Highlights of South Pacific and New Zealand

A stopover in the ports of the South Pacific and New Zealand is an open invitation to relax in luxurious natural surrounds. Step off the ship and into a world of natural splendour and beauty.

A few of the highlights of cruising the South Pacific and New Zealand

• A popular tourist destination, the port of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands is an ideal stopover for cruise liners. A stay on the palm-fringed island offers passengers the chance to unwind on pristine beaches and swim in crystal clear waters lapping at coral reefs. Aitutaki's famed blue lagoon is surrounded by lush natural rainforests and waterfalls. Stay for a day in one of the Cook Islands' most beautiful settings and you won't want to leave!
• Regarded as New Zealand's most popular tourist attraction, Milford Sound is a natural fjord surrounded by towering mountainsides. A stopover in Milford Sound means cruise passengers can enjoy some of New Zealand's most spectacular natural scenery, including a series of year-round cascading waterfalls. Boating enthusiasts can even extend their nautical pleasures by taking one of the popular boat tours around the sound.
• Sun-soaked Fiji entices visitors with its coconut-lined beaches and relaxed island lifestyle. Cruise passengers can disembark at the trendy Port Denarau, which boasts a thriving commercial district and is the gateway to the picturesque Mamanuca Islands. Take a trip out to the islands to enjoy some of the South Pacific's best scuba diving and snorkelling, before heading back to Port Denarau to unwind at some of Fiji's best restaurants and nightspots.

Weather

Tahiti, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia experience warmer and rainier months from November to April, the rest of the year is pleasant and drier. New Zealand cruises operate in summer so days are pleasant but it is cooler round the bottom of the South Island and warm clothes and rain gear are useful.