Treasures of the Pacific: The Yasawas to New Zealand

Welcome aboard your ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse II. Settle into your suite in the sweet ‘Sugar City’ of Lautoka. Located in the heart of the sugar cane industry, Fiji’s second-biggest settlement opens up a world of blissful beaches, dense jungle and the culturally rich Fijian life. Please book your flight to arrive into Nadi prior to 02:00 PM.

Acquaint yourself with the exceptional range of facilities on board Scenic Eclipse IIt. Choose a class in one of the fitness spaces, relax in the Salt Therapy Lounge in the Senses Spa, or tempt your palate from one of the up to 10 dining experiences and eight bars and lounges.

Tanna’s erupting Mount Yasur is regarded as the world’s most accessible active volcano. Known for its continuous activity since Captain James Cook observed ash eruptions in 1774, it’s considered a sacred area by members of the John Frum cargo cult, who believe their deity resides inside.

A coral atoll atop a collapsed volcano, Lifou is the largest and highest of the Loyalty Islands. In the north, the coastline ends abruptly in cliffs, while the south is a long expanse of beaches. Further inland, the rich Kanak culture is proudly upheld by the local community. 

The “Jewel of the Pacific” is named after the tall trees that line the white-sand shores. It’s the southernmost of the Caledonian islands and the largest in the marine area of the Great Southern Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Isle of Pines is also a former penal colony, where political prisoners from the Paris Commune and Kabylians from Algeria were deported at the end of the 19th century.

Today, you can live out your Robinson Crusoe fantasies on a deserted speck in the middle of the South Pacific. Welcome to the uninhabited Kouare Islet, a little piece of perfection. Set in the middle of one of New Caledonia’s World Heritage-listed lagoons, pristine coral reefs are teeming with colourful fish, and black noddies and terns wheel in the skies above.

During your day at sea, make the most of the onboard services and activities, such as the Senses Spa, fitness centre and all-inclusive bars and restaurants.

This South Pacific island lies off Australias east coast, blessed with deserted beaches, Emily Bay lagoon, Mount Pitt and parrot-filled Norfolk Island National Park. But there’s also a turbulent history to uncover at the Norfolk Island Museum in Kingston.

Another day to enjoy the open sea, spot the marine life and unwind onboard.

Russell, the first harbour city founded in New Zealand by Europeans, is your entry into the Bay of Islands on the east coast of the North Island. Admire gorgeous gardens, whitewashed houses, beautiful beaches, and Christ Church, the oldest church in the country.

Largely forest-covered, New Zealand’s Great Barrier Island is an official Dark Sky Sanctuary, recognised for its exceptional stargazing. Explore ashore or join a Zodiac cruise before we sail into the Hauraki Gulf, keeping an eye out for the critically endangered New Zealand Storm-petrel. Other birds to spot include Buller’s Shearwaters, Australian Gannets, Little Blue Penguins, White-faced Storm-petrel, Grey-faced Petrel, Little Shearwater and Black Petrel. Cruising along the east coast of the North Island, we will certainly see albatrosses including the Campbell, Shy and Wandering.

Looping around the Coromandel Peninsula, Scenic Eclipse II will arrive in Tauranga (pronounced toe-run-gah) this morning. Set along the edge of the beautiful Bay of Plenty, this is New Zealand’s busiest port, the harbour buzzing 24 hours a day with freighters, ferries and cruise ships. The city is one of the fastest growing in New Zealand, yet retains its peaceful, laid-back charm. The revamped waterfront is packed with excellent cafes, restaurants and bars. While Tauranga has its charms, it’s also the closest port for some of New Zealand’s most iconic sights. Rotorua is a natural geothermal wonderland with hot springs, bubbling mud pools and clouds of steam erupting from the ground thanks to subterranean volcanic activity. Set on a peninsula to the north-east of Tauranga, Mount Manganui is regularly voted the most beautiful beach in New Zealand. The extinct volcano Mauao, which is sacred to the Maori people, towers over the white sand beach and its world-renowned surf break.

This lovely city has two harbours offering waterfront walks and views of Auckland’s harbour bridge, but the best cityscape vista is from 192 metres high at the Sky Tower. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, a French-Renaissance building houses New Zealand’s most extensive art collection, including works by Maori and Pacific artists. Disembark after breakfast as you farewell the Scenic Eclipse II Captain and crew, and take away stories for life from a  truly remarkable voyage of discovery. Please book your flight to depart out of Auckland after 12:00 PM.