Seabourns Australia & New Zealand

Sydney is a cosmopolitan, multicultural city surrounded by golden sand beaches, World Heritage areas, lush national parks and acclaimed wine regions. Sydney owes much of its splendour to its magnificent harbour. Arriving by ship provides an unequalled impression, showing off the city’s famous landmarks: the dramatic white sails of the iconic Opera House and the celebrated Harbour Bridge, looming over the skyline.

Enjoy all the onboard luxuries that Seabourn Odyssey has to offer.

Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand’s South Island, off the Tasman Sea. Part of the Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site, it has been judged one of the world’s top travel destinations in an international survey. Frequently visited by rain, the mountain peaks rising from the waters of Milford Sound are often softened by mist and an air of almost flawless and overpowering mystic calm. Acclaimed as New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination.

New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park is the largest of the country’s 14 national parks, at 4,868 sq. mi./12,607 sq. km. Located on the southwest corner of the South Island, it was founded in 1904, to protect the natural environment for nature lovers and trekkers. It comprises a large portion of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. The key features of the park are the mountain ranges of the Southern Alps, which rise to heights from 1,500 m/4,900 ft to over 2,500 m/8,200 ft., as well as the spectacular U-shaped glaciated fjord  valleys that cut into the mountains as deeply as 25 miles from the sea. There are three major fjords that are navigable by your ships, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. Your exact itinerary will be determined by your captain depending on the weather and other conditions on the day. But whatever course you sail, you will be treated to spectacular waterways curving between sheer cliffs towering thousands of feet above the mirrored surface of the fjord.

Port Chalmers is the main port for the city of Dunedin. Situated in a natural amphitheatre at the head of a long fjord-like inlet, Dunedin was the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand, founded in 1848. Not long afterwards, gold was discovered in the region, and the province quickly became the richest and most influential in the colony. While Christchurch is New Zealand’s most English town, Dunedin is its most Scottish; the name Dunedin is the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh.

Port Chalmers is the main port for the city of Dunedin. Situated in a natural amphitheatre at the head of a long fjord-like inlet, Dunedin was the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand, founded in 1848. Not long afterwards, gold was discovered in the region, and the province quickly became the richest and most influential in the colony. While Christchurch is New Zealand’s most English town, Dunedin is its most Scottish; the name Dunedin is the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh.

South of the Canterbury Plain on the South Island, Timaru is built on the rolling volcanic hills surrounding Mt. Horrible. Originally a whaling station, it grew to serve the sheep stations in the surrounding countryside. Visit the South Canterbury Museum, filled with artefacts and information about the history of the region from the Maori arrival to the present day, and the Aigantighe Art Gallery, housed in a homestead dating from 1908.

Kaikoura draws visitors from all over the world for the prolific marine life in the surrounding waters. Whale (including sperm whales), dolphin and seal watching tours operate year-round. There is a scenic walkway from the town center out to Point Kean, and there are colonies of fur seals on the rocky shores. The Fyffe House is a 19th century home built on a foundation of whale bones, with a museum of whaling history. It’s also famous for fresh seafood including crayfish (known elsewhere as spiny lobsters) and the delicious Paua (also known as abalone.)

Picton sits at the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound and the sail into and out of town will reveal some classic New Zealand scenery. The town offer access to the Marlborough wine country, other spectacular sounds and lots of outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing, trekking and cycling.

Visually stunning, Wellington is nestled between a magnificent harbour and a natural amphitheatre of forest-clad hills. Its compact size, combined with cultural sophistication, makes it New Zealand’s most inspiring urban destination. Wellington’s cultural crowning jewel is Te Papa, a donation-only museum that celebrates Australasian natural history, science and culture. Exhibits include Maori artefact’s, an extensive Pacific Cultures collection and interactive science exhibits. The city’s art scene is flourishing, with numerous galleries and craft markets displaying the work of the country’s top artists and craftspeople.

Enjoy all the onboard luxuries that Seabourn Odyssey has to offer.

Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have harbours on two separate bodies of water. The central part of urban Auckland covers a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea, and the Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean.