Dinkin’ Down Under | North Island New Zealand
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DINKIN’ DOWN UNDER
Interested in being a part of the first-ever pickleball tour ‘down under’? Come witness firsthand the growth of everyone’s favorite sport as it continues to grow on Australia’s Gold Coast! While the area is know primarily for its stunning beaches and killer surf-break, we will also visit a wildlife sanctuary for uniquely Australian animals, a national park on the edge of the Outback, the quaint beach town of Currumbin, and the aptly named Surfers Paradise. Play will include rec with your soon-to-be Aussie mates, 3 mornings of private clinics with the group instructed by our teaching pros, and participation in a friendly, local competition known as ‘Slam Jam’. And if you’ve been on a tour with us before you know we take our food seriously so get ready for some classic Australian ‘barbie’ and scrumptious seafood! Along with our very own Daniel Moore, our Dinkin’ Down Under tour will be co-led by a professional Australian pickleball player.
NORTH ISLAND NEW ZEALAND
Travel with us across the north Island of New Zealand on this one-of-a-kind pickleball/sightseeing excursion! Destinations will include the serene Waiheke Island known for its plethora of local wineries, the beautiful Lake Taupo with its classic Kiwi adventures, and ‘Hobbiton’, home of Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In between, we will encounter the breath-taking natural beauty of New Zealand as we stop-off for various hikes and other local experiences. But of course, no Pickleball Trip would be complete without your go-to paddle as we will be playing recreationally with clubs in Auckland, Hawkes Bay, and Wellington. There will also be one private group clinic, instructed by Daniel Moore & Kiwi-pickleball sensation/trip co-lead Jai Grewal.
Trip Details
What’s Included
- 7 nights standard accommodation on Dinkin’ Down Under | 8 nights standard accommodation on North Island New Zealand
- 2 meals per day unless otherwise noted
- 10+ hours of pickleball clinics (unless only participating in New Zealand tour) with our professional instructors
- All group activities including tours, guide and entry fees, etc.
- Transportation after arrival in Australia & New Zealand
*For Dinkin’ Down Under, please book your airfare in and out of Gold Coast Airport (OOL) or Brisbane Airport (BNE). For North Island New Zealand, please book in and out of Auckland Airport (AKL). If you will be joining us for both tours, you will also need to book a connecting flight from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Auckland Airport (AKL) at any time on November 16th or the morning of November 17th.
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to/from and between Australia and New Zealand*
- Optional individual activities
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance (highly recommended, see below for options), medical coverage, international visitors tax, etc.
Maximum Group Size 16
Activity Level 7/10
Accommodations
DINKIN’ DOWN UNDER
- Currumbin – TBA
- Surfers Paradise – voco Gold Coast
NORTH ISLAND NEW ZEALAND
- Auckland – voco Auckland City Centre
- Lake Taupo – The Reef Resort
- Hawkes Bay – Porters Boutique Hotel
- Wellington – DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington
Trip instructors
Itinerary
ARRIVAL IN GOLD COAST
- Arrive at Gold Coast Airport (OOL) or Brisbane Airport (BNE)*
- Taxi and check into Currumbin accommodation
- Welcome dinner and tour orientation with group
*You will likely need to depart from North America one or two days prior in order to arrive on the start date.
CLINIC + CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Private pickleball clinic with our professional instructors at Gold Coast Pickleball
- Return to accommodation before lunch at local surf club
- Visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, crocodiles, etc.
- Recreational pickleball at Gold Coast Pickleball (optional)
- Group dinner in downtown Currumbin
SLAM JAM
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- All day social pickleaball competition hosted annually by the Gold Coast Pickleball Club – a fantastic opportunity to connect with local Aussie players
- Return to accommodation
- Dinner with group and local players in Currumbin
CLINIC + SURFERS PARADISE
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Private pickleball clinic with our professional instructors at Gold Coast Pickleball
- Travel to Surfers Paradise (~0:30 hrs) and check into new accommodations
- Free afternoon relaxing at the beach or exploring
- Travel to Australian Outback Spectacular (~0:30 hrs) for Outback dinner show
FREE MORNING | SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Travel to Springbrook National Park for a guided tour and short waterfall hike
- Lunch in the park followed by a longer hike
- Return to Surfers Paradise (~1:00 hr) for a free evening and dinner on your own
FREE MORNING | PICKLEBALL SOCIAL + ‘BARBIE’
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Free morning to relax, explore Surfers Paradise, shop, or join a city tour and have lunch on your own
- Travel to Halcyon Greens (~0:30 hrs) for social play on their 8 pickleball courts and an Australian ‘barbie’ with club members
- Return to Surfers Paradise
CLINIC + DINNER CRUISE
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Travel to Royal Pines Resort for private pickleball clinic with our professional instructors
- Lunch at Tees’ Clubhouse before returning to accommodations
- Gold Coast Dinner Cruise and finale dinner with group
DEPARTURE FROM GOLD COAST
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Taxi to Gold Coast Airport (OOL) for your flight to Auckland Airport (AKL)* or onward destination
*Accommodations are not included on this night, but we are happy to provide assistance.
ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND
- Arrive at Auckland Airport (AKL)*
- Taxi from the airport (~0:30 hrs) and check into accommodations
- Welcome dinner and tour orientation with group
*If you are arriving from North America, you will likely need to depart one or two days prior in order to arrive on the start date.
WAIHEKE ISLAND
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Travel to terminal (~0:30 hrs) for ferry to Waiheke Island (~1:30 hrs)
- Hop-on hop-off bus tour with opportunity for hiking, exploring, and visiting one of over 20 wineries on the island
- Return to Auckland for dinner on your own
CLINIC + SOCIAL
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Travel to Albany (~0:30 hrs) for a private pickleball clinic with our professional instructors
- Group lunch at local restaurant
- Afternoon pickleball social with members of the Albany Pickleball Club
- Return to Auckland for dinner on your own
AUCKLAND ~ HOBBITON VILLAGE ~ TAUPO
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Travel to Hobbiton (~3:00 hrs) for Lord of the Rings movie set tour and lunch
- Travel to Taupo (~1:30 hrs) and check into accommodations
- Group dinner on Lake Taupo
FREE DAY
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Optional activities including kayaking, fishing, waterfall exploring, buggy tours, quad biking, hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, jet boating bungee-jumping, etc.*
- Group dinner on Lake Taupo
*Activities are not included in the price of the tour.
TAUPO ~ HAWKES BAY
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Travel to Hawkes Bay (~2:00 hrs) for recreational play with members of the Hastings Pickleball Club, followed by lunch
- Check into accommodations
- Group dinner and winery tour
HAWKES BAY ~ WELLINGTON
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Private pickleball clinic with our professional instructors followed by group lunch
- Travel to Wellington (~4:00 hrs) with a stop at a u-pick fruit farm along the way
- Check into accommodations then have dinner on your own
WELLINGTON + REC PLAY
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Sightseeing around Wellington, including the Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary, Museum of New Zealand, and Wellington Cable Car with lunch on your own
- Recreational play with members of the Wellington Pickleball Club
- Farewell dinner
DEPARTURE FROM WELLINGTON
- Buffet breakfast at accommodations
- Taxi to Wellington Airport (WLG) for departure
*Please note that the itinerary is subject to modifications between now and the beginning of the tour.
Purchase your trip:
Cancellation Policy
| CANCELLATION | REFUND AMOUNT |
| 91+ Days Prior to Start Date | Full Refund Minus 20% Nonrefundable Deposit* |
| 61 ~ 90 Days Prior to Start Date | 50% Refund of Total Trip Cost |
| 31 ~ 60 Days Prior to Start Date | 25% Refund of Total Trip Cost |
| 0 ~ 30 Days Prior to Start Date | None (20% Deposit Transferable) |
Cancellation policy effective for all new trip purchases after 6/9/21.
Travel Insurance
We strongly encourage all travelers to invest in travel insurance to both minimize your financial risks of traveling and provide you with peace of mind to fully enjoy the your trip. Travel insurance can provide many helpful resources including refunds or assistance for any of the following situations that may arise before or during a trip:
- You need to cancel your participation on the tour
- You need to cancel or change a flight
- Lost baggage during the trip
- Stolen items during the trip
- Medical costs during the trip
We suggest you talk to your insurance provider to ask about the travel insurance plans available to you. You can also compare policies online. Here are two well-known travel insurance providers to consider:
Travelex Travel Insurance
Travel Guard
You can also use InsureMyTrip.com to compare multiple companies’ plans.
