Most of our Ponant customers relish our luxury New Zealand Cruises because they bring a touch of class and culinary brilliance on cruises close to our shores. At BlueSun Cruises we take pride in our local knowledge and being a Ponant cruise specialist for New Zealand.
From the charming coastal town of Picton, in the north of the South Island, it is possible to join, by boat, one of the most famous hiking trails in New Zealand: the Queen Charlotte trail. 70 kilometers long, it is divided into different stages and therefore allows passing travelers to take short walks. On the flora side, the huge colonies of tree ferns, manukas and beeches delight enthusiasts. But the trail owes its reputation to the panoramas that follow one another during the hike: the view of the coast and its various bays is breathtaking.
Go to the northern part of the North Island. Located 90 minutes by car from Tauranga, Rotorua is a small paradise for lovers of extraordinary landscapes. It is indeed here that the site of Wai-O-Tapu, which means "sacred waters", is located. Several paths allow you to explore the area, shaped by thousands of years of volcanic activity. Fumaroles, craters, hot and cold water springs as well as the famous "champagne pool", renowned for its size and colors verging on green and ochre, make up an almost supernatural setting. Nearby, the Pohutu geyser (to be translated as “great gushing” or “explosion”), offers a spectacle no less grandiose!
Discover the Maori Culture of North Island
Its name in Maori means “the country of the long white cloud”. One could not find more poetic to describe a land whose peaks are close to the heavens, whose waters infiltrate in the form of lakes, fjords, rivers and dizzying waterfalls, whose inhabitants are attached to a culture as refined as it is complex. New Zealand attracts travelers to better remind them of the taste for adventure and the passion for discovery.
Feel the pulse of Wellington - North Island
She has contributed significantly to New Zealand's international fame. And for good reason, the Maori culture fascinates. Well beyond its famous haka, it is characterized in particular by a delicate art and a unique mythology. In Wellington, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa , meaning "home", exhibits collections of objects, clothing, photographs and art that retrace the country's history in a playful way. A fascinating discovery to combine with a Maori dance performance.
Navigate the New Zealand Fjords - South Island
It is nicknamed the “coolest little capital in the world”! Located at the southern end of the North Island, the capital of New Zealand has a unique charm and atmosphere. Wellington exudes a contagious energy, conveyed by its inhabitants, its cultural abundance and its many cafes and restaurants, as in Cuba Street with its bohemian atmosphere. The famous Cable car, this vintage-looking red funicular, allows you to climb 120 meters in height to embrace the view of the city. It is located next to the botanical garden, a real haven of peacethat we walk alongside a dense nature. Spread over more than 25 hectares, exotic forests rub shoulders with the superb Lady Norwood rose garden, with flowers that have won many awards.
Wai-O-Taipu geothermal site - North Island
The further south you go, the more adventurous the trip takes on. In the midst of marvelous nature, the Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, is home to exceptional landscapes shaped by lakes, rivers, rainforests and fjords. Navigation also offers surprises at each fjord it embraces, such as in Marlborough Sound where the water is tinged with turquoise notes. The verticality of the waterfalls, cliffs and peaks that border Milford Sound are dizzying. With its three arms and reaching up to 421 meters deep, Doubtful Soundremains one of New Zealand's largest fjords. It is also an opportunity to observe remarkable fauna, including the Fiordland penguins, a rare and endemic species.
BOOK ANY CRUISE WORLDWIDE
BlueSun Cruises is a New Zealand Cruise Ponant specialist. We help clients book cruises to New Zealand all the time!
Click here to visit our main CRUISE SEARCH website, where you can access 650 cruises ships going to over 4,500 ports in the world through BlueSun Travel.
For more information on our New Zealand Cruises, call us now on 1300 799 758 to discuss any of your cruise plans.
We'd love to hear from you.
Available to chat 7 days a week, even on Sundays!
