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New Zealand and Circumnavigating the South Island

Program Overview

See inimitable natural wonders that exist nowhere else on the planet as you cruise New Zealand’s North Island and circumnavigate the South Island. Experience Māori culture in the “thermal city” of Rotorua and enjoy panoramic tours of the Art Deco city of Napier and the cosmopolitan capital of Wellington. Cruise for two days through Fiordland National Park for up-close views of deep fjords, untamed gorges, and the glacier-grooved landscapes of Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Dusky Sound. Expand your journey with the Sydney Pre-Program and Queenstown Post-Program Options.  

Program Details

January 5 to 16, 2023 (Le Laperouse) January 14 to 25, 2023 (Le Laperouse)
From approximately $5,995 plus air View Terms & Conditions
  • Uniquely designed 9-night cruise itinerary following Gohagan & Company's tradition of innovative, educational programming and luxury travel.
  • Exclusively chartered cruise aboard the five-star small ship Le Lapérouse, with only 92 suites and staterooms all featuring private balconies.
  • Tour Auckland, one of only a few cities to have harbors on two different bodies of water (the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean), and take in the architecture, where modern skyscrapers mingle with restored Victorian buildings.
  • An excursion to Rotorua provides a look at the epicenter of the indigenous Māori culture, with a Haka dance performance and a visit to the famous Pohutu Geyser.
  • A tour of Napier showcases the wonderful Art Deco architecture of this cosmopolitan hub.
  • Take a panoramic tour of Wellington featuring a visit to old St. Paul's Cathedral and the national Museum of New Zealand.
  • Cruise through the breathtaking Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Dusky Sound in Fiordland National Park.
  • Zodiac excursions to view the extraordinary flora and fauna of the incredibly diverse South Island.
  • Tour of Dunedin to explore this beautifully preserved Victorian city, including the Octagon, Railway Station and visits to Olveston Historic Home and Larnach Castle.
  • City tour of Christchurch, including the beautiful Mona Vale Gardens, the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial, and Cathedral Square.
  • Sydney, Australia and Queenstown, New Zealand Pre- and Post-program Options.*

Day 1 - Depart the U.S. or Canada

Day 2 - Cross the International Dateline

Day 3 - Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Day 4 - Auckland

Day 5 - Tauranga for Rotorua

Day 6 - Napier

Day 7 - Wellington

Day 8 - Cruising the Tasman Sea

Day 9 - Milford Sound, South Island Fiordland National Park

Day 10 - Dusky Sound

Day 11 - Dunedin

Day 12 - Lyttelton / Christchurch / Return to the U.S. or Canada

View detailed program itinerary>

Le Lapérouse

Exclusively Chartered, five-star Luxury Small Ship

Le Lapérouse, launched in 2018, ushers in a new generation of five-star small ships, combining revolutionary design and a new standard of luxury for unparalleled cruising. All staterooms and suites feature private balconies. Dock in smaller ports inaccessible to larger ships, where authentic cultural experiences and majestic scenery await you.

Learn more about Le Lapérouse>

Sydney, Australia Pre-Program Option*

Begin your journey with a three-night immersion into cosmopolitan Sydney. Enjoy stunning harbor views and visit the iconic Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Garden, the Yiribana Aboriginal Art Gallery, the famous Bondi Beach, and the Gap. Accommodations at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel Sydney.

Queenstown, New Zealand Post-Program Option*

Take a three-night tour of New Zealand’s interior in Queenstown. Enjoy panoromic views from Bob’s Peak and discover the delightful 19th century gold mine village of Arrowtown. Visit the Lakes District Museum and enjoy a cruise of Lake Wakatipu on a gracious 106-year-old steamship. Accommodations are at the ideally located Hotel St. Moritz.

The Pre-Program and Post-Program Options are available at additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.

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Program Itinerary

Days 1 and 2 Depart the U.S. or Canada / Cross the International Dateline

Your trip will begin by departing the U.S. or Canada.

Day 3 Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Enjoy a few hours in a day room or exploring cosmopolitan Auckland before joining the group for a transfer to the Le Lapérouse.

Day 4 Auckland

Discover modern skyscrapers on a scenic drive through downtown Auckland. Continue to see restored Victorian buildings and the colonial-style shops that line the streets of Parnell Village. Conclude your tour with a visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Enjoy a welcome reception on board this evening.

Day 5 Tauranga for Rotura

Journey to the “thermal city” of Rotorua to experience rich Māori culture and other spectacular marvels. Visit Te Puia, located in the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, to see the boiling mud pools and cascading Pohutu geyser that make Rotorua famous. 

Day 6 Napier

Explore the city of Napier on the east coast of the North Island, including a walking tour of its iconic
Art Deco Precinct.

Day 7 Wellington

See the Wellington waterfront, the Parliament buildings—including the Beehive (which houses the executive wing)—and Oriental Bay, on a panoramic drive. Visit Old St. Paul's Cathedral and Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum of New Zealand. The Māori name literally translates as “container of treasures.”

Day 8 Cruising the Tasman Sea

Enjoy a day at sea, where you can choose to attend various educational lectures.

Day 9 Milford Sound, South Island Fiordland National Park

Milford, Doubtful, and Dusky Sounds comprise Fiordland National Park, which is part of Te Wahipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Look for New Zealand fur seals, the Bottlenose Dolphin and the Little (Blue) Penguin from the ship. See spectacular scenery as the ship enters Milford Sound—which author Rudyard Kipling referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Day 10 Dusky Sound

Cruise through Dusky Sound for views of dramatic wilderness, sheer cliffs and tumbling waterfalls. Look for cormorants, seagulls, and New Zealand fur seals on Zodiac excursions. In 1773, the British navigator
James Cook spent a few weeks at Dusky Sound, which is noted by a plaque that can be seen at Astronomer’s Point.

Day 11 Dunedin

Soak up the grandeur of Dunedin's architecture and lively business district with a panoramic tour of the famous Octagon city center and the Dunedin Rail Station. Visit Olveston House, a historic, Jacobean-style mansion, and Larnach Castle on the crown of a wooded hill overlooking Otago Harbour—formed by a violent volcano more than 10 million years ago.

Day 12 Lyttelton / Christchurch / Return to the U.S. or Canada

Visit the Mona Vale Gardens, whose grounds include a lily pond, rose garden, and fern conservatory. See areas affected by the 2011 Canterbury earthquake and visit the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial, which includes the Memorial Wall and the Bridge of Remembrance along the River Avon. After lunch continue on to the Queenstown Post-Program OPti or transfer to the Christchurch airport for your flight home to the U.S. or Canada.