Hanseatic Inspiration, INT New Zealand Cruise ex Christchurch to Auckland – 10 Mar 2022

16 Night Cruise sailing from Christchurch to Auckland aboard Hanseatic Inspiration.

Countless contrasts converge in a unique island country: this picture-perfect cruise combines New Zealand’s North Island and South Island for an all-embracing experience.

Highlights of this cruise:

Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on the edge of the Canterbury plains and is a major stepping off point for touring the South Island. Mountains, ocean beaches, rivers, lakes and wide open spaces can be found less than an hour from the city centre.

The Avon River, a spread of Victorian architecture, and the avenues and squares, are a responsible for Christchurch’s reputation of “Englishness”. Internationally famed ‘The Garden City’, one-eighth of its area is devoted to public parks, reserves, and recreation grounds, with the 186-hectare (459-acre) Hagley Park smack in its center.

Due to an earthquake which hit Christchurch on February 22nd 2011, part of the central city of Christchurch is still cordoned off to the general public to ensure people’s safety while safety checks and the clearing of damaged areas takes place. This cordon is gradually receding as more of the city is deemed safe and open for business. It is likely however, that some isolated parts of the city will remain behind cordons for some time while rebuilding takes place.

Dunedin
Port Chalmers is the main port of the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. Although it has been a suburb since local body reorganisation in the 1980s, it is still regarded by most people throughout Dunedin as a separate town. Port Chalmers lies ten kilometres inside Otago Harbour, some 15 kilometres northeast from Dunedin’s city centre.

Dunedin is the second-largest city on the south island of New Zealand. It is built in a natural harbour on a relatively small area of flat land, and is surrounded by steep hillsides. Some of its streets are very steep; Baldwin Street is claimed to be the steepest in the world.

Dunedin is known for its Victorian and Edwardian architecture; notable buildings include First Church and Larnach Castle. Other attractions include the famous Captain Cook Tavern, the local Speight’s brewery and the Cadbury factory.

Golden Bay
Golden Bay is a shallow, paraboloid shaped bay at the northwest end of New Zealand’s South Island. is a very beautiful, relatively untouched and quiet corner of the South Island.

Attractions at Golden Bay include Takaka, the main town, Collingwood Abel Tasman Natonal Park, Pupu Sping and beautiful golden sand beaches.

Queen Charlotte Sound
Queen Charlotte Sound is the easternmost of the main sounds of the Marlborough Sounds, in New Zealand’s South Island. It is, like the other sounds, a drowned valley, and like the majority of its neighbours it runs southwest to northeast before joining Cook Strait. It is dominated by bush-clad shorelines, deep bays and coves, ideal for exploring by sea kayak.

Stretching between the Queen Charlotte and Keneperu Sound is the Queen Charlotte Track. A 71km track renowned for its stunning views and contrasting landscape, historical landmarks and wonderful variety of native bush and wildlife.

The town of Picton, the northern terminus of the South Island’s railway and State Highway networks, lies near the head of the Sound. Exploration of Queen Charlotte Sound will usually begin in Picton.

Auckland
Auckland is located on the north island of New Zealand, situated between two magnificent harbours, the Waitemata and the Manukau. It is the largest city in NZ and is often referred to as the ‘City of Sails’ due to the large number of yachts which travel in its waters.

Auckland city has a great range of shops including designer boutiques, markets and stalls. It is also home to many fine galleries and museums including the Auckland Museum and the Auckland City Art Gallery. Restaurants in the waterfront suburbs such as Mission Bay or St Heliers and the inner city specialise in local seafood delicacies. There are also a number of attractive public gardens and reserves surrounding the city.

The large Polynesian population in Auckalnd include Maori, Samoan, Cook Island and Tongan people whom all contribute to the city’s vibrant culture. Local markets and churches in particular provide an insight to the local cultures.