Coastal Exploration of New Zealand’s Islands, Fiordland, Plants & Gardens

You will be met at Auckland Airport and transferred to your hotel. This evening, enjoy dinner at our hotel while meeting your fellow cruise guests and some of the members of our ship’s Expedition Team.

This morning, we visit the private Mincher Garden, a six-star Garden of International Significance. The Georgian-styled home is the centrepiece of this large rural garden, featuring formal and informal planting, native walkways and waterways. We then depart for the Port of Auckland to meet our expedition ship. Settle into your cabin and familiarise yourself with the ship and its amenities. We are then invited to join the Expedition Team in the Observation Lounge and up on the Observation Deck. Our adventure begins as we set a course for Tauranga.

From Tauranga, we take a morning excursion to Hamilton Gardens, a world-renowned garden celebrated for its unique concept and diverse garden collections. Unlike traditional botanical gardens, Hamilton Gardens tells the story of gardens through history, exploring different civilisations, styles, and cultural expressions of garden design. Its innovative approach makes it a must-visit destination for garden enthusiasts and travellers alike. 

Enjoy a day at sea as our ship makes its way down the coast of the scenic North Island. You may like to attend an onboard lecture or just relax as we head towards Wellington.

This morning, arrive in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, where we visit Gillies Garden. The garden is complemented by a heritage cottage designed in the style of James Chapman-Taylor, who played an important role in New Zealand’s Arts and Crafts Movement. We then visit Wellington Botanic Garden, which features ancient forests and colourful flower beds. Take your afternoon at leisure. You might like to visit Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum, located on Wellington’s beautiful waterfront. 

Join your Expedition Team to discover the striking coastal scenery within the Abel Tasman National Park. Serene coves of turquoise waters, distinctive rock formations, and lush rainforest make for idyllic scenes here. You may prefer to discover the region’s culinary delights, artisan crafts and world-class wines in the city of Nelson.

This morning, Heritage Adventurer sails into Marlborough Sounds, a stunning network of waterways along the South Island’s northern shores. Explore one of the coastal trails through the forest here, while keeping an eye out for some of the native bird species, including the South Island saddleback, as well as parakeets and robins.

Our vessel makes its way further south through the Akaroa heads to anchor off Canterbury’s largest harbour. Akaroa, a delightful village settled by the French in 1840, features historical houses and signs displaying French street names, which add to its charm. From here, we explore The Giants House, an eclectic house and garden containing several fanciful, mosaic sculptures. We next visit Fishermans Bay Garden, whose dramatic views over the Banks Peninsula coastline are a sight to behold. The traditional flower borders, herb and fern gardens, and exposed rock garden here are set within 100 hectares of regenerated native bush.

This morning, we sail into the striking Otago Harbour. Watch for the northern royal albatrosses that comprise the Taiaroa Head Albatross Colony, the mainland’s only breeding colony of the species. Known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’, Dunedin features well-preserved examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Join a guided tour of the city’s 19th-century buildings and botanical gardens, home to more than 6,800 plant species. Then visit Larnach Castle, which dates back to 1871 and is set within a magnificent private garden.

Off the southern coast of the South Island, we find Stewart Island, a remote and tranquil destination consisting mostly of unspoilt bushland. We also explore neighbouring Ulva Island, which has been predator-free since 1997 and boasts a substantial number of bird species. Walk the rugged shores along Boulder Beach or enjoy the sights across Post Office Bay and Sydney Cove. Keep watch for Stewart Island robins, Red-crowned parakeets, fantails, and bellbirds, among many other bird species. Our Expedition Team will help you identify them while listening for their distinctive bird calls. There will also be an opportunity to explore the town of Oban, on the eastern point of Stewart Island, where trails through the surrounding forests lead to further wildlife viewing opportunities.

Rounding the southern tip of the South Island brings us to the incredible wilderness of Fiordland. The area is rich in scenery and abundant in wildlife. The coast here is only accessible by sea, making it mainland New Zealand’s most remote region. Beyond the atmospheric mists that rise and fall, lie hundreds of smalls islands whose steep and verdant cliff faces can be seen adorned with surging waterfalls. Along the shore, the rugged, forested terrain is covered with ferns, lichens, and mosses, while bottlenose dolphins, Fiordland crested penguins and little blue penguins reside within the fiords. Our flexible schedule allows us time to explore Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound and Acheron Passage, as well as Astronomer’s Point and Pickersgill Harbour. An optional helicopter flight over Dusky Sound is also available. Our activities will ultimately be determined by the weather, with our Captain and Expedition Leader ensuring we make the best of our time in this incredible region.

This morning, Heritage Adventurer arrives in the Port of Bluff, near Invercargill. Following breakfast, we disembark the ship and make our way to Queenstown. This afternoon, we visit Jo Wakelin’s private garden in Central Otago. Jo has created an environmentally conscious garden, able to withstand the harsh climate and dry summers of the region. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner at our hotel.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home