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Itinerary - In Brief
Itinerary - Detailed
Day 1:
USA
Board your independent flight to Auckland.
Day 2:
International Date Line
Day lost crossing the International Date Line.
Day 3:
Auckland / Queenstown, New Zealand
Arrive in Auckland this morning and transfer to a connecting flight to Queenstown. Time at leisure gives you the chance to explore this lakeside town, surrounded by the majestic mountains known as The Remarkables before dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 4:
Queenstown / Milford Sound / Embark Clipper Odyssey
After breakfast birders set out along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and the rest of us depart on a scenic drive to the resort town of Te Anau for lunch, then continue into the heart of Fiordland National Park. Here you look for the endemic South Island wren, walk through a primeval beech forest, and cross foot bridges over the Cleddau River with its spectacular waterfalls. Drive through the three-quarter-mile-long Homer Tunnel, completed 20 years after it was started, and continue to Milford Sound where we board the Clipper Odyssey this afternoon.
Days 5-6:
Milford, Doubtful & Dusky Sounds, Fiordland National Park
The World Heritage Fiordland National Park stretches 124 miles between Milford Sound and Preservation Inlet. Hailed by Rudyard Kipling as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” Milford Sound offers an awe-inspiring panorama from the deck of your ship as you sail beneath sheer cliffs which rise thousands of feet from the water’s edge, past the crashing waterfalls of Bowen and Stirling Falls, and in full view of stunning, mile-high Mitre Peak.
During your cruise in Dusky and Doubtful Sounds—pristine fiords carved by glaciers two million years ago—your guides launch the Zodiacs to explore remote coves where Captain Cook anchored his ship, the Resolution, in 1773 while he mapped, named, and described the fiords. You also go ashore to explore luxuriant rain forests and watch for bellbirds, tuis, fantails, and the kereru, a large native wood pigeon. You may also spot the rare Fiordland crested penguin. On deck, search for bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and little blue penguins.
Day 7:
Stewart & Ulva Islands
A peaceful island of only 480 inhabitants, Stewart—called Rakiura, or “land of the glowing sky” by the ancient Maoris—is ringed with golden beaches backed by dunes and thick forests, which shelter an abundance of birds. The Clipper Odyssey anchors near Halfmoon Bay for a leisurely exploration of the quiet fishing village of Oban, New Zealand’s southernmost township.
In the afternoon we visit Ulva Island, a bird sanctuary amid a forest of rata trees, with the exciting chance to spot the threatened native parrot, the kaka. You also search for tuis, little blue penguins, red-crowned parakeets, and saddlebacks. This evening enjoy a celebratory holiday dinner on board as you sail toward Dunedin.
Day 8:
Dunedin
Elegant Edwardian and Victorian stone buildings grace the streets of this former gold mining center. There are three excursion options during your morning visit, including a drive out to the Otago Peninsula to view the colony of northern royal albatross, one of the world’s largest seabirds, then enjoy a walking tour of Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle, built in the 1870s. Your second tour visits the Portobello Marine Studies Centre for a presentation of “A Dive Down Under” and returns to Dunedin with time at leisure. The third option is a walking tour of the historic city center, anchored by the imposing Gothic St. Paul’s Cathedral, called the Octagon, and a visit to the Early Settlers Museum. You return to the ship for lunch and continue your cruise northward.
Day 9:
Christchurch
Enjoy a full day in this lovely English-flavored city, established by Anglican settlers in the 1850s. Options include an exploration of the renowned Canterbury Museum or a visit to the stunning neo-Gothic Arts Center. Nature-lovers may choose to visit the International Antarctic Center and the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve to learn about its kiwi breeding program. After lunch on the ship the afternoon is at leisure to further explore New Zealand’s oldest city.
Day 10:
Kaikoura
Dramatic scenery is Kaikoura’s signet—rugged peaks, lush farmland, a rocky peninsula, and a narrow coastline. Just off the coastal town of Kaikoura are some of the richest nutrient-filled waters of New Zealand. Conditions permitting, there is an excursion aboard local, Maori-operated whale-watching vessels to search for sperm whales, migratory pods of orca, and schools of dusky dolphin. The rare Hector’s dolphin, the world’s smallest dolphin and unique to New Zealand, is sometimes spotted here.
You also visit Fyffe House, Kaikoura’s oldest building and a link to the town’s former whaling history, and tour a local winery with spectacular ocean and mountain views from atop a limestone bluff. You spend the afternoon exploring the surrounding area.
Day 11:
Resolution Bay, Marlborough Sounds / Ship Cove
Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park is dotted by hundreds of jewel-like emerald islands and during our day here you enjoy Zodiac tours of secluded shores and guided nature walks. At Ship Cove you go ashore to view the monument commemorating the visits of Captain Cook. Your naturalists lead walks through the rain forest, introducing you to botanical species unique to New Zealand. You also visit nearby Motuara Island, a wildlife sanctuary, and walk to the summit for magnificent views—it was here Captain Cook claimed all the visible shores of New Zealand for England.
Day 12:
Nelson
The region at the top of the South Island was home to the Maori for many centuries, and European pioneers founded the port city of Nelson at the head of Tasman Bay in 1842. Today the greater Nelson area is an artistic center of international renown and, following a tour of the city highlights, you visit local galleries and workshops to watch woodworkers, glassblowers, and potters. This afternoon you drive into the countryside and enjoy tastings at area wineries. Alternatively, you may choose to visit beautiful Abel Tasman National Park which stretches along pristine coastline backed by beech forests and huge granite outcrops.
Day 13:
Wellington
New Zealand’s capital city embraces a beautiful harbor and is home to many artistic, cultural, and historical treasures including its round parliament building, aptly named the Beehive, and the old Government Building, one of the largest all-wooden buildings in the world. Your day here includes stops at the Otari-Wiltons Bush and the excellent Te Papa National Museum. This evening, on board your ship, you ring in the New Year with dinner and festivities and enjoy the following morning relaxing at sea.
Day 14:
Napier
When an earthquake and its subsequent fires destroyed Napier in 1931, the residents rebuilt it in the Art Deco style popular at the time, incorporating Maori motifs into the design. In addition to the splendid architecture, the city is surrounded by rolling hills covered in vineyards which thrive in the Mediterranean-like climate. You disembark after lunch with tour options available including: an Art Deco city tour and visit to the Art Deco Museum; a drive along the rugged coastline of Cape Kidnappers to view and photograph a colony of 20,000 gannets; and a tour of Napier area wineries.
Day 15:
At Sea
Relax on board today and enjoy lectures on Maori culture as you prepare for your visit to Rotorua.
Day 16:
Tauranga / Rotorua
This morning you board motorcoaches for your full-day excursion to Rotorua, settled by the Maoris in the 1400s. The area is known for its intense geothermal activity, and you walk among the geysers, hot springs, steam vents, and mud pools of Whakarewarewa Thermal Village.
Day 17:
Bay of Islands
Dazzling blue waters and a pervading aura of tranquility distinguish the lovely Bay of Islands off the North Island. You visit the beautifully preserved Waitangi Treaty House where, in 1840, the British governor signed a pact with the local Maoris to end conflicts, establish Maori land rights, and admit New Zealand to the British Empire. You return to the ship for your final evening on board.
Day 18:
Auckland / Disembark / USA
Disembark the Clipper Odyssey this morning and enjoy a tour of the Auckland Museum before transferring to your hotel for lunch. Rooms will be available to relax before transferring to the airport for your independent flights homeward.
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