MS Caledonian Sky - Noble Caledonia

Day 8 - Dunedin. Morning cruising.
This afternoon we will explore
Dunedin on a guided tour. See the
gracious 19th century buildings
and beautiful botanical gardens.
Alternatively join an optional
excursion to Tairoa Head to visit
Royal Albatross Centre.
Day 9 - Stewart Island. New Zealand’s
third island is well off the usual beaten
tourist track. It is a wonderfully tranquil
place, the scenery of untouched
bushland is stunning. We will visit
Oban, see the fascinating Rakiura
Museum and drive along some of the
15 miles of sealed road to some of the
beauty spots. We also hope to use our
Zodiacs around Half Moon Bay and the
Paterson Inlet. The bird life here is
amazing; red crowned parakeets, black
oyster catchers, sooty shearwaters, tuis,
bellbirds, kakas and fearless wekas.
Days 10 & 11- Fjordland. We have
two days to explore the incredible
wilderness of fjords of the South
West coast. This is an area of majestic
scenery, rich in wildlife, which is only
accessible by sea, making it the most
remote region of New Zealand. Our
schedule may include Resolution
Bay, Dusky Sound, Milford Sound
and Deep Cove, but final itinerary
decisions will be made by the Captain
and Expedition Leader based on
weather conditions.
Days 12 & 13 - At sea. Enjoy time
to relax and join one of the many
lectures on board the ship.
Day 14 - Hobart, Tasmania. Arrive
this afternoon in Hobart, capital of
Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal
colony, today Hobart is cosmopolitan
city. From our berth it is a short walk to
the city centre where we will explore
In timeless
Tasmania,
extraordinary
wildlife awaits
with unique
flora, seemingly
endless forests,
rolling
pastureland,
vineyards,
plantations,
mountains
and fast
moving rivers.
Salamanca Place in Sullivans Cove, the
city’s bustling waterfront. Life here in
the 1830s was all about industry, but
today this picturesque cobblestone
square is a destination for food, art,
shopping and music. We have time
to wander the galleries and search for
local artefacts. From Salamanca Place
you can also wander to adjoining
wharves, where British convicts once
stumbled ashore and whalers hauled
in their cargo. We moor overnight and
can enjoy the music at the arts centre
courtyard as it fills with the sounds of
jazz and swing music.
Day 15 - Port Arthur. Port Arthur
was named after Van Diemen’s Land
Lieutenant Governor, George Arthur.
The settlement started as a timber
station in 1830, but it is best known for
being a penal colony. From 1833, until
1853, it was the destination for the
hardest of convicted British and Irish
criminals, those who were secondary
offenders having re-offended after
their arrival in Australia. Our guided
tour will include the penintentiary
which housed 480 convicts, the mess
room, library and Catholic chapel. We
will view the dockyard and also have
time to explore the beautiful gardens
and grounds surrounding the complex.
Day 16 - Maria Island. Maria Island
is a special place with something for
everyone - historic ruins, sweeping
bays, rugged cliffs and mountains,
and remarkable wildlife. Our onboard
staff will lead a number of walks on the
island. Since the late 1960s a number
of threatened species have been
introduced here in a bid to protect
their kind. The very things that made
the island a convict settlement, now
make it an ideal refuge for plant and
animal species that are elsewhere
under threat. So alongside native
pademelons which occurred on the
island naturally, are Forester kangaroos,
Bennetts wallabies, Cape Barren Geese
and Tasmanian Native hens which have
been introduced to the island. Some
of the waters around Maria Island are
a Marine Nature Reserve. We will have
the chance to snorkel and explore the
marine life to be found here, including
seals and whales.
Day 17 - Coles Bay and Wineglass
Bay. We have a full day to explore
Freycinet National Park. The majestic
+44 (0)20 7752 0000 55
Hobart
Coles Bay
An Antipodean Odyssey