Join Silver Explorer for an exciting 11-day journey around New Zealand, seeing natural marvels such as geysers, hot springs, volcanoes, fjords and mountains. During semi-circumnavigation, you will meet Maori and see the traditional and modern face of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Native wildlife and architectural jewels will round up your experiences.
Highlights
Learn about the Maori and Aotearoa
Explore the Art Deco capital of the world in Napier
Take Zodiacs to White Island to get to the crater floor of the only active volcano in New Zealand
Explore Fiordland National Park, Milford and Doubtful Sounds
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Auckland is called the City of Sails, and visitors flying in will see why. On the East Coast is the Waitemata Harbour—a Māori word meaning sparkling waters—which is bordered by the Hauraki Gulf, an aquatic playground peppered with small islands where many Aucklanders can be found "mucking around in boats."Not surprisingly, Auckland has some 70,000 boats. About one in four households in Auckland has a seacraft of some kind, and there are 102 beaches within an hour's drive; during the week many are quite empty.
Drive inland to Lake Rotorua and Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Valley through kiwi-growing country of the aptly named Bay of Plenty. Wai-o-Tapu is a geothermal active area south of Rotorua with many hot springs, mud pools and famous Lady Knox Geyser. The area is also a Maori stronghold and there will be a welcome ceremony and a guided walk through a Maori village to introduce the Maori way of life.
Depending on permits and conditions, you can use the Zodiacs to land on White Island and set off on foot across the crater floor of New Zealand’s only active volcano. The sights are surreal: the main crater with towering walls, steaming vents, and hissing fumaroles, glittering yellow sulphur crystals, bubbling mud pots and a spectacular steaming lake. Near the landing site are the remains of an old sulphur‐mining factory, abandoned because of a devastating explosion in 1914. About 70% of the volcano remains under the sea, making this massive volcanic structure the largest in New Zealand.
The maritime township of Picton (population 4,000) lies at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound and is the arrival point for ferries from the North Island, as well as a growing number of international cruise ships. It plays a major role in providing services and transport by water taxi to a multitude of remote communities in the vast area of islands, peninsulas, and waterways that make up the Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park. There's plenty to do in town, with crafts markets in summer, historical sights to see, and walking tracks to scenic lookouts over the sounds.
Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is whale watching from the Observatory Lounge, writing home to your loved ones or simply topping up your tan by the pool, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.
New Zealand fiord country along with Fiordland National Park is one of New Zealand's premier attractions. Incredibly beautiful, wild and remote, the region is an intriguing combination of rugged mountain ranges, dense rainforest, solitary alpine lakes, sparkling rivers and splashing waterfalls. Much of Fiordland is virtually unexplored wilderness and still the habitat of rare birds. As the ship cruises the beautiful Doubtful, Dusky and Milford Sounds, experience the majestic fiordland of South Island's western coast.
Despite being discovered by Cook more than 240 years ago, Dusky Sound is one of the few truly untouched destinations left on earth. Found on the southwest corner of New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, Dusky Sound has the auspicious title of “titanic mason” given to it by the Maoris, as no other explanation seems to fit; it is almost impossible to comprehend the sheer breadth of geological events that created this seemingly perfect sculpture, as the sheer cliffs that rise vertically upward from the ocean dwarf the ship.
The most southernmost town in New Zealand, Bluff (or The Bluff as it is locally known) is perhaps the most European of all the settlements in the country. Called Campbelltown until 1917, the city was officially renamed after the 265 meter conical hill that towers above it. One of the farthest corners of the British Empire, the inaugural Royal Tour of New Zealand by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, concluded at Bluff in January 1954. Nowadays however, it is the Bluff oysters that are the stars of the show.
Day 11: Dunedin | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Clinging to the walls of the natural amphitheater at the west end of Otago Harbour, the South Island's second-largest city is enriched with inspiring nearby seascapes and wildlife. Because Dunedin is a university town, floods of students give the city a vitality far greater than its population of 122,000 might suggest.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$6,930
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
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Adventurer Class
6 cabins on Deck 3, 180 sq. feet, Twin or Queen beds, 2 portholes.
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Explorer Class
4 cabins on Deck 4, Twin or Queen beds, 180 sq. feet with view window.
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View Suite
12 suites on Deck 3, 230 sq. feet with view window, Twin or Queen beds.
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Vista Suite
16 suites on Deck 4, 194 - 230 sq. feet with large window, Twin or Queen beds.
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Veranda Suite
8 suites on Deck 5, 215 sq. feet with French balcony, Twin or Queen beds.
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Medallion Suite
2 suites on Deck 7, 358 sq. feet with private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
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Silver Suite
6 suites on Deck 5, 430 sq. feet with 2 French balconies, Twin or Queen beds.
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Grand Suite
2 suites on Deck 7, 650 sq. feet with large private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
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Owner
2 suites on Deck 7, 540 sq. feet with large private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
Notes
Please note: Fares are capacity controlled, and subject to change at any time without notice. All prices are in US dollars, cruise-only per person based on double occupancy.
- The supplement for single occupancy in a Vista, Veranda or Midship Veranda Suite ranges from 25% – 100% above the double occupancy fare, depending upon the sailing and suite selected. Single supplement for a Silver or Medallion Suite (Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper), Owner’s, Grand or Royal Suites are 100% above of the double occupancy fare. Suites for single and third guests are capacity controlled.
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
Karen Snider
TrustScore 4.3 | 97 reviews
TrustScore 4.3 of 5
Based on 97 reviews on
1 hour ago
Jane was easy to work with and was patient with us as we planned our trip.
Suzanne Oliveira
23 hours ago
Excellent suggestions I line with my desires on a Galapagos very last minute cruise.
Swift and professional guidance and assistance in booking the trip. Helped me realising a substantial saving.
Rob Janssen
2 days ago
Kassi was really helpful in finding a safari in South Africa that met our various needs. She found things, despite my own hours of research, that I couldn’t find. She was incredibly responsive.
Matthew Nelson
3 days ago
The itinerary was new to Adventure Life when we originally booked, but hit all the places we wanted to see. Unfortunately the September earthquake damaged one of our hotels. We caught the fact that it is not open before they did, and that was disappointing and required an itinerary revision. Also, sometimes answers to our questions were not as clear as in our past experiences with the company. Overall, it was a great trip.
Karen
4 days ago
The planning and pre trip logistics were excellent, no complaints.
The staff, guides, experiences, food and accommodations on the Legend were fabulous. I can highly recommend visiting the islands on the Galapagos Legend.
I had unrealistic expectations about flora and fauna in the Galápagos Islands. I was expecting lush and diverse environments teeming with friendly wild life.
The volcanic terrain is amazing, but I wasn’t expecting the pervasive dessert like terrain and climate. There certainly are amazing creatures that are relaxed around humans, but not in the quantity I imagined.
The snorkeling had its moments, but I’ve been in clearer water with more variety and quantity of fish and sea creatures.
Basically, the Galapagos is not as unique and as fabulous as I imagined. I’m glad I went, but won’t be returning.