Highlights of Australia & New Zealand with an Azamara cruise

Today you’ll join a wine tour on Waiheke Island. As you take the local ferry across the Hauraki Gulf, you’ll see why Auckland is also known as the 'City of Sails’. You’ll sail past Rangitoto Island, Auckland’s youngest but largest volcanic cone, to Waiheke. Here you’ll have the chance to visit some of the island’s wineries, taste their award-winning produce, and enjoy a scenic tour of the island with your guide before taking the ferry back to Auckland.

You have the day to explore the city at your leisure before boarding your cruise. We suggest visiting the Sky Tower for 360-degree views of the city, where you might see thrill-seekers jumping from New Zealand’s tallest building. Or, head to Ponsonby, a neighborhood known for its boutique shops, trendy restaurants, and small galleries that showcase Kiwi art. In the afternoon, you’ll make your own way to the cruise terminal and board your ship, Azamara Pursuit.

Today, your cruise will be tendered in the Bay of Islands. The area has a rich cultural history and is home to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the nation was shaped by the signing of the treaty between the Māori chiefs and the British Crown. You might choose to kayak down the Waitangi Estuary to Haruru Falls, descend into the Kawiti Caves to see glowworms, or take a guided walk through the giant kauri trees in Puketi Forest.

For your first day at sea, ease into life on board and explore all your ship has to offer. You might also like to head to The Den lounge to find out more about the ports you’ll soon be visiting and the experiences available.

As your cruise makes its way down New Zealand’s east coast, your first stop is Napier. See the city in style with a tour in a 1930s classic car. While seeing the sights, your local guide will explain how the city rebuilt itself in the Art Deco style following an earthquake.

Today you’ll make port in the country’s capital, Wellington. You might like to join a morning tour of Zealandia, a wildlife sanctuary home to the country’s diverse native species. In the morning, you’ll hear the sounds of tūī, known for their complex song and mimic abilities, among a chorus of other endemic birds and have a chance to see the prehistoric tuatara or an armoured wētā. In the afternoon, explore the city at your own pace. We suggest a visit to Te Papa, an interactive and immersive museum which delves into the intertwining natural and cultural histories of New Zealand.

Overnight, your ship will cross the Cook Strait and you’ll wake up in Nelson on the South Island. This small city has a thriving craft community: be sure to see the studios of ceramicists, sculptors and glassworkers that call the city home. Nelson is also a great entry point to Abel Tasman National Park. With golden beaches and vivid blue water, the park is one of the best places in New Zealand for sea kayaking. Look out for the fur seals that often congregate here.

Your next stop is Picton, the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds. You might like to explore Queen Charlotte Sound by catamaran or kayak, keeping your eyes peeled for the four species of dolphins that reside here. You could also join a wine tour and enjoy tastings in New Zealand's largest grape-growing and winemaking region.

Today you’ll arrive in the ‘Garden City’ of Christchurch. The city is ever-changing as it continues the long process of rebuilding after the major 2011 earthquake. Visit New Regent Street, which is lined with pastel Spanish Mission-style buildings that house boutique shops, restaurants, and trendy cocktail bars. Christchurch’s heritage trams are a great way to see the city. Hop on one as they pass through New Regent Street to visit the Botanic Gardens, Riverside Market, and Hagley Park.

You’ll be docked in Scottish-influenced Dunedin today. Walking around the city, you’ll see the historic architecture of the University of Otago (New Zealand’s oldest university), the First Church, and the Dunedin Railway Station. Alternatively, you might opt to leave the city and join a wildlife cruise of the Otago Peninsula. Look out for sea lions and penguins, who are year-round residents.

This morning, you’ll sail around the south coast to reach the west coast of the country and your final stop in New Zealand. You’ll arrive at Milford Sound in the afternoon and cruise through the fjord on your ship. Look out for hanging valleys, dramatic waterfalls, and mountains that, according to Māori legend, were carved by the supernatural figure Tu-te-raki-whanoa.

The past few days in port are likely to have been action-packed, so you might like to use your days at sea to unwind before the next chapter of your trip begins. Enjoy a treatment at the Sanctum Spa before relaxing on the spa’s private terrace, complete with a thalassotherapy pool.

Today, you might like to attend a lecture or Q&A session hosted by one of the ship’s expert destination speakers. You could also head to the Living Room to listen to live music, test your knowledge at trivia, or simply enjoy afternoon tea with views across the sea. In the evening, you could try one of Azamara’s speciality restaurants: you could have steak cooked to perfection at Prime C or taste Italian-inspired cuisine at Aqualina.

You’ll have two full days in Hobart, and there are plenty of ways to experience the region. Today, you might want to meet one of the island’s rarest native species, the Tasmanian devil. Visit one of Tasmania’s animal sanctuaries where you’ll learn about the devils and the ongoing conservation work to protect them. While you can visit during the day, we recommend joining the night tour, where you’ll have the chance to help your guide feed the sanctuary’s residents their dinner.

For your second day in Hobart, you might like to take part in a tasting tour along the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Along the coastal route, you might stop at a distillery, cheesery, vineyard, and a historic eatery to enjoy the region's finest produce. You could also join a guided tour of Port Arthur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once a penal colony holding many of Australia’s first convicts.

As your ship makes its way to Australia, you have a final sea day to spend as you wish. You might like to try out the panoramic jogging track before lounging by the pool. In the evening, sip a cocktail in the Cabaret Lounge while enjoying a post-dinner show.

This morning, you will be docked in Eden on the Sapphire Coast before your ship sails to Sydney in the afternoon. The region is named after the sparkling color of the sea. If you want to venture out onto the water, you might like to join a catamaran cruise around Twofold Bay or kayak in the calm estuary of the Pambula River. Alternatively, you could join one of Beowa National Park’s rangers to see the sea-carved landscape, with its red cliff faces and unspoilt beaches.

Your ship arrives in Sydney early this morning, docking around 7am. From your balcony or on deck, make sure you witness the moment your ship sails through Sydney Harbour and rounds the Sydney Opera House into the cruise port. This marks the end of your cruise. Once you disembark, you have a free day to explore Sydney at your own pace. We suggest taking a stroll around the Botanic Gardens or pottering around the historic laneways of The Rocks district.

This morning, you'll make your way to the Sydney Opera House for a backstage tour. You'll have the chance to stand on the stage where some of the world’s legendary performers have stood, with exclusive access to areas normally reserved for stars and their crew, including dressing rooms and the orchestra pit. Once the tour concludes, you'll enjoy breakfast as a small group in the Green Room. The rest of the day is yours. You might like to visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The gallery’s new north building, Naala Badu, opened in 2022, and offers dynamic galleries and a public art garden to explore.

Your driver will pick you up from your hotel this morning and drive you to the Blue Mountains National Park. The park takes its name from the blue haze created by light reflecting off the eucalyptus trees. You’ll stay for three nights at Lillianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, a restored heritage property with sweeping views across the Jamison Valley. Once you settle in, you may want to explore some of the mountain towns or simply enjoy the views from the pool.

Walking trails crisscross the Blue Mountains in every direction, offering a bewildering choice of waterfalls, rocky outcrops, eucalyptus forests and hidden gorges to explore. Today, your private guide will take you through this landscape and pick the best trails based on your interests, whether that’s epic views, flora and fauna, or the rich cultural history of the area. At the end of your walk, you’ll enjoy a well-earned picnic lunch.

Your final day in the Blue Mountains is yours to enjoy. You might like to take advantage of the spa, where native botanicals are used in treatments. Or if you prefer something more active, we recommend taking a walk to the Scenic Railway for extended views of the Three Sisters and the large canyons.

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven back to Sydney. The rest of your day is free for you to do some final sightseeing or try out one of the restaurants your specialist recommended before your flight home tomorrow.

Your private driver will pick you up and take you to the airport for your return flight today.