Whether you're after scenic beauty, viewing endangered wildlife, learning about Maori culture, or indulging in gourmet goodness, cruising around New Zealand offers varied experiences and life-changing moments.
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Cruising in New Zealand is the perfect way to explore over 15,000 kilometres of coastline and the spectacular landscapes this diverse country has to offer. Cruising to New Zealand is a well-established tradition.
For sailors and cruisers in the South Pacific, the best weather is during the winter months (May to October). However, travelers can escape the cyclone season in the tropics of the South Pacific by venturing further south to New Zealand during the summer months too (November through March).
What side of the ship is best on a New Zealand cruise? This depends on your preference and route. If you are hoping to see the shore then pick the side facing land. For example, when sailing from the north to south along the east coast of New Zealand, the shore is on the right or starboard side of the ship.
Late August is reaching the peak of hurricane season. While the chances are low that your specific cruise will be hit by a storm (cruise lines steer clears of storms as much as possible), it could disrupt your trip if a hurricane hits a port of call.
New Zealand is a relatively compact country, so you can see most of the country's highlights in two weeks. To explore more of the regions and get off the beaten track, you could easily spend three weeks or more exploring.
You can self-drive, join a guided tour, book flights, or take a train or bus. Passenger and vehicle ferries offer services between the North, South and other islands too.
Cruising offers a reasonable option for those who wish to tackle both countries in one big trip. On a typical 14-day cruise, you'll depart out of Australia making the two-day Tasman Sea crossing to visit a series of New Zealand ports, then returning to Australia.
If you're bringing the whole family, a 5 or 7 day cruise might be the best way to make sure everyone has an awesome getaway. And for those lucky folks with even more time to spare, a cruise of 10 days or more will give you an incredible experience of all the best things a cruise has to offer.
Though your itinerary may change, cruises are rarely canceled due to storms. Ships are designed to handle rough seas and can be rerouted to avoid danger. Once you're on board, any port updates will be announced over the ship's intercom or detailed in a notice delivered to your stateroom.
Most travellers need either an NZeTA or a visa to travel to New Zealand. This depends on the passport you are travelling on, and if you will be a visitor or a transit passenger.