New Zealand Explorer Cruise

Day 1 - Auckland

Arrive: Mon 22 February 2027 / Depart: Mon 22 February 2027

Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have harbors on two separate bodies of water. The central part of urban Auckland covers a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbor on the Tasman Sea, and the Waitemata Harbor on the Pacific Ocean. In addition, Auckland's diverse geography and warm, humid climate has inspired a lifestyle regularly ranked in the world's top ten. A half hour drive from the city there is an abundance of activities: sailing to a secluded island, trekking through the rainforest, picnicking on a volcano, sampling wines at a vineyard or exploring a black sand beach.

Day 2 - Tauranga, New Zealand

Arrive: Tue 23 February 2027 / Depart: Tue 23 February 2027

Tauranga, the principal city on the Bay of Plenty, is the largest export town in New Zealand. Its name, fittingly enough, means "resting place for canoes", as this was the landing place of some of the first Maoris to arrive in New Zealand. The 19th-century missionaries left a legacy of well-planned parks and gardens for today's residents and visitors to enjoy. Tauranga is one of New Zealand's primary kiwi fruit and orchard regions, and the gateway to the geothermal park, Rotorua.

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - Napier, New Zealand

Arrive: Thu 25 February 2027 / Depart: Thu 25 February 2027

Napier, with its pleasant Mediterranean climate and famous Art Deco architecture, is a charming and lively seaside resort located on the eastern side of North Island and is the is the main city and port of the Hawkes Bay province. It also is the largest wool-exporting port in New Zealand, and the nearby Hastings area is famous as a fruit and wine-growing region. In 1931, Napier was almost totally destroyed by a massive earthquake. The city was rebuilt in a Spanish Mission and Art Deco style that is unique to New Zealand.

Day 5 - Wellington

Arrive: Fri 26 February 2027 / Depart: Fri 26 February 2027

Visually stunning, Wellington is nestled between a magnificent harbor and a natural amphitheatre of forest-clad hills. Its compact size, combined with cultural sophistication, makes it New Zealand's most inspiring urban destination. Wellington's cultural crowning jewel is Te Papa, a donation-only museum that celebrates Australasian natural history, science and culture. Exhibits include Maori artifacts, an extensive Pacific Cultures collection and interactive science exhibits. The city's art scene is flourishing, with numerous galleries and craft markets displaying the work of the country's top artists and craftspeople.

Day 6 - Picton, NZ

Arrive: Sat 27 February 2027 / Depart: Sat 27 February 2027

Picton sits at the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound and the sail into and out of town will reveal some classic New Zealand scenery. The town offer access to the Marlborough wine country, other spectacular sounds and lots of outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing, trekking and cycling.

Day 7 - Kaikoura

Arrive: Sun 28 February 2027 / Depart: Sun 28 February 2027

Backed by a range of the Southern Alps and fronted by a magnificent stretch of sea coast, Kaikoura on the eastern shore of New Zealand’s South Island is a wonderful place in which to contemplate nature. It is famous for whale- and Dolphin-watching, and for the large colony of Southern Fur Seals found nearby. The coastal areas also draw many pelagic seabirds such as albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters close to shore.

Day 8 - Akaroa

Arrive: Mon 01 March 2027 / Depart: Mon 01 March 2027

Set on a beautiful, sheltered harbor and nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano, Akaroa is a popular resort village. Located 50 miles southeast of Christchurch, this quaint seaside town is situated on the southern side of the Banks Peninsula and has a distinct French flavor to it. Many street names are of French origin because of its French Whaling and colonial history. One of the first settlements in the Canterbury region of the South New Zealand Island, the town has a rich Maori and British heritage, as well as its French history. Today, the town center is dotted with colonial architecture, and the harbor area is lined with boutiques and cafes.

Day 9 - Timaru

Arrive: Tue 02 March 2027 / Depart: Tue 02 March 2027

South of the Canterbury Plain on the South Island, Timaru is built on the rolling volcanic hills surrounding Mt. Horrible. Originally a whaling station, it grew to serve the sheep stations in the surrounding countryside. Visit the South Canterbury Museum, filled with artifacts and information about the history of the region from the Maori arrival to the present day, and the Aigantighe Art Gallery, housed in a homestead dating from 1908.

Day 10 - Dunedin, New Zealand

Arrive: Wed 03 March 2027 / Depart: Wed 03 March 2027

Port Chalmers is the main port for the city of Dunedin. Situated in a natural amphitheater at the head of a long fjord-like inlet, Dunedin was the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand, founded in 1848. Not long afterwards, gold was discovered in the region, and the province quickly became the richest and most influential in the colony. While Christchurch is New Zealand's most English town, Dunedin is its most Scottish; the name Dunedin is the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh. Numerous distinctive and historic buildings remain from the time of its predominantly Scottish settlers, preserving its architectural heritage.

Day 11 - Oban, Stewart Island, New Zealand

Arrive: Thu 04 March 2027 / Depart: Thu 04 March 2027

You might not realize that New Zealand has a third island. It hangs beneath the South Island and is just about the last inhabited place before Antarctica. The island itself is only about four percent inhabited, and that is its attraction. It is an unspoiled piece of primeval New Zealand. Oban is a very small town, about 800 souls. The phonebook is printed on a single sheet of A4 paper!

Day 12 - Fiordland National Park

Arrive: Fri 05 March 2027 / Depart: Fri 05 March 2027

New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park is the largest of the country’s 14 national parks, at 4,868 sq. mi./12,607 sq. km. Located on the southwest corner of the South Island, it was founded in 1904, to protect the natural environment for nature lovers and trekkers. It comprises a large portion of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. The key features of the park are the mountain ranges of the Southern Alps, which rise to heights from 1,500 m/4,900 ft to over 2,500 m/8,200 ft., as well as the spectacular U-shaped glaciated fjord valleys that cut into the mountains as deeply as 25 miles from the sea. There are three major fjords that are navigable by your ships, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. Your exact itinerary will be determined by your captain depending on the weather and other conditions on the day. But whatever course you sail, you will be treated to spectacular waterways curving between sheer cliffs towering thousands of feet above the mirrored surface of the fjord. Depending on recent rainfall, waterfalls tumble down the rock faces from above. Many of the peaks have nicknames based on their resemblance to animals or other objects of previous observers’ imaginations. You are also likely to see seals, birds including fiordland penguins, bottlenose dolphins and possibly such other fauna as red deer or whales.

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - At Sea

Day 15 - At Sea

Day 16 - Sydney

Arrive: Tue 09 March 2027 / Depart: Tue 09 March 2027

Sydney is a cosmopolitan, multicultural city surrounded by golden sand beaches, World Heritage areas, lush national parks and acclaimed wine regions. Sydney owes much of its splendor to its magnificent harbor. Arriving by ship provides an unequaled impression, showing off the city's famous landmarks: the dramatic white sails of the iconic Opera House and the celebrated Harbor Bridge, looming over the skyline.