More than 1.5 million penguins, 3.5 million seabirds and 80,000 elephant seals can be found on the isolated and rarely visited, subantarctic islands of Australia and New Zealand.
And to help post-Covid, adventure-hungry Australians discover the wild and untouched beauty of these lost islands, Australia’s premier, small ship cruise specialist, Cruise Traveller, has a special, two-week Christmas expedition voyage – in collaboration with National Geographic Expeditions – to these lonely southern waters in 2022 aboard Ponant’s luxury exploration ship, Le Soleal.
A free hotel stay and a 25% discount is available for fares booked by 30 November 2021, with solos able to save over 50%. A bonus EUR150 per twin stateroom is also available for onboard spending if you mention this offer seen in the media.
Described as the ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean’, the remote outposts of Macquarie Island, Campbell Island, The Snares, Antipodes Islands and the Auckland Islands – all outlying territories of New Zealand and Australia – are among the world’s best preserved and protected environments, with natural features and wildlife seen nowhere else on Earth.
The most southern of the islands is Australia’s rugged Macquarie Island, only accessible by sea and lying 1500km south-east of Tasmania, half way to Antarctica. The World Heritage-listed island is home to scores of seabirds, huge elephant seals and penguins of several varieties as well as an Australian base staffed by 30 scientists.
The new, 15-night ‘More than Sounds and Mountains – Epic NZ” package starts in Dunedin with a free night’s accommodation on 13 December 2022, before guests board Ponant’s luxury expedition ship, the 132-passenger Le Soleal for a round-trip voyage from the city to the subantarctic islands south of NZ. The journey will be in collaboration with National Geographic Expeditions with onboard experts. Le Soleal boasts private balconies in all staterooms as well as a fine dining restaurant and grill restaurant, panoramic lounge, theatre, library, open-air bar, pool, an expert expedition team and personalised service.
The spectacular 14-night voyage takes in the famous fjords of NZ’s South Island, little-known Ulva Island and the remote subantarctic territories of Macquarie Island, Campbell Island, The Snares, Antipodes Islands and the Auckland Islands – all rich wildlife sanctuaries which guest can enjoy on Zodiac adventure. Christmas will be spent at sea, with an abundance of festive, onboard activities to celebrate the season.
Including a free night in Dunedin, Dunedin transfers, open bar onboard the ship and Zodiac excursions, the package is available from $15,040 per person, twin-share, in a Deluxe Balcony stateroom – a 25% saving of $5090 each. Solo travellers can also enjoy the 25% saving and the bonus of a reduced single supplement, with the package available from $19,240 – a big saving of $19,810, or 51%. A bonus EUR150 per twin stateroom is also available for onboard spending if you mention this offer seen in the media. The discounts apply to bookings made by 30 November 2021 and are subject to availability.
To book, visit www.CruiseTraveller.com.au/MoreThanSounds or call Cruise Traveller on 1800 507 777.
SOURCE: Cruise Traveller
