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New Zealand Cruises 2024

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New Zealand
Lupines on the shore of Lake Tekapo
Milford Sound
Lake and mountains in Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand
Auckland
Visit Auckland
Dunedin
A quiet morning near Dunedin
Invercargill
Cruising Milford Sound, New Zealand
The Snares
Clear Water and Tropical Island
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Discover the enchanting landscapes and rich cultural tapestry of New Zealand on our 17 meticulously curated small ship cruises and land tours for 2024. New Zealand, a land of staggering natural beauty, offers a symphony of fjords, rugged islands, and Maori heritage that beckons to be explored. Over the course of 5 to 18 days, traverse through the serene Doubtful Sound, admire the architectural marvels of Napier, and immerse yourself in the local customs during village visits. From the first sunrise in Gisborne to the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps, each day unfolds with new wonders and opportunities for wildlife viewing, wine tasting, and relaxation in nature's spa. With options starting from $2,563, experience the splendor of New Zealand's diverse coast, its Subantarctic islands, and the vibrant urban landscapes. To weave these extraordinary New Zealand experiences into your own tapestry of travel memories, contact one of Adventure Life's New Zealand specialists for help planning your next seamless trip.
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    • New Zealand
Queenstown South Island New Zealand
$13,030
EXPLORE

Active New Zealand Adventure

New Zealand Self-drive Tour - 18 Day Itinerary
  • Hike through Auckland's west coast
  • Take a cruise on Lake Taupo.
  • Hike in Tongariro National Park
  • Cross the stunning Banks Peninsula
  • Take part in a stargazing tour
  • Enjoy outdoor activities in Wanaka
  • Enjoy Dart River jet boat tour
  • Sail overnight in Doubtful Sound
Starts / Ends:
Auckland / Queenstown
Activities:
Fishing, Helicopter Tours, Hiking, Kayaking, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Moderate
Discover the great outdoors on this 18-day self-drive active New Zealand adventure. Conquer the rugged beaches and rainforests west of Auckland. Explore the volcanic terrain of Tongariro National Park in Taupo. Travel through the Mackenzie High Country, home to turquoise lakes and starry skies, …
Tour Details
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Wellington Cable Car
$7,404
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Best of New Zealand: North to South

New Zealand Self-drive Tour - 18 Day Itinerary
  • Hike through Auckland's west coast
  • Enjoy the glowworm cave at Waitomo
  • Visit Te Puia Geothermal
  • See skillful Māori crafts
  • Learn Māori customs and traditions
  • Tour Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Take part in a stargazing tour
  • Enjoy a Dart River jet boat tour
Starts / Ends:
Auckland / Queenstown
Activities:
Archaeological Site Visits, Helicopter Tours, Hiking, Village Visits, Whale Watching, Whitewater Rafting, Wildlife Viewing, Wine Tasting
Activity Level:
Easy Active
Explore New Zealand’s diverse landscapes on an 18-day North-to-South self-drive tour. Explore pristine beaches, rich Maori history, and Rotorua’s geothermal wonders. Visit the glowworm-lit Waitomo Caves and discover the natural beauty of Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage …
Tour Details
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Mount Aspiring - Lake Wanaka
$5,774
EXPLORE

Complete South Island Explorer

New Zealand Self-drive Tour - 14 Day Itinerary
  • Discover Christchurch's history
  • Enjoy Hanmer Springs hot pools
  • See marine mammals in Kaikoura
  • Visit Abel Tasman National Park
  • Hike the Franz Josef Glacier
  • Enjoy Dart River jet boat tour
  • Explore Queenstown and Milford Soun
  • See glacier in Mt Cook National Par
Starts / Ends:
Christchurch / Christchurch
Activities:
Helicopter Tours, Hiking, Village Visits, Whale Watching, Whitewater Rafting, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Easy Active
Set out on an unforgettable 14-day adventure through New Zealand's South Island, where every stop reveals a new wonder. Start in Christchurch, the vibrant gateway to the South Island, before relaxing in the thermal pools of Hanmer Springs. Experience the wildlife in Kaikoura, followed by the …
Tour Details
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Te Puia Geothermal
$2,562
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New Zealand North Island Highlights

New Zealand Self-drive Tour - 7 Day Itinerary
  • Enjoy the glowworm cave at Waitomo
  • Visit Te Puia Geothermal
  • See skillful Māori crafts
  • Learn Māori customs and traditions
  • See native birds in wildlife
Starts / Ends:
Auckland / Wellington
Activities:
Archaeological Site Visits, Hiking, Urban Exploration, Village Visits, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Moderate
Discover the North Island of New Zealand on this 7-day self-drive tour. Explore iconic trails, cultural landmarks, and geothermal wonders in Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Tongariro National Park, and Wellington. Discover Auckland’s vibrant culture, visit the famous glowworm caves in Waitomo, …
Tour Details
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Lake and mountains in Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand
$6,895
EXPLORE

South Island & Fiords of New Zealand

13 Day Itinerary aboard Coral Adventurer
  • Spot Solander Island's Wildlife
  • Explore Fiordland National Park
  • Sight whales at Kaikoura
  • See Mitre Peak and Stirling Falls
Starts / Ends:
Port of Bluff / Wellington
Activities:
Hiking, Kayaking, Small Ship Sailing, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Embark on a 13-day expedition cruise aboard Coral Adventurer to explore the stunning Fiordland of New Zealand and its surrounding islands. Set sail from Bluff and cruise past Solander Island, an Important Bird Area rich in wildlife, including penguins and albatrosses. Explore Fiordland's iconic …
Cruise Details
0
Explore the stunning Milford Sound
$10,800
EXPLORE

New Zealand Mosaic

Dunedin - Auckland - 16 Day Itinerary aboard Le Soleal
  • Explore Dunedin
  • Discover Dusky Sound
  • Experience Doubtful Sound
  • Discover Oban
  • Explore Milford Sound
Starts / Ends:
Dunedin / Auckland
Activities:
Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing, Wine Tasting
Activity Level:
Variable
Embark on a 16-day cruise aboard Le Soléal to explore the stunning beauty of New Zealand, from the majestic mountains of the South Island to the lush forests and volcanoes of the North Island. Immerse yourself in the rich Maori culture and enjoy guided excursions such as whale watching in …
Cruise Details
0
New Zealand's remotest island.
$9,500
EXPLORE

Beyond Fiordland - New Zealand's Wildest Islands

12 Day Itinerary aboard Heritage Adventurer
  • Explore Campbell Island
  • Visit Carnley Harbor
  • Zodiac cruise along Adams Island
  • Admire Stewart Island's beauty
Starts / Ends:
Invercargill / Invercargill
Activities:
Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Visit Fiordland's lonely ice-carved mountains, beautiful forests, and flowing fiords; this incredible place inspires your desire to travel responsibly. Travel alone, away from the crowds, through the tranquil waters of Fiordland and Stewart Island, on the search for marine life, elusive birds, …
Cruise Details
0
$15,250
EXPLORE

Birding Down Under: Subantarctic and Chatham Islands

17 Day Itinerary aboard Heritage Adventurer
  • Visit the best islands for birding
  • See the Albatross Latitudes
  • Marvel at diverse seabird colonies
  • Learn about nature and history
Starts / Ends:
Queenstown / Queenstown
Activities:
Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Snares, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell, Macquarie, and the Chatham Islands are only a few of the names. They are a delight to 'Birders.' Except for the Chathams, these islands are probably more isolated than they were when they were discovered in the late 1700s and early 1800s and …
Cruise Details
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Queen Charlotte Sound
$2,595
EXPLORE

Unseen Queen Charlotte Sound

Picton roundtrip - 5 Day Itinerary aboard Heritage Explorer
  • Learn the history of Tory Channel
  • Experience Queen Charlotte Walkway
  • Discover Motuara and Blumine Island
  • Trek to Arapawa Island's lookout
Starts / Ends:
Blenheim / Blenheim
Activities:
Small Ship Cruises
Activity Level:
Variable
Embark on a 5-day expedition through Queen Charlotte Sound and its islands, starting with a warm welcome aboard the Heritage Explorer in Blenheim. Sail along the scenic waterways, exploring Tory Channel's whaling history and Ship Cove's rich heritage. Trek through native bush to Ship Cove …
Cruise Details
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Explore the stunning Milford Sound
$5,295
EXPLORE

All of the Fiords: The Ultimate Fiordland Experience

10 Day Itinerary aboard Heritage Explorer
  • Discover New Zealand
  • Sail through Fiordland's waters
  • Explore North and South Port harbor
  • Visit the majestic fiord
Starts / Ends:
Te Anau / Te Anau
Activities:
Rainforest Exploration, Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Set sail for a 10-day exploration cruise of New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, now over 1.2 million hectares in size and rightly famous for its epic, grand-scale scenery, untamed wilderness, and unique wildlife, including bottlenose dolphins, Fiordland crested penguins, and New Zealand fur …
Cruise Details
0
Marlborough Sounds
$3,650
EXPLORE

Discover Marlborough Sounds: An In-Depth Exploration of the Marlborough Sounds

7 Day Itinerary aboard Heritage Explorer
  • Explore Queen Charlotte Sound
  • Visit Tory Channel
  • Sail through d’Urville
  • Discover Pelorus Sound
Starts / Ends:
Blenheim / Blenheim
Activities:
Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Spend a week exploring the 1,500-kilometer-long Marlborough Sounds, which were carved out by submerged valleys 10,000 years ago. These destinations are renowned for their breathtaking natural beauty, which includes beautiful cobalt streams, classic vistas, thick indigenous forests, wildlife, and …
Cruise Details
0
Stewart Island
$4,475
EXPLORE

Unseen Stewart Island: Pristine Wilderness and Wildlife Adventure

8 Day Itinerary aboard Heritage Explorer
  • Discover Halfmoon Bay
  • Enjoy the historic views
  • Visit Norwegian whaling station
  • Explore Port Pegasus
Starts / Ends:
Invercargill / Invercargill
Activities:
Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Village Visits, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Experience Unseen Stewart Island/Rakiura and Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara on this 8-day adventure with Heritage Explorer, New Zealand's pioneering small ship expedition cruise ship. With only 25 kilometers of road, Stewart Island is best explored by sea, especially Ulva Island, where there are no …
Cruise Details
0
$3,150
EXPLORE

Undiscovered Dusky Sound: Cruising Remote Fiordland

Supper Cove Roundtrip - 5 Day Itinerary aboard Heritage Explorer
  • View scenic helicopter transfers
  • See Cooper, Long, & Indian Islands
  • Explore Fiordland's Dusky Sound
  • Spot wildlife and more
Starts / Ends:
Te Anau / Te Anau
Activities:
Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Join Heritage Explorer on a 5-day cruise to discover the stunning Fiordland in New Zealand from Supper Cove and back. The adventure begins with a scenic helicopter flight between Te Anau and Supper Cove. Then cruise through Acheron Passage, Breaksea, and Dusky Sounds. One of the largest fiords in …
Cruise Details
0
New Zealand Landscape
$4,150
EXPLORE

Southern Fiords Discovery: A Deep Exploration of Fiordland's Southern Fiords

7 Day Itinerary aboard Heritage Explorer
  • Experience the grand scale scenery
  • Tour unique parts of New Zealand
  • Explore Preservation Inlet
  • Navigate through Acheron Passage
Starts / Ends:
Doubtful Sound / Te Anau
Activities:
Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
On this seven-day journey across the Southern Fiords, take in the breathtaking landscape, untamed nature, ice-carved mountains, forests, sounds, and distinctive wildlife of Fiordland's Preservation and Chalky Inlets, as well as Doubtful and Dusky Sounds. With a wealth of natural history and …
Cruise Details
0
Clear Water and Tropical Island
$16,560
EXPLORE

Roots of the Pacific: Exploring New Zealand and Melanesia

Auckland - Brisbane - 16 Day Itinerary aboard National Geographic Orion
  • Experience culture of Maori
  • Venture to the Norfolk Island
  • Visit New Caledonia, Isle of Pines
  • Meet the people of Utupua
Starts / Ends:
Auckland / Honiara
Activities:
Small Ship Cruises, Snorkeling
Activity Level:
Variable
Uncover the tropical beauty and important cultural history of the South Seas. Following in the wake of Captain Cook, we will journey from New Zealand’s North Island to the Solomon Sea. Delve into a fascinating history of intrepid explorers, convicts, and traders, and learn about the rich …
Cruise Details
0
$4,695
EXPLORE

The Top of the South: Explorations Beyond Marlborough Sounds

9 Day Itinerary aboard Heritage Explorer
  • Explore New Zealand's South Island
  • Visit Tory Channel
  • Discover Pelorus Sound
  • Sail through d’Urville
Starts / Ends:
Nelson / Nelson
Activities:
Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Embark on Heritage Explorer for a unique 9-day expedition cruise of Queen Charlotte, Pelorus Sounds, French Pass, and d'Urville Island. Discover an unparalleled exploration of the breath-taking beauty of New Zealand's winding cobalt waterways, iconic landscapes, lush native forests, …
Cruise Details
0
Explore the stunning Milford Sound
$12,470
Savings
EXPLORE

Expedition to New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands

Dunedin - Dunedin - 15 Day Itinerary aboard Le Soleal
  • Explore the Snares Islands
  • Enjoy a guided walk on Ulva Island
  • View fur seals, sea lions, & seals
  • See Fiordland Crested penguins
Starts / Ends:
Dunedin / Dunedin
Activities:
Hiking, Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Le Soleal hosts this 15-day New Zealand Subantarctic Islands cruise expedition that immerses you in an incredible world of wildlife and introduces you to the pristine grandeur of New Zealand's Fiordlands and Subantarctic Islands. This journey begins in Dunedin, New Zealand's Edinburgh, a …
Cruise Details
0
1-17 of 17 Results
TrustScore 4.8 | 407 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
total score
Based on 407 reviews on
review score
4 months ago
Professional and courteous
Iziah Carthens
review score
5 months ago
We received an immediate response from Kassandra who reserved our cruise as soon as she got a confirmation from us. Maria and Jess also were in touch right away.
Lynda Wallach
review score
9 months ago
The travel specialists we've worked with for 2 vacations have made the trip planning process easy! They ask good questions to ensure they understand our goals and likes and have done an excellent job matching adventures with our preferences - even suggesting things we would not have thought about on our own!
Amy
review score
9 months ago
Attention to details. Flexible and always responsive. Great relationships and local partners.
Mark Esposito

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