Sydney always lives up to great expectations. When you are on one of our Sydney cruises, the first glimpse of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House will stay in your memory forever. One of the worlds great cities and harbours, Sydney always lives up to great expectations. When you are on one of our Sydney cruises, the first glimpse of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House will stay in your memory forever. Even before the 2000 Olympics, cruises to Sydney had much to offer – hosting the games just made the city even better with improved facilities and extra dining and entertainment venues all round. From the waterside restaurants fringing the historic Rocks district, the Sydney cruise tour takes you around Sydney Cove past the Circular Quay ferry terminal to that remarkable Opera House and the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens.

Warm-hearted, gracious, canny Dunedin deserves its title of ‘Edinburgh of the South and as you wander around his captivating city, youll discover Scottish influences throughout, including a statue of the famous poet Robert Burns. Admire valuable collections at the public Art Gallery, stroll around the Botanical Gardens and visit New Zealands only true castle ‘Larnach Castle. Surrounded by eco-tourism and offering views of towering mountains and native forest youll find plenty of rare wild life here.

Striking architecture, both old and new, distinguishes New Zealands capital city, Wellington, which sits on the shores of a beautiful harbour surrounded by a natural amphitheatre of wooded hills. While here, visit Te Papa, New Zealands bold and innovative national museum. Take a tour of the Parliament buildings. Admire old St Pauls Cathedral with its gothic style church. Take a cable car ride to Kelburn for sweeping views of the city and enjoy a stroll back down through the Botanical Gardens. For those of you who are feeling energetic, stretch your legs with a climb to the top of Mount Victoria, for a 360-degree panorama of Wellington.

In 1931 Napier was dramatically changed by an earthquake. The waterlocked city suddenly grew in size and, as a result of the rebuilding, many of the buildings here today are art deco in style. Soft pastels, zigzags, geometric shapes and rising suns – a walk around the town takes you on a journey through the aesthetics of this era. Nature has been kind to Hawke’s Bay, putting the region at the forefront of New Zealand’s wine industry.

New Zealands biggest city and major cruise port, Auckland, sits between the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea, which is how it came to host the Americas Cup twice – in 1999 and 2002 – attracting investment to transform the harbour side into a superb meeting and eating place which all Auckland cruise visitors can now appreciate. The Viaduct Harbour area now boasts outdoor restaurants ideally placed to view the hundreds of yachts attracted to this icon of sailing success. This City of Sails is also home to New Zealands impressive National Maritime Museum which charts the nations seafaring history. Harbour ferries offer a great way of viewing the city, either by crossing the bay to old-established Devonport or under the harbour bridge to the suburb of Birkenhead. Otherwise cruises to Auckland take in all the sights from the revolving restaurant at the top of the Sky Tower, the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere at 328 metres. On Auckland cruises, shore excursions can take you to the remarkable geysers and mud pools of Rotorua.

Tauranga is a Maori name, translated as resting place for canoes. Situated on a narrow peninsula and surrounded by water, it lies within the Bay of Plenty, an area with beautiful natural harbours and endless beaches. Bars and restaurants are dotted along The Strand, an area ideal for strolling around. At Rotorua listen to the pulsating rhythms of a traditional Maori Haka and see the seething, bubbling cauldron of geysers and mud pits.

Situated on the western side of Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji, Lautoka is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on its western side and gold sugar cane together with green pine trees on its eastern side. Whilst here, you can pick up some Christmas gifts at one of the prime shopping areas in the town of Nadi or simply enjoy the scenery.

Suva is the capital of Fiji and is a beautiful harbour city. Its tall modern buildings are beautifully balanced by rich traditional colonial architecture. Major landmarks include the Thurston Gardens, next to Government House, the official residence of the President of the Republic of Fiji and the museum, recognised as one of the best of its type in the South Pacific. Not to be missed are the municipal markets near the waterfront, which come to life on a Saturday morning

Hula dancing, surfing and magnificent sandy beaches all spring to mind when you hear the name ‘Hawaii. Honolulu is Hawaiis capital, situated on the island of Oahu. Downtown you will discover the only royal palace on American soil. Spend a day lounging on Waikiki beach or relive a dramatic moment in history with a visit to Pearl Harbour and the Arizona Memorial.

Hula dancing, surfing and magnificent sandy beaches all spring to mind when you hear the name ‘Hawaii. Honolulu is Hawaiis capital, situated on the island of Oahu. Downtown you will discover the only royal palace on American soil. Spend a day lounging on Waikiki beach or relive a dramatic moment in history with a visit to Pearl Harbour and the Arizona Memorial.

Cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco is one of the worlds greatest travel experiences for it acts as gateway to a fascinating city set across dozens ofhills overlooking the bay. The hippies are long gone but San Franciscos scenic beauty, laid-back ambience and more than 3,000 restaurants make it a joy to visit. The famous Fishermans Wharf harbourfront restaurant and multi-coloured boats complex, where seals happily sunbathe on its wooden decking, faces out towards the former island prison of Alcatraz which is now a major tourist attraction just like the citys colourful Chinatown district and upmarket shopping centre in Union Square. And no visit to San Francisco would be complete without a trip on the citys 130-year-old tram system carrying you up and down the improbably steep streets made famous by that stomach-churning Steve McQueen car chase in the movie Bullitt. From the city, you can also visit the pretty resorts of Sausalito and Monterey.

Cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco is one of the worlds greatest travel experiences for it acts as gateway to a fascinating city set across dozens ofhills overlooking the bay. The hippies are long gone but San Franciscos scenic beauty, laid-back ambience and more than 3,000 restaurants make it a joy to visit. The famous Fishermans Wharf harbourfront restaurant and multi-coloured boats complex, where seals happily sunbathe on its wooden decking, faces out towards the former island prison of Alcatraz which is now a major tourist attraction just like the citys colourful Chinatown district and upmarket shopping centre in Union Square. And no visit to San Francisco would be complete without a trip on the citys 130-year-old tram system carrying you up and down the improbably steep streets made famous by that stomach-churning Steve McQueen car chase in the movie Bullitt. From the city, you can also visit the pretty resorts of Sausalito and Monterey.