Post Diamond Princess (Auckland) suggestions please

[Miss Jolly]

After already booking very extensive Northen Hemisphere cruises for October-November 2012 and then January-March 2013, DH has decided it would be lovely for us to join our dear English friends on board Diamond Princess Sydney to Auckland in January,2012. We had always planned to travel around NZ together once we became empty nesters. We will still have one left (DD=18yrs) for these cruises.

 

As we will need to save time and money for our extensive Northern Hemisphere cruising, we are thinking of flying straight home to Sydney in the evening that she pulls into Auckland. We hope to return to NZ to see her properly although serious health issues do not guarantee anything for the future now and that is why we have booked so much so quickly.

 

Of course we hear how very beautiful NZ is and do not wish to offend our Kiwi friends by suggesting that we will be rushing home. However, we do need to be realistic with time and money. Will our cruise give us a good summary of New Zealand or should we stay on for a few extra days to see more. We are fortunate to have our own boat and have our own jetty/boat ramp plus live 3 minutes from beautiful Avoca Beach so do not really need to stay for the beaches.

 

Unfortunately I am not traveling well in cars for long journeys and have mobility problems so hiking is out of the question.

 

With all of this in mind, I would welcome your thoughts and suggestions for the cruise and afterwards please.:)

 

Thank you

[rugbypopsie]

NZ both north and south is absolutely lovely, fantastic scenery worthy of at least a couple of weeks! That said if time and money is an issue stay with friends for a couple of days and plan to go back soon.

 

p.s. many of the roads are twisty so if you are prone to car sickness take precautions.