Australia & New Zealand

I have crossed the Pacific by ship in both directions, with stops in Hawaii, Tahiti and Moorea along the way and time in Auckland, Brisbane and the Gold Coast at the other end. These two countries reward people who give them time. The flights are long and the distances inside each country are bigger than most people expect, which is exactly why a cruise or a long-distance train works so well here. You unpack once and the scenery comes to you.

Ocean cruises

The cruise season runs from October through April, which is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a good way to trade a Texas winter for warm weather and long evenings. A typical sailing pairs Sydney with the New Zealand coast: Melbourne and Hobart in Tasmania, then across the Tasman Sea to Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga for Rotorua, and Auckland. Some itineraries add scenic cruising through Fiordland on the South Island, and those are the ones I steer people toward when the dates work.

Viking Ocean sails 14-night voyages between Sydney and Auckland in both directions, on ships that carry fewer than a thousand guests, with a shore excursion included in every port. For couples who want a smaller ship and fewer decisions once onboard, this is where I start. Princess has three ships sailing from Australia for the 2027-28 season, its biggest presence there yet, with everything from short sailings to full trips around Australia. Royal Caribbean also has three ships sailing from Sydney and Brisbane that season, a good fit for multigenerational families who want plenty to do onboard. Holland America sails the region too, including long crossings between Auckland and Seattle.

Getting there by sea

You do not have to fly the whole way. Ships reposition across the Pacific every spring and fall to follow the seasons, usually by way of Hawaii and the South Pacific islands, and they arrive in Australia or New Zealand ready for the cruise season. You fly one direction instead of two, and the long trip over becomes part of the vacation. These crossings have a lot of sea days, so they suit people who like a slow morning, a good book and a ship they enjoy spending time on. I'll help you decide whether that is you before you commit to three weeks of it.

Train travel in Australia

Australia's three great long-distance trains are run by Journey Beyond. Meals, drinks and off-train excursions are included, so it travels a lot like a small cruise on rails, with a private cabin and the outback going by your window.

• The Ghan runs between Adelaide and Darwin, straight through the Red Centre and up to the tropical north.
• The Indian Pacific crosses the whole continent between Sydney and Perth, across the Nullarbor Plain and the longest stretch of straight railway track in the world. Eastbound from Perth it is four nights, with stops in the Barossa Valley, Broken Hill and the Blue Mountains.
• The Great Southern runs only in the Australian summer, between Brisbane and Adelaide down the east coast.

2027 departures are open now, and the best dates on The Ghan go early. I book these trains through Railbookers, which packages the rail days with hotels, sightseeing and transfers so the whole trip connects.

Train travel in New Zealand

New Zealand's scenic trains are day journeys rather than overnight ones, and they fit neatly into a guided tour of both islands.

• The TranzAlpine crosses the Southern Alps between Christchurch and Greymouth, over Arthur's Pass.
• The Coastal Pacific follows the South Island's east coast between Christchurch and Picton, where the ferry crosses to the North Island. It runs seasonally.
• The Northern Explorer connects Auckland and Wellington in about a day, past Tongariro National Park.

Railbookers has New Zealand packages that string all three together with the ferry, the hotels and sightseeing like the Waitomo glowworm caves and Fiordland National Park, so you get the train days without piecing the trip together yourself.

Before and after your cruise

Most sailings start or end in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Auckland, and I always recommend adding nights on the front end. After a flight that long you want a buffer before the ship sails, and these are cities worth the time. I'll place you in a hotel close to the port and the things you want to see. This is also where a cruise and a train pair up well: the Indian Pacific into Sydney, then a sailing across to Auckland, makes a very good trip.

Good to know

The seasons are reversed. December and January are high summer. June through August is winter, though that is prime time for The Ghan in the outback, when the days are mild and dry.

You need an electronic travel authorization for both countries, even if you only visit on a cruise. U.S. citizens apply through Australia's ETA app and New Zealand's NZeTA. I'll make sure you have both before you go.

Biosecurity is strict. Australia and New Zealand both check carefully for food, plants and anything that has been outdoors, including hiking shoes. Leave the snacks from home behind and declare anything you are not sure about.

Plan for the time difference. Brisbane is 15 hours ahead of Central time during our summer and 16 hours ahead in our winter. Give yourself that first day to adjust.

Why book Australia and New Zealand with me

A trip this far from home has a lot of moving parts: long flights, a ship or a train with limited departures, and hotels on either end that need to line up with both. That is the part I handle. If you are near San Antonio, I'd rather sit down with you in person and hand you a printed, bound itinerary than send you off with a confirmation number. If you are farther away, we plan by phone or video and I ship your bound itinerary to your door.

More on Australia and New Zealand

• Australia Coast To Coast Adventure
• The Land Down Under: The Ultimate Guide To Australia
• Top Five Luxury Train Journeys