Australia and New Zealand cruises are a southern-hemisphere trip, so the main season runs from about October to April, when it is spring and summer down under. The classic itinerary is a 10 to 14 night round trip from Sydney or Melbourne that crosses the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, visiting Auckland, the Bay of Islands, Wellington and the South Island, with a day of scenic cruising through Fiordland.
Sailing into and out of Sydney Harbour, past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge, is one of the great cruise moments anywhere. Other highlights include Hobart in Tasmania, Melbourne's food scene, and in New Zealand the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Wellington's Te Papa museum and the wildlife around Dunedin. Some lines base ships in Australia year-round for shorter cruises to the South Pacific and Queensland.
For US travelers this is a long-haul trip, so many combine the cruise with land time, or book a one-way cruise between Australia and New Zealand, or a repositioning voyage from Hawaii or Asia. The Tasman Sea crossing takes two or three days and can be rough, and New Zealand's South Island is cooler than many people expect.
- January: Best time, average high 82 degrees F
- February: Best time, average high 81 degrees F
- March: Best time, average high 78 degrees F
- April: Shoulder season, average high 74 degrees F
- May: Cruises run, average high 69 degrees F
- June: Cruises run, average high 65 degrees F
- July: Cruises run, average high 64 degrees F
- August: Cruises run, average high 66 degrees F
- September: Cruises run, average high 71 degrees F
- October: Shoulder season, average high 74 degrees F
- November: Best time, average high 76 degrees F
- December: Best time, average high 80 degrees F
- Best time
- Shoulder season
- Cruises run
- Few or none
Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.
Ships visiting from overseas sail here from about October to April, the southern spring, summer and early fall. Some lines keep ships in Australia year-round for shorter cruises. December to February is warmest and busiest, including school holidays in Australia and New Zealand. The tropical cyclone season in northern Australia and the South Pacific runs November to April.
Weather to plan around: The Australian Bureau of Meteorology's tropical cyclone season runs from November to April and mainly affects Queensland, northern Australia and South Pacific islands. The Tasman Sea crossing is often rough. In New Zealand, Fiordland and Milford Sound are among the wettest places in the country, and weather can close the fiords to ships on some days.
Ports you'll likely visit
- Sydney, Australia
A spectacular harbor sail-in, the Opera House (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. - Melbourne, Australia
Laneway cafes, the arts scene and day trips to see little penguins or the Great Ocean Road. - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
The MONA museum, Salamanca Market and the summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington. - Auckland, New Zealand
A harbor city with volcanic cones, Waiheke Island wineries and a common start or end port. - Bay of Islands, New Zealand
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds, dolphin cruises and the historic town of Russell. A tender port. - Wellington, New Zealand
Te Papa national museum, the cable car and a compact, walkable harbor front. - Port Chalmers (Dunedin), New Zealand
Royal albatross and penguin tours on the Otago Peninsula and Scottish-heritage Dunedin. - Milford Sound (scenic cruising), New Zealand
Waterfalls and sheer granite peaks in Fiordland National Park, viewed from the ship.
Highlights
Sydney Harbour
One of the world's great harbor sail-ins, right past the Opera House.
Fiordland
Scenic cruising in Milford, Doubtful and Dusky sounds on many itineraries.
Maori culture
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Te Papa tell New Zealand's story.
Wildlife
Albatross, penguins, dolphins and seals along both countries' coasts.
How long, and what documents
10-14 nights for Australia and New Zealand round trips from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane; 3-5 night short cruises from Australian ports; longer one-way and repositioning voyages from Hawaii or Asia.
You need a valid passport book. Australia requires every cruise passenger to hold a visa before arriving, even if you stay on the ship. US citizens are eligible for the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601), applied for through the official AustralianETA app; as of October 2026 there is an AUD 20 service charge, and the ETA allows stays of up to three months at a time over 12 months. (The eVisitor is for European passport holders, not Americans.) New Zealand requires visitors arriving on a cruise ship to have a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), from NZD 17 through the official app, and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is charged when you apply. Apply only through official government channels; many look-alike sites charge extra. Check current requirements before you travel.
Specialist tips
- Arrange your Australian ETA and NZeTA well before you fly; your line will check them at boarding.
- Plan at least two nights in Sydney or Auckland before the cruise to recover from the flight and time change.
- Pack layers: Sydney can be hot while the South Island is cool and wet in the same trip.
- Australia has strict biosecurity rules; declare food, wood and plant items and do not carry fruit ashore from the ship.
