Down Under: Australia and New Zealand

If sailing from Australia to New Zealand is

not on your travel agenda, high time to add it! Sea voyages are an ideal way to cover both countries with ease, efficiency and comfort.  We spent four nights pre cruise in multi cultural Sydney, a gastronomic epicenter of globally inspired foods: Pan Asian, Indian, German, Italian, French, plus seafood aplenty.

With our local guide, we toured every corner of the city. Like its cuisine, Sydney’s hospitality is diversely international. Staying at the W Hotel in Darling Harbour (exquisite!), dining & local cruises were steps away; The Rocks and Circular Cay, a mere 30min walk.

Things to do?  Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains or stay cityside and explore local parks by bike or foot. Sydney Zoo (wombats, koalas, kangaroos) and Aquarium are sensational. Board a Harbor or dinner cruise, climb Sydney Bridge (enthralling, highly recommend!), tour the Opera House, or just savor the scenery. Our visit serendipitously coincided with Australia Day ~

Viewing harbor festivities from atop Sydney Bridge is forever etched in our travel memory!

Time to board Celebrity EDGE, a cushy midsize ship (2918 passengers), outfitted with spacious staterooms, The Edge offered attractions for every age group – multiple pools, casino, talented entertainers, diverse and delicious dining, spa treatments, shopping, fitness center, room service. Our daily balcony breakfast was served hot and on time. Connecting rooms available for families. Suites categories up to Edge Villas have 24/7 dedicated butlers. Loved The Retreat, an ideal spot for those seeking a quieter atmosphere. Most unique feature: the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered café/dining platform (also used to board tenders) attached to the starboard side, designed to scale 13 stories, quite the WOW factor!

Departing Sydney, we enjoyed two days at sea, cruising Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds, viewing magnificent fjords.

Ports of call included friendly Dunedin, picturesque Christchurch (fun gondola ride), windy Wellington (superb bike excursion), then onto adventurous Picton, visiting 3 wineries by bike with lunch at the last, delightful!

Onto Tauranga, then Napier before docking in Auckland. New Zealand is a nature lover’s paradise: fjords, natural pools, abundant land and marine wildlife, ecofriendly, with seemingly endless trails for walkers, cyclists, hikers, and outrageously delicious locally sourced cuisine.

This was one of the most adventurous sailings we’ve ever enjoyed. Overall, Celebrity Edge exceeded expectations on every level.

Post cruise: A two night stay in Auckland simply wasn’t enough. After a whirlwind tour of the city highlights, we walked the entire harbor front along docked cruise ships. Scores of restaurants, shops, popup markets, dinner and day cruise options, even a 12 meter yacht experience were all within reach. New Zealand wines are simply divine ~ mostly white varietals producing delicious sauvignon blancs to rosés.

Logistics: Crossing the international date line, flight arrivals are +2 (2 days hence from the US to Sydney or Auckland), same day arrival back in the US. A minimum 2 – 3 week stay is essential for ample touring time and full enjoyment. E Visas required: Australia & New Zealand, easy online process. Business class strongly advised for 13-15 hour flights from San Fran or LAX, plus transcontinental connections.

Suggestion: United Polaris with nonstops from San Francisco to Sydney and Auckland. Excellent onboard service, global cuisine offerings, comfy lie flat beds. United has 6 Polaris lounges in the US (SFO, LAX, Dulles, Chicago, Newark, Houston) with private dining, relaxation areas, quiet work spaces. SFO even has an outdoor fresh air terrace!

Most cruise lines post worldwide availability 2 years plus in advance; South Pacific cruises are featured Dec – March when it’s Summer Down Under. Get onboard!