"Must-Do" Ports, Australia/New Zealand?

[jarand]

We are considering the Diamond Princess itinerary in December. It's our first time in Aus/NZ, and we of course want to hit the main highlights. Do you see any glaring gaps?

 

Sydney (we'll stay about a week pre-cruise)

Melbourne

Hobart

Fjordland National Park (cruising only)

Dunadin (Port Chalmers)

Akaroa

Tauranga

Auckland

 

Thanks!

[cassamanda]

We are considering the Diamond Princess itinerary in December. It's our first time in Aus/NZ, and we of course want to hit the main highlights. Do you see any glaring gaps?

 

Sydney (we'll stay about a week pre-cruise)

Melbourne

Hobart

Fjordland National Park (cruising only)

Dunadin (Port Chalmers)

Akaroa

Tauranga

Auckland

 

Thanks!

Seems like a nice simple itinerary with a good balance of sea days. Hobart is great if you port there on a Saturday (Markets). Fjordlands is not to be missed with 3 major Sounds/Fjords visited and magnificent but different scenery in each - a good time to be up on deck. Be prepared for cold/wet or sunshine with a good lightweight rain/wind jacket.

Dunedin offers a great train ride not unlike (I believe) the White Pass one - going there next year.

[jarand]

Thanks. We're looking for a good "sampler" trip.

[MrsWaldo]

I'd skip on the Taieri Gorge Railway and do the Albatross Colony out of Dunedin. The train really isn't that spectacular in Summer. Nice scenery with a a few flowers etc, but for a whole day trip from a cruise I think you miss the most unique thing in Dunedin.

 

Do check though if it is nesting season

[GradUT]

This looks like a nice cruise. Any chance of extending your trip after the cruise to return to the South Island to visit Queenstown and/or Christchurch? Both are beautiful cities well worth a visit.

[TRauppius]

We are considering the Diamond Princess itinerary in December. It's our first time in Aus/NZ, and we of course want to hit the main highlights. Do you see any glaring gaps?

 

Sydney (we'll stay about a week pre-cruise)

Melbourne

Hobart

Fjordland National Park (cruising only)

Dunadin (Port Chalmers)

Akaroa

Tauranga

Auckland

 

Thanks!

 

To date Princess is still not offering the overnight excursion from Fiordland (tender pick-up), transfer to coach for inland touring of FNP, then on to an overnight stay at Queenstown, and finally on to Dunedin to rejoin the cruise. The excursion includes meals, lake cruise in Queenstown, evening barbecue excursion to working sheep ranch at top of the cable car lift.

 

The Diamond seems to be the only ship not offering this excursion. I am booked on a cruisetour in January 2014 and am dissapointed that I cannot book this excursion. Also, Princess is no longer offering an excursion in Tauranga that visits the Polynesian Spa (item #8 on their list of places to visit in the Tauranga area). Fortunately this attraction can be visited by booking any of host of non-Princess tour operators in the area.

 

It is very popular and is offered on eastbound itineraries on HAL and Celebrity.

[Fletch1]

We are considering the Diamond Princess itinerary in December. It's our first time in Aus/NZ, and we of course want to hit the main highlights. Do you see any glaring gaps?

 

Sydney (we'll stay about a week pre-cruise)

Melbourne

Hobart

Fjordland National Park (cruising only)

Dunadin (Port Chalmers)

Akaroa

Tauranga

Auckland

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

They are all excellent ports....You could also consider doing a land tour out of Auckland post cruise as well.....Bay of islands is just divine!!!

[jarand]

Thank you everyone. Now if we could just find a good deal on airfare...

[dizzy1948]

It is Aus & NZ school holidays - roughly 6 weeks - so airfares are at the "peak" for that period - best of luck :eek:

[TRauppius]

Thank you everyone. Now if we could just find a good deal on airfare...

 

You may want to consider the open-jaw/mult-citi/optional stopover offerings from Air Tahiti Nui http://airtahitinui-usa.com/default.asp?keyref=gf&gclid=CPTlifnhkqcCFYHc4AodXnMYdg.

 

MY roundtrip from Philadelphia to Sydney and Auckland to Philadelphia was about $2200/pp. The season just after Christmas/New Year is actually the start of low season to/from Tahiti.

 

A great bonus with ATN is the optional free stopover in Papeete, Tahiti. It is a must see destination that everyone should visit at least once, is great refresher (particularly on the westbound flight) that breaks up the 24+ hour journey from non-west coast cities in the USA, and also offers reasonably priced add-on packages that further discount the total cost of air and accomodations.

 

If you can afford it, go for the overwater bungalow accomodations at the Hilton on Moorea, it is incredible experience.