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On the subject of cruising, Australia and New Zealand are sometimes intertwined right into a single crusing — these two international locations have a complementary relationship, providing a various array of sights and experiences. Plus, their relative geographic proximity makes it handy to verify each of those bucket listing locations off your listing concurrently, creating one unforgettable trip.
Australia’s attract lies in its vastness and selection. From the enduring Sydney Opera Home to the sun-kissed seashores of the Gold Coast and the traditional marvel of the Nice Barrier Reef, Australia delivers an approachable mixture of city sophistication and uncooked wilderness.
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Equally, New Zealand captivates cruisers with its cinematic surroundings. Energetic shore excursions that includes mountain climbing, bungee leaping and kayaking get your coronary heart racing, whereas Maori cultural excursions add a depth and richness to your go to.
Aussie and Kiwi splendors await aboard these eight greatest cruises to Australia and New Zealand. We selected choices that fluctuate in size, ports of name and value, so everybody can discover their very own Down Underneath dream cruise.
Azamara’s 16-night New Zealand & Australia Voyage
Tick a number of Australasian highlights off your listing with this one-off 16-night New Zealand & Australia Voyage from Azamara in February 2025 aboard the 702-passenger Azamara Pursuit. Starting in Auckland, the ship will wind its approach round New Zealand earlier than heading to Tasmania (with an in a single day keep in Hobart) and as much as Melbourne and Sydney. Shore excursions will preserve passengers busy throughout two-plus weeks with solely three sea days. Attempt a trek via Hastings Collapse Tasmania, a dip in a thermal pool within the rainforest or a wine tasting in Waipara Valley.
Who ought to go: Golf lovers can be particularly eager to hop on this cruise, because it’s a part of Azamara’s golf program by PerryGolf. Add this to your reserving and get in six rounds all through the crusing (together with at Terrey Hills, Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers). For a lot of vacationers, Azamara represents a superb worth, with included gratuities, drinks and self-service laundry. Fares begin at $3,744 per particular person.
Seabourn’s 10-night Kimberley Expedition: Waterfalls & Wandjinas cruise
As one of many world’s most valuable wilderness areas, the Kimberley is dwelling to Precambrian rocks, rugged and numerous panorama with mangroves and savannas, and the oldest residing tradition on the earth. It’s no marvel cruises listed below are extremely coveted, as is the case with Seabourn’s 10-night Kimberley expeditions in 2025.
This itinerary begins in Darwin and every of the 9 port stops provides a wide selection of excursions designed to deeply entrench passengers into the locale. Many are guided Zodiac expeditions with naturalists to see waterfalls, wildlife and native methods of life.
Who ought to go: Vacationers on the lookout for an expensive expertise in one of the vital distant locations on the planet will recognize the 264-passenger all-suite Seabourn Pursuit, the most recent expedition vessel in Seabourn’s fleet. The yacht-like ship is tricked out with two custom-built submarines, 24 Zodiacs and eight double sea kayaks. The onboard professional Expedition Group helps information up-close wildlife encounters and cultural experiences, together with a go to with native pearl business farmers and an exploration of the traditional Wandjina-style rock artwork in Cyclone Cave.
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Holland America’s 13-night Australia and New Zealand cruise
Holland America’s Australia and New Zealand itinerary provides one of the best of two international locations over the course of two weeks, with two departures in 2025. Leaving from Sydney, the 1,964-passenger Westerdam stops in Melbourne, Australia; Hobart, Tasmania; and Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland, New Zealand. It additionally spends a day cruising the Fjordland Nationwide Park, the place you’re more likely to see seals, dolphins, whales and a uncommon fowl known as the flightless takahe.
Notable excursions embrace a go to to the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary with koalas, kangaroos and platypus; UNESCO World Heritage website Mt. Area Nationwide Park (Tasmania’s oldest nationwide park, that includes a eucalyptus rainforest and waterfalls) and the neo-Gothic Larnach citadel, with its lovely gardens.
Who ought to go: This cruise is a incredible deal for budget-conscious vacationers craving to journey to the land Down Underneath — fares begin at simply $1,159 per particular person for 2 weeks, however you’ll have to put up with a windowless cabin for 13 nights. Westerdam provides actions and sights for all ages, together with a children membership for youngsters ages 3 to 17, pickleball, trivia contests and stay music.
In search of a complete Australia-focused cruise and have time to spare? Do that one-time monthlong itinerary from Cunard aboard the two,081-passenger Queen Elizabeth in fall 2024. The ship sails round-trip from Sydney to 11 Australia ports and even makes a bonus cease in Bali about midway via the cruise.
Count on excursions of Whitsunday Islands and the beautiful sands and turquoise waters of Airlie Seashore, a day spent sightseeing in tropical Cairns, a go to to the distant northern shores of Darwin, wildlife sightings in rural Adelaide and marsupial recognizing on the Tasmanian Satan Conservation Park. This cruise has a number of night departures to profit from every day in port.
Who ought to go: With fares beginning at $6,039 per particular person, this cruise isn’t cheap, however we expect it’s a stable worth for the size of the journey (about $200 per day). Cunard caters to a extra refined traveler, one who performs croquet on the Video games Deck in between stops, marvels on the leisure within the Royal Courtroom Theatre, indulges in conventional afternoon tea and attire up for black-tie gala evenings.
Viking’s 14-night Australia & New Zealand cruise
Cruise Australia and New Zealand with Viking for an adults-only voyage with a concentrate on training and exploration. The 930-passenger Viking Orion and Viking Venus every supply quite a few sailings via 2026.
Your journey begins with two days in Sydney, the place you’re docked at one of the vital lovely harbors on the earth. Subsequent, head to the cultural capital of the nation, Melbourne, earlier than shifting on to sail via the scenic islands of Bass Straight and dock in Tasmania’s capital (Hobart) to view its uncommon wildlife.
As soon as in New Zealand, on the second half of this journey, stops in Christchurch, Wellington, Napier and Auckland showcase this nation’s most wonderous landmarks. Non-obligatory pre- and post-cruise extensions present a number of extra days to discover the area because you’ve already made such a protracted journey.
Who ought to go: Viking’s ocean ships carry roughly 900 passengers, making them a gorgeous dimension for vacationers who need a smaller ship expertise with out sacrificing any of the facilities they love on large ships, together with a health heart, Nordic spa, a number of eating places and well-appointed cabins. Viking’s inclusive pricing can also be enticing, with complimentary shore excursions, Wi-Fi, beer and wine, to not point out various eating at no further cost. Fares begin at $5,999 per particular person.
Princess Cruises’ 14-night New Zealand crusing
Cruisers who’ve their sights set primarily on New Zealand will love Princess Cruises’ 14-day itinerary. It begins and ends in Sydney, however the remainder of the time is break up between exploring quite a few New Zealand ports and having fun with enjoyable sea days.
Journey to Center Earth on a Lord of the Rings tour in Christchurch or take the enduring Wellington cable automobile up 390 toes to a scenic overlook that’ll take your breath away. You’ll be able to join with Maori tradition in Tauranga, head underground into the Kawiti Caves to see the splendor of hundreds of glow worms in Bay of Islands and sip your approach alongside the Auckland Wine Path.
Who ought to go: Princess does an distinctive job of constructing New Zealand accessible to these with a modest finances — fares begin at $778 per particular person. The three,080-passenger Crown Princess provides a number of sailings in 2025, with extra sailings out there via 2026 on the three,560-passenger Royal Princess and three,660-passenger Discovery Princess. Onboard, you’ll discover no scarcity of restaurant choices, plus a sports activities courtroom arrange for volleyball and basketball, a number of swimming pools and scorching tubs, miniature golf and a on line casino. Youth and teenage applications preserve touring children busy with age-appropriate actions and stay animal experiences.
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Celeb’s 9-night Australia Wine cruise
Australia is thought for a lot of fantastic issues, however for a lot of, winemaking tops the listing — shiraz dominates the purple class, due to the local weather and soil within the area. Celeb Cruises provides passengers an ideal pairing with its Australia Wine cruise that runs round-trip from Sydney in December 2024.
In Hobart, Tasmania, discover wine nation and deal with your self to among the greatest recent oysters on the earth. Adelaide (thought of the wine capital of Australia) excursions embrace a journey into the McLaren Vale or Barossa Valley wine-growing area for a tasting accompanied by lunch. In Melbourne, spend a day with wallabies and wine within the Yarra Valley.
Throughout 4 days at sea, you may preserve the wine flowing with a go to to the Sundown Bar for a glass of your favourite vino whereas watching the solar dip under the horizon. Or e book dinner at Eden Restaurant to get pleasure from globally influenced dishes which you could pair together with your favourite wines from an in depth listing.
Who ought to go: A wine-themed cruise attracts the eye of vacationers with a extra refined palate, and a pair of,908-passenger Celeb Edge delivers an equally refined trip with such facilities because the Magic Carpet (a floating lounge cantilevered above the ocean), an adults-only Solarium and a 25-yard lap pool (the biggest within the fleet). With fares beginning at $1,099, this crusing may appeal to youthful {couples} on the lookout for a superb worth on a shorter crusing.
Norwegian’s 12-night Australia & New Zealand: Auckland & Melbourne cruise
Whereas many cruises to this area supply a good quantity of sea days, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Australian & New Zealand: Auckland & Melbourne itinerary maximizes your time on land. You’ll go to 10 ports in 12 days for this one-off crusing in 2026, which implies the one two sea days land in the midst of the journey, while you’re prepared for slightly leisure.
Starting in Auckland, Norwegian Spirit will make its approach round New Zealand to Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Lyttleton and Dunedin. You’ll additionally go to Uncertain Sound, Dusky Sound and Milford Sound — large fjords which can be dwelling to waterfalls, marine life and plush rainforest. The primary Australian cease is Melbourne, adopted by Eden and Sydney. From Lord of the Rings excursions and four-wheel safaris to gondola rides and a go to to a Maori tribe’s fortified settlement, the tour choices are nicely rounded with choices for all tastes.
Who ought to go: The two,032-passenger Norwegian Spirit will appeal to these on the lookout for a ship with a contemporary vibe, because it was transformed in 2022. The $100 million facelift is clear within the expanded spa, new eating venues and lounges (together with a cigar bar), an adults-only retreat and an expanded health heart. Fares begin at $1,899 per particular person.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
- The 5 most fascinating cabin areas on any cruise ship
- A novices information to choosing a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin areas on any cruise ship
- The final word information to what to pack for a cruise
- A fast information to the most well-liked cruise traces
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