The best of New Zealand
* Subject to availability.
Transfer Milford Sound / Queenstown
Transfer included
- Staterooms & Suites
- L'AUSTRAL
- Port of call & excursions
- Formalities
- Cruise Package
- Pre/Post & Overlands
Staterooms & Suites
There are no staterooms available for booking. Please contact our cruise advisors.
L'AUSTRAL
L'AUSTRAL
In May 2011, l'Austral joined PONANT's fleet. This superb mega-yacht with 132 staterooms is the result of the expertise of the Italian Fincantieri shipyard and French sophistication, as interpreted by designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. L'Austral remains faithful to our philosophy - to create a unique atmosphere, a subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and well-being.
A sleek silhouette softened by elegantly smooth contours and large, arched windows opening up to the sea and the light: so many features come together to give L’Austral her distinctive shape. Precious materials, discreet elegance and a perfect balance between chic and casual, combine to make you feel as if you are on your own private yacht. A design blending tradition and innovation, where a nautical mood has been subtly recreated. A welcoming atmosphere of relaxed sophistication revolves around shades of grey, taupe, white and ivory enlivened by touches of cinnamon, caramel and tan.. So many personal touches create the spirit of a “private yacht.”
You will encounter unique itineraries, calls inaccessible to large ships, chic and elegant yacht-like ambiance, refined and personalized service as well as gastronomic cuisine.
Port of call & excursions
Auckland
Embarkation 31/01/2017 from 16H00 to 17H00 . Departure 31/01/2017 at 18H00 .Auckland is New Zealand’s largest, most populated and busiest city. Located on an isthmus linking the peninsula of Northland to the expansive North Island, it seems to float between land and sea. It is one of the few cities in the world to have two separate harbours : Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean. You will understand why Auckland is known as the city of sails when you see the forest of masts in the marina. The 328 metre-high Sky Tower offers splendid views of the city. Surrounded by dormant volcanoes such as Mt Eden, Auckland is noted for its abundant nature and magnificent black-sand beaches. A blend of Maori, European and Asian cultures give the city a vibrant atmosphere.
1 February 2017 – Tauranga
Arrival 01/02/2017 early morning. Departure 01/02/2017 late afternoon.Located to the north of Rotorua, Tauranga stretches the length of the Bay of Plenty, sheltered from the ocean by the island of Matakana. This coastal city boasts a flourishing economy thanks to its port, and is a pleasant and pretty town with a peaceful, relaxed feel. The seafront area is contemporary and lively, dotted with cafés and restaurants. The town centre reveals more picturesque charms, while the surrounding area is packed full of natural delights. Travel on to the town of Rotorua to visit the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland: a fantastic opportunity to experience an absolutely exceptional geothermal phenomenon.
2 February 2017 – At sea
Arrival 02/02/2017. Departure 02/02/2017.During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
3 February 2017 – Napier
Arrival 03/02/2017 early morning. Departure 03/02/2017 early afternoon.On the east coast of North Island, south of Hawke’s Bay, you’ll find Napier. Mostly destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, reviving from its ashes in less than two years, it grew into a magnificent Art Deco style city, very in-vogue at the time. With its pure lines mixed with traditional Maori designs, the singular New Zealand character of this city will intrigue you. You’ll discover all this extraordinary architectural heritage as you take a stroll through the city. Wine lovers will be able to taste some of the best wines from the region, which is famous for its vineyards.
4 February 2017 – Wellington
Arrival 04/02/2017 early morning. Departure 04/02/2017 early evening.Crowned with gentle green hills, Wellington harbour is located in the far south of North Island. This city offers a charming pell-mell of traditional and modern cultures, bestowing on the New Zealand capital, a unique atmosphere, at once friendly and avant-guard. Where some sites, like the large National Te Papa Tongarewa museum, reflect the city’s Maori past, others, like the many cafés and restaurants, affirm the inhabitants’ incredible lust for life.
5 February 2017 – Picton
Arrival 05/02/2017 early morning. Departure 05/02/2017 early evening.A must-see entry point to South Island, Picton is a little coastal town girded by gentle hills, located on the south side of the Queen Charlotte inlet. The cafés and restaurants which border the charming waterfront give a very lovely view of the fjord. You can also decide to get some height above sea level, and walk in the surrounding areas. However, Picton is above all an opportunity to explore the unique Marlborough fjords. This interweave of submerged valleys, making numerous different navigable routes, are among the most beautiful natural wonders of New Zealand.
6 February 2017 – Akaroa
Arrival 06/02/2017 late morning. Departure 06/02/2017 late afternoon.Set on the east coast of South Island, Christchurch is New Zealandﾒs second-biggest city. You can soak up its easy-going atmosphere in one of the many parks and gardens that give Christchurch its nickname ﾓthe garden cityﾔ, or dally a while in Cathedral Square to see how the city is transforming itself after the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Attractions such as the International Antarctic Centre and Christchurch Gondola ride are as popular as ever, while pop-up cafes, the Cardboard Cathedral and community art projects showcase the citizensﾒ resilience. The beautiful port of Akaroa, where ships dock, is about 90 minutesﾒ drive from Christchurch on the Banks Peninsula
7 February 2017 – Port Chalmers-Dunedin Harbour
Arrival 07/02/2017 early morning. Departure 07/02/2017 late afternoon.
8 February 2017 – Dusky Sound
Arrival 08/02/2017. Departure 08/02/2017.Dusky Sound is one of the most isolated fjords in Fiordland National Park. This huge, protected natural zone situated in the south-west quarter of New Zealand’s South Island is listed as UNESCO World Heritage. The sheer cliffs, waterfalls, shimmering lakes and primitive forests here are each more beautiful than the next. These spectacular landscapes sculpted by successive glaciations are a source of endless wonder. In 1773, the British navigator James Cook spent a few weeks at Dusky Sound, as demonstrated by a plaque that can be seen at Astronomer’s Point. During your sailing, observe the richness of the local wildlife: cormorants, seagulls, New Zealand fur seals, but also Fiordland crested penguins, a rare and endemic species.
Sailing Milford Sound
Disembarkation 09/02/2017 at 09H00 .Milford Sound fjord is among one of the most beautiful natural sites in New Zealand. So much beauty will quite simply take your breath away. Located on the south-west coast of South Island, in the Fiorldland National Park, this sumptuous inlet carved out by glaciers advances over at least 15 kilometres inland, in the Southern Alps. Majestic cliffs seem to surge out of the dark waters, rising several hundred metres high: an abrupt relief from where impressive waterfalls cascade.
Formalities
The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.
Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
Transfer Milford Sound / Queenstown
Disembarkation day Milford Sound / Queenstown
The ship is an anchorage.
You will be transferred to the wharf by local tenders.
09:30 Meet and greet by our local representative, you will board a chartered motor coach and drive south from Milford Sound, passing through the magnificent Fiordland National Park. Pass through the 1200-metre-long legendary Homer Tunnel and travel over the Homer saddle before entering the Eglinton Valley where beech-covered mountains frame the view of distant peaks. Pass Lakes Fergus and Gunn before arriving at Te Anau. After a short stop, continue for Queenstown, crossing the North Southland Plains to Kingston; then continuing along the eastern shoreline of Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown.
14:30 Approximately - arrive at the Queenstown Primary school.
Please note that times are subject to change
What is included:
- Group transfer port as mentioned in the program
- A local English speaking driver / guide
Your program does not include:
- Tips for the driver and local guide
- Personal expenses
- Other services not mentioned in the program.
Please note:
- Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date.
- New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere which means that summer is from December to February. Average temperature is 20°C or 68°F. The weather is warm and sunny, while the sea water temperature sits at 0°C or 32°F.
- In summer a jacket and sweater should be included in your luggage should the weather turn cooler. You can expect some rain, so include a light rainproof jacket.
- New Zealand’s currency is based on dollars and cents.
Pre/Post & Overlands
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Before your cruise
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After your cruise
** Prices per person, based on double occupancy
