New Zealand Shore Excursions & Tours
Learn about the various New Zealand shore excursions found in this breathtaking destination during your cruise. Experience New Zealand tours such as the Taieri Gorge Railway in Dunedin, Punting on the Avon River in Christchurch, visiting the thermal wonderland of Rotorua, or competing in an America's Cup Yatch Race in Auckland!
Auckland Shore Excursions
Straddling a narrow isthmus created by 60 different volcanoes, New Zealand's former capital boasts scenic beauty, historical interest and a cosmopolitan collection of shops, restaurants, museums, galleries and gardens. Rangitoto, Auckland's largest and youngest volcano, sits in majestic splendor just offshore. Mt. Eden and One Tree Hill, once home to Maori earthworks, overlook the city. One of New Zealand's fine wine districts lies to the north of Auckland.Auckland served as New Zealand's capital from 1841 until 1865, when the seat of government moved to Wellington.
Bay of Islands Shore Excursions
The Bay of Islands offers more than broad vistas of sea and sky, more than beaches, boating, and fabulous water sports. The Bay is the birthplace of modern New Zealand. Here the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, establishing British rule and granting the native inhabitants equal status. Rich in legend and mystery, the Bay of Islands has age-old ties to the Maori and to whalers, missionaries and New Zealand's early settlers.
The Bay of Islands has lured explorers for countless centuries. The Maori say that Kupe, the great Polynesian adventurer, came here in the 10th century. Captain Cook anchored offshore in 1769, followed by assorted brigands, traders, colonists and missionaries. The Bay of Islands is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender.
Dunedin Shore Excursions
Originally a Maori settlement, Dunedin was first discovered by European whalers in the early 1800s. By 1848 a group of Scottish pioneers settled here, escaping religious persecution in their homeland and was given the name "Dunedin" which is the Gaelic word for Edinburgh. With the discovery of gold in 1861, thousands of prospectors arrived, and the township more than doubled to 5,000 residents. The rapid growth of the region around the turn of the century left Dunedin with the largest concentration of Victorian and Edwardian buildings outside Britain. With more than 120,000 inhabitants, it is presumably the best-preserved Victorian city in the world. Dunedin is also the home to New Zealand's oldest university, the University of Otago. Popular Dunedin shore excursions include the Taieri Gorge Railway, tours to Larnach Castle, and wildlife cruises onboard the m/v Monarch.
Fiordland Shore Excursions
New Zealand's largest national park was formed millennia ago by massive glacial flows that carved deep fiords into the coast of New Zealand's South Island. At the heart of Fiordland National Park lies Milford Sound. Lined by cliffs that soar nearly a mile above its surface, Milford Sound cuts into the heart of the Southern Alps. Rainforest clings to the cliffs and graceful waterfalls plummet into the void. Mile-high Mitre Peak dominates the upper reaches of the sound.
The town of Te Anau in Fiordland National Park is also your gateway to the South Island's other natural wonders including Lake Wakatipu, and the resort of Queenstown.