Excursion help!

We are already booked with Jim Archer for tours in Auckland and Tauranga. We are trying to decide between the train and Elm Wildlife tours in Dunedin. Looking for suggestions in Akaroa, Wellington, Napier and Bay of Islands. I have seen comments about the aquarium and the prison and Napier. Any suggestions are welcome! We are a group of 7 between the ages of 18 and 75. Thanks for all your input!:)

We are already booked with Jim Archer for tours in Auckland and Tauranga. We are trying to decide between the train and Elm Wildlife tours in Dunedin. Looking for suggestions in Akaroa, Wellington, Napier and Bay of Islands. I have seen comments about the aquarium and the prison and Napier. Any suggestions are welcome! We are a group of 7 between the ages of 18 and 75. Thanks for all your input!

Lots of super great options to consider for wonderful, charming and scenic New Zealand. As noted in the live/blog below, we got off of our Celebrity Solstice cruise in February. We had six other couples in our travel group from Central Ohio. Check out these postings for more info/background on port stops, private and ship tours, many pictures, etc.

Tell us more on your personal likes, interests, past travels, etc.

Napier is a wonderful gem where most cruise ship do not stop. Fortunately we had a super day and tour there. See more below. Same at Bay of Islands. If your ship offers a two-day, overnight excursion to Queenstown, I would strongly urge considering that option. Not cheap, but it offers great sights and experiences on NZ's spectacular South Island, especially at and around Queenstown. We loved those areas and all of New Zealand.

Just post any follow-up questions on my live/blog connected via the below link. Don't be shy. Happy to share more. Also, a few visuals highlights are shown to build interest and excitement for you and your family.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Just back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 52,145 views for this fun posting.

Here is a picture from our New Zealand South Island JetBoat ride that my wife loved so much. Me, too!! Notice her hands and those of others in our row super tightly gripping the safety bar? That says so much about the speed and thrills while roaring up and down this amazing stretch of scenic river. I showed my wife this picture (and several others like this but where the wind was blowing her hair in the opposite direction). She liked this picture so much, that she said to put this one in her obituary (not that this need is upcoming anytime soon). It showed her having fun and she said this ride was the most fun of the whole cruise/trip. We've had lots of great moments on this trip, but one was a unique and special ride in a location that is spectacularly world-class near the NZ Southern Alps. And, perfect weather with good friends adds to the great joy!!:

Here is one of the famed gannets from Cape Kidnappers near Napier along the eastern NZ coast. This is just one small sampling of many large groups of these super cute birds that we saw here as they were nesting.:

While at Cape Kidnappers, we arranged a private, three-course, gourmet lunch at the exclusive resort here that overlooked both the Pacific Ocean and the famed golf course ranked as the 23rd best in the world. Here are members of our 14-person, Central Ohio group enjoying this scenic and dramatic setting and the beautiful weather this day. I used my 10-20mm lens to capture this shot.:

From our group's Bay of Islands water fun, we got to do real sailing, including going out into the nearby Pacific Ocean! See the proof and success below. It was both a perfect weather day and such fun sampling this great region of northern NZ. One of the options for those in our Central Ohio group on this custom, private sailing was to help to do as much (or as little as desired) in helping make this sail experience happen. Here you can see Captain Murray guiding the ship from this great vantage point on the back of the Zindabar. Was this exciting and scenic for our group?:

This is Old St. Paul's church in Wellington. It is the former cathedral in the Diocese of Wellington for the Anglican Church. As an example of 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture, they adapted to colonial conditions and materials. It is at 34 Mulgrave Street, close to the New Zealand Parliament. Its construction was completed in June 1866. After a significant battle to prevent its demolition, Old St. Paul's was purchased by the New Zealand Government in 1967 and restored. Although not a parish church, it remains consecrated and is a popular for weddings, funerals and other services. It is constructed from native NZ timbers. The interior has been likened to the upturned hull of an Elizabethan galleon with its exposed curving trusses and roof sacking. The flags displayed in the nave include the Royal Navy, NZ Merchant Navy and US Marine Corps. Many of our Marines were stationed in Wellington during World War II. My wife is in yellow walking down the center aisle as she absorb the building details. This was a very important and "moving" site to experience. :

At Te Puia near Rotorua in northern New Zealand, this Maori performance starts its ceremonies outside and then we entered the Wahiao Meeting House. Fortunately (with some skill), I was in a prime front row seat to be able to get great pictures, video, etc. Plus, experience the quality for how these members share these cultural traditions.:

Terry, thanks for the response. Great pictures! Where was the speed boat ride? Did you actually do a tour in Napier and Bay of Islands? If so, what company did you use? Thanks again!