrut standards are important to you, confirm the details directly with the tour operator before booking.
Where do we spend Shabbat?
Three Shabbatot are built into the itinerary: in Rotorua (hotel-based), in Melbourne (hotel, with the shul next door and the St Kilda community), and in Sydney's Bondi (hosted by Chabad Bondi, all meals by special kosher catering). Those taking the Cairns extension spend a fourth Shabbat back in Bondi.
Are international flights included?
No. International flights to New Zealand and departing from Australia are not included, so you can book from your home city on the airline and route that suits you. Internal flights within the tour — Auckland to Queenstown, Christchurch to Melbourne, and Melbourne to Sydney — are included.
Can dietary requirements beyond kosher be accommodated?
Yes, gluten-free, dairy-free, diabetic and other dietary requirements are catered for where possible. Mention any specific needs when you enquire so the tour operator can plan ahead.
Is the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef extension compulsory?
No, it's optional. The core tour concludes in Sydney on Day 16. Travellers who wish to extend can continue on to Cairns, the Kuranda rainforest and a full day on the Great Barrier Reef, returning to Sydney's Bondi for a final Shabbat before heading home on Day 20.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, comprehensive travel insurance covering the full length of your trip is essential and is not included in the tour price. It should cover trip cancellation, baggage loss, medical costs and personal accident cover.
How do I get pricing and reserve a spot?
Pricing is available on request. Contact us with your travel dates and party size to receive full pricing and reserve your place, as space on this departure is limited.
The Kosher Hub is not a Kosher Authority. For any kashrut questions relating to this tour, please contact the tour operator directly or refer to your local Kashrut Authority. This is an independently operated tour; The Kosher Hub is sharing details on behalf of the operator and is not the booking agent.
Other Kosher Info That Might Interest You
Sara Abraham
Understanding Our Kosher Certifications
The Kosher Hub references products certified by recognized kosher authorities, including OU, OK, Star-K, Kof-K, and CRC. Certification symbols and status can change, so always confirm the current kosher status directly on the product packaging or via the certifying agency's own listings before purchasing.