Sightseeing in Australia/New Zealand on a Celebrity Cruise tour
In January, my sister Janet and I spent 29 days touring Australia and New Zealand. Fourteen days of our itinerary was spent on Celebrity's Mercury. This was the first time I had ever sailed Celebrity, the top rated premium cruise line. Although the shipboard experience was less than I had anticipated, our adventure exploring the two countries was truly wonderful.
We particularly enjoyed our pre-cruise experience, five days from Inland to the Australian Outback and up to the country's famed North Coast. We traveled by air to the sacred Ayers Rock, a colossal sandstone monolith (largest in the world) that dominated the desert skyline. Temperatures were quite high (105 degrees one day) but we enjoyed the desert experience.
After two days we flew to Cairns, the jumping-off point for our snorkeling adventure on the Great Barrier Reef, the most expansive and diverse marine ecosystem anywhere in the world.
North of Cairns, Port Douglas presented a spectacular convergence of lush emerald and glittering sapphire, as the thriving rainforest there extends all the way to the shimmering sea. The sights were absolutely mesmerizing.
Once onboard, the Mercury took us from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand. Along the way we spent a fabulous day riding bikes through the heart of Melbourne; visited Hobart, Tasmania; cruised through the Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds of New Zealand (what fabulous scenery); stopped in Dunedin where we visited the Royal Albatross Centre and then Penguin Place to see yellow eyed penguins (the world's rarest); visited Christchurch and Wellington; cruised Volcanic White Island; and stopped in Tauranga before ending our cruise in Auckland.
We then spent four days touring New Zealand; a true gem for active travelers. This itinerary is perfect for those seeking new places to explore. Because of the diversity both countries offer, I strongly suggest adding both pre and post cruise packages to compliment this South Pacific itinerary. Another fabulous South Pacific cruise experience awaits you! Patricia Ellington, Master Cruise Counselor
