14 nætter fra Sydney med Noordam

Tag “Down Under” til en af de mest befolkede byer i Australien: Sydney. Med solens varme stråler og skønne klima som en del af pakken, bør et af dine første besøg være ved den ikoniske bygning, Sydney Opera House, der er et fremtrædende kendetegn ved byens kendte skyline. Udforsk gadernes mange muligheder for shopping, kulinariske oplevelser og se den imponerende arkitektur og de ældre bygninger Parliament House, Sydney Town Hall og Australian Museum.Har du brug for en tur væk fra byen, kan du hoppe på en båd til Manly Beach, hvor du kan nyde lange sandstrande og turkis vand.

Melbourne is consistently voted one of the world‘s most livable cities—and for good reason. This is Australia’s cosmopolitan heart with cutting-edge art and architecture, historic galleries, attractions and museums, plus a dizzying range of restaurants, bistros, markets and bars. It‘s renowned for its sporting culture, home to the esteemed Melbourne Cricket Ground and Australian rules football teams. The famous laneways of Melbourne bustle with hidden bars and eateries, while myriad beaches and parks allow for the ultimate outdoor lifestyle and active things to do. It’s a melting pot of cultures and a city of gourmands who demand excellent food and find it everywhere—from modern Australian cuisine and delicious Asian fusion fare to low-key cafés serving the best coffee you’ve ever tasted. If you want to leave the city, Melbourne is the gateway to Victoria‘s world-class wineries and spectacular coastline sights. Visit the famous penguins at nearby Phillip Island or feast on local produce in the picture-perfect Yarra Valley. Wherever you go in and around Melbourne, you’ll be sure to understand why so many choose to call this beautiful corner of the world home.

Hobart giver dig adgang til Mount Wellington og dets utroligt smukke omgivelser. Derfra kan man se ud over den travle havn, hvor der ligger yachts fra hele verden. Salamanca Arts Centre udstiller også regionens utrolige illustrationer, herunder nogle fantastiske aboriginalske værker. Hvis du leder efter noget mindre formelt, så kan du blot vandre omkring i gaderne og lytte til gademusikanter eller tage en lille pause på en pub og prøve de lokale vine.

Milford Sound, or Piopiotahi (its name in Maori), sits on the west coast of New Zealand‘s South Island and was first called the Eighth Wonder of the World by none other than Rudyard Kipling, who had seen some pretty wonderful places. As you sail up the 15-kilometer-long (nine-mile-long) sound, with soaring snow-topped peaks looming above—the tallest reaches an altitude of 1,517 meters (4,977 feet)—you‘ll understand Kipling‘s enthusiasm. Although it is called a sound, it is technically a fjord—a narrow inlet created by glacial erosion over thousands of years. While its geological history is long, its human history is not. It is believed that the Maori first explored the sound, and the rest of the area that is now part of Fiordland National Park, around 1,000 years ago; Captain Cook followed in 1770. But neither Maori nor Europeans created permanent settlements of any significance, and the land was pristine when Fiordland National Park, New Zealand‘s largest national park, was established in 1952. While many walking trails cross the park, the most breathtaking views are arguably those from the water, with the sheer rock faces looming above your ship as you sail through this majestic landscape.

Fiordland National Park, der blev oprettet i 1952, har nu en størrelse på over 1,2 millioner hektarer og omfatter bjerge, søer, fjorde og regnskove. Området består af et meget diverst udvalg af flora og fauna, der eksisterer forholdsvis i isolation, hvilket har har gjort at området indbefatter planter og dyr, der er helt særegne for dette område.

Much of New Zealand feels like England, by way of Polynesia. There are a few exceptions, though, such as the town of Akaroa, a former French settlement, and the distinctly Scottish city of Dunedin, named after the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh. After Dunedin was founded in 1848, city surveyor Charles Kettle attempted to impose Edinburgh‘s New Town grid plan on the growing city. But the Otago Peninsula‘s hilly landscape proved challenging—for evidence, note that Dunedin has one of the world‘s steepest streets (Baldwin Street). The volcanic remnants around the harbor make for a dramatic backdrop. Dunedin‘s prominence during the gold rush in the late 19th century resulted in many grand Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Thanks to the beautiful University of Otago (the country‘s oldest), there‘s a large student population to keep the city vibrant and modern. But Dunedin‘s heritage is always proudly on display: The magnificent Dunedin Railway Station and Larnach Castle have been restored to their full glory, and the fascinating Toitu Otago Settlers Museum provides a glimpse into the lives of early residents. Outside the city, the Otago Peninsula is lined with scenic beaches and home to rare birdlife like the royal albatross and yellow-eyed penguin.

Byen nær havet, Picton, kommer til at være dit udgangspunkt for dagens udforskning af det smukke landskab, de uberørte vande og dyrelivet ved Marlborough Sounds. Tag en kort køretur til det solrige Blenheim, der er hjertet af Marlboroughs vinregion.

Wellington er hovedstaden i New Zealand. Byen ligger på sydspidsen af den nordlige ø, og er New Zealands andenstørste by. Wellington er en by med både moderne og historisk arkitektur, smukke sandstrande og mange spændende attraktioner, og er derfor fantastisk til både solbadere og dem der gerne vil opleve storbyens liv.

Napier oplevede i 1931 et massivt jordskælv, der gjorde at en stor del af byen skulle genopbygges. Dette har resulteret i en del nye bygninger, der afspejler nye arkitektonisk stilarter, herunder Stripped Classical, Spanish Mission og Art Deco. Udover at sidstnævnte er ret populært, så er det desuden muligt at besøge vingårde, rafte, cykle og meget mere.

Tauranga ligger ved indsejlingen til en af de største naturlige havne i New Zealand. Du kan tage en tur i en af de super hurtige “bush jet boats” eller tage på “white-water rafting” på Rangitaiki-floden. Det er også her i Tauranga, at du kan smage den friskeste udgave af retten “fish ‘n’ chips”, du nogensinde har smagt – serveret “al fresco”. Hvis du leder efter en mere eksotisk oplevelse, så kan du tage en tur til Mount Mauganuis varme saltbade.

Auckland er New Zealands største by, og ligger på den nordlige ø. Her kan man både opleve sprudlende storbystemning og smukke vulkaner og laguner. Nyd byens flotte parker, fine restauranter, historiske bygninger, museer og fantastiske stemning. I Auckland er der altid noget at lave, også om natten, hvor byens festlige natteliv folder sig ud.