Ctgy	Type	Price  ($US)
B	Stateroom	$7,645
A	Stateroom	$8,880
JS	Junior Suite	$10,550
DS	Deluxe Suite	$11,550
BS	Balcony Suite	$13,785
OS	Owners Suite	$116,015

Day 1 - Brisbane, Australia – Embark

Situated midway up the east coast of Australia is Brisbane, capital city of Queensland. With the Gold Coast beaches to the south and the Sunshine Coast to the north, Brisbane is well situated to commence your Orion journey and it is well worth arriving a few days prior to enjoy the city and surrounds.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - At Sea

Orion is the perfect viewing platform from which to admire the open sea. As we make our way to the next destination, sit back, relax and enjoy the onboard amenities and activities Orion has to offer as we prepare for the days ahead.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 3 - Lord Howe Island

Set in the South Pacific Ocean, crescent shaped Lord Howe is a remarkable eroded remnant of one of a series of volcanic pinnacles, part of a submarine ridge that links to the north island of New Zealand. Dominated by the twin volcanic peaks of Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird, Lord Howe is known for its spectacular beauty, picturesque lagoon and amazing coral reef (the southern most coral reef in the world), and is one of justfour island groups in the world possessing World Heritage status.

Discovered in 1788, early visitors to the island included ships travelling between Sydney and Norfolk Island, as well as American whaling and trading vessels. The island's extensive flora and fauna has been attracting botanists, zoologists and naturalists ever since. There are over 240 different species of native plants and at least 168 bird species either living at, or regular visitors to, this island group which comprises Lord Howe Island, Admiralty Islands, Mutton Bird Islands and Ball's Pyramid.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 4&5 - At Sea

Admire the beauty that surrounds, as Orion cruises towards the next exciting New Zealand regions. Take this time to thoroughly enjoy your self - spend some time in the hot-tub, library and bar for a period of total relaxation and recuperation over these couple of days.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Bay of Islands

On the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, enjoy your first taste of Aotearoa. Here a coastline of bays and white sandy beaches embraces a sea dotted with 150 islands. The Maoris believe that the Bay of Islands was originally discovered by their legendary navigator Kupe. This is where the Maoris first arrived, and not so long ago was a base for whalers, sealers and sailors, preparing the way for a fusing of Maori and European culture. It is famously known as being the home of the Treaty of Waitangi, the first official agreement between Maori and the British.
-Optional Expeditions Available for Additional Fees

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Tauranga

When James Cook sailed into the bay onboard the Endeavour he was so impressed he named it The Bay of Plenty. You will not be disappointed, for this is a Bay of Plenty, with dazzling white sand, crystal clear water, surf beaches and beautiful harbours. The town of Tauranga is located at the head of a large harbour, protected by Matakana Island. Not surprisingly the word Tauranga comes from Maori, which roughly translates to "a sheltered anchorage".

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - White Island

In 1769, James Cook gave the island its name because of the dense clouds of steam hanging over it. Today the island still emits visible plumes of steam, often ejecting clouds of ash that rise as high as 10km on clear, still days. The crater, containing a lake, often fluorescent green in color, is over 100 meters deep.

This is a fascinating place to visit as there is continuous thermal activity on the surface of the island, with boiling pools, pot holes of sulfuric acid, steam and natural gas vents. Located 48km offshore, White island has built up over 15,000 years of ongoing volcanic activity. About 70 percent of the volcano remains under the sea, making this massive volcanic structure the largest in New Zealand. After a Zodiac transfer, don our safety equipment and explore the slopes of White Island Volcano.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - Napier, Hawkes Bay

Enjoying a sunny Mediterranean-style climate, Hawke’s Bay is famous for its wineries, orchards and artisan food producers. Lavender gardens, orchards and olive plantations thrive under the Hawke's Bay sun. The regional feature is the town of Napier, famous for its concentration of buildings in the styles of the 1930s - Stripped Classical, Spanish Mission, and above all Art Deco. Almost leveled by an earthquake in 1931, Napier rebuilt and today has one of the most outstanding collections of 1930's architecture to be seen anywhere in the world. This is a living film set where you can step back in time to an elegant era.

To take advantage of the intriguing Art Deco architecture that makes Napier so special, a guided Art Deco walk will be included for all Orion guests today.
-Optional Shoreside Expeditions Available


Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - At Sea

As we transit towards Marlborough, soak up the sun on the top deck and chat with fellow cruisers about the journeys you all have just adventured on.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 - Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park

Maori legend describes the entire South Island as Maui's Waka (canoe), wrecked on a reef during a fishing expedition, the shattered bow of the canoe became the Sounds. For centuries, Marlborough has offered safe harbor to travelers. First to Maori traders and war parties; then to European explorers, such as Captain James Cook and Dumont D'Urville; and now Orion guests seeking new landscapes and rejuvenating experiences. This relaxed sojourn will provide opportunistic Zodiac exploration and landings, including historic Ship Cove (Endeavour Inlet) where Captain James Cook was based for a period during his 1770 voyage, and Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary. Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary is predator free making it a bird-lovers paradise with blue penguins, kereru, bellbirds, yellow-crowned parakeets (kakariki), South Island saddleback, bellbirds and South Island robins encountered along the trail during your guided walk to the top for the amazing view across Cook Strait to the North Island.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12 - Wellington – Disembark

Explore Wellington! The Capital of New Zealand which is located in the center of at the southern end of the North Island, dominated by Wellington harbor and hills. It is the world's most southern capital and the only capital in the "Roaring Forties" latitudes. With a population of around 170,000 Wellington has a relaxed, cosmopolitan style about it and with a city center just 2 kilometers in diameter is a convenient twenty minutes walk from one side to the other. The city is home to an astonishing number of art galleries, libraries, museums and schools of drama, music, dance and ballet yet with over 300 eateries has more restaurants, bars and cafes per head than New York! A vibrant city, there is always plenty to do for young and old.

Optional Shoreside Expeditions Available

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast

Notes on Itinerary: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be flexible makes our style of cruising unique.

Single, Triple and Quad Travelers: Single travelers may reserve sole occupancy of a twin occupancy stateroom for 25% less than the regular stateroom (twin occupancy) fare in categories JS, A and B. Subject to availability. Some staterooms accommodate a third or fourth person. Adults age 16 years and over pay 50% (children ages 2-15 years pay 25%) of the applicable stateroom category fare when sharing the room with two full-fare guests

Cost Includes: Included in your cruise fare are accommodations as booked, cruise transportation, all meals onboard, 24-hour room service, entertainment and educational programs, use of ship's sporting equipment and facilities, port & handling charges, Zodiac excursions and tender transfers, access to the ship's library, Govt. Fees & Taxes. Fares also include the services of 75 experienced crew.

Not Included: Fares do not include items of a personal nature, including but not limited to: travel and medical insurance, laundry charges, shopping onboard, bar expenses, hair dressing and massage treatments, optional shore experiences, medical treatment, telephone and internet charges.

Deposit and Final Payment: To secure your reservation a deposit of 25% of the fare is required. The deposit must be accompanied by a completed and signed Guest Booking Form and is due within 7 days of booking. Final payment must be received no later than 90 days before sailing. Separate conditions apply to the Cancellation Protection Plan.

Cancellation Policy: The following cancellation fees will apply to all reservations. The day on which written notice is received will determine the applicable penalties.
Day on Which Notice is received Penalty
121 days and over - 50% of deposit
120 - 91 days prior 100% of deposit
90 days or less 100% of fare
No show - no written notice 100% of fare

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with Travel Insurance. Please note that you must purchase your Travel Insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions.


Shoreside Expeditions: We include a number of complimentary shore experiences utilizing our Zodiacs. In addition we offer an exciting and diverse selection of optional shore experiences which can be either booked for in advance or reserved onboard and charged to your onboard account. Due to limited numbers on some experiences we recommend you pre-register to avoid disappointment. Details will be provided with your ticket.

Arrival/Departure Information: The Adventures of Lord Howe & Aotearoa cruise begins in Brisbane and ends in Wellington. Embarkation time is between 3:00 – 4:00pm on day of departure. Disembarkation is after breakfast on final day between 9:00 – 10:30am. Please schedule flights based on these time frames.

Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health and leads an active life. Any medical condition, advanced pregnancy or disability must be advised to AdventureSmith Explorations when a request for accommodation is made. On every Orion voyage extensive use of the ship’s Zodiacs will be made transporting guests between ship and shore. It is anticipated this travel may be physically demanding from time to time. In order for the crew to determine if safe passage can be offered, guests may be asked to provide additional information, such as a medical assessment of their fitness for expeditionary travel. All guests must sign a disclaimer onboard to participate in offship activities. Guests should be sure to bring onboard sufficient supplies of any prescription medication they may require.

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms & Conditions:. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.

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