Incomparable days of exploration await you where the millennia have crafted volcanoes and mountains, fjords and beaches. For many European settlers, Lyttelton was the first harbour they saw in New Zealand. And the same goes for you. The optional pre-cruise programme in Christchurch and the New Zealand Alps will get you in the mood for your cruise before the HANSEATIC spirit begins its route on the South Island. Would you have expected to find a UNESCO City of Literature at the “end of the world”?

From Port Chalmers, explore Dunedin’s Writers’ Walk with quotes on plaques or its Street Art Trail. The Otago Peninsula* is an ornithologist’s paradise, home to southern royal albatrosses and yellow-eyed penguins.

The explorer in you will also take flight in the mountainous national park on Stewart Island. A hike to Ackers Point* takes you through dense, towering forests, crowned with impressive views of Halfmoon Bay. If you’re lucky, you might spot sooty shearwaters, little penguins and seals on a boat trip through Paterson Inlet*, a bay spanning around 100 km² (39 mi.²).

The HANSEATIC spirit will take plenty of time to cruise through Milford Sound, one of the world’s most magnificent nature reserves. Covered in rainforests, the escarpments rise more than 1,100 m (3,609 ft) out of the water as fog floats between the mountain peaks. Enjoy spectacular panoramas from the many open deck spaces.

The most beautiful facets of nature will also be revealed in Kaiteriteri on a hike in Abel Tasman National Park*. Its picturesque profile is shaped by rainforests and craggy granite cliffs, divine bays and fine sandy beaches, which you can explore on an alternative coastal experience with kayaks*.

The North Island alternates between famous and barely known locations. New Plymouth welcomes you with its vibrant art scene. Rising above the rainforest and meadows, the natural masterpiece of Mount Taranaki* is the ideal starting point for a hike.

Your small expedition ship will be in its element as it cruises in Marlborough Sounds. As you negotiate this labyrinth of waterways and peninsulas, the deck tour at the bow and the glass balconies will become your front-row seats for the natural spectacle of broad mountain ranges and dense coastal vegetation. New Zealand’s compact capital, surrounded by the harbour and green hills, shows how humankind is dwarfed by the scale of the natural world.

A culinary tour of Wellington* is an unusual way to explore and sample specialities such as pavlova. Gain insights into the native bird life of the kakas and takahe in the Kapiti Island Nature Reserve*.

From the small coastal suburb of Mount Maunganui, Rotorua, New Zealand’s thermal region* demonstrates the power of the earth’s core. Bubbling pools, steaming fissures and colourful lakes – a truly cinematic backdrop. Talking of cinema, an alternative scenic tour to The Shire* takes you to the home of the Hobbits. New Zealand’s only active volcanic island seems like another piece of Tolkien’s imagination on a helicopter flight over White Island*.

Dramatic nature gives way to the Mediterranean charm of Waiheke Island. Explore its idyllic beaches and vineyards.

Auckland reveals New Zealand’s urban side. The HANSEATIC spirit will stay here overnight so that you can take a relaxing evening stroll through the “City of Sails”. New day, new impressions: whether you opt for “pure nature” around Auckland* or climb the Harbour Bridge*, remarkable outdoor activities are guaranteed.

The Bay of Islands will help you to understand New Zealanders’ close connection with the sea. Small subtropical islands with white beaches in the turquoise water create an amazing labyrinth. There are few more thrilling ways to explore this island realm than a helicopter flight* or a kayak tour through the mangroves*. 

Yearning for another insider’s tip? Then you can look forward to finishing your cruise on a remote gem from Australia’s treasure chest. Become one of the few people to have travelled to Norfolk Island on a small expedition ship on the way to New Caledonia. Bays, green meadows and steep cliffs: if the weather permits a landing, you can bring your many experiences to a picturesque conclusion.