Islands, Bays & Fiords of New Zealand

Description

This adventure may be short, but it’s certainly sweet. Think of it as a travel amuse bouche – a taster to inspire further trips to New Zealand. In just 72 hours on this NZ holiday you pack in a lot of attractions, from Auckland’s windswept harbour, dotted with yacht sails, to the gem-like Bay of Islands, its archipelago of subtropical islets ideally explored on a cruise. Wherever this NZ tour takes you, expect a dose of heritage and Māori culture. Discover how and where New Zealand became a member of the Commonwealth and explore the streets of the country’s first European settlement and seaport.

Start your New Zealand cruise in Auckland, a charming city with a world-class culinary scene. Take a dip in a mud bath in Tauranga and go on a wine-tasting tour around Napier’s wineries and vineyards. Discover the Marlborough Sounds during a stop in Picton and tour the city of Christchurch aboard a colourful, restored tram. In Dunedin, visit the only castle in New Zealand, then sail down the peaceful fjords of Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Dusky Sound, where you’ll be surrounded by magnificent natural beauty. End your trip in Sydney, where there’s an endless variety of art, history, and culture to explore.

Your Fly, Tour & Cruise Package Includes:

• $500 flight credit per person

• 1 night 4-star accommodation in Auckland

• 2 night Jewels of the Bay guided tour with AAT Kings, Auckland return

• Includes premium accommodation, 3 meals, highly experienced Travel Director & Driver plus more

• 2 nights 4-star accommodation in Auckland

• Taste of Auckland small group day tour

• 10 night New Zealand cruise onboard Celebrity Edge, Auckland to Sydney

• All onboard meals in complimentary dining venues & selected non-alcoholic beverages

• A wide range of onboard activities & entertainment

• Select private transfers in Auckland

Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 10-25 February 2024

Solo traveller pricing available. Please speak to one of our travel consultants for more details

Jewels of the Bay Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Auckland – Bay of Islands

We hope you slept soundly, because today is jam-packed with adventures. Hit the road in the morning for a scenic sojourn to the Bay of Islands. This pocket of the country deserves its name – there are more than 140 subtropical islets off the coast here, lined with blissful undeveloped and unpeopled beaches. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical secret; this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs, officially denoting New Zealand as a member of the Commonwealth. Your guide, likely an ancestor of one of the original signatories, will explain the importance of the site, while pointing out the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house. These are just some of the Māori artefacts that characterize this part of the north coast. You wanted an introduction to New Zealand heritage on day one – you got it.

Hotel: Copthorne Resort Bay of Islands, Water View Rooms, 2 Nights

Included Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Bay of Islands Free Time

If there’s a travel destination that inspires wanderlust, the Bay of Islands is it. Today, trip the light fantastic and head off in whatever direction you please. Perhaps out onto the water to ride the waves on a Bay of Islands tour aboard a historic tall ship, glass of New Zealand wine in hand. Or maybe on a mini-jaunt around the romantic town of Russell, the country’s first permanent European settlement and seaport. Fun fact: the town’s streets retain their original names and layout from 1843. Just ask your Travel Director for touring tips – and places to wine and dine in between. Wherever your NZ holiday takes you today, we recommend finding somewhere special to salute the end of the day – this part of the country was made for blazing sunsets. 

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Bay of Islands - Auckland

If you’ve never heard of Whangarei, you’re probably not alone. But today, New Zealand’s most northerly city is well and truly on your radar. A place where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries meet museums, Whangarei is the country in a tantalizing snapshot – a union of nature and forward-thinking culture. Explore at your leisure – perhaps a NZ tour to Mount Parihaka, which features a war memorial and the remains of Māori fortified settlements – before sinking back into your seat for the mesmerizing commute back to Auckland.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Taste of Auckland (small group day tour)

Spend the morning exploring the city on a small group tour and then from midday, taste some of New Zealand’s best wine, eat local food and drink in the dramatic scenery of Auckland’s west coast.

After the pick-up from your city accommodation, you travel up Queen St, through Auckland’s central business district, past Auckland University before a photo stop in the inner-city park, known as The Domain. We continue on through the picturesque suburb of Ponsonby, known for its historic buildings, before heading over the Harbour Bridge to the North Shore. You stroll on Narrow Neck Beach in historic Devonport before continuing up to the summit of Mt Victoria where there are stunning panoramic views of Auckland city and the Waitemata Harbour. Then travel back over the Harbour Bridge to Westhaven Marina, one of the largest marinas in the Southern Hemisphere.

In the afternoon, leave behind the bustle of Auckland city and head northwest to taste the flavours of Kumeu Wine Country, Auckland’s Heritage Wine Region. Enjoy lunch at a contemporary vineyard restaurant, sample world renowned wines and marvel at the rugged surf-fringed coastline nearby.

Your first stop is at Soljans Vineyard. Soljans has won many awards for their wines and they are also widely acknowledged in New Zealand as being an expert producer of methode traditionelle (bottle-fermented) sparkling wines. Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at Soljans Winery restaurant. The winery is built with sunshine in mind and serves Mediterranean-style food with a New Zealand twist, showcasing fresh seasonal produce from around the region.

Next to tempt the taste buds is Coopers Creek vineyard which offers outstanding wines from New Zealand’s best regions. Coopers Creek produces a wide variety of wines and are adventurous in their choice of grapes and blends.

Next, you visit one of the region’s special places where (from August to April) you have the chance to see one of the world’s largest seabirds in their natural environment. Your journey takes you to one of the few mainland gannet nesting sites in the world situated on the cliff-tops overlooking the Tasman Sea. Here you get a close-up of gannet behaviour without disturbing their environment. The views extend for miles along the wild, black sand beach of Muriwai.

Your final tasting is at West Brook Winery. The West Brook cellar door looks across an idyllic duck pond and terraced picnic area to row after row of vines. The wines reflect true varietal character and their unique regional origins. Without exception, they are premium quality and have won numerous awards. This full day Auckland tour including both a city tour and a wine tour is a great introduction to the region.

Cruise Itinerary:

Terms & Conditions

Prices listed are per person in Australian/New Zealand Dollars, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking and shown on the lowest inside category available at the time.  Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 20 July 2023 and can be withdrawn without notice.   Cabin categories include prepaid government fees and port taxes unless otherwise stated.  Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Visas are not included.  Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Air credit is applicable on airline of choice, subject to availability and subject to the carriers’ flight schedules and conditions. Note: Charges/supplements apply for specialty dining, drinks, and select activities, entertainment, and meals.