| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 29th29 | OctOct | 202424 | Lautoka, Fiji, embark on the Scenic Eclipse II | | |
| North of Nadi through sugarcane plantations and past the Sabeto Mountains is Lautoka, nicknamed the Sugar City for the local agriculture and its big processing mill. With a population of around 50,000, it's the only city besides Suva and, like the capital, has a pleasant waterfront. It's the sailing point for Blue Lagoon and Beachcomber Cruises but is otherwise unremarkable for tourists, itself having few hotels and fewer good restaurants. Locals recommend the city as a less-expensive place to shop for clothing, but note that it can take as long as 45 minutes to drive here. Legend has it that Lautoka acquired its name when two chiefs engaged in combat and one hit the other with a spear. He proclaimed "lau toka" (spear hit) and thus the future town was named. Settle into your suite, in the sweet city of Lautoka, nestled in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane growing region. Step ashore where the first Fijians landed to understand why they chose to make this island paradise their home. In a land of dramatic displays such as warrior dances and firewalks, the attractions are much gentler: botanical gardens thriving with orchids; blissful beaches; lush forest; and warmly welcoming locals. Your journey into wonder begins with a warm greeting by the crew as you step on board Scenic Eclipse. Please book your flight to arrive into Nadi prior to 02:00 PM. |
| 30th30 | OctOct | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 31st31 | OctOct | 202424 | Tanna, Vanuatu | | |
| 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. Discovery: Soak in the Sulphur Bay hot springs at the base of Mt Yasur, or explore Tanna's Blue Cave, carved in a limestone cliff. Alternatively, see one the island's most magnificent waterfalls, taste the world-renowned Tanna coffee, or venture up to the smoking rim of Mt Yasur for an unforgettable experience. |
| 1st01 | NovNov | 202424 | Lifou Island, New Caledonia | | |
| Lifou is a commune of France in the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia. Lifou is made up of two main islands - Lifou Island and Tiga Island- in additional to a number of uninhabited islets. Lifou Isand is the largest atoll in the world. The island is actually made of fossilized coral - known as a makatea. Lifou island does not have any surface water and it relies on a freshwater reservoir accessed by caves. Lifou Island is best known for its vast atoll (the largest in the world). This ring-shaped coral reef affords some of the best snorkelling in the world. Popular activities on this island include scenic walks, relaxing days on the beach, swimming and snorkelling. There are no organized tours being offered during this call to Lifou Island, guests may explore on their own. 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. |
| 2nd02 | NovNov | 202424 | Kuto Bay, Isle des Pins, New Caledonia | | |
| Named by Captain Cook in the 18th century for its prominent, spiny pine trees, Île des Pins is a vibrantly beautiful island located in the Pacific Ocean and part of the New Caledonia archipelago. Surrounded by some of the world’s brightest aquamarine blue water, the island has also been nicknamed as “the closest island to paradise,” with tropical fish and coral that can be seen through the transparent waters of its lagoon. Île des Pins was used in the 19th century as a prison for political exiles from France and remains can still be seen at Kuto and in the village of Ouro. Today the island’s primary inhabitants of the island are the native Melanesian Kanaks, with 2,000 residents. One of the local sites to see on this island are the spear-shaped carvings surrounding a Catholic monument in the city of Kuto. The beaches in Kuto and close-by Kanumera are some of the finest beaches in the South Pacific and while Kuto is for swimming, Kanumera and the giant rock in its bay are for snorkelling. 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. Discovery: Discover the rich and colourful history of the L'Île-des-Pins' heritage with your on board Historian, or be immersed in nature on forested nature hikes. Alternatively, snorkel, kayak or stand-up paddleboard the natural aquarium of Oro Bay with your Discovery team. |
| 3rd03 | NovNov | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 4th04 | NovNov | 202424 | Norfolk Island, Norfolk Island | | |
| This South Pacific island lies off Australia's 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. Freechoice: Discover the life of world-renowned author Colleen McCullough during a visit to her home, as part of an exclusive guided tour of the author's magnificent property, or learn about the unique language of Norfolk Island, a fascinating mix of English and Tahitian, created by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives. Alternatively, see pots being thrown on the wheel by a master potter at Cottage Pottery, followed by a tasting platter of home-grown goats cheese or take an early morning walk through the rainforest at Palm Glen and learn about the local wildlife as you walk beneath a canopy of Norfolk Island palms. For the active, enjoy nine holes of golf at the local course. |
| 5th05 | NovNov | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 6th06 | NovNov | 202424 | Bay of Islands, New Zealand | | |
| The Tasman Sea on the west and the Pacific Ocean on the east meet at thetop of North Island at Cape Reinga. No matter what route you take, you'll passfarms and forests, marvellous beaches, and great open spaces. The East Coast,up to the Bay of Islands, is Northland's most densely populated, often withrefugees from bigger cities—looking for a more relaxed life—clustered aroundbreathtaking beaches. The first decision on the drive north comes at the footof the Brynderwyn Hills. Turning left will take you up the West Coast throughareas once covered with forests and now used for either agricultural orhorticulture. Driving over "the Brynderwyns," as they are known,takes you to Whangarei, the only city in Northland. If you're in the mood for adiversion, you can slip to the beautiful coastline and take in Waipu Cove, anarea settled by Scots, and Laings Beach, where million-dollar homes sit next tosmall Kiwi beach houses.An hour's drive farther north is the Bay of Islands, known all over theworld for its beauty. There you will find lush forests, splendid beaches, andshimmering harbors. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed here in 1840 betweenMāoriand the British Crown, establishing the basis for the modern New Zealandstate. Every year on February 6, the extremely beautiful Waitangi Treaty Ground(the name means weeping waters) is the sight of a celebration of the treaty andprotests by Māori unhappy with it. Continuing north on the East Coast, theagricultural backbone of the region is even more evident and a series ofwinding loop roads off the main highway will take you to beaches that are bothbeautiful and isolated where you can swim, dive, picnic, or just laze. .The West Coast is even less populated, and the coastline is rugged andwindswept. In the Waipoua Forest, you will find some of New Zealand's oldestand largest kauri trees; the winding road will also take you past mangroveswamps. Crowning the region is the spiritually significant Cape Reinga, theheadland at the top of the vast stretch of 90 Mile Beach, where it's believedMāori souls depart after death. Today Māori make up roughly a quarter of thearea's population (compared with the national average of about 15%). The legendaryMāori navigator Kupe was said to have landed on the shores of Hokianga Harbour,where the first arrivals made their home. Many different wi (tribes) livedthroughout Northland, including Ngapuhi (the largest), Te Roroa, Ngati Wai,Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri, Ngaitakoto, Ngati Kahu, and Te Rarawa. Many Māoriherecan trace their ancestry to the earliest inhabitants 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. Freechoice: Cruise the calm inland waters of the Bay of Islands with lunch included or enjoy a ferry ride to Russell, the birthplace of European settlement in New Zealand. Alternatively, discover the very best of the bay on a scenic cruise and journey through the Hole in the Rock (weather permitting) or join a Taste of the Bay tour. |
| 7th07 | NovNov | 202424 | Great Barrier Island, New Zealand | | |
| 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. Discovery: Zodiac cruise before sailing 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, look for albatrosses including the Campbell, Shy and Wandering. |
| 8th08 | NovNov | 202424 | Auckland, New Zealand, disembark the Scenic Eclipse II | | |
| Auckland is called the City of Sails, and visitors flying in will see why. On the East Coast is the Waitemata Harbour—a Māori word meaning sparkling waters—which is bordered by the Hauraki Gulf, an aquatic playground peppered with small islands where many Aucklanders can be found "mucking around in boats."Not surprisingly, Auckland has some 70,000 boats. About one in four households in Auckland has a seacraft of some kind, and there are 102 beaches within an hour's drive; during the week many are quite empty. Even the airport is by the water; it borders the Manukau Harbour, which also takes its name from the Māori language and means solitary bird.According to Māori tradition, the Auckland isthmus was originally peopled by a race of giants and fairy folk. When Europeans arrived in the early 19th century, however, the Ngāti-Whātua tribe was firmly in control of the region. The British began negotiations with the Ngāti-Whātua in 1840 to purchase the isthmus and establish the colony's first capital. In September of that year the British flag was hoisted to mark the township's foundation, and Auckland remained the capital until 1865, when the seat of government was moved to Wellington. Aucklanders expected to suffer from the shift; it hurt their pride but not their pockets. As the terminal for the South Sea shipping routes, Auckland was already an established commercial center. Since then the urban sprawl has made this city of approximately 1.3 million people one of the world's largest geographically.A couple of days in the city will reveal just how developed and sophisticated Auckland is—the Mercer City Survey 2012 saw it ranked as the third-highest city for quality of life—though those seeking a New York in the South Pacific will be disappointed. Auckland is more get-up and go-outside than get-dressed-up and go-out. That said, most shops are open daily, central bars and a few nightclubs buzz well into the wee hours, especially Thursday through Saturday, and a mix of Māori, Pacific people, Asians, and Europeans contributes to the cultural milieu. Auckland has the world's largest single population of Pacific Islanders living outside their home countries, though many of them live outside the central parts of the city and in Manukau to the south. The Samoan language is the second most spoken in New Zealand. Most Pacific people came to New Zealand seeking a better life. When the plentiful, low-skilled work that attracted them dried up, the dream soured, and the population has suffered with poor health and education. Luckily, policies are now addressing that, and change is slowly coming. The Pacifica Festival in March is the region's biggest cultural event, attracting thousands to Western Springs. The annual Pacific Island Secondary Schools’ Competition, also in March, sees young Pacific Islander and Asian students compete in traditional dance, drumming, and singing. This event is open to the public.At the geographical center of Auckland city is the 1,082-foot Sky Tower, a convenient landmark for those exploring on foot and some say a visible sign of the city's naked aspiration. It has earned nicknames like the Needle and the Big Penis—a counterpoint to a poem by acclaimed New Zealand poet James K. Baxter, which refers to Rangitoto Island as a clitoris in the harbor.The Waitemata Harbour has become better known since New Zealand staged its first defense of the America's Cup in 2000 and the successful Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in early 2009. The first regatta saw major redevelopment of the waterfront. The area, where many of the city's most popular bars, cafés, and restaurants are located, is now known as Viaduct Basin or, more commonly, the Viaduct. A recent expansion has created another area, Wynyard Quarter, which is slowly adding restaurants.These days, Auckland is still considered too bold and brash for its own good by many Kiwis who live "south of the Bombay Hills," the geographical divide between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand (barring Northland). "Jafa," an acronym for "just another f—ing Aucklander," has entered the local lexicon; there's even a book out called Way of the Jafa: A Guide to Surviving Auckland and Aucklanders. A common complaint is that Auckland absorbs the wealth from the hard work of the rest of the country. Most Aucklanders, on the other hand, still try to shrug and see it as the parochial envy of those who live in small towns. But these internal identity squabbles aren't your problem. You can enjoy a well-made coffee in almost any café, or take a walk on a beach—knowing that within 30 minutes' driving time you could be cruising the spectacular harbor, playing a round at a public golf course, or even walking in subtropical forest while listening to the song of a native tûî bird. 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 crew and take away memories of a truly unforgettable cruise. Please book your flight to depart out of Auckland after 12:00 PM. The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the voyage will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information. |
