Day 6 Christchurch
Arrive 8am, Depart 6pm
Travel down the tree-lined Avon Rive, tour English-style gardens and drive past a Gothic cathedral. No, it's not England - it's Christchurch, New Zealand's most English city. The colonists who settled Christchurch transformed the treeless landscape by planting European trees and setting aside vast tracts as parkland. Today, parks dot the city, giving Christchurch an old-world ambience that belies its sophisticated style. Settled under the auspices of the Church of England in the mid-1800s, Christchurch is a planned city that flourished with New Zealand's agriculture and sheep industry. At the heart of the city lies Christchurch Cathedral, a Gothic cathedral built of local stone. The port of Lyttelton serves as your gateway to Christchurch.
Day 7 Wellington
Arrive 8am, Depart 6pm
New Zealand's capital offers stunning views of forested peninsulas, dramatic cliff-side homes and fine Victorian buildings. Settled in 1840 by the London-based New Zealand Company, "wonderful, windy Wellington" is frequently buffeted by bracing winds funnelling through Cook Strait. The sophisticated metropolis boasts museums, winding streets and even a cable car. No wonder many travellers compare it to San Francisco. Despite its steep hills, Wellington is explored easily on foot. Kelburn Cable Car, stairways and footpaths climb the slopes from the city centre.
Day 8 At Sea
Day 9 Tauranga
Arrive 6:45am, Depart 6pm
New Zealand's natural bounty is always on display at the Bay of Plenty. It was Captain James Cook who in 1769 aptly named this body of water, thanks to the prosperous Maori villages of the region. Tauranga, the chief city, is a bustling port, an agricultural and timber centre and a popular seaside resort. Tauranga is also the gateway to Rotorua - a geothermal wonderland that is the heart of Maori culture. A 90-minute drive from Tauranga, Rotorua is New Zealand's primary tourist attraction. Your ship docks near the foot of Mt. Maunganui, which rises 761 feet above the Bay. Across the harbour, Tauranga offers scenic tidal beaches at Omokoroa and Pahoia. The region boasts fine beaches, big-game fishing, thermal springs and seaside resorts.