The rolling hills of New Zealand are your backdrop on this 10-night cruise, with stops in these destinations:
You won’t have any trouble filling up an itinerary in Sydney – there’s a wealth of sights, sounds and activities here to delight adventurers of all stripes. Visit one or all of the city’s three iconic landmarks: the Sydney Opera House, the massive arched Harbour Bridge and white-sanded, crescent-shaped Bondi Beach.
Picton, on the northeast corner of New Zealand’s South Island, provides access to the beautiful Marlborough Sounds and to New Zealand’s most famous wine region, Marlborough, home to the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. Known as the sunniest place in the country, this small town of about 3,000 is named for Sir Thomas Picton, who fought at the Battle of Waterloo. The pretty harbour town has several cafes and shops, plus a market when cruise ships are in port. The area is home to five different types of dolphins, orca and rare birds.
On the eastern side of New Zealand’s North Island sits Napier, in Hawke’s Bay. The entire city was rebuilt in the Art Deco style following an earthquake in 1931, giving Napier the best collection of authentic Art Deco buildings on the planet. Known for its wine, Napier boasts a cafe culture enjoyed year-round thanks to its sunny, Mediterranean-like climate. Nearby you can find the world’s largest colony of gannets – a sleek, white sea bird known for its dramatic plunge-dive fish-catching technique – which can be viewed on a hike or a tractor ride on the beach.
Tauranga is a hobbit enthusiast’s dream come true. This town on the Bay of Plenty, perched on New Zealand’s North Island, is just a short trek from the rolling hills of Waikato – this is where you’ll find Hobbiton, the location that served as the Shire in the uber-popular ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies. But the fantastic findings of Tauranga don’t end there. Cruise to Tauranga and take the one-hour drive to Rotorua, a geothermal fairyland where you can soak in the rejuvenating waters of the natural hot springs.
The New Zealand greeting ‘Kia Ora!’ sets the tone for an Auckland adventure. This Maori phrase, used by Kiwis of all ethnic backgrounds to say ‘hello’, roughly translates to ‘be well’ – and after you’ve enjoyed the outdoor excitement Auckland has to offer, that’s exactly how you’ll feel. With three harbours and 18,000 miles of coastline, New Zealand’s largest city offers all the exploration by land or by sea you could ask for. Climb the Sky Tower for panoramic views of the city and the Twin Harbours. Jump on a New Zealand cruise and head to the Viaduct Basin in Wynward Quarter to sail the harbour or relax at a seaside brewery.
Look up — the Bay of Islands is said to have the world’s second bluest sky after Rio de Janeiro. Located on the northwestern coast of New Zealand’s North Island, the sea here is also a beautiful shade of turquoise, dotted with 144 subtropical islands of the area. Cruise to Bay of Islands and check out Urupukapuka Island, where you can hike through Maori village sites or relax on the white-sand beach. Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds — this is the site where the treaty that made New Zealand into its own nation was signed. Or head out on a dolphin spotting cruise to see the population of bottlenose dolphins that call these waters home.
Get your culture on at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with works from ancient tribal Australia to mediaeval Europe to modern times. Cruise to Sydney and check out the North Head Cliffs at Manly Beach, which offer panoramic views of the bay and the skyline, or go snorkelling along the underwater nature trail at secluded Gordon’s Bay to spot starfish and sea urchins.
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Advertised prices are per person twin share, correct at time of publication and are subject to availability and change and can be withdrawn or amended at any time without notification due to fluctuations in charges, taxes and currency. Price is cruise only, applies to select sailings, interior stateroom, based on double-occupancy, and reflects any promotional savings. 50% Reduced Deposits applies to new bookings made between 12:01am (AEST) Tuesday, 2 July 2024 –11:59pm (AEST) Wednesday, 31 July 2024. ^50% Reduced Deposits provides a reduced deposit of 50% per person on all local sailings departing on or after 13 October 2024. Offer Excludes sailings within final payment and is applicable to Interior, Oceanview and Balcony stateroom categories only (All Suite categories excluded). Deposit amount varies by sailing length: On sailings 1 to 5 nights, $50 deposit per person; on sailings 6 to 9 nights, $125 deposit per person; on sailings 10 – 14 nights, $225 deposit per person and on sailings 15 nights or longer, $400 deposit per person. All bookings must have the required deposit amount paid by the deposit due date outlined on the booking invoice. Deposit amounts due will automatically reflect the 50% reduced value on the booking invoice for eligible bookings created during the promotional period. After 5:00pm AEST, 31 July 2024, deposit values will increase back to the original values as stated in our booking terms and conditions. Offer applies to FIT bookings only. #Included on port days, subject to availability. Fees apply when the ship is at sea. Itineraries subject to change. Change and cancellation fees may apply. Your personal travel manager may charge additional service fees. Other conditions apply. Please view the TravelManagers general terms and conditions here and contact your personal travel manager for more details.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
