32 Night Sydney To Papeete Tasman & Pacific Pearls Cruise

The capital of Western Samoa on the northern coast of Upolo Island in the Southern
Pacific.

A city of stunning natural beauty, Auckland blends the best of the modern cosmopolitan world with that of a Polynesian paradise. Nestled between two beautiful harbors, this marine playground offers breathtaking views and more than 1,000 bays and beaches. Shop the colorful Victorian Park Market or the charming boutiques of Parnell Village. Explore museums brimming with artifacts of the Maori culture. Or enjoy the natural splandor of the city, from English-style rose gardens to extinct volcanic sites. Popular landmarks are One Tree Hill and Mount Eden.

The ‘Bay of Islands’ was how Cook described the area two centuries ago, and the simplicity of his name masks the diversity of its charm.The subtleties of its attraction lie as much in the graceful fusion of sea with land as in the manoeuvres of Man – of Maori, whaler, missionary, and later, settler. The Bay, studded with over 150 islands, is a ‘drowned river system’, an area where the sea has invaded and drowned a number of river valleys. Its sheltered waters offer some of the finest boating and fishing to be found anywhere, and the menus of local restaurants reflect the abundance of marine life in the Bay.

Bora Bora is one of over 100 islands in the South Pacific. The people are a mix of Maori, Chinese and European, and have a unique, welcoming culture. One can experience turquoise blue waters, white sand beaches, as well as a heathly mix of culture and the arts. Excellent hiking, scuba diving, fishing, boating and more can also be easily found.

Burnie is a large port situated on Emu Bay, with cargo shipping being the main industry. Potatoes were a relatively large industry in Burnie, although tin mining took over, when tin was discovered in Waratah. Silver was also found at Rosebery and Zeehan, and so the Emu Bay Railway became very busy transporting all of these goods to Burnie. Unfortunately the railway is not open to passengers.

However, there are plenty of other things to keep you occupied in Burnie. There is spectacular scenery around Burnie with some beautiful waterfalls, including the Guide Falls. For views of the area head to the Fern Glade and Roundhill Lookouts. As well as admiring the views, nature lovers should also visit the Burnie Park and the Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens.

Panoramic views of twisting Otago Harbour await you in Dunedin, a Victoria enclave in the South Pacific. Steeped in history, the city has maintained the Scottish character of its founders, and has a rugged shoreline to match. The tranquility of the past is everywhere, from the oft mist-draped tower of Larnach Castle to the ancient English oaks of Glenfalloch Garden. The undulating volcanic landscape provides sanctuary to colonies of yellow-eyed penguin and royal albatross, the world’s largest sea bird.

Melbourne, (mèl´bern) city (1991 est. pop. 3,153,500), capital of Victoria, SE Australia, on Port Phillip Bay, at the mouth of the Yarra R. Australia’s second largest city, it is a commercial and industrial center with such manufactures as ships, automobiles, farm machinery, textiles, and electrical equipment. The city was settled in 1835 and named (1837) for the British prime minister, Lord Melbourne. It was the seat of the Australian federal government (1901-27). The population,
once primarily British, has changed since World War II with immigration from E and S Europe. Melbourne was the site of the 1956 Olympic games. The Melbourne Cup Race is run annually.

In this fertile region of vineyards, fruit orchard and sheep farms, Napier stands out elegantly as one of the loveliest cities in New Zealand. Completely rebuilt after the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake, it now boasts one of the most complete collections of Art Deco buildings opposite oceanfront Marine Parade. Nearby Cape Kidnappers is one of the world’s only mainland nesting area for the gannet offering sanctuary to 15,000 of the large sea birds.

Tahiti, (te-hê´tê) island (1988 pop. 115,820), 402 sq mi (1,041 sq km), S Pacific, in the Society Islands, French Polynesia. The capital is Papeete. It relies on tourism and produces vanilla, fruits, and copra. Settled by Polynesians (14th cent.), it was visited in the 18th century by Capt. James Cook and Lt. William Bligh. It became French in 1843. Gauguin painted his best-known works there.

Port Vila is the capital of Vanuatu and lies on the southwest coast of the island of Efate. Free of skyscraper office blacks, the sleepy capital is set within a magnificent natural harbour. It’s a charming potpourri of cultures, blending elements of Melanesian, English, French and Chinese tastes. Along the main street there are duty-free shops,
restaurants and handicraft galleries. Port Vila Market comes alive on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6am to 1.30pm. Wander through rows of tropical fruits, vegetables, flowers, shells, artifacts, coconut crabs and souvenir stalls. Savour the aroma of brewed coffee and freshly baked pastries tinged with the scent of blooming frangipani.

Within walking distance of the centre of town, a range of resorts offers a dozen different ways to cool off. Swim snorkel or scuba dive; try your hand at sailing, windsurfing or fishing.

When the Polynesian explorers discovered the island we know today as Raiatea, they named it “Havai’i” after their legendary ancestral home. Second only to Tahiti in size, Raiatea today is the administrative and trading center of the leeward islands. The principal “city” of Uturoa is a sleepy little water front town reminiscent of Papeete from years past. With the large protected lagoon around Raiatea and her delightful sister island of Tahaa the area has naturally become
one of the top locations for sailing, deep sea fishing and scuba diving.

The earth hisses, mud boils, geyers shoot violently into the air. Teeming with thermal wonders, Rotorua is one of the country’s most spectacular sites. The area is situated on a volcanic fault line and has been inhabited by the Maori since the 14th century. While most live in Western-style residences, they continue to use the thermal waters for everything from cooking traditional Hangi feast to heating and washing. Woodcarving is taught to young apprentices at Rotorua’s Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.

Suva, capital of Fiji, on Viti Levu.It is considered the most cosmopolitan city in the South Pacific. With a population of 160,000, there are high rise buildings and hotels that overlook the colonial buildings left over from when the British occupied the island.

On Cape Breton Island, it is not uncommon to find Gaelic spoken and to hear the plaintive call of bagpipes. For it is here that the Scots found a land that most resembled their own beautiful home. Follow the winding Cabot Trail around the coast of Cape Breton, one of the most dramatic drives in North America. On Bras d’Or lake, you may spot one of the 250 pairs of bald eagles nesting in the treetops. Visit the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, where the inventor spent his summers. Explore the star-shaped French fortress of Louisbourg, conquered by the British in 1760. Or sample the rugged life of the coal miner at the Miner’s Museum.

Curled up around its harbor, Wellington cascades down pine-clad hills stretching to the horizon. Antique timber homes in a rainbow of pastels cling to the wooded hillsides, and Victorian architecture lives comfortably beside skyscrapers.