New Zealand - Aotearoa - The Natural Elements
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Overview
Highlights
- Enjoy breathtaking alpine scenery and pass through the remarkable 1,200 metre Homer Tunnel before emerging to unforgettable views of Milford Sound’s Mitre Peak
- The deepest of the sounds, Doubtful was named by Captain Cook in 1770 and is often described as Fiordland’s most spectacular waterway
- The expedition crew on an exploratory cruise through rarely visited Dusky Sound, among an array of islands, marine and bird life
- Discover the natural delights and scenic beauty of Stewart Island, a large island that is almost totally wilderness and home to a vast number of seals, birds and other wildlife
- Dunedin offers a great diversity of experiences from abundant wildlife to the historic Edwardian and Victorian architecture, the Otakou Maori Marae, the famous Speights Brewery, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Settlers Museum and New Zealand’s oldest botanical gardens.
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Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Trip includes
- Accommodations on board
- All meals onboard 24-hour tea/coffee station
- Post mix soft drinks
- Services of expedition staff including lectures
- Briefings, slide/film presentations, and other group activities
- Group transfers during the cruise landing fees.
- Included coach transfers are from Queenstown Hotels to to Oceanic Discoverer on Day 1 of the Queenstown to Auckland cruise and Day 1 of the Queenstown to Wellington cruise and also from Oceanic Discoverer to Queenstown Hotels on Day 13 of the Auckland to Queenstown cruise and Day 9 of the Wellington to Queenstown cruise.
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Itinerary
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with AdventureSmith.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
AdventureSmith Reviews & Ratings
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Tour Operator
AdventureSmith Explorations is the global leader in small ship, adventure cruise vacations. Company founder Todd Smith helped pioneer the concept of wilderness cruising that combines the comforts of a small cruise ship with the adventure of sea kayaking, hiking and exploring remote wilderness areas ashore. The company matches guests with the top names in small ship cruising as well as with intimate, boutique ships that may not make the radar of most travelers.
In moving through exotic natural environments and exploring vibrant native cultures seldom associated with more mainstream cruise itineraries, AdventureSmith Explorations dedicates its efforts to small footprint, sustainable travel and has launched a carbon-free cruising initiative. Its off-the-beaten-path destinations include Alaska, British Columbia, the Columbia River, Baja’s Sea of Cortez, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Europe, Asia, the Arctic, Antarctica and Australia.
AdventureSmith ads value by helping clients select the right trip at the best price. Travelers maintain personalized service with a single Adventure Specialist throughout the process of research, booking, preparation, travel and follow up. We are true experts with first hand experience aboard every ship and trip we arrange. You'll never pay more and our sales volume means you often pay less than booking direct. 99% of our travelers say they would recommend AdventureSmith Explorations to their family and friends.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Pre and post flights
- Fuel surcharges where applicable
- Travel insurance
- Personal items such as communications and bar charges, laundry
- Optional shore excursions in Dunedin, Napier, Akaroa, Gisborne and Stewart Island.
- Optional shore excursions are booked on board the ship.
- Tipping is not required and is completely optional.
The state-of-the-art Coral Discoverer, formerly known as Oceanic Discoverer, is the newest small ship operating in Australia and the South Pacific. Launched in 2005 and purpose-built for cruising in the tropical regions of the southern oceans, guests will enjoy a uniquely Australian onboard atmosphere, with stylish furnishings, generous decks and the latest of modern facilities. Coral Discoverer accommodates just 72 guests in 36 spacious staterooms and has a cruising speed of 14 knots. Her shallow draft allows her to access even the most isolated and remote locations of the South Pacific, beyond the reach of other ships. Coral Discoverer was built to the exacting international SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) standards and specifications by NQEA shipyard in Cairns, Australia, with one aim in mind: to create the ultimate small ship cruising experience in the South Pacific. Australian flagged, and staffed entirely by an Australian and New Zealand crew, Coral Discoverer is equipped with latest-technology navigation and communications equipment and is actively stabilised to ensure comfortable cruising in open seas.
72 guests Year Built: 2005 20 crew members Length: 207 feet Beam: 43 feet Draft: 10 feet Cruising Speed: 14 knots
Bridge Deck Located on the exclusive Bridge Deck close to the Lounge and Bridge, 5 spacious Bridge Deck staterooms are 195 square feet in size and feature picture windows for expansive ocean views, along with a sofa, desk, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding. Promenade Deck A Encircled by a full-ship promenade, 20 spacious Promenade Deck (Cat. A) staterooms are 195 square feet in size and feature picture windows for expansive ocean views, along with a sofa, desk, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding. Promenade Deck B Located in the bow of the ship and encircled by a full-ship promenade, two Promenade Deck (Cat. B) staterooms are 160 square feet in size and feature picture windows for expansive ocean views, along with a desk, telephone and Junior King bedding. Main Deck A Located close to the Dining Room, 6 spacious Main Deck (Cat. A) staterooms are 195 square feet in size and feature large, twin porthole windows for expansive ocean views, along with a desk, sofa, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding. Main Deck B Located close to the Dining Room, 6 spacious Main Deck (Cat. B) staterooms are 195 square feet in size and feature twin portholes for expansive ocean views, along with a desk, sofa, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
Prices for the New Zealand - Aotearoa Cruise aboard the Oceanic Discoverer are in Australian dollars. US conversion rates are based on the market conversion rate plus a 1% banking conversion fee of total amounts. All conversions will be made at time of payment. For today's exchange rate visit USD to AUD. To secure your reservation, a deposit of 10% of the fare is required at the time of booking. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. A $200 per person fee may be charged for any amendments not requiring a date change after booking is confirmed. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 60 days - forfeit your deposit
30 to 59 days - forfeit 50% of the fare
1 to 29 days - forfeit 100% of the fare
12 Breakfast, 12 Lunches, 12 Dinner
Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Entertainment, supervision or care of children is not provided. This itinerary is quite adventurous and therefore children aged above 12 years of age will enjoy the experience the most. Child rates available on application. For families of three onboard Oceanic Discoverer, the third person (child only) can be accommodated on the settee bed as there are not Pullman bunks in any staterooms. This is applicable in a Main Deck A or Main Deck B stateroom only.
Itinerary Notes
Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, National Park regulation or at the captain's discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.
Arrival & Departure
The New Zealand - Aotearoa 13-day cruise begins in and ends in either Auckland or Queenstown/Milford Sound. Boarding commences at 4:00pm in Auckland for a 5:00pm departure; you will need to organize a taxi or hotel transfer to the dock. The cruise concludes in Milford Sound at 8:00am and a courtesy coach transfer to Queenstown arrives at around 1:30pm. For the Milford Sound departures, join the chartered coach in Queenstown at approximately 7:30am for the scenic drive to Milford Sound and board Oceanic Discoverer in Milford Sound at 2:00pm for a 3:00pm departure. This cruise concludes in Auckland at 8am and guests will provide their own transfer to hotel or airport. In Auckland, Oceanic Discoverer departs from either Princes Wharf or Queens Wharf; notification will be provided of the exact wharf on guest documentation. Oceanic Discoverer departs from the Milford Sound Wharf in Milford Sound. A complimentary coach transfer from Queenstown to Milford Sound is available on departure day for the itinerary departing from Milford Sound. Disembarkation is after breakfast on final day at 8:00am. Please schedule flights accordingly.
Room Configuration
Single travellers will pay a single supplement fee of 50% and the rate is valid for all cabins type except the Bridge Deck.
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