New Zealand in Depth
Coast to coast from the Fiordland sounds to the Bay of Islands
New Zealand rewards those who take their time, and this thirteen-night voyage from Dunedin to Auckland does exactly that, tracing both islands from the fiords of the south to the subtropical Bay of Islands in the north. Aboard the boutique SH Minerva you sail into the sheer-walled sounds of Fiordland, one of the great wilderness coasts of the world, call at remote Stewart Island, and watch for whales off Kaikoura. Between the wild places lie the vineyards of Marlborough, the golden beaches of Abel Tasman, the capital at Wellington and the Maori and colonial history of the far north. It is New Zealand seen slowly, from the sea, and all the richer for it.
Itinerary highlights
Sail the length of New Zealand from Dunedin to Auckland over thirteen nights.
Cruise the sheer-walled fiords of Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds in Fiordland National Park.
Reach remote Stewart Island, with its birdlife and pristine wilderness.
Watch for sperm whales, dusky dolphins and albatross off Kaikoura.
Explore the drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds and the golden beaches of Abel Tasman.
Discover Wellington, the harbour capital, and the Maori and colonial history of the Bay of Islands.
Travel aboard the boutique SH Minerva with an expert expedition team.
Coast to coast from the Fiordland sounds to the Bay of Islands
New Zealand rewards those who take their time, and this thirteen-night voyage from Dunedin to Auckland does exactly that, tracing both islands from the fiords of the south to the subtropical Bay of Islands in the north. Aboard the boutique SH Minerva you sail into the sheer-walled sounds of Fiordland, one of the great wilderness coasts of the world, call at remote Stewart Island, and watch for whales off Kaikoura. Between the wild places lie the vineyards of Marlborough, the golden beaches of Abel Tasman, the capital at Wellington and the Maori and colonial history of the far north. It is New Zealand seen slowly, from the sea, and all the richer for it.
Itinerary highlights
Sail the length of New Zealand from Dunedin to Auckland over thirteen nights.
Cruise the sheer-walled fiords of Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds in Fiordland National Park.
Reach remote Stewart Island, with its birdlife and pristine wilderness.
Watch for sperm whales, dusky dolphins and albatross off Kaikoura.
Explore the drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds and the golden beaches of Abel Tasman.
Discover Wellington, the harbour capital, and the Maori and colonial history of the Bay of Islands.
Travel aboard the boutique SH Minerva with an expert expedition team.
What's Included
- 13 nights aboard SH Minerva in an en-suite stateroom or suite
- One included shore excursion at each port of call
- Zodiac cruises and expedition activities with the expedition team
- All meals aboard; selected wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Onboard gratuities and wifi
- Programme of expert lectures and briefings; use of onboard facilities (pool, hot tubs, sauna, gym)
What's Included
- 13 nights aboard SH Minerva in an en-suite stateroom or suite
- One included shore excursion at each port of call
- Zodiac cruises and expedition activities with the expedition team
- All meals aboard; selected wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Onboard gratuities and wifi
- Programme of expert lectures and briefings; use of onboard facilities (pool, hot tubs, sauna, gym)
Thank you
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Every journey I plan starts with a conversation. Tell me what excites you, what you've always dreamed of experiencing, and I'll craft something extraordinary. The best expeditions begin with a single question: What would make this unforgettable for you?
Ashley | Expedition Planner
FAQs
Both islands, coast to coast: the Fiordland sounds and Stewart Island in the deep south, Akaroa and Kaikoura on the east coast, the Marlborough Sounds and Abel Tasman at the top of the South Island, Wellington, and then Tauranga and the Bay of Islands in the north, ending in Auckland.
Yes, it sails one way from Dunedin to Auckland, so you fly into one and out of the other. International flights are not included.
Fiordland fur seals and dolphins, royal albatross and yellow-eyed penguins around Dunedin, sperm whales and dusky dolphins at Kaikoura, the rare Hector’s dolphin at Akaroa, and the chance of kiwi on Stewart Island.
SH Minerva is a boutique expedition ship with spacious staterooms, floor-to-ceiling windows, a pool, hot tubs, sauna and gym, and an expert expedition team, small enough to enter the fiords and remote anchorages.