This is a 12 night journey of discovery into New Zealand’s heart and soul. Our itinerary follows the east coast of both the North and South Islands, affording many opportunities to explore the land, meet the people and interact with some of the unique native wildlife of this amazingly diverse and ultimately satisfying destination.

Comparable in size and/or shape to Great Britain, Colorado or Japan, New Zealand has a population of only 4 million - making it one of the world's least crowded countries. A temperate climate with relatively small seasonal variation makes it an ideal year-round holiday destination.

The Maori were New Zealand's first settlers. They made an epic journey from the legendary Hawaiki, probably in Polynesia to the north of New Zealand, about 1000 years ago. The great explorer Kupe, who legend says first discovered New Zealand, named the new land Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud.

The first documented European to discover New Zealand was Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, who came here in 1642 in search of the fabled great southern continent. Over a 125 years later, Captain James Cook claimed it for Britain in 1769 and produced a map of the country.

From Auckland, the aptly named City of Sails in the north, through to whale-watching off the Kaikoura coastline; photographing birdlife in exotic mainland colonies, to enjoying a traditional Maori welcome and cultural show; from experiencing the tranquility of the deep Fiordland waterways to embracing the remoteness of the rugged eastern coast line.

	Southbound	Northbound
Day 1	Depart Auckland	Depart Milford Sound
Day 2	White Island	Dusky Fiord
Day 3	Gisborne	Stewart Is.
Day 4	Napier	Dunedin
Day 5	Marlborough Sounds	Akaroa
Day 6	Marlborough Sounds	Kaikoura
Day 7	Kaikoura	Marlborough Sounds
Day 8	Akaroa	Coastal Cruise
Day 9	Dunedin	Napier
Day 10	Stewart Is.	Gisborne
Day 11	Dusky Fiord	White Island
Day 12	Doubtful Fiord	Mercury Islands
Day 13	Arrive Milford Sound	Arrive Auckland
	From $6990 per person twin share Click here for full rates and departure details

Back / Cruises / New Zealand