Duration
14 Nights
Journey Type
Cruise only (Please call for flight options)
Ports
12 Ports
3 December
Setting sail from Dunedin
It's an odd concept - Edinburgh, but on New Zealand's South Island. Visitors are amazed by the extraordinary Victorian and Edwardian buildings dating back to the gold rush, which bring to mind the city's Scottish roots - not least when the sound of the pipes echoes through the streets. Of course the region was inhabited by Māori long prior to the European arrival, so a rich history abounds. Meanwhile outside the city, the extraordinary natural beauty and wildlife of the Otago peninsula are on hand, home to New Zealand fur seals, Hooker's sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins, and the only mainland royal albatross colony in the world.
Our tip
Rail buffs will love the Taieri Gorge railway, the perfect way to see the fantastic scenery.
4 December
New Zealand: Ulva Island
In 1997 Ulva Island was declared free of rats following a successful eradication programme, and the island is now a sanctuary for bird species that have become extinct on the New Zealand mainland, including the Stewart Island Weka, South Island saddleback, yellowhead and Stewart Island robin.
5 December
New Zealand: Dusky Sound
Dusky Sound is one of the most isolated fjords in Fiordland National Park, situated on the southwest coast of the South Island. In the rainy season hundreds of waterfalls cascade down the sheer cliffs, and you may spot wildlife including fur seals, dolphins and the rare Fiordland crested penguin.
5 December
New Zealand: Doubtful Sound
6 December
New Zealand: Milford Sound
Milford Sound is New Zealand’s most iconic sight, a breathtaking fjord crowned by the soaring Mitre Peak. Despite a remote location, on the western coast of the South Island, the fjord attracts thousands of visitors every year, such is the beauty of this raw and unspoilt landscape.
7 December
New Zealand: Snares Islands
The Snares Islands are the northernmost of New Zealand’s subantarctic islands, renowned for their incredible birdlife. Endemic species include the Snares penguin, Snares snipe and Snares tomtit, and some three million sooty shearwaters come here to breed during the austral summer.
8 December
New Zealand: Enderby Island
Enderby Island is part of the Auckland Islands archipelago, a place where native flora and fauna are flourishing following a successful programme to eradicate invasive species in the 1990s. The island is an important habitat for the rare yellow-eyed penguin, and the main breeding location for the New Zealand sea lion.
8 December
New Zealand: Musgrave Inlet (Auckland Islands)
9 December
At sea
10-11 December
Australia: Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies far to the south of mainland Australia, a bizarrely shaped subantarctic island that is home to unique flora and spectacular wildlife. The island is best known for its huge penguin rookeries, with thousands upon thousands of royal, king, southern rockhopper and gentoo penguins.
12 December
At sea
13 December
New Zealand: Campbell Island
Campbell Island is one of the most southerly of New Zealand’s subantarctic islands, a windswept and seemingly inhospitable place that sustains a surprising diversity of large, colourful plants known as ‘megaherbs’. The island is also home to six different species of albatross and three species of penguin.
14 December
At sea
15 December
New Zealand: Antipodes Islands
The Antipodes Islands are a group of remote and inhospitable volcanic islands in New Zealand’s subantarctic waters, home to rare bird species including the Antipodes parakeet, Reischek’s parakeet, erect-crested penguin, Antipodes snipe and the huge Antipodes wandering albatross.
16 December
At sea
17 December
Arriving in Dunedin
Don't miss
Larnach Castle rises high above the harbour – wonderful views, and great gardens and grounds too, the best place for high tea!
Your home from home
What we love
These chic sisters are amongst the most stylish ships at sea, with muted natural tones, minimalist interiors and playful splashes of colour. The accommodation is flexible, with the option to combine staterooms and create expansive suites, while the restaurants deliver the sort of outstanding gastronomic experience that you would expect from a French flag cruise line.
Capacity | 264 Guests (Le Boréal, Le Soléal & L'Austral) / 244 Guests (Le Lyrial) |
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Crew | 140 Staff |
Style | Refined with a wonderful mix of a modern super yacht and nautical tradition, all with a French flair. |
Inclusions |
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Tailor-make your trip
Our favourite hotel near Dunedin
Up the coast at Oamaru, the charming Pen-y-bryn Lodge is a heritage homestead - and perfectly placed to visit the blue penguins!
Explore the South Island
Visit the Catlins Coastal Rain Forest and Curio Bay – next stop Antarctica!