Description
On this cruise, PONANT invites you to discover New Zealand, a unique destination with a multitude of natural treasures. Set sail aboard Le Lapérouse for a 10-day cruise from Lyttelton to Auckland.
Le Lapérouse will first set sail to the South-West region of the South Island to discover magnificent Fiordland National Park, which is an integral part of Te Wahipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage area. Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound or the better-known Milford Sound: you will discover these fiords shaped by successive glaciations, bordered by majestic cliffs.
You will also sail to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. This ancient site of the Maori people, as demonstrated by the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, perfectly combines local traditions and bustling nightlife.
On the east coast of North Island, Napier unfolds before you, revealing its treasures in a unique architectural style where the sleek lines of Art Deco buildings mingle with traditional Māori patterns.
Further north, Whakatane is known as one of the jewels of North Island. Here, Māori culture is felt and appreciated, living on through its secular traditions and legendary ancestral sites. Among other sites, you will head for the city of Rotorua, famous for its emblematic Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. This is a captivating geothermic experience with impressive volcanic valleys and geysers.
Surrounded by the blue waters of the Pacific, the twin islands of New Zealand are the promise of an incredible mosaic of contrasting panoramas.