Cruise in awesome Oz!
Easiest way to see Australia and New Zealand
THERE’S nowhere else on earth quite like Australia — a country on a famously awesome scale, where the unique landscapes amaze and the coastal cities buzz with optimistic energy.
And neighbouring New Zealand lays on such a show of stupendous sights that it thrills at every turn.
Who could fail to be awed by its photogenic proliferation of Alpine peaks, dreamy fiords, gleaming glaciers and steamy geysers?
An effortless way to explore Australia and New Zealand is by cruise ship, where you’ll sail between antipodean wonders in luxurious style, with all the logistics taken care of.
In November 2019, there’s a chance to voyage on a special 19-night luxury Australia and New Zealand itinerary, arranged through
Cruise1st.co.uk and kicking off (on the November 17 route) with a twonight stay in Sydney, one of the most beautiful cities on the planet.
Spectacularly draped around a glorious harbour, you’ll find a host of Aussie icons, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Bondi Beach and a fabulous Chinatown.
And there’s also a port of call at stylish, arty Melbourne, a cultural melting pot where historic narrow lanes conceal world-beating restaurants, bars and street art.
Your ship for the full-board cruise, is the super-luxe, award-winning Celebrity Solstice, carrying 2,850 guests and bedecked with fabulous dining options, an outdoor cinema, lawn club, sophisticated wine bar and much more.
Epic vistas
SOON it’s kia ora to New Zealand, whose mystical beauty, relaxed vibe and delicious wines often see it voted the world’s best country.
Small enough to be easily explored, but large enough to provide stunning, Middle Earth-style landscapes, with ancient Maori culture and a gorgeous coastline, New Zealand is both welcoming and fascinating.
Where else could you combine a glacier and the beach in one day?
First up on this fabulous kiwi exploration is Milford Sound, one of three amazing sounds on the itinerary that are a symphony of lush forests, waterfalls and epic vistas, carved by ancient ice floes.
It is home to abundant wildlife, so you may see bottlenose dolphins and fur seals at play or catch a glimpse of a rare Fiordland crested penguin.
With its rugged peaks, verdant rainforest and twisting, hidden inlets, Doubtful Sound, next up, is equally breathtaking. And Dusky Sound is the largest of the many fiords along this coast, with steep-sided cliffs and hundreds of cascading waterfalls.
Dunedin is decidedly Scottish, never missing an opportunity to break out the haggis and bagpipes. It’s a great base to explore the wildlife-rich Otago peninsula. Or just look around and be amazed at how like Edinburgh it is.
Wellington’s waterfront is home to the dynamic, interactive National Museum of New Zealand — an ideal place to find out about Maori culture.
Ride the historic Wellington Cable Car to the Botanic Garden, head to Cuba Street for a slice of bohemia, and see this picture-perfect city from above at the Mount Victoria Lookout.
Picturesque Picton is a gateway to the islands and inlets of the spectacular Marlborough Sounds, bringing more stunning sights.
And a two-night stay at Tauranga, at the mouth of a huge natural harbour, offers thrilling jet boat rides into the bush and white-water rafting.
Travel to the Mount Maunganui hot salt water pools or to Rotorua’s exploding mud pools, geysers and natural hot springs, where you could witness a traditional Maori haka. Modern buzz blends with old world charm in Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city, where there’s a two-night stay. As a spectacular finale, you could climb a volcano at sunset, sample the gourmet cuisine on Waiheke Island, eat at the revolving Sky Tower, set sail on a yacht or go on a Maori tour.
After this amazing Australia and New Zealand cruise, you’re sure to have a stack of incredible memories playing in your head for years to come.