Australia & New Zealand Cruises

Experience the vibrant energy of Sydney, the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef, and the dramatic, icy fiords of New Zealand's South Island. Because flights to this region from the East Coast are a significant part of the journey, we carefully match your travel season and ship to ensure every day counts—whether you travel in the peak southern summer or the quieter shoulder months.

Your time ashore changes based on your itinerary. In Sydney, you dock right beside the iconic Opera House and Circular Quay, making it easy to explore on foot or grab a traditional local meat pie for lunch. When visiting the Great Barrier Reef, plan for a boat ride from Cairns or Airlie Beach to dive among the clownfish and giant clams. For the ultimate scenic experience, ships navigating New Zealand's Milford Sound rarely dock; instead, you take in the majestic fiord walls directly from the deck or your private balcony.

Request a quote What you can do in port

Compare cruise lines Departure ports

Most cruises run ten to twenty-one nights and depart from Sydney, Auckland, or Brisbane. Longer repositioning voyages come from Hawaii, Los Angeles, or Vancouver. Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, and the smaller luxury lines sail the region in the southern summer. We compare the ports on the itinerary. We do not start from a favorite line.

Circular Quay in Sydney, with the Opera House beyond — In Sydney you dock at Circular Quay and walk to the Opera House.

The usual choices are the Australian coast from Sydney, a New Zealand circuit from Auckland, or one sailing across the Tasman that does both. In Sydney the ship docks at Circular Quay, beside the Opera House, and you can walk the waterfront or sit down to a meat pie. The reef itself is a boat ride from Cairns or Airlie Beach, out among clownfish and giant clams. In Milford Sound the ship rarely docks. You watch the fiord walls glide past from the deck or a balcony.

A sea turtle over coral on the Great Barrier Reef — The reef is a boat ride from Cairns or Airlie Beach, out among the coral and the turtles.

The routes

Eastern Australia — Sydney, Brisbane, the Whitsundays, Cairns
New Zealand — Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, and the South Island
Sydney to Auckland, or the reverse — the usual combined routing
Tasmania — Hobart, when the ship stops there
A transpacific into the region — Hawaii, Los Angeles, or Vancouver, with islands in between

Worth going ashore for

Sydney — you can walk from Circular Quay to the Opera House and The Rocks. A bus tour of the suburbs spends most of its time on the bus
The reef from Cairns or Airlie Beach, if the ship stays long enough
Milford Sound from the deck, when the weather allows the ship in
Wellington, or a South Island wine town, walked rather than driven past
Hobart’s waterfront, not a tour of the whole state

Sydney Harbour and the Opera House are in Sydney. In Auckland, the waterfront is at the pier, and Mount Eden, a volcanic cone, is about 15 minutes away. The evening in town depends on a late departure or an overnight, which some itineraries have. Fewer cruises start and end in Brisbane or Melbourne. Extra nights in Sydney or Auckland are in the city after the ship has sailed.

When to go

The season runs from October through April, which is summer in Australia and New Zealand. November through March is the busiest part of that season. The Great Barrier Reef has warm water. The water in Milford Sound and the other fiords is cold. A sailing that includes both spends time in each.

A glacial lake and snow-dusted mountains on New Zealand’s South Island

In port

What to expect in port

Sydney Harbour and the Opera House are in Sydney. In Auckland, Mount Eden is a volcanic cone about 15 minutes from the pier.

Time in port: The stops in Sydney and Auckland can run long. A stop at the reef needs the hours the ship is there. Milford is often a scenic sail, and you stay on the ship.
Worth the time: Stop in Sydney to see the Opera House. It sits next to where most ships dock. If the ship leaves later, have lunch, or a meat pie on the quay: minced beef in gravy, baked in a pastry case. To see more than the harbor, stay at the Park Hyatt Sydney, across from the Opera House, before the cruise or after you return. In Auckland, walk the Viaduct Harbour and have a grilled lamb chop, the usual lunch.
Travelers: This suits people who can travel from October through April, Australia’s summer, and who will fly to Sydney or Auckland to start.
Also: The Great Barrier Reef has warm water, often around 80°F in the Australian summer, and hard coral. You can see clownfish, parrotfish, and giant clams. In Sydney the Opera House stands on the harbor, and you can walk the quay. You can also get a meat pie there: minced beef in gravy, baked in a pastry case.

In port

Where the ship docks, and what you can do there

A coastal sailing, a New Zealand loop, and a Tasman crossing do not share the same ports.

See the ports

Sample itineraries

These are typical routings and ports. Ships, dates, and fares change.

A green bay and islands in New Zealand — The Bay of Islands is the green water at the top of the North Island.

The Australian coast

10–14 nights

October–April

Sydney or Brisbane round trip

Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, or a luxury ship, compared

A Queensland stop
The Whitsundays or Airlie Beach
Cairns or Townsville
Days at sea between the reef ports

Auckland and the harbor — Auckland is the usual New Zealand start, with the harbor in the middle of the city.

New Zealand

10–14 nights

November–March

Auckland round trip, or one-way toward Sydney

A ship that actually enters the fiords, not one that only lists them

Bay of Islands or Tauranga
Wellington
A South Island stop
Milford Sound, weather permitting

Wellington harbor — Wellington sits on a harbor at the bottom of the North Island.

Across the Tasman

12–16 nights

Southern summer

Sydney to Auckland, or the reverse

Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Cunard, or a smaller luxury ship

Sydney
A day at sea across the Tasman
Wellington or Picton
Auckland

Planning Australia & New Zealand Cruises?

Flights to Sydney or Auckland belong in the quote. A quote that leaves them out is not the full price.