Symphony, Dazzling Holiday Downunder ex Auckland to Melbourne
Cruise Line Crystal Cruises
Ship Crystal Symphony
Destination South Pacific & New Zealand
Nights 16
Departure Date 21 Dec 2021
Description 16 Night Cruise sailing from Auckland to Melbourne aboard Crystal Symphony.

Between warm winter discoveries in the New Zealand’s sounds, Wellington’s wine region and the whale-watching mecca of Eden, spend two nights in Sydney and ring in the New Year beneath the fireworks in the city’s famed harbor.

Highlights of this cruise:

Auckland
Welcome to Auckland, the "City of Sails." New Zealand's largest city is along the shores of an extinct volcanic cone known as Rangitoto, often visible to the east. Auckland's population of over one million people represents almost a third of the country's total.

New Zealand seems to have a bit of everything: great natural beauty, friendly people, magnificent glacier-studded mountain ranges, sculpted fjords, pristine untouched beaches, lush rainforest, an endless array of sporting activities, and, not to be forgotten, plenty of sheep and rolling farmland.

Auckland is the perfect city from which to experience most of what New Zealand has to offer. The city lies astride a narrow isthmus between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean on two harbors, the Waitemata and Manukau. Auckland and New Zealand's geographic and cultural treasures beckon for your discovery.

An enthusiastic welcome awaits you at this thriving city by the sea.

Tauranga
Sprawling along the sweeping bay, Tauranga is a popular summer resort and one of the country's most important ports for the export of kiwi fruit, timber, and dairy products. It is also the gateway for Rotorua, the geothermal wonderland that is one of New Zealand's most famous attractions.

Wellington, New Zealand
Hugging the hillsides around Port Nicholson, a horseshoe-shaped bay that is one of the world's finest, Wellington reminds many visitors of San Francisco. In cultural offerings as well as landscape - Wellington boasts the National Art Gallery and the Dominion Museum, as well as the Government Building, one of the world's largest wodden structures.

Christchurch/Akaroa, New Zealand
On a breathtakingly scenic 90-minute drive from Christchurch, discover the charming village of Akaroa, the oldest colonial town in New Zealand’s South Island, and the country’s only French settlement. The Maori first settled here around 700-800 years ago, bestowing the name Akaroa, which means ‘long harbour’ in their native language. English explorers, including James Cook, arrived in the late 1700s, but it was the efforts of French whaling captain Jean Francois L’Anglois in the 1830s that led to the town’s distinctly French personality that still exists today. Nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano along the southern side of the Banks Peninsula, Akaroa’s beautiful bays and harbour are home to the rarest and smallest marine dolphin—the Hectors dolphin—as well as New Zealand Fur Seals, Little Blue Penguins, and many different birds and exotic plants. From kayaking, hiking, fishing, sailing, eco-tours and walking tours to art galleries, craft shops, and cafes, this welcoming town is remains a favorite among New Zealand destinations.

Dunedin, New Zealand
The charming city of Dunedin lies in southeastern New Zealand, less than ten miles from our pier in Port Chalmers. Its name means Edinburgh in Gaelic and to this day it has retained enduring reminders of its Scottish roots. Adorning the streets of Dunedin is a wealth of Victorian and Edwardian buildings, richly festooned with spires, gables and gargoyles. These architectural landmarks are imposing reminders of a more prosperous era. Surprisingly, the surrounding area is also home to prolific local wildlife, animals rarely found so close to a major city. The choice is yours: explore impressive city architecture, take a rail journey through unspoiled wilderness or venture out to view albatrosses and a country estate.

Cruising Milford Sound, New Zealand
Milford Sound is the undisputed jewel of Fiordland National Park. Thousands of years ago, relentless glacial ice forged its rugged grandeur. Sheer-faced granite walls soar skyward, white-plumed waterfalls tumble from lush valleys into glassy waters and Mitre Peak rears over 5,000 feet into the mist.

Due to its outstanding natural beauty and cultural significance, Milford Sound has been nominated a World Heritage Area.

Please note, no guests will be permitted ashore. However, the true grandeur of Milford Sound is best enjoyed from the water and the comfort of your Crystal Cruises' ship.

Sydney, Australia
The billowing profile of the Opera House greets us on her return to Sydney's glorious, world-class harbor. Ahead lies the arch of the Harbour Bridge. These twin symbols, more than any other, identify one of the Southern Hemisphere's premier cities.

Sydney is an energetic and exciting metropolis whose nightlife, shopping and fine restaurants compare favorably with the finest the world has to offer. Despite its modern advances, Sydney has lovingly cherished its heritage, for this was the birthplace of the Australian nation.

Combine Sydney's boundless attractions with its superb harborside location, and you have that certain magic that few other cities can rival.

Eden, Australia
Eden is a southern coastal town in New South Wales, Australia. Sitting on rugged land with undulating cliffs bordering in the south and sandy beaches in the north, it is adjacent to the third deepest natural harbor in the southern hemisphere. Asling Beach ends where the entrance to Lake Curalo begins. Once a famed whaling town, today, whale-watching (and protection) has become the draw while forestry, fishery and cruise tourism contribute to Eden’s growth and progress.

Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria. It maintains an air of old-world grace and refined dignity with spacious tree-lined boulevards and expansive parks. The prosperous lifestyle of its people is both cosmopolitan and sophisticated. Quaint trams rumble through the downtown area past verdant gardens and impressive high-rises, in a city that has never lost its endearing charm. The heritage of more than 100 different cultures has contributed to Melbourne's richly international character. This diverse ethnic mix is exemplified by its range of 15,000 dining venues which offer more than 50 different kinds of cuisine. Melbourne's sightseeing is as diverse as it is composition and beckons for your discovery.
Sailing Dates
  • 21 Dec 2021
Itinerary

Cruise Itinerary

DayDateActivityArriveDepart
1 21/12 Auckland, New Zealand 09:00 PM
2 22/12 Tauranga, New Zealand 08:00 AM 10:00 PM
3 23/12 At sea    
4 24/12 Wellington, New Zealand 08:00 AM 06:00 PM
5 25/12 At sea    
6 26/12 Christchurch (Akaroa), New Zealand 07:00 AM 07:00 PM
7 27/12 Dunedin (Port Chalmers), New Zealand 08:00 AM 06:00 PM
8 28/12 Doubtful Sound, New Zealand
8 28/12 Dusky Sound, New Zealand
8 28/12 Milford Sound, New Zealand
9 29/12 At sea    
10 30/12 At sea    
11 31/12 Sydney, NSW, Australia 07:00 AM overnight
12 01/01 Sydney, NSW, Australia overnight
13 02/01 Sydney, NSW, Australia 05:00 PM
14 03/01 Eden, New South Wales, Australia 08:00 AM 06:00 PM
15 04/01 At sea    
16 05/01 Melbourne, VIC, Australia 07:00 AM overnight
17 06/01 Melbourne, VIC, Australia
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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