In the Maori language Auckland is known as Tamaki Makau Rau, the city of 100 lovers, having earned the name because it was a place desired by all and conquered by many. The setting is spectacular, the city being nestled upon three harbours - the Waitemata, the Manukau and the Kaipara. Don't miss the chance to dine out in Auckland as the city has perfected the style of cuisine called "Pacific Rim", blending Asian and Pacific flavours. Seafood features prominently on restaurant menus so be sure to try New Zealand green lipped mussels and succulent Clevedon Coast oysters - all matched with an excellent New Zealand wine.

Experience spectacular cruising through pristine wilderness in the very heart of Fiordland National Park, the largest in New Zealand and one of the largest in the world. The park is bordered to the east by glacial lakes and to the west by the 14 fiords that give Fiordland its name. Orion enters via Thompson Sound enroute to Doubtful and Dusky Sounds.

At 421 metres depth, Doubtful is the deepest of these fiords. Exuding a peaceful serenity it is sometimes called “the Sound of Silence”. Abundant in both flora and fauna, these fiordlands are renowned for their excellent dolphin and seal viewing opportunities, either from Orion or onboard one of Orion's Zodiacs. Fiordland Crested Penguins are often seen on many of the small islets at the entrance of the fiord and at Nee Islets there is a fur seal colony.

Included Expedition
Doubtful and Dusky both include spectacular ship based cruising as Orion winds her way through the fiords. Due to strict national park controls Zodiac cruising is tightly monitored but does allow us to include a cruise and a landing at Astronomer’s Point where a short walk is possible.

Great Barrier Island, just 90km off the coast from Auckland, was named by Lt. James Cook for the barrier it forms between the Hauraki Gulf and the open sea. On the west coast of the island are steep, forest covered ranges with Mt Hirakimata (Hobson) the highest peak at 621m. On the eastern coast sweeping white sand beaches (including the one we intend to visit) tidal creeks and wetlands. The absence of possums has allowed the plant life to flourish and Great Barrier Island also has an impressive variety of birds, many of which are threatened and endangered.  Although logged extensively in the past much of the island is now covered with regenerating forest and bush and some fine stands of kauri still remain. On the island there are no banks, no traffic lights and just a few shops.

Included Expeditions
Today it is our intention to anchor in Port Fitzroy and make a landing at Bush Beach. From here there is a National Park walking track that we will follow to explore our surroundings on Great Barrier Island.

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 harbour to travellers. 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.

Included Expeditions
Guided walks for Orion guests with our Expedition Team today include a walk to the waterfall where Captain James Cook replenished his fresh water supplies in 1770 and also in the sanctuary on Motuara Island for bird watching.

Orion is the perfect viewing platform from which to see World Heritage listed Milford Sound; a memorable scenic cruise that includes glacial carved hanging valleys, the iconic 1600 metre high Mitre Peak and magnificent Stirling Falls. The Maori were the first to ascribe creation of the fiords to a “titanic mason”, Tute Rakiwhanoa – a concept you will find totally believable as Orion slips beneath sheer granite cliffs, not yet worn smooth by time.

Included Expedition
Along with the festivities onboard, Orion guests will enjoy amazing ship based and Zodiac cruising which will allow you to fully explore the famous Milford Sound.

The Mokohinau Island group is a small cluster of islands just over 20km northwest of Great Barrier Island.

Most of the islands are classified as nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries and access is extremely limited. The exception is Burgess Island which is classified as a scenic reserve.

The island group is made up of rocky “volcanic stacks” sitting on the outer edge of the continental shelf of New Zealand.

Burgess Island, known to the Maori as Pokohinu, is also the location of one of the most distant lighthouses from the NZ mainland first built in 1883. The Mokohinau Islands Lighthouse is our destination this afternoon to take in the scenic views.

Included Expeditions
We plan to visit Burgess Island and walk up to the island lighthouse to take in the scenery of this spectacular area.

Norfolk Island is rich in History and Culture from Captain Cook's discovery in 1774 to modern times. When the First Fleet arrived at Port Jackson in January 1788, Phillip ordered Lieutenant Philip Gidley King to lead a party of fifteen convicts and seven free men to take control of the island and prepare for its commercial development. They arrived on 6 March 1788.

Although much of the land has been cleared for cropping and pasture, the once-dominant Norfolk Island pines remain a notable feature of the landscape. The island has a wide variety of flora and fauna including geckos, bats, turtles, plentiful fish and many seabird species.

Before European colonization, most of Norfolk Island was covered with subtropical rain forest, the canopy of which was made of Norfolk Island Pine. Historic attractions include museums, the penal settlement and the culture arising from the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives, who settled on Norfolk after the mutiny of the HMS Bounty.

The legendary navigator of Maori oral traditional history, Kupe, first discovered the many islands that we now know as the Bay of Islands.

Orion plans to anchor in Te Rawhiti Inlet and make landing at Roberton Island or Motuarohia as it is known to the Maori people. Roberton’s white sandy beaches and native bird life embrace what the islands of this area have to offer.

Motuarohia Island features a number of Maori archaeological sites including pa (Maori fortified village), terraces, pits, and gardening evidence around the central lagoon area.

Captain Cook visited Motuarohia anchoring off Cook's Cove in 1769.

Included Expeditions
Our Zodiacs will land on the beach at Roberton Island today where you can take a walk, swim or generally explore, either on your own or with our expert expedition team.

On the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand we enjoy a fine 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.

Today Orion guests can explore the picturesque Bay of Islands town of Russell at your leisure, or join a guided historic tour of the township. This tour offers an insight into New Zealand’s earliest European history all in one memorable hour. Russell was originally named Kororareka by a Maori chief, it was renamed in 1844 and the town is very conscious of its unique heritage.

Today Russell is a peaceful retreat with an old world charm - though it bristles in summer with vacationers, and crewmen from yachts and launches anchored off shore.

This area is also famously known as being the home of the Treaty of Waitangi, the first official agreement between Maori and the British. A Zodiac transfer will be available to Waitangi (on the opposite side of the bay to Russell) for those who would like to visit this historic site.

Included Expeditions 
Zodiac transfers to Russell township will be available throughout the day to explore at your leisure or to join a complimentary guided tour. Designated transfers to Wiatangi to visit the Maori treaty grounds will also be available today.

Tiri Tiri Matangi is one of the world’s most successful conservation projects, The island is a Scientific Reserve as well as a Bird Sanctuary. A guided walk on this beautiful island is an enchanting experience indeed with a chance to sight many species of rare birds including kokako and saddleback and even a possibility for sighting the colourful takahe. It is often commented that the intensity of birdsong on Tiri Tiri is something to remember.

The island has a long and colourful history, including habitation by Maori, site of an important lighthouse and communications base, part of Auckland’s harbour defences during WWII, used for farming and of course through to encompass todays scientific and conservation efforts. In Tiritiri Matangi’s small world, endangered species may again begin to prosper. Kiwi, takahe, kokako, stitchbirds, brown teal and tuatara are all in recovery mode here, each with its own monitoring team and a recovery program that is linked to wider national rescue strategies.

In the afternoon we will relocate to nearby Kawau Island to explore it’s history. Kawau, named after the Maori word for a comorant, was once the private retreat of New Zealand Governor George Grey. Grey introduced Wallabies and Possum to the island. Several species of Wallaby still inhabit Kawau Island.

Included Expeditions
After a short Zodiac transfer we will land next to the Tiri Tiri wharf where we will be met by the local ranger and begin our guided walk on the island, in search of the rare birds known to inhabit the island. We will spend approximately 2-3 hours on the island.

In the afternoon we will have time to explore Kawau island, in particular to take a walk to the historic Masion House and her stately grounds.

Wellington, the Capital of New Zealand, is located in the centre of at the southern end of the North Island, dominated by Wellington harbour 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 centre just 2 kilometres 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.