12 Night Cruise sailing from Bluff to Auckland aboard Heritage Adventurer. Hotel stay pre-cruise in Queenstown.

Cruise Overview:

With the 9th longest coastline in the world measuring some 15,000 kilometres you will wind through narrow fiords, circumnavigate small islands, explore secluded bays, and visit quaint seaside towns. Bordering the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and once part of Gondwanaland, New Zealand has a fascinating natural and cultural history from its first Polynesian arrivals through European settlement, early sealing and whaling and world leading conservation efforts. Places of interest include the sunken valleys and towering mountains of Fiordland’s Doubtful and Dusky Sounds; the volcanoes, hot springs and geysers of Rotorua; the ‘World’s Coolest Little Capital’ (Wellington); the scenic playground of the Marlborough Sounds; the Scottish city of Dunedin; the wine-lover’s paradise of Nelson; the iconic wildlife havens of Stewart Island and nearby predator free Ulva Island; and many Kiwi towns along the way including New Zealand’s Art Deco capital the city of Napier, and the …
READ MORE

With the 9th longest coastline in the world measuring some 15,000 kilometres you will wind through narrow fiords, circumnavigate small islands, explore secluded bays, and visit quaint seaside towns. Bordering the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and once part of Gondwanaland, New Zealand has a fascinating natural and cultural history from its first Polynesian arrivals through European settlement, early sealing and whaling and world leading conservation efforts. Places of interest include the sunken valleys and towering mountains of Fiordland’s Doubtful and Dusky Sounds; the volcanoes, hot springs and geysers of Rotorua; the ‘World’s Coolest Little Capital’ (Wellington); the scenic playground of the Marlborough Sounds; the Scottish city of Dunedin; the wine-lover’s paradise of Nelson; the iconic wildlife havens of Stewart Island and nearby predator free Ulva Island; and many Kiwi towns along the way including New Zealand’s Art Deco capital the city of Napier, and the French-infused village of Akaroa.

Those looking for a thrilling exploration filled with wildlife encounters will enjoy observations of dolphins and whale watching, exceptional birdwatching including a number of rare endemic species and an albatross colony on the Otago Peninsula. Those with a taste for gourmet delights will enjoy experiencing some of New Zealand’s award winning cuisine including the wines of Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson and the Hawke’s Bay, and cheese in Akaroa.

Our vessel Heritage Adventurer is built for exploring regions like New Zealand’s intricate coastline, navigating through fiords, cruising up harbours, and allowing for Zodiac cruising to remote and isolated bays. We invite you to join us on this in-depth exploration of New Zealand.

Heritage Adventurer is a true pioneering expedition vessel of exceptional pedigree. Often referred to as the 'Grande Dame of Polar Exploration' due to her celebrated history and refined design, she was purposebuilt for adventure in 1991 at Finland's Rauma shipyard and specifically designed for Polar exploration.

Setting a peerless standard in authentic expedition travel, Heritage Adventurer (formerly known as MS Hanseatic) combines the highest passenger ship iceclass rating (1A Super) with an impressive history of Polar exploration. Having held records for the most northern and southern Arctic and Antarctic navigations, and for traversing both the Northwest and Northeast Passages, makes Heritage Adventurer perfect for pioneering New Zealand-based Heritage Expeditions signature experiential expedition travel.

Originally designed to accommodate 184 guests, Heritage Adventurer now welcomes just 140 expeditioners ensuring spacious, stylish and comfortable voyages, while a fleet of 14 Zodiacs ensures all guests are able to maximise their expedition adventure. Heritage Adventurer proudly continues our traditions of exceptional, personalised expedition experiences as Heritage Expeditions flagship.

Every year Heritage Expeditions voyages with small groups of between 18 and 140 intrepid travellers to some of the most unique and remote islands, coasts and shorelines on earth aboard their expedition ships Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Explorer on voyages ranging from 5 – 28 days.

Founded in 1985 by the Russ family in Christchurch, New Zealand, Heritage Expeditions is still proudly family-owned and operated. Contributing to conservation through experiential learning and providing funds for research and management, they are pioneers in environmentally-responsible expedition travel offering intimate group excursions to Antarctica and the Subantarctic Islands, through the Pacific, and around New Zealand on their purpose built expedition ships.

Each expedition is meticulously planned and led by a team of botanists, ornithologists, naturalists and experts in their field, ensuring guests maximise every opportunity to learn, discover and experience as much as possible, while minimising the impact of their visit and returning as ambassadors for these very special places.