Take a cruise to New Zealand and behold the marvelous beauty, beautiful and rugged coastlines, and vibrant Maori culture this island nation has to offer in the South Pacific. Majestic fjords, green pastoral countryside, and colorful cities speak all about the gold-crusted beauties of a cruise through New Zealand. This guide is meant to help you explore some important departure ports and key cruise destinations you would travel through in New Zealand.
Choose a port of departure well as choosing a city to gain sizeable experience traveling around New Zealand. Whether you are leaving from New Zealand or even close, like Australia, each port seems to offer its own appeal and convenience. Here's all about the main ports of departure:
known as the City of Sails, Auckland holds the title of the largest city in New Zealand and by extension, the most popular cruise departure point. With its glittery harbors and of course the iconic Sky Tower, Auckland, along with its rich Polynesian heritage, afforded guests breathtaking access to this sea adventure.
Some cruises start in Sydney before heading to New Zealand, allowing for the combination visit to these two countries. The Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge have created a beautiful set-up for the trip across the Tasman Sea.
The capital of New Zealand, characterized by an artsy and creative feel combined with a stunning compact waterfront, representing everything from great port facilities end-to-end to a bursting city café culture, makes a wonderful introductory or final point to your cruise experience.
Cruise ports in New Zealand will take guests to some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet, including snow-covered mountains, fjords, rolling vineyards, and coastal towns. Here are some unforgettable sail stops:
Perhaps the most artistic town on North Island, famous for its marvelous Art Deco architecture, and the occupation that is ever increasing in wines. For cruise passengers, boutique shopping, seaside promenades, and some of Hawke's Bay's nearby vineyards await.
This coastal city opens into Rotorua, a town well known for geothermal activity, Maori cultural performances, and, quite simply, adventure tourism. It is possibly New Zealand's most active port, mainly due to its proximity to different natural wonders here.
While it is the exit port, it is also actually an entry port. Do visit Te Papa Tongarewa (the national museum), hop on the historic cable car, and enjoy sweeping views from Mount Victoria.
This South Island coastal town is highly charged with French tradition and will allow the passengers a charming quaint coastal experience. An gained popular launching pad for the trips into Christchurch and even for dolphin-watching in the harbor.
Scottish roots reveal themselves in this historic university town, whose gothic architecture hosts a rich array of wildlife, including albatross and penguins, together with some fresh natural sites, such as the Otago Peninsula.
These stunning fjords will tend to be the highlight of a New Zealand cruise. Towering cliffs, cascading wastewater permitting, cruise ships may sail directly into these dramatic natural havens.
As you are planning your journey around Aotearoa, here are some considerations you need to have:
Cruising ranges from October to April-the warmer months of the Southern Hemisphere. Of course, it will be summertime, that is, December through February after which the early fall would bring cooler temperatures and thinner crowds.
Typical New Zealand cruises are between 7 and 14 days and longer depending on the itinerary. Some of these cruises may be long because of travel time across the Tasman Sea from Australia. Some lines offer also round-trip voyages over Australia and New Zealand.
Yes, most itineraries involve ports on both islands, thus giving one a taste of what New Zealand has in terms of contrasts, from the cosmopolitan cities and thermal wonders of the North Island to the fjords, wildlife, and rugged beauty of the South Island.
Set sail to discover the Land of the Long White Cloud! Reserve your New Zealand cruise within CruiseBooking.com: a wide array of itineraries from prestigious cruise lines, like Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Royal Caribbean, await you here for cruising.
From our end, we can browse through several cruise choices, compare cruise costs, check availability, and make a choice of cabin without reservation. All this with an extravagant air tour towards the end of Mother Nature's adventure would still be fine with our tools and travel assistance staff.
