With New Zealand having finally opened its ports again earlier this year, there’s no better time to cruise to one of the world’s most scenic locations.

From sweeping glaciers to long sandy beaches, Māori legends to wine-tasting, there are endless possibilities when it comes to adventures to take on across the pond, and understandably, Australian travellers are itching to return.

A spokesperson from the Auckland Business Chamber said the return of cruise ships is “good news for all”, benefiting Auckland and other regions. Cruising boosted the NZ economy by $500 million a year before the pandemic brought it all to a stop.

Now, 907 port calls from 42 vessels are scheduled for New Zealand ports during 2022-23 season.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited said at least 20 ships carrying around 45,000 passengers will be arriving in Auckland’s port before Christmas 2022.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said: “New Zealand has now joined the rest of the world in a careful resumption of cruise operations.

“We now have an opportunity to revive a sector that previously supported many thousands of jobs in communities right around the New Zealand coast.”

We’ve rounded up ten of the best cruises from Australia to New Zealand which you can check out below.

11-night New Zealand Cruise from Sydney

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International
Ship: Ovation of the Seas
Departing: Sat, 29 Oct 2022
Ports of Call: Sydney, Australia, Doubtful Sound, New Zealand, Dusky Sound, Milford Fjord, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Picton, Sydney.
Prices from: $3,885

13-night New Zealand Cruise from Sydney

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises
Ship: Celebrity Eclipse
Departing: Mon, 14 Nov 2022
Ports of Call: Sydney, Australia, Doubtful Sound, New Zealand, Dusky Sound, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Picton, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Bay of Islands.
Prices from: $2,115

30-night Australia, New Zealand & Indonesia Cruise from Benoa (Bali), Indonesia

Cruise Line: Viking Ocean Cruises
Ship: Viking Orion
Departing: Tue, 22 Nov 2022
Ports of Call: Benoa (Bali), Lombok, Indonesia, Komodo Island, Darwin, Thursday Island, Cairns, Townsville, Whitsunday Island (Airlie Beach), Mooloolaba, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Rotorua, Auckland
Prices from:$23,990

14 Night Australia and New Zealand Cruise from Melbourne

Cruise Line: Windstar Cruises
Ship: Star Breeze
Departing: Sun, 04 Dec 2022
Ports of Call: Melbourne, Tasmania, Wineglass Bay, Hobart, Bluff, New Zealand, Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Wellington, Picton, Tauranga, Auckland,
Prices from: $6,838

16-day New Zealand Holiday from Sydney

Cruise Line: Holland America Line
Ship: Noordam
Departing: Sat, 17 Dec 2022
Ports of Call: Sydney, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Port Chalmers (Dunedin), Lyttelton (Christchurch), Wellington, Picton, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Waitangi,
Prices from: $547

13 days, round-trip New Zealand, sailing from Sydney

Cruise Line: Princess
Ship: Majestic
Departing: November 25
Ports of call: Fiordland National Park, Dunedin, Lyttelton-Christchurch, Picton, Tauranga, Aukland, Bay of Islands, Sydney.
Prices from: $547

16 days New Zealand and Australia departing from Auckland, New Zealand

Cruise Line: Seabourn Cruise Line
Ship: Seabourn Odyssey
Departing: Wed, 21 Dec 2022
Ports of Call: Auckland, Russell, Tauranga, Gisborne, Akaroa,  Port Chalmers, Obarn, Milford Sound, Melbourne, Philip Island, Eden, Sydney.
Prices from: $11,421

12 Night Australia and New Zealand Cruise departing from Sydney

Cruise Line: Holland America Line
Ship: Noordam
Departing: Mon, 02 Jan 2023
Ports of Call: Sydney, Australia, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Port Chalmers (Dunedin), Wellington, Picton, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Sydney
Prices from: $6,822

13-night New Zealand Cruise departing from Sydney, Australia

Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
Ship: Majestic Princess
Departing: Wed, 21 Dec 2022
Ports of Call: Sydney, Australia, Fjordland, New Zealand, Christchurch, Picton, Tauranga, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Sydney
Prices from: $2,071

12 nights New Zealand Cruise departing from Sydney, Australia

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises
Ship: Celebrity Eclipse
Departing: Sun, 27 Nov 2022
Ports of Call: Sydney, Australia, Doubtful Sound, New Zealand, Dusky Sound, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland.