Shore Excursions - NZ

[scotty_das]

Hi Everyone,

 

Getting in early by looking at the shore excursions for our trip around NZ. Has anyone done this cruise itinerary and if so, what did you do?

 

Looking for ideas at Dunedin, Wellington & Picton

 

 

Sailing Itinerary

 

 

Date Port Arrive Depart Activity

 

29-Dec Sydney, Australia

 

30-Dec Cruising

 

31-Dec Cruising

 

01-Jan Milford Sound, New Zealand - Cruising

 

01-Jan Doubtful Sound, New Zealand - Cruising

 

01-Jan Dusky Sound, New Zealand - Cruising

 

02-Jan Dunedin, New Zealand 08:00 18:00 Docked

 

03-Jan Cruising

 

04-Jan Wellington, New Zealand 08:00 17:00 Docked

 

05-Jan Picton, New Zealand 08:00 15:00 Docked

 

06-Jan Cruising

 

07-Jan Cruising

 

08-Jan Sydney, Australia 06:00

[mtn_couple]

Hi Everyone,

 

Getting in early by looking at the shore excursions for our trip around NZ. Has anyone done this cruise itinerary and if so, what did you do?

 

Looking for ideas at Dunedin, Wellington & Picton

 

 

Sailing Itinerary

 

 

Date Port Arrive Depart Activity

 

29-Dec Sydney, Australia

 

30-Dec Cruising

 

31-Dec Cruising

 

01-Jan Milford Sound, New Zealand - Cruising

 

01-Jan Doubtful Sound, New Zealand - Cruising

 

01-Jan Dusky Sound, New Zealand - Cruising

 

02-Jan Dunedin, New Zealand 08:00 18:00 Docked

 

03-Jan Cruising

 

04-Jan Wellington, New Zealand 08:00 17:00 Docked

 

05-Jan Picton, New Zealand 08:00 15:00 Docked

 

06-Jan Cruising

 

07-Jan Cruising

 

08-Jan Sydney, Australia 06:00

 

In Dunedin we hired a car from Pegasus (a bit dearer than the rest, but they meet you at the dock with the car, rather than you having to pay for a shuttle bus to the town, about 15 mins drive away, then get the car, so the extra cost was worth saving the cost and time of the shuttle for us). We drove to Cadbury Factory then Lanach Castle then Otago Peninsula.

 

In Wellington we did a 4wd Seal Safari - fantastic! We were in a convoy of about 3 4wd vehicles, we drove out along a beach to a seal colony, stopped for muffins then drove a scenic way back. The driver then dropped us in town and we went on the Cable Car and TePaPa, then we got a taxi back to the ship.

 

We didn't go to Picton, we did Tauranga & Akaroa instead.....

[kuldalai]

At Dunedin there is only ONE excursion to do - Trieri Gorge Railway . Many cruise lines offer a ships excursion where the train departs and returns to ship side . One of the worlds great railway journeys .

[BrusselsGirl07]

We have been on 3 cruises to/around New Zealand.

 

In Dunedin we have used Awesome Tours and done their Royal Albatross Colony and Otago Peninsula tour. Beautiful scenery and good fun zipping around in their 8 wheels Argos vehicles on the peninsula. We saw lots of baby seals, some penguins, the beautiful albatross and lots of gorgeous scenery.

 

We have also used Elm Wildlife Tours for a private tour for 2 couples, had a tour of Dunedin, went to Speights brewery, visited a lookout over the city, saw more of the Otago Peninsula and this time walked along a beach to a penguin colony and saw lots of Yellow Eyed Penguins nesting as well as Hooker Sea Lions on the beach and more baby seals.

 

Just this Christmas we booked with 4 Nature Tours and visited a really cool Ecosanctuary, went and saw the Moeraki Boulders and then went to a lookout over a beach and saw lots of yellow eyed penguins nesting and also coming and going from the ocean.

 

All of the tours were really good and I would do any of them again.

 

In Wellington we did our own thing - walked into town from the ship, took the cable car up to the botanical gardens and walked back down, and then spent the afternoon in the Te Papa Museum. The other two times we have visited we have met up with friends who have taken us for a drive around the coast and then out to lunch. Wellington is a very easy city to explore on your own and by walking around. It has a really gorgeous waterfront that takes you into town and there are lots of things to see.

 

Only one of our cruises stopped in Picton. We booked a tour with Dolphin Eco Watch Tours. We had time before the tour so we visited the Edwin Fox Ship Museum which was a whole lot more interesting that I was expecting. We walked around the town and watched some locals performing - singing and dancing. The tour was very cool, we sailed to Motuara Island, a juvenile kiwi sanctuary. There are lots of birds and we walked to the top of the island to see beautiful views. We saw lots of birds, lizards and insects. We were lucky to see a large group of Hector's Dolphins and they played around our boat. We saw a lot of seals as well.

 

Hope that helps with your planning! Yvette

[johndon]

As mentioned, the Taerie Gorge train trip is really excellent. There is another option to booking on the ship and that is book direct with the railways at

taerie.co.nz/bookings at more than half the price of the ship tour

If you have children, the railways take them free of charge whereas the ship charges about $140 for each child. The railways put on a shuttle bus from the wharf and for for about $Nzd30 take you to the Dunedin railway station and on a city tour after the train gets back from the Gorge about 2.30pm. They will drop you off at the gangway in plenty of time before sailing

There is another train trip called "The Seasider" which runs from Dunedin to Palmerston mainly following the coast. This gets back to Dunedin at about 1.30pm; plenty of time before sailing

A nice gesture at the port are some pipes and drums piping the ship off as it casts off

Dunedin is our favourite port in NZ

I'm sure you will love your NZ cruise

 

John

[cojuqui]

Out of the three you mentioned, our itinerary only included Dunedin. We walked a few minutes outside of the port area of Port Chalmers and took the city bus ($6 each way) into Dunedin. We transferred busses and went to check out Baldwin Street, The Worlds Steepest Street. From there we headed back and took the Cadbury Tour. There my mom and I went our separate ways, she cabbed it over to take a tour of historic Olveston House and I walked up to Speights for a fantastic Brewery Tour. We met up again for a lovely time at the Dunedin Chinese Gardens. From there we walked over to the Historic Dunedin Railway Station. We walked back up to the city center and then caught the bus back too Port Chalmers.

 

Dunedin is a great city with lots to do and explore. I hope you have a fabulous time whatever you end up doing.

 

Feel free to read my whole trip review, the link is in my signature.

 

Take care and safe travels

Connie

 

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[robynwally]

You may find other helpful post in the ports of call area under Australia/New Zealand

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=77

 

Robyn