New Zealand Australia excursion recommendations

[sammyjoanne]

Hi we often use the princess shore excursions on previous cruises and would like to do so again.

We are going next March on the Royal and stopping at the following destinations:

Tauranga

Wellington

Dunedin

Hobart

Melbourne

Sydney

 

Does anyone have any recommendations that you though was really good and worth booking?

 

[nini]

You will have find much more assistance and ideas if you condo the Ports of Call/ Australia and New Zealand board.

Also, join your Roll Call and you will most likely find excursion discussions and ideas there.

Have a great time!

[icat2000]

Half of those cities you can do the stops yourself.

 

Wellington both the shuttle stop 1 is near the cable car stop and stop 2 is near Te Papa. 

 

Melbourne - very easy city to get around all the trams in the CBD are free. Just need tram Myki from port to the CBD or wing it.

 

Sydney - another city that easy to get around if you look up the transportation options.

 

Tauranga - little bit different if you want to go to the Rotorua or Hobbiton Village then you need a tour.

 

Dunedin - You can catch ship shuttle into town. Or there a couple of excurisions. Or you can catch the local bus 😄

 

Other than that you really should post your question on the NZ/Australia forum they be able to expand easily on what I have. 

 

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

Since OP is asking for advice about Princess shore excursions, this thread is properly posted in the Princess forum.  OP can look further in the Australia & New Zealand forum, but please reply in this thread only about your experience with Princess shore excursions in these ports.

[Kay S]

One of those has a trip to Christchurch.  Wellington?  Anyway, Christchurch (NZ) is fascinating because of the earthquake damage.  I don't know if they have rebuilt everything yet.  One interesting thing was the "mall" made out of shipping containers since the buildings were all knocked down.

[capriccio]

11 hours ago, Kay S said:

One of those has a trip to Christchurch.  Wellington?  Anyway, Christchurch (NZ) is fascinating because of the earthquake damage.  I don't know if they have rebuilt everything yet.  One interesting thing was the "mall" made out of shipping containers since the buildings were all knocked down.

We were in Christchurch at the end of March.  There is still evidence of the 2011 earthquake throughout the downtown.  Construction is on going but they still have a long way to go.  That said, it is a lovely, lively city with a great Botanic Garden.

[sammyjoanne]

Hi, there is no Christchurch in the schedule im afraid. We are going to Wellington though.  https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/details/?voyageCode=1406

We would much rather use the princess excursions. Not quite comfortable going on our lonesome just yet in case we miss the ship lol

[Kay S]

1 hour ago, sammyjoanne said:

Hi, there is no Christchurch in the schedule im afraid. We are going to Wellington though.  https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/details/?voyageCode=1406

We would much rather use the princess excursions. Not quite comfortable going on our lonesome just yet in case we miss the ship lol

We took a Princess excursion from Wellington to Christchurch.  Bus ride.  Beautiful scenery.

[John99]

@sammyjoanne      Greetings to our friends from Nottingham UK. 

I see you posted on the Royal Princess Roll Call for March 2, 2024.  You may get some good ideas there.  Also, besides this thread - how about using the Ports of Call Board. 

 

Ports of Call

Australia & New Zealand

You can post your question(s) there also.—

 

The Australia & New Zealand Board has page after page of comments, questions, ideas etc.  Plus info on:  Independent tours, rental car, shuttle service, hotels, etc.   Check it out.  John         

[sammyjoanne]

thank you John 99 🙂

[PescadoAmarillo]

We’ve done that itinerary several times and I’ve blogged about our visits here. 
 

Yellow Fish Cruises blog

Just click on the labels on the right side to go to the posts about each of the ports you’ll be visiting. 

[Steelers36]

5 hours ago, sammyjoanne said:

Hi, there is no Christchurch in the schedule im afraid. We are going to Wellington though.  https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/details/?voyageCode=1406

We would much rather use the princess excursions. Not quite comfortable going on our lonesome just yet in case we miss the ship lol

Appreciate that "fear" and the cruise lines love to pump it up in order to direct guests to their excursions.  The reputable port tour operators never miss the ship either as their livelihood depends on it.  What does happen 9 times out of 10 is one or more Princess tour buses are late back and the ship has to wait for them.

[sammyjoanne]

17 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Appreciate that "fear" and the cruise lines love to pump it up in order to direct guests to their excursions.  The reputable port tour operators never miss the ship either as their livelihood depends on it.  What does happen 9 times out of 10 is one or more Princess tour buses are late back and the ship has to wait for them.

Thats is true, a bus was back late in costa rica and it was a princess one so they had to wait. Its one of the reasons why we choose to go with them directly. and they seem pretty organised on the couple of ships ive been on.