Auckland to Sydney

Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand's vibrant City of Sails. Resting on blue-green waters, its two harbors invite you to enjoy waterfront walks and stunning views of the grand harbor bridge. For a true sense of the city scale, head 192 meters up the iconic Sky Tower to sip cocktails while gazing down at the skyline and the yachts of Viaduct Harbor. When you are ready for a dose of culture, the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki awaits. Set beside the tranquil fountains of Albert Park, this French Renaissance building showcases New Zealand's most extensive collection of Pacific and Maori art. Beyond the city center, the Hauraki Gulf beckons with island escapes like Waiheke, Tiritiri Matangi, and Rangitoto, offering everything from lush vineyards to lava caves. Back on the mainland, hike to the summit of Mount Eden, a dormant volcano rising right out of the suburbs, for a sweeping 360-degree panorama. While there, you can catch a glimpse of Eden Park, the unusual translucent stadium of the mighty All Blacks.

Step ashore in Tauranga, the sunny capital of New Zealand, where wide sweeping beaches and cresting waves set a relaxing scene. The dramatic volcanic peak of Mount Maunganui stands guard over the entrance to the Bay of Plenty, offering winding coastal footpaths and spectacular views of the natural harbor. Exploring the wider region reveals a landscape shaped by brooding geothermal energy, plunging waterfalls, and fascinating Maori culture. Thanks to abundant sunshine, the area around Te Puke bursts with exotic agricultural bounty, including hanging kiwi, citrus, and avocados. Further inland, vibrant teal and orange colors await at the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, where mud pools bubble and steam rises from the earth. At nearby Lake Rotoiti, you can kayak across the smooth surface and glide into a hidden cave softly lit by glittering glowworms. You can also enter a fantasy world by visiting the celebrated filming spots that doubled for JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth. Looking out to sea, the volcanic cone of the active White Island provides a striking offshore backdrop, belching smoke across the wate

With a population of around 35,000 and located on the North Island, Gisborne exudes history at every turn. Maori for "Great standing place of Kiwa", Kiwa was a leading figure aboard the Maori ancestral canoe, Takitimu, which ran aground in Gisborne around 1450 AD. After landing, Kiwa became a coastal guardian, eventually marrying Parawhenuamea, the keeper of the streams. The union point of three rivers and the first place to see the sun, the city is filled with light and laughter, and gracefully squeezes surfer's beaches with the district's colonial past. Captain Cook made his first landfall here, John Harris set up his first trading station in the then village, and today, Gisborne is the major center of Maori cultural life. Suffice to say then that the city is a watery wonderland. With its picture-perfect beaches, as a savvy traveler, you want to add being among the first people in the world to say you watch the sky change color as the sun bursts from out of the sea. A place of nature, spectacular beach cliff views are all just part and parcel of everyday life here, and easy walks from the center of town to the Titirangi Reserve reward you with yet more unbelievable 180-degree vistas from Poverty Bay to Gisborne City; stretch your eyes with the panorama, while stretching your legs on one of the many enjoyable walks. A perfect place to stroll, amble, and wander, like much of New Zealand, Gisborne keeps a healthy respect for history and nature and enjoys a very laid-back feel.

Sip the fine wines of legendary producers, visit Cape Kidnappers crowds of birdlife, and wander the stylish streets of the world's art deco capital, during your time in handsome Napier. Located on the huge arc of Hawkes Bay, Napier enjoys a generous Mediterranean-style climate and a breezy cafe culture. A green, outdoor town, wander Marine Parade, which borders the rich blue Pacific and invites you to stroll along a tree-lined two-mile seafront. Take the gentle hike up to Bluff Hill for panoramic views over the lively Napier Port and out toward Cape Kidnappers, given its name following a clash between Captain Cook's settlers and the local Maori population. Here you encounter one of the world's largest mainland gannet colonies, creating a colorful cacophony by the sea. Set on sheer cliffs, the golden-headed birds are an incredible sight, swirling overhead and dancing before you. The city's renowned Art Deco architecture glows in the sunshine of New Zealand's North Island. Built following the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which ripped through the region in 1931. The rebuild, in the architectural fashion of the time, leaves an authentic treasure trove of 30s style buildings. Grapes thrive in the warm, dry climate of Napier and Hawkes Bay, which is one of New Zealand's oldest wine regions. Swirl glasses in waterfront bars or head out to walk among the vineyards of pinot gris and syrah grapes, learning about the climate conditions that help add sophisticated flavor to every bottle.

Sprawling around a hook-shaped peninsula, Wellington is a vibrant and energetic seaside capital for you to explore. A compact, well-stocked city of buzzing bars and chatting cafes, you find New Zealand's capital is a bright and breezy place with an infectious, easy-going atmosphere. Known as the creative hub of the South Pacific, there are shows for you to see, art installations to enjoy, and rich flavors to savor here. The sounds of rare and beautiful birdlife fill the hills around the city, and the bush of the green belt provides you with an easy-to-access sanctuary for strolls and cycle rides. The Botanical Gardens break up the buildings even more, while an iconic, cherry-red cable car rumbles up Wellington's slope to the city's best viewpoint, where you look out over the city's scenic harbor from above.

Zealandia provides an urban home for rare and endangered birdlife, bringing many species back from the brink. Varied museums cover everything for you, from Maori traditions to earthquake simulations and even the real-life Kraken - a displayed colossal squid. Wellington is only New Zealand's third-biggest city, but spend some time here, and you realize that it is a blessing. Eminently strollable, you stop in at countless cool cafes to top up your caffeine levels whenever your energy is flagging - the smell of a fresh artisan espresso is never far away. The wines grown nearby are revered, and the city's craft beers are also making waves for you to try. You wander the breezy waterfront and admire the surfers riding the wind-whipped rollers of the self-proclaimed "coolest little capital in the world".

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity for you to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you have been meaning to do. So whether you are going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to your busy days spent exploring shoreside.

The southeasterly coast of New Zealand's wild southern island is a haven for your outdoor adventures, with masses of raw scenic beauty and thrilling coastline. Heading to the Otago Harbor, you find Dunedin is a cosmopolitan city of culture and architectural splendor, with a distinctly tartan flair. Settled by the Scots in 1848, the romantically misty valleys and moody landscapes continue to capture your heart as a visitor to these distant shores. Searing bagpipes echo down the streets for you in the Edinburgh of the South, which wears its Scottish origins proudly. You find Gothic revival architecture scattered liberally, including the magnificent university with its glorious clock tower and the city's grand cathedral. Head to the elegant Octagon to see the statue of Robert Burns, whose nephew was a city founder. The railway station is perhaps your pick of this city's many artistic structures. Its glowing gardens and pretty mosaics add extra detail to the elegant, gingerbread building. It is also your perfect jumping-off point for romantic rail adventures along the coastline.

The melodramatic coastline of the Otago Peninsula boasts dramatic cliffs and sea-sprayed beaches, as well as an abundance of animals. You explore cliffs laced with tunnels and hidden walkways, getting you up close and personal with yellow-eyed penguins. Sea lions and seals also sprawl out on windswept beaches, drifting in and out of indulgent dozes before you. You feel the South Island's second-largest city regularly receives a top-up of youthful energy thanks to its healthy student population. You notice Dunedin is not lacking a distinctly quirky personality of its own, as showcased by the event where locals race thousands of chocolate orbs down the world's steepest street, Baldwin Street. Museums in the city tell you of Chinese influences, as well as the stories of early Maori settlers. You round off an active day sampling a South Island institution, an icy beer from Speight's Brewery.

Within touching distance of the South Island's southern tip, you find that the majority of New Zealand's third-largest island is handed over to a beautiful sprawl of National Park. Taking its name from the Maori word Rakiura, which means land of the glowing skies, you discover this is an island sanctuary of radiant beauty. Sunsets and sunrises are magical for you, but it is the swirling patterns of lights that dance across the heavens above that enchant you above all else, as the southern hemisphere's version of the northern lights dazzles overhead. You slow your pace on this island of leisurely fishing villages and swirling Maori legend.

Dense forests claim the majority of Stewart Island, concealing wonderful wildlife-watching opportunities for you, and revealing isolated coves and dramatic cliffs. You bring your hiking boots, as with only 15 miles of road, you find the best way to see the rugged beauty is by crunching along seaside trails. Coastal hikes along sweeping bays lead you to viewpoints like Ackers Point, or you take to the sea's waves to undulate gently offshore, admiring the island's coastline from the turquoise waters. Pleasure cruises along the scenic Paterson Inlet take you out to islands teeming with life and animal activity. Stewart Island and its scattered skerries provide you with the perfect sanctuary for crowds of brilliant birdlife. You encounter everything from blue penguins to albatross and New Zealand's national icon, wild kiwis.

As with all of New Zealand's fjords, you find that Doubtful Sound is a masterpiece of nature. The only way for you to reach it is by boat, crossing Lake Manapouri, so of the three Sounds, Dusky and Milford being the other two, you see Doubtful is the least touristy. Thus, as someone lucky enough to experience Doubtful Sound, you truly deserve it. Because of the inaccessibility of the Sound, you encounter very few people as you float through the silent waterways. Animals, however, are a different matter for you. Because of the lack of human interaction, you notice Mother Nature has free rein here. The dense forest is rife with wildlife, and birdsong is a constant soundtrack for you; it is the sound of silence.

In the water, you expect to get up close and personal with fur seals and pods of bottlenose dolphins, and as a lucky soul, you even sight the occasional whale and albatross. You no doubt already know that Doubtful Sound is home to the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin, so you keep your binoculars ready, as it is a shame for you to miss the once-in-a-lifetime sighting. The region is famous for its seven-meter annual rainfall, so you are not surprised if the sun is not shining. Yet despite the potential mist, you find Doubtful Sound remains majestic. The waterfalls are more mesmerizing, the glassy water more mysterious, and the mountains rising into the clouds more impressive before your eyes. As the Fiordland website puts it, Doubtful Sound offers you cloistered serenity. You expect to be both humbled and uplifted.

Named after Milford Haven in Wales, Milford Sound is not a sound but a fjord, yet the name has stuck. In 1998 the Maori name Piopiotahi was added and officially it should be written as Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. The local name refers to the extinct New Zealand Thrush (the piopio). Milford Sound sits within South Island’s Fiordland National Park, one of the four national parks forming the UNESCO World Heritage site “Te Wahipounamu” – pounamu being the local greenstone highly estimated for carvings by the Maori. The fjord has a length of approximately 16 kilometers and a depth of more than 290 meters. Steep cliffs, several impressive waterfalls, and dense rainforest characterize the fjord. Halfway down the fjord is Stirling Falls, the second tallest. Near the end of the sound, the U-shaped Sinbad Gully and the famous Mitre Peak which rises to a height of 1,692 meters can be seen, while on the eastern side is Lady Bowen Falls, at 162 meters the tallest of the falls. The Piopiotahi Marine Reserve protects the flora and fauna in the water. Apart from bottlenose dolphins in the fjord, New Zealand fur seals can be seen resting on Seal Rock on the northern shore, while on the opposite side is a Fiordland Crested Penguin site.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity for you to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you have been meaning to do. So whether you are going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to your busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Mount Wellington's looming, cloud-wisped form is an ever-present sight as you explore booming Hobart, the cosmopolitan capital of Australia's most southerly state. A former British penal colony, nowadays, you find Australias second oldest city is a place for you to live the free and easy life. Encircled by dramatic cliffs, landscaped gardens, and rolling vineyards, you see Hobart is also well stacked with cultural pursuits, including museums, and respected, if controversial, galleries plastering new and old art to their walls. With fresh sea breezes and a fabulous location, you discover Hobart is a creative place, where you browse the produce of local artisans in Saturday's massive Salamanca Market, which draws visitors from all across Tasmania and beyond. You eat at waterfront restaurants or rise up Mount Wellington's slopes to appreciate the remoteness of Hobart's location. From this elevated platform, you look down across views of flowing forests, undulating mountains, and endless ocean swallowing up the city. Further away, animal sanctuaries introduce you to the island's famous inhabitants, including the famous Tasmanian devil. If you are thirsty, you find Hobart has a long brewing tradition, so you enjoy a refreshing ale poured from the country's oldest brewery. The climate's blend of generous sunshine and cool Antarctic breezes helps Hobart to produce its acclaimed wines, and you see thick clumps of pinot noir grapes hang from vineyards dotted along the valleys nearby. You taste the wines, accompanied by a platter of artisan cheese and sausage. As a whiskey aficionado, you are not left in the cold either, with international award winning distilleries close by.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity for you to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you have been meaning to do. So whether you are going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to your busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Known for the migrating whales that cruise through its waters between May and November, you find Eden sits in New South Wales scenic Twofold Bay. While the whales are now protected and cherished here, you learn the town was initially founded as a whaling center and has many fascinating stories to tell. Namely, you discover a unique symbiotic relationship with the killer whales. Rewarded with the tongues of freshly caught whales, the orcas would help to round up baleen whales in the bay, making it easy for humans to land them. This mutually beneficial exchange came to be known as The Law of the Tongue.

You find out more about it and the areas whaling past at the Eden Killer Whale Museum, where you see the skeleton of the most famous orca accomplice, Old Tom. A yearly whale festival now celebrates the return of the magnificent whales to these waters for you. You head into Ben Boyd National Park for amazing bird watching and to see the arches of soaring rock formations rising beside fire-red cliffs. You view the glorious coastal scenery of frothing aqua seas and rugged headlands from the viewing deck on top of Boyd's Tower. Initially devised as a lighthouse, it later serves as a lookout for you to spot whales breaching the bay waters and to see Old Tom splashing his tail to alert the whalers. You travel through more glorious scenery and tangled rainforest to the verdant promontory of Green Cape Lighthouse. Jutting out into the South Pacific Ocean, the pearly white lighthouse caps crumbling cliffs and offers you sweeping views of the jagged cliffs and wave-thrashed rocks. The wrecks that lie offshore attest to the respect these sometimes punishing waves demand.

With its glorious harbor, lavish golden beaches, and iconic landmarks, you find Sydney is the showpiece city of Australia. Creative and curious, you discover the world-class cuisine, Indigenous culture, and irresistible beach life that make Sydney one of the most dynamic and exciting destinations in the world. The sparkling harbor of Sydney is the heart of a richly cultural city, overlooked by the metallic curves of the masterpiece Opera House and the grand arched harbor bridge. You take it all in from the water and admire the iconic landmarks set before the gleaming skyline backdrop of the city.

If you feel adventurous, you take the legendary climb up the smooth curve of the bridge, nicknamed the Coathanger, to soak in the spread of the shining city from a unique perspective. You spread out to tan on one of the most famous stretches of sand in the world, Bondi Beach. Restaurants and bars burble away in the background while the sun beams down and surfers curl and leap over pure rollers before you. You swim in spectacular salty ocean pools or wander the beautiful Bondi to Coogee coastal walk for more of this sun-gorged stretch of prime coastline. Leaving the thrills of the largest city in Australia behind is surprisingly simple for you. You take to the skies to fly above skyscrapers and rippling ribbons of waves, out to majestic peaks, sheer cliffs, and iconic rock formations like the Three Sisters of the Blue Mountains. Or, you drop in on wildlife sanctuaries caring for the animals of the country, from hopping kangaroos to adorably cute and cuddly koalas.