Depart the USA and cross the International Dateline.

Depart the USA and cross the International Dateline.

Arrive in Sydney, Australia, and make your way to the port to board Anthem of the Seas.

Enjoy your day at sea.

Enjoy your day at sea.

Ships dock at both Shakespeare Bay and at Waitohi Wharf. From there, hop onto the free shuttle and head into the heart of Picton. Picton is very walkable, though you may want to get back on the water to look for wildlife or head into nearby wine country on a tour. Taste the gourmet delights New Zealand is famous for on a wine and chocolate shore excursion to the South Island’s renowned Marlborough wine region.

Napier sits on the eastern side of New Zealand’s North Island, in Hawke’s Bay. The entire city was rebuilt in the Art Deco style following an earthquake in 1931, giving Napier the best collection of authentic Art Deco buildings on the planet. Known for its wine, Napier boasts a cafe culture enjoyed year-round thanks to its sunny, Mediterranean-like climate. Nearby, you can find the world’s largest colony of gannets, a sleek, white sea bird known for its dramatic plunge-dive fish-catching technique, which can be viewed on a hike or a tractor ride on the beach.

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, sits at the southern tip of the North Island, roughly the middle of the country. According to Maori legend, New Zealand’s two main islands are associated with the god Maui; the South Island is his canoe, and the North Island is the fish he caught. Wellington sits in that fish’s mouth. Wellington is New Zealand’s second-biggest city, after Auckland. Despite its smaller size, it has abundant cultural attractions like the National Library, National Archives, theaters, and excellent museums. The city is also home to the country’s film industry and is nicknamed Wellywood.

Lyttelton lives up to the quaintness implied by its name, with a population of just under 3,000 people, but the welcoming town is home to big travel attractions and major beauty. Head into downtown Lyttelton to explore independent boutiques and a lively arts scene: Pop in for an afternoon theater performance at the popular Lyttelton Arts Factory. Christchurch is just a 20-minute drive from the Lyttelton cruise port. Visit Christchurch, stroll through beautifully manicured Hagley Park, or see Maori artifacts at the Canterbury Museum.

On the southeast coast of New Zealand’s South Island, on the Otago Peninsula, you’ll find Dunedin. The city basks in its Scottish heritage — its name is the Gaelic word for Edinburgh. No Scottish town would be complete without a castle: Explore Dunedin’s Larnach Castle and Gardens, a Gothic Revival mansion surrounded by impeccably manicured rows of rhododendrons, azaleas, and Scottish heathers. Then, check out Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest residential street. Cruise to Dunedin and explore St. Paul’s Cathedral in the city’s center, the Octagon. Or head to Taiaroa Head at the end of the Otago Peninsula, where unique wildlife abounds: Spot the rare yellow-eyed penguin, New Zealand fur seals, and royal albatross.

Today, enjoy scenic cruising. At 25 miles in length and five miles wide at its broadest, Dusky Sound is the largest and most spectacular fjord in Fiordland National Park. Captain Cook named Dusky Sound in 1770, as he sailed past its entrance at twilight. Three years later, he returned and stayed 47 days as his crew repaired and replenished his ship, Resolution, after sailing 11,000 nautical miles from Cape Town. You can still see evidence of his landfall at Astronomer’s Point, an overlook where the crew removed trees, so the ship’s astronomer could get a reading on the stars. Upon entering Dusky Sound, it’s customary to make a resolution as you sail past Resolution Island, named after Cook’s ship. Although technically not a sound (it’s a fjord), Doubtful Sound is the second longest in New Zealand and the country’s second most famous tourist attraction. However, it captures the top spot for being the deepest, at over 1,300 feet. Doubtful Sound is also home to fur seals, crested penguins, bottlenose dolphins, and whales. Carved by ancient glaciers, Milford Sound, which is a fjord, is the crown jewel of Fiordland National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is only nine miles long from its head to the open sea, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in grandeur. Its vertical cliffs covered in verdant rainforests provide a breathtaking backdrop to thundering waterfalls, misty rainbows, and the tannin-stained waters of the fjord. Below the surface is the largest population of black coral in the world.

Enjoy your day at sea.

Enjoy your day at sea.

Disembark in Sydney and return to the USA.