South Pacific Cruise from New Zealand to Australia

DAY 1 / JANUARY 23^RD - AUCKLAND

Upon arrival, meet and greet and transfer to your hotel.

Accommodation: Skycity Hotel 4 * or similar for 4 nights

DAY 2 / JANUARY 24^TH - AUCKLAND

This morning, we will start exploring the area with a city tour of Auckland. Depart to the Auckland Museum and visit the famous fernery at the winter garden in the Domain, situated near the Museum. Then visit Auckland city and enjoy learning about the history and see the new sights and development of this multi-cultural city. Enjoy the views from Sky Tower overlooking the Manukau and the Waitemata Harbour. Return to hotel and rest of the day at leisure. (B)

DAY 3 / JANUARY 25^TH- AUCKLAND – MATAMARA & WAITOMO - AUCKLAND

 Depart to Hobbiton movie set near Matamata. Here you will enjoy the movie set tour of the movie, the ‘Hobbit’. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch at the restaurant. Then travel to the area of Waitomo. Visit the Waitomo Caves and enjoy the beautiful glow worm caves at Waitomo. Appreciate the underground boat trip through the cave. Watch the amazing rock formations of stalagmites and stalactites. Return to Auckland. (B)

DAY 4 / JANUARY 26^TH - AUCKLAND – ROTORUA - AUCKLAND

 This morning, travel through the Waikato farming area to the geothermal city of Rotorua. Here you will enjoy views from the Skyline gondola, lake Rotorua and the surrounds. Dine on the sumptuous buffet lunch while overlooking the area. On your descent you will meet your driver and travel through Rotorua visiting the famous Te Puia geothermal reserve, and Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Your private guide will show and explain to you many different aspects about flax weaving, carving and show you the natural wonders, like mud pools, geysers, etc… During your private tour through the reserve your guide will bring you closer to the Maori history and culture. Return to Auckland. (B)

DAY 5 / JANUARY 27^TH - AUCKLAND – NORWEGIAN SPIRIT

 Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, transfer to the port to embark aboard the Norwegian Spirit to begin your cruise adventure. (B/D)

DAY 6 / JANUARY 28^TH - TAURANGA, NEW ZEALAND

 Go walk-about and explore Tauranga, set on the beautiful Bay of Plenty. And indeed, there are plenty of things to do. Head to the beach or discover Tauranga’s lovely parks and rich history. Visit a village buried by a volcanic eruption and captured in a moment of time – a fascinating yet moving experience. Take a selfie at Hell’s Gate, an aptly named geothermal park with boiling pools, fantastic geysers, and mud baths, the largest of which is Poutamu, “the stairway to heaven.” (B/L/D)

DAY 7 / JANUARY 29^TH - NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND

 Napier calls itself the Art Deco capital of the world, but it’s also a leading wine-travel destination. Levelled by an earthquake in 1931, Napier was rebuilt in Art Deco style. Along with Miami Beach, Napier is one of the best examples of this style, with many of its structures well preserved. Take a walk down Marine Parade, a tree-lined ocean boulevard with fountains and gardens or go out to the country to enjoy the lovely vistas, tour superb area vineyards, and relax with a glass of wine. (B/L/D)

DAY 8 / JANUARY 30^TH - WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

 Travel to a Victorian past as you stroll by the city’s Victorian Gothic buildings. Take the cable car up the mountain for a fantastic view or grab some sunscreen and head to the beach. Great views abound in Wellington: Journey around the spectacular harbour and enjoy its amazing views. See some of the sites where the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed. Shopping opportunities are plentiful, with arts and crafts, jewellery, fine woollens, and leather goods on offer. (B/L/D)

DAY 9 / JANUARY 31^ST - AKAROA, NEW ZEALAND

 Tiny penguins rule the roost in this historic settlement nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano. With a balmy, year-round climate, these famous foot-tall residents are certainly not snowbirds. The spectacular surroundings offer a wealth of outdoor activities, both in the sheltered harbor and on dry land. Cafes open onto streets and exquisite local boutiques and galleries offer superb local works. Be sure to sample the fine fudge and traditional cheeses. (B/L/D)

DAY 10 / FEBRUARY 1^ST - DUNEDINE (PORT CHALMERS), NEW ZEALAND

 This dramatic South Island coastal town offers a mix of unique natural beauty and fascinating history. Rare, yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals and the Royal Albatross all call Dunedin home. Equally impressive is the Victorian and Edwardian architecture that dates from its days as a gold rush town. New Zealand’s only castle sits high above the city and offers sweeping views from its famous gardens. Shop for a locally made souvenir, with crafts, artwork, wool, and leather items being popular. (B/L/D)

DAY 11 / FEBRUARY 2^ND - DOUBTFUL SOUND – MILFORD SOUND – DUSKY SOUND, NEW ZEALAND

 Although technically not a sound (it’s a fjord), Doubtful Sound is the second longest in New Zealand-and the country’s second most famous tourist attraction. It does, however, capture the top spot for being the deepest, at over 1,300 feet. Doubtful Sound sits at the far southwest corner of the country and winds its way for 24 miles, past small islets and lush mountains covered in dense, native rainforest. With a staggering amount of precipitation, up to 240 inches, it’s no wonder that it’s so verdant, and why most days are wet and misty with low-lying clouds. But where there is rain, there are rainbows, which makes for spectacular scenes, especially at the many waterfalls, some of which fall over 2,000 feet. Doubtful Sound is also home to fur seals, crested penguins, bottlenose dolphin and whales. Black coral even grows here at relatively shallow depths (35 feet) thanks to the sunlight’s inability to penetrate the top layer of freshwater, stained heavy with tannins from the forests.

Carved by ancient glaciers, Milford Sound, which is really a fjord, is the crown jewel of Fiordland National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is only nine miles long from its head to the open sea, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in grandeur. Its vertical cliffs covered in verdant rainforests provide a breathtaking backdrop to thundering waterfalls, misty rainbows and the tannin-stained waters of the fjord. Below the surface is the largest population of black coral in the world. Milford Sound receives an amazing 22 feet of precipitation annually, yet there are only two permanent waterfalls, Lady Bowen and Sterling Falls. Depending on the weather, waterfalls can appear around every corner, cascading down the mountain in spectacular fashion. Rising upwards of 5,555 feet, the iconic landmark of Milford Sound is Mitre Peak, named for its resemblance to a bishop’s hat, known as a mitre. Five individual peaks create its distinctive shape.

At 25 miles in length, and five miles wide at its broadest, Dusky Sound is the largest and most spectacular fjord in Fjordland National Park. Captain Cook named Dusky Sound in 1770, as he sailed past its entrance at twilight. Three years later, he returned and stayed 47 days as his crew repaired and replenished his ship, Resolution, after sailing 11,000 nautical miles from Cape Town. You can still see evidence of his landfall at Astronomer’s Point, an overlook where the crew removed trees, so the ship’s astronomer could get a reading on the stars. Dusky Sound is only accessible by boat or plane making its remoteness a haven for birds and a breeding site for Fjordland crested penguins. These endangered creatures are easy to spot with their bright yellow eyebrows. Other wildlife to look for include sunbathing seals on Seal Rock and southern right whales at Preservation Inlet. Upon entering Dusky Sound, it’s customary to make a resolution as you sail past Resolution Island, named after Cook’s ship. (B/L/D)

DAYS 12 – 13 / FEBRUARY 3^RD and 4^TH - AT SEA

 Enjoy the numerous and diverse activities aboard of the Norwegian Spirit or just relax to the sound of the sea. (B/L/D)

DAY 14 / FEBRUARY 5^TH - MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

 Once the richest city in the world thanks to a gold rush, Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital with striking architecture, chic galleries, and boutiques. Wave at a wallaby or get close to a koala at a wildlife park. Feel closer to the land on a ride on the Puffing Billy steam locomotive through the mountains and countryside. Back in the city, explore a different culture and visit Chinatown – the oldest one in the West. (B/L/D)

DAY 15 / FEBRUARY 6^TH - BURNIE (TASMANIA), AUSTRALIA

 A community of artisans on the northwest coast of Tasmania, Burnie has long a history as a community that makes things, with locally crafted European-style cheeses, fine papers, ceramics and single-malt whisky. Surrounded by accessible wilderness areas, in Burnie you can still get a glimpse of little penguins and the platypus, a duck-billed mammal, in the wild. The vibrant shopping district spills onto the beach where you can sit down at a café and watch the world slow down for a little while. (B/L/D)

DAY 16 / FEBRUARY 7^TH - EDEN, AUSTRALIA

 The town’s name reflects what you will indeed find in Eden – a beautiful natural wonderland. Situated on the rugged coastline of Australia’s New South Wales, Eden is nestled among national parks, wilderness areas and enticing beaches. It’s considered one of Australia’s best locations for oyster farming, so bring your appetite. Eden and its surrounding landscapes offer an abundance of outdoor activities on the water and by land. (B/L/D)

DAY 17 / FEBRUARY 8^TH - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

 Upon arrival, meet and greet and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit the city center and the historic Rocks precinct.  Visit Mrs Macquarie’s Chair lookout for panoramic views over Sydney Opera House, harbour, Harbour Bridge, and city center. Continue through Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross and the historic suburb of Paddington with its Victorian terrace houses.   Visit Bondi beach and The Gap, dramatic entrance to Sydney harbour. Afternoon at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. (B)

Accommodation: Rydges World Square 4* or similar for 3 nights

DAY 18 / FEBRUARY 9^TH - SYDNEY – BLUE MOUNTAINS - SYDNEY

 Depart your hotel to the Blue Mountains. Your first stop will be at the Scenic World. Here you will travel by the world’s steepest railway to the valley floor of the Jamison Valley. Continue with a short forest walk on the floor of the Jamison Valley and return by Skyway gondola with panoramic views over the Jamison Valley. Then, we will have a photo stop at Echo Point lookout for panoramic views over the Jamison Valley and Three Sisters rock formation. Lunch at the Lookout restaurant overlooking the Jamison Valley.  In the afternoon, visit at the Featherdale wildlife park. You will be able to view many endemic Australian animals and birds notably: kangaroos, koalas, emus, wombats etc. Return to Sydney. (B/L)

DAY 19 / FEBRUARY 10^TH - SYDNEY – HUNTER VALLEY - SYDNEY

Depart your hotel to the Hunter Valley winegrowing region. Our first stop will be at Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard for wine tasting conducted in winery Cellar Door. Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard and Cellar Door is one of the oldest wineries in the Hunter Valley wine region. The 270-acre vineyard is named after one of Australia’s early wine pioneers. Audrey Wilkinson planted the first vines in Pokolbin in 1866 and was an early innovator in the production of fine wine. Audrey’s legacy of ‘It’s all about the taste’ is at the center of everything the winery continues to do. Located in the foothills of the scenic Brokenback ranges the family-run business produces award-winning Semillon. It is rated a 5-star winery by Australian wine critic vigneron James Halliday and has been named in the top 10 wineries to visit in Australia by Gourmet Travelers. Transfer to Brokenwood Wines by private coach with your guide. Transfer to Brokenwood Wines, one of Australia’s most reputable premium wine labels and a must-visit while you’re in the Hunter Valley. Wine tasting of selection of Brokenwood varietal and single vineyard wines followed by a 3 courses lunch at Brokenwood Wines, including 2 glasses of wine. After lunch, depart for the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory for cheese and olive tasting (tea & coffee included). Return to Sydney. (B/L)

DAY 20 / FEBRUARY 11^TH - SYDNEY

Transfer to the airport. End of services. (B)