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New Zealand Coastal Odyssey 2020

New Zealand Coastal Odyssey 2020

From GBP £8,939

Description

New Zealand is a land of contrasts and deserves more than a fleeting visit. We believe our itinerary offers the best of all worlds and has been devised on the basis that most travellers from the UK will only tour New Zealand once. Therefore the trip should be as comprehensive and as diverse as possible. Certainly, this itinerary qualifies on all these important demands. With our perfectly suited small ship, our coastal-hugging voyage around the North and South Island will allow us to drop anchor in the remote bays, navigate channels, fjords and rivers and call into harbours both large and small. With the added advantage of our Zodiac landing craft we will be able to land in otherwise inaccessible places making the most of New Zealand’s extraordinary natural attractions. During our voyage, we will admire the unique Art Deco architecture of Napier in the North Island, walk in the stunning Abel Tasman National Park as well as historic Ship Cove, hop across to Stewart Island in the south and explore the dramatic southern coast fjords. All of this is best achieved by travelling on a small ship such as the MS Caledonian Sky in preference to some of the larger resort style vessels which can only visit the larger places.

Trip Name
New Zealand Coastal Odyssey 2020
Days
17
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition Length: 90 metres Passenger Capacity: 114 (in 57 suites) Built: 1991 / refurbished 2012 The MS Caledonian Sky accommodates a maximum of 114 passengers in 57 spacious outside suites. Many have walk-in wardrobes and some feature tub baths. There will be seven categories of suites and sixteen suites will have private balconies. For those familiar with the MS Island Sky she will feel like a second home, although there are some differences. The dining room, lounge, Lido Deck and bar are all similar. However, the ‘Club’ on the MS Caledonian Sky has been transported to the very top deck. Here, there is a library and bar which leads out on to a lovely forward deck. The ‘Club’ has wonderful views with ceiling to floor windows. If you like the MS Island Sky, we are sure you will also approve of her sister. And, of course it is important that we offer the very best of facilities. However, equally as important are the staff on board whether they are the vessel’s crew or our own expedition staff. Noble Caledonia’s reputation has been built on providing the very best in all areas. Their crew of 74 not only offer an excellent service they are also noted for their kindness and attention to detail. A well run ship with a warm atmosphere is what we are known for, and it is because most of our crew have been with us for many years that we are able to engender such an atmosphere. Your Suite Onboard there are 57 exceptionally spacious and well designed suites. The passenger accommodation is arranged over four decks and all suites have outside views. All feature a sitting room area and some have private balconies. Each affords considerable comfort with en-suite bathroom featuring a country style wash basin, hot towel rack and vanity unit with sink and walk-in shower and/or bath tub. Facilities in the suites also include walk-in or spacious wardrobes, dressing table with large mirror and stool or desk, mini-fridge, flat screen television, telephone, programmable electronic safe, hairdryer, assorted toiletries, air-conditioning and heating. Bottled water, towelling dressing gowns and slippers are also provided for your comfort. Your space The spacious and finely decorated public rooms include a large lounge where daily briefings and talks will be provided throughout the voyage and an elegant bar where a pianist plays periodically throughout the day. The bar also features a 24-hour tea and coffee station. In addition there is the Club Lounge on the Panoramic Deck which features a bar. The onboard travel library is the perfect place to relax with a book and is stocked with reference books pertaining to the places the vessel is visiting along with a selection of games and two computers with internet access. Daily newspapers and magazines are also placed in the library depending on local availability. Outside there is a rear Lido deck where meals are served in warm weather under shade. On the top deck there is a further observation and sun deck with bar service and comfortable deck furniture for sun bathing or relaxing with a book. There is also a small gymnasium onboard and hairdressers with appointments made on request. Your dining With only one sitting and a maximum of just over 100 passengers, the quality of cuisine will be of a consistent superior quality. Where possible and when it meets his high standards, our accomplished chef will obtain local produce in markets or buy the catch of the day from a passing fishing boat. Such purchases enhance the well stocked larders and bring a local touch to the varied menus. In the main elegant dining room, breakfast is served buffet-style, with certain items cooked to order and lunch and dinner is à la carte. When weather permits, breakfast, a buffet-style lunch and dinner are also served on deck. To enhance your dining experience even further a selection of wines are included with lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and tea and coffee are available 24 hours. With sufficient notice, most diets can be catered for on board. For your comfort, safety and security The vessel is equipped with the latest safety, navigation and communications equipment along with roll stabilisers to minimise the ship’s motion. The Captain and officers operate an open-bridge policy that allows passengers onto the bridge at most times with the exception of arrival and departure from port and during times of complicated navigation. Here you can check the ship’s progress by charts and learn more from the officers about your journey. There is also a dedicated channel on your television in your suite showing the routing of the vessel along with technical information and estimated times of arrival and departure from port. On board you will also find a clinic and doctor and a lift that serves all decks. Smoking on board is restricted to outside decks only. Gratuities Unlike many other cruise vessels, onboard the MS Caledonian Sky you do not need to worry about tipping staff as we have included them in your holiday price. In addition we tip all their guides and drivers along the way, thereby taking away the hassle of always having to remember to have some small change with you.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 - Auckland, New Zealand.
Arrive this afternoon in Auckland and transfer to the MS Caledonian Sky where the crew will welcome us on board.
Day 2 - Day 2 - Auckland.
A morning tour will feature the city’s highlights including the Domain and the excellent Auckland Museum, overlooking Waitemata Harbour and housing the world’s largest collection of Polynesian artefacts. Sail in the afternoon toward the Bay of Islands.
Day 3 - Day 3 - Tauranga for Rotorua.
From our berth in Tauranga we drive inland to the famous thermal springs at Rotorua. Discover Wai- O-Tapu, meaning Sacred Waters, an active geothermal area with colourful hot springs, steaming ground and boiling mud pools. Marvel at the incredible palette of vibrant hues displayed in the pools, lakes and craters, and enjoy the melodic sounds of birds singing in the native forest. From here we visit a local Maori Marae where we will enjoy a traditional Maori welcome and lunch before returning to the ship in the late afternoon.
Day 4 - Day 4 - White Island.
We anchor off White Island where, weather permitting, there will be an excursion to explore the active volcano on White Island, identifiable by the plume of steam continually spouting from its crater. The sights are surreal: the main crater with towering walls, steaming vents, and hissing fumaroles, glittering yellow sulphur crystals, bubbling mud pots and a spectacular steaming lake. This call is well off the usual cruise routes and we will use the Zodiacs to reach the island and then take a guided walk to the crater. Enjoy an afternoon at sea as we cruise around the North Island to Napier.
Day 5 - Day 5 - Napier.
Arrive this morning in Napier and join a tour of this beautiful town including its charming Art Deco buildings. Totally rebuilt after the 1931 Hawkes Bay earthquake, Napier’s Art Deco is unique, with Maori motifs and the buildings of Louis Hay, admirer of the great Frank Lloyd Wright. We also visit a local vineyard to sample the local wines. This afternoon is free for independent exploration of the town or alternatively join the excursion to the gannetry at Cape Kidnappers where you are able to get amazingly close to the birds. The 13 hectare reserve includes the saddle and black reef gannet colonies.
Day 6 - Day 6 - Wellington.
Relax on board this morning as we sail to Wellington, the nation’s capital. From our central berth we will explore the city on an afternoon guided walk to see St Paul’s Cathedral, the parliament buildings, stroll through the Botanical Gardens and spend time in the excellent Te Papa National Museum of New Zealand with its impressive interactive displays and marvellous Maori collection. Enjoy a free evening to wander ashore. For those that are interested we hope to include an optional evening excursion to Zealandia where we can hear the distinctive sounds of the New Zealand bush as day becomes night.
Day 7 - Day 7 - Kaikoura.
Spend the day in Kaikoura, a famous whale watching area due to its nutrient rich waters. The combination of very deep waters and the mixing of cold and warm waters brings the nutrients to the top. After breakfast, there will be the opportunity to join a whale watching cruise looking out for sperm whales, pods of dusky dolphins and common seals. Spend the afternoon exploring the town independently, join one of the nature walks or maybe take a trip on one of the bird watching cruises. There is an abundance of birdlife in the area including great albatross, banded albatross, shearwater, petrels, prions and shag.
Day 8 - Day 8 - Resolution Bay & Ship Cove.
Sail through the Marlborough Sounds which divide the North and South Islands of New Zealand and arrive in the early morning at Resolution Bay on the South Island where keen walkers can enjoy a longer hike over to Ship Cove along the Queen Charlotte Track enjoying fantastic views over the archipelago of islands. Alternatively alight a little later at Ship Cove where Captain James Cook spent much of his time in New Zealand. View the monument dedicated to Cook or maybe walk the forest trail to the nearby waterfall. Return to the ship for lunch and we will continue our exploration of the area in the afternoon with our expedition team.
Day 9 - Day 9 - Nelson.
There will be a choice of excursions today. Choose to disembark after breakfast to visit Abel Tasman, New Zealand’s smallest national park, protecting over 23,000 hectares of the most easily accessible coastline in the country. Enjoy a coastal walk and scenic cruise with excellent wildlife opportunities including seal colonies and numerous aquatic birds including penguins. The tour will end in Golden Bay where you will re-embark the ship which will have sailed during the day. Alternatively enjoy a morning exploring Nelson which has for many years attracted resident artists. There are more than 350 working artists and craftspeople living in Nelson and their work is often inspired by the region’s exceptionally beautiful geography – coastal, forest and valley landscapes. Join an excursion of the area’s highlights which includes the World of Wearable Art Museum with its acclaimed visual exhibits and also the Classic Car collection. We sail at lunch time and arrive later in the afternoon to a remote harbour in Golden Bay. Golden Bay is well off the usual cruise ship route nestled into the South Island’s north-west corner with golden beaches, alpine valleys and tranquil fishing rivers.
Day 10 - Day 10 - At Sea.
As we cruise along the west coast of the South Island, we will hopefully be treated to views of Mount Cook on land whilst this region is also a popular spot for dolphin sightings.
Day 11 - Days 11 & 12 - Fiordland.
We have two days to explore the incredible wilderness of fjords in the South West corner of the South Island. This is an area rich in history, Captain Cook landed here on HMS Resolution in 1773, majestic scenery and abundant wildlife. It is only accessible by sea, making it the most remote region of New Zealand. Our schedule may include Milford Sound, Astronomers Point, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound but final itinerary decisions will be made by the Captain and Expedition Leader based on weather conditions. Zodiacs will be used daily either to shuttle from the ship to a landing site or as our transport to explore the fjords beyond the ship’s anchorage position.
Day 12 - Day 13 - Ulva and Stewart Islands.
New Zealand’s third island is well off the usual beaten tourist track. It is a wonderfully tranquil place, the scenery of untouched bushland is stunning. We will enjoy a morning on the small Ulva Island where we will use Zodiacs to go ashore for a choice of walks with our local guides. We will explore the dense vegetation and keep an eye out for the amazing birdlife. This afternoon we land at Oban on Stewart Island and have the chance to wander amongst the shops and see the museum or join a drive along some of the 15 miles of sealed road to some of the beauty spots including Observation Rock with views over Iona and Ulva Island and the beaches lining the East coast.Please note that sea in and around Stewart Island can be rough so you should be prepared for potentially difficult conditions.
Day 13 - Day 14 - Dunedin.
Arrive this morning in Dunedin and enjoy a guided tour including the gracious 19th century buildings and the beautiful botanical gardens, the oldest in New Zealand containing over 6,800 plant species. Alternatively choose to drive to the Otago Peninsula to take a walk at Penguin Place where we learn about the breeding and conservation programme of the rare yellow eyed penguins as well as the Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head. This afternoon is free for independent exploration or maybe choose to join the optional excursion on the Taieri Gorge Railway through the rugged and spectacular scenery of inland Otago.
Day 14 - Day 15 - Dunedin to Christchurch Overland.
Disembark after breakfast and travel north by coach to Christchurch enjoying stops along the way. We will visit Moeraki Beach to see the fascinating boulders formed on the sea floor millions of years ago some of which and which extend up to 13 feet in diameter. We continue to Oamaru where we plan to visit the Blue Penguin Centre. The blue penguin, normally active at night, is the world’s smallest penguin and we will see the day time viewing facility where we hope to see the penguins close up in their burrows. After a local lunch we drive through the undulating sheep lands of North Otago stopping at the historic town of Geraldine where we have time to wander and see the boutique and speciality shops. Arrive in Christchurch in the early evening at the Crowne Plaza (or similar) for our two night stay. Enjoy dinner in the hotel this evening.
Day 15 - Day 16 - Christchurch.
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a morning tour of this most English of cities where we enjoy an overview of the city showing how it is recovering from the devastating earthquake of February 2011. We will view the Southern Alps from the Port Hills, ride a restored tram and tour the Canterbury Museum with its acclaimed Antarctic collection. Perhaps enjoy morning tea at a private home and garden. The afternoon and evening are free for independent exploration. Alternatively, join an optional full day tour on the Tranz Alpine Express Train to Arthur’s Pass in the heart of the Southern Alps, one of the world’s most famous train journeys. Wonderful views are revealed from the train’s huge windows as we pass snow-capped mountains and mountain beech forests. On the return journey by coach, we enjoy lunch at a farm before returning for an evening of leisure.
Day 16 - Day 17 - Christchurch.
After breakfast in the hotel transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
Day 17 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
05-01-202021-01-2020GBP £8,939Castle Standard Suite
05-01-202021-01-2020GBP £10,939Castle Standard Suite Sole
05-01-202021-01-2020GBP £11,239Caledonian Superior Suite Sole
05-01-202021-01-2020GBP £11,439Promenade Owner's Corner Suite
05-01-202021-01-2020GBP £9,239Caledonian Superior Suite
05-01-202021-01-2020GBP £9,439Promenade Premium Suite
05-01-202021-01-2020GBP £9,939Bridge Deluxe Balcony Suite
05-01-202021-01-2020GBP £10,239Promenade Prem. Balcony Suite

Inclusions

    • Drive to the famous thermal springs at Rotorua. Discover Wai-O-Tapu, meaning Sacred Waters, an active geothermal area with colourful hot springs, steaming ground and boiling mud pools
    • Anchor off White Island, enjoy an excursion to explore the active volcano on White Island, identifiable by the plume of steam continually spouting from its crater
    • Sail to Wellington, the nation’s capital
    • Spend the day in Kaikoura, a famous whale watching area due to its nutrient rich waters
    • We have two days to explore the incredible wilderness of fjords in the South West corner of the South Island

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