Cruise for first-time visitors?

[liberty176]

We are a family of four (2 adults, 10 yo, 7 yo), who have never been to either Australia or NZ.

 

We are in very early planning stages and are considering a cruise for Dec 24/Jan 25.

 

1) would you take a cruise if you've never been to either of these countries, or would you stick with your own land tour?

2) anything to consider weather or crowd wise this time of year?  I know it can be super hot in the summer in Australia, but seems like NZ is quite different?

 

Thanks!

[beatleman]

6 hours ago, liberty176 said:

We are a family of four (2 adults, 10 yo, 7 yo), who have never been to either Australia or NZ.

 

We are in very early planning stages and are considering a cruise for Dec 24/Jan 25.

 

1) would you take a cruise if you've never been to either of these countries, or would you stick with your own land tour?

2) anything to consider weather or crowd wise this time of year?  I know it can be super hot in the summer in Australia, but seems like NZ is quite different?

 

Thanks!

This is School Holiday period until the end of Jan,also a lot of the workforce are on holidays; henceforth prices are at peak rates. Yes most parts of Australia will be warm around 25 to30c. Cruising say Sydney to NZ returning to Sydney and doing some sightseeing on land before going home could be an option. Plan out what you want to see and we can help you further plan your trip. Note that OZ is a large land mass so its not easy to see every thing in one visit. Hope this helps.

[SinbadThePorter]

Beatleman is right, Dec/Jan is peak holiday period in Australia and NZ. If you can try for Feb or March.

 

Australia is hotter and (generally) drier than NZ. Especially in summer. If you spend a few weeks in Australia along the coast in summer you are very likely to have two or three days in the high 30s (high 90s F). Inland Australia you will see temperatures well above 40C. In NZ that doesn't happen. A hot day there is 25C (high 70s F). Always be prepared for cold days in NZ.

 

My suggestion would be to take the easy option and do a cruise to NZ from Sydney. Spend some time in Sydney visiting the sights and then jump on a ship which takes in the major NZ ports. In NZ try to make sure you get to see Milford Sound and the Bay of Islands.

 

Since the sea days spent crossing the Tasman Sea from Sydney to NZ are not very exciting, you can save some travel time by catching a cruise that starts in Sydney and ends in Auckland, or vice versa. Fly into one city and out the other, while spending a few days at both.

[liberty176]

Thanks.  The whole reason we started cruising for Xmas/New years is that everything is so crowded that time of year, and at least the cruise ship is meant to serve a certain capacity.

 

Between work and kids in school, our only options will be to visit over this period or in late June/July, so we won't be able to go at really off-peak time for many years.  

 

But it sounds like perhaps Sydney + NZ is doable, and save more parts of Aus for the future.

[Over from NZ]

How much time have you got? If it were me.. I would do a cruise along the coast of Australia out of Sydney and then fly to the South Island of NZ and do that by land. As pointed out.. Australia is huge.. but a lot of that is desert. NZ is much smaller.. but arguably has more to see. Australia will be hot. NZ probably will too.. but it will be all over the place! Mid of the South Island - we had 34 degrees (93 fahrenheit) the other day followed by a 32 yesterday and expecting another 30+ tomorrow.. but it can just as easily throw you a cold day following that and the evenings are cooler. Expect all seasons in NZ. If time is an issue.. cruise Australia.. allow a few (as many as you can) days in Australia at the start and end of your cruise.. and come back to NZ another day.