Aboard Queen Anne with Cunard Line
Cruise Overview
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.
The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing cities.
Along with its neighbor, Whakatane, this seaside city claims to be one of the country's sunniest towns.
Unlike most local towns, Tauranga doesn't grind to a halt in the off-season, because it has one of the busiest ports in the country, and the excellent waves at the neighboring beach resort of Mount Maunganui—just across Tauranga's harbor bridge—always draw surfers and holiday folk.
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
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.
The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing cities.
Along with its neighbor, Whakatane, this seaside city claims to be one of the country's sunniest towns.
Unlike most local towns, Tauranga doesn't grind to a halt in the off-season, because it has one of the busiest ports in the country, and the excellent waves at the neighboring beach resort of Mount Maunganui—just across Tauranga's harbor bridge—always draw surfers and holiday folk.
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
Cruise Itinerary
Aboard Queen Anne
Launch Year: 2024 Length: 323 Width: 34 Currency: Capacity: 2560 Crew Count: 1050 Deck Count: Cabin Count: 1331
Queen Anne’s breathtaking interiors take inspiration from our past to define a striking new design direction for our future. Come on board to discover a ship that is modern, yet timeless. A ship that offers both exciting, novel experiences, as well as our much-loved signature venues.
On a Queen Anne voyage feel inspired by the blend of classic and contemporary. Enjoy the freedom to do as little or as much as you choose and indulge in everything that makes a Cunard ship so special. With luxurious flourishes enhanced by stylish décor, every day on Queen Anne offers a chance to sail the world in unparalleled comfort.
Let tension dissipate in the tranquillity that awaits at the Mareel Spa, delight in the ceremony of our signature Afternoon Tea, and enjoy that extra special feeling as you descend into the Grand Lobby in your Gala Evening finery. Above all, rest easy in the knowledge that the finer details have been taken care of.
We look forward to welcoming you on board.
Queen Anne Facilities
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