Australia & New Zealand Cruises
If you polled 100 people and asked them where they would most like to visit, it is guaranteed that over half of them would probably say Australia and New Zealand. This is because the land “down under” has long been fascinating to us, especially for those living in America which is on the other side of the world from these fabled lands.
A variety of cruise ships serve Australia cruises and New Zealand cruises, and these include UK based ones as well as several US based lines such as Princess, Holland America, and Regent Seven Seas, just to name a few.
Depending upon the amount of time you have available for your cruise holiday, you have several options. You can take a cruise that sails round-trip either from the United States to the lands down under, or you can take a cruise that starts and ends in those countries. For cruises originating in Australia and New Zealand, you can get a great holiday on a variety of cruise lines without needing to invest more than about ten to 14 days of your holiday time. Most of these excursions will stop at key points in both countries, including Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart (Tasmania) in Australia and then Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch, Napier and Auckland, New Zealand. There are also itineraries of as little as seven days that will show you at least some of these areas.
If you have more time available you have a couple of additional options. If at all possible, take a land tour after or before your cruise. This is almost imperative since there is so much to see and do in this region, and it is so far distant to most major cruise centres, that it would be a crime not to see and appreciate all that it has to offer. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef alone could occupy days of your time, with its plethora of multi-coloured coral and sea life. Then there are the natural wonders of both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Go “tramping,” that is taking one of the many published self-guided nature walks, and you are sure to see sights that will truly amaze you. For the extreme adventurer, visit Queenstown, known as the adrenaline capital of the world – the home of “bungee.” There you can engage in a variety of heart-stopping pursuits, including leaping off bridges with large rubber bands around your ankles and taking extreme jet boat rides that will leave you hoarse from screaming.
For the tamer among us, of course, there is much to see and do of a cultural nature. Take a scenic bus tour; enjoy afternoon tea at an elegant sidewalk café. All these things are available too, and that’s what makes this region truly appeal to just about everybody.
A final option for touring Australia and New Zealand is to take a cruise from the UK or the US that is a longer, grand type of voyage. This type of cruise will generally sail round trip to Australia and New Zealand, avoiding the necessity of the long gruelling flight to get there. In order to take advantage of this option, however, be aware that most round trip voyages will take a couple of months to complete, but they will give you a comprehensive tour of both countries, including several ports where you will stay overnight, allowing you to partake in the nightlife of these amazing regions.
The best time to go is when it is wintertime on our side of the world, since it is summertime there. Their seasons’ run just about the same as ours do, only at the opposite ends of the calendar from ours.
A cruise to Australia and New Zealand will definitely put a dent in your wallet, but it will also make an impression on you that will last for ever.
See all the great destinations you can visit as part of an Australia cruise holiday / New Zealand cruise holiday
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