NEW ZEALAND
King Charles is said to be a great fan of New Zealand, visiting 10 times, most recently with the then Duchess of Cornwall in 2019, on a tour of Auckland, Waitangi, Christchurch and Kaikōura. Waitangi, of course, is central to New Zealand’s modern history. Located in the Bay of Islands, a jewel-like archipelago scattered across a turquoise sea, this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between the Maori and the British Crown, establishing British law in the country.
You can visit Waitangi and other highlights on a cruise of the North and South Islands. Marvel at Milford Sound, where sheer-sided mountains plunge into the sea, and the university town of Dunedin, named after the Gaelic word for Edinburgh, its streets lined with elegant Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Christchurch, too, has a distinctly British vibe; here, you can even punt on the Avon river, although views of the jagged, snow-capped Southern Alps are a firm reminder that you’re a long way from home.
Napier, with pretty Art Deco architecture, is gateway to the vineyards of Hawke’s Bay, as well as wild coastal scenery and forested hiking trails. From Tauranga, you’re spoiled for choice between the geothermal springs and Māori cultural sites around Rotorua, the mysterious glow-worm caves of Waitomo and, for movie buffs, the bucolic Hobbiton film set in Matamata. Cosmopolitan Auckland, meanwhile, deserves a day or two for its galleries, coffee shops, surf beaches and glorious views of sailing boats in the harbour.
GET THERE Holland America Line (hollandamerica.com) offers a 12-night cruise from Sydney to Auckland, departing on 10 February 2024, from £1,679pp. Fly to Sydney with Emirates (emirates.com) and from Auckland with Air New Zealand (airnewzealand.co.uk) for around £1,600pp. For more information, visit newzealand.com.