South Australia & New Zealand Holiday

Set on what Captain Arthur Phillip called "the finest harbour in the world," Sydney stakes its claim on the global imagination with Jørn Utzon's sail-roofed Opera House, a bridge you can climb for panoramic views, and a food scene anchored by Sydney rock oysters and the largest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere. The Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley wine country extend the adventure beyond the city. October through April brings summer warmth and the harbour at its most luminously blue.

Phillip Island, two hours from Melbourne, is home to the world-famous Penguin Parade where thousands of little penguins waddle ashore at sunset, plus a 25,000-strong fur seal colony and excellent coastal hiking. Must-dos include the nightly Penguin Parade, Seal Rocks viewing, and the koala boardwalk. The parade runs year-round; November through March brings the largest penguin numbers.

Melbourne is Australia's cultural capital, a city of labyrinthine laneways, world-class coffee, street art, and one of the most diverse food scenes on earth. Must-dos include exploring Hosier Lane's street art, eating your way through the Queen Victoria Market, and driving the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles. October through April offers the warmest weather, though Melbourne's famous changeability keeps visitors on their toes.

Burnie is a friendly port city on Tasmania's north coast, serving as the gateway to Cradle Mountain's wilderness, the Tarkine rainforest, and the island's celebrated artisan food culture. Must-dos include watching little penguins at dusk, tasting Tasmanian craft whisky and farmhouse cheeses, and visiting Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. October through April offers the best weather and penguin-viewing conditions.

Adelaide is South Australia's elegant, parkland-ringed capital, uniquely positioned within an hour's drive of three world-class wine regions — the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and the Adelaide Hills. Must-dos include the Central Market's 80-plus food stalls, Barossa Valley Shiraz tasting, and North Terrace's museum precinct. Visit March for the Adelaide Festival and Fringe, or October through April for warm Mediterranean-climate weather.

Kangaroo Island is Australia's premier wildlife sanctuary, home to sea lion colonies, koalas, little penguins, and the world's only purebred Ligurian bee population, set against a coastline of sculpted granite and limestone cliffs. Must-do experiences include walking among sea lions at Seal Bay, visiting the Remarkable Rocks, and sampling the island's artisan honey and cheeses. Spring (September-November) brings wildflowers and baby animals, while summer offers the warmest conditions for coastal exploration.

Hobart is Tasmania's cultured harbour capital, home to the boundary-pushing MONA museum, the legendary Salamanca Market, and world-class produce from pristine Tasmanian waters and farmland. Must-do experiences include MONA's subterranean galleries, the summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, and tasting Tasmanian oysters and Pinot Noir on the waterfront. December through March is warmest; June's Dark Mofo festival transforms the city.

Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia, showcases the Southern Hemisphere's remarkable natural heritage—pristine coastlines, unique wildlife, and landscapes of ancient geological drama. Must-do experiences include sampling the exceptional local seafood and exploring the surrounding national parks. The most rewarding visiting window is November through February, when the austral summer brings the longest days and mildest conditions. Cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Line feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Eden is a small Australian town on the Sapphire Coast famous for its extraordinary history of orca-whalers cooperation, preserved in the Killer Whale Museum with Old Tom's skeleton as its centerpiece. Visit from October through April for humpback whale watching, pristine coastal wilderness in Ben Boyd National Park, and some of Australia's finest oysters and seafood.

Set on what Captain Arthur Phillip called "the finest harbour in the world," Sydney stakes its claim on the global imagination with Jørn Utzon's sail-roofed Opera House, a bridge you can climb for panoramic views, and a food scene anchored by Sydney rock oysters and the largest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere. The Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley wine country extend the adventure beyond the city. October through April brings summer warmth and the harbour at its most luminously blue.

Melbourne is Australia's cultural capital, a city of labyrinthine laneways, world-class coffee, street art, and one of the most diverse food scenes on earth. Must-dos include exploring Hosier Lane's street art, eating your way through the Queen Victoria Market, and driving the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles. October through April offers the warmest weather, though Melbourne's famous changeability keeps visitors on their toes.

Hobart is Tasmania's cultured harbour capital, home to the boundary-pushing MONA museum, the legendary Salamanca Market, and world-class produce from pristine Tasmanian waters and farmland. Must-do experiences include MONA's subterranean galleries, the summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, and tasting Tasmanian oysters and Pinot Noir on the waterfront. December through March is warmest; June's Dark Mofo festival transforms the city.

Milford Sound is a glacier-carved fiord in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, where sheer granite walls rise 1,200 meters from dark, still water beneath cascading waterfalls and the iconic pyramid of Mitre Peak. Must-dos include scenic cruising the full length of the fjord, watching for dolphins and rare Fiordland crested penguins, and experiencing the dramatic Tasman Sea entrance. November through March offers the best weather, though rainy days create the most spectacular waterfall displays.

Port Chalmers, New Zealand is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by Holland America Line. Must-do experiences include walking the historic center to experience the layered architectural heritage, and seeking out the regional culinary traditions at a locally favored establishment away from the port area. The optimal time to visit is November through March, when mild temperatures and long days favor unhurried exploration.

Lyttelton is Christchurch's historic harbor town, rebuilt with creative energy after the 2010-2011 earthquakes into one of New Zealand's coolest small towns with excellent restaurants and a beloved farmers' market. Must-dos include the Saturday farmers' market, swimming with Hector's dolphins in the harbor, and driving the Summit Road for panoramic views. October through March offers the warmest weather and longest days.

Picton is the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds' 1,500 kilometers of scenic coastline and New Zealand's premier Sauvignon Blanc wine region. Must-dos include walking sections of the Queen Charlotte Track, wine tasting in the Wairau Valley, and dolphin watching in the sheltered sounds. November through March offers the warmest weather and longest days for both sound exploration and cellar-door visits.

Wellington is New Zealand's compact, creative capital, home to the world-class Te Papa museum, the Peter Jackson filmmaking empire, and a café-and-craft-beer culture rivalling cities many times its size. Must-do experiences include Te Papa's Gallipoli exhibition, Cuba Street's bohemian dining scene, and the cable car ride to the Botanic Garden. November through March is warmest, though Wellington's four-seasons-in-a-day climate adds character year-round.

Napier is a New Zealand coastal city renowned for the world's most complete collection of Art Deco architecture, rebuilt after a devastating 1931 earthquake. Must-dos include a guided Art Deco walking tour, wine tasting across Hawke's Bay's celebrated vineyards, and visiting the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers. November through April offers the warmest weather, with February's Art Deco Weekend providing the ultimate vintage-style celebration.

Tauranga is the gateway to New Zealand's Bay of Plenty, where the perfect beach at Mount Maunganui, Rotorua's erupting geysers, and Māori cultural experiences at Te Puia create one of the North Island's most diverse destination areas. Visit November through March via Celebrity or Princess Cruises for summit walks, geothermal wonderlands, and the authentic Māori encounters that give this sun-drenched coast cultural depth to match its natural beauty.

Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, straddles a volcanic isthmus between two harbours, offering a rare blend of Pacific Rim sophistication, Māori heritage, and dramatic natural beauty. Must-do experiences include a wine-and-oyster afternoon on Waiheke Island and the panoramic ascent of Maungawhau (Mount Eden) overlooking the harbour and Rangitoto Island. The ideal cruising season runs from November through March, when long summer days, calm seas, and pohutukawa trees in scarlet bloom make the Waitematā Harbour approach truly unforgettable.