Sydney is within the Australian Eastern Standard Time zone which is UTC/GMT+10 and it is 14 hours ahead of New York's Eastern Standard Time zone, so when it's noon in New York, it's 2:00AM in Sydney. 

New Zealand is located just west of the International Date Line, and its standard time is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Thus, when it's noon in New Zealand, it's 4pm on the previous day in San Francisco, it's 7pm on the previous day in New York, and it's midnight in London. In New Zealand, daylight saving time starts the first weekend in October and ends in mid-March.

SYDNEY

Although you'll be visiting Australia and New Zealand in their summer, the weather can be unpredictable, so pack warm, weatherproof clothing, including a rain jacket, comfortable, rain-proof walking shoes, and sunscreen. In Australia, expect mild temperatures like 75°F in Sydney, with few formal dress codes although you may wish to dress up slightly for dinner aboard our ship.  Similarly, in New Zealand, weather can change rapidly, so bring a hat, umbrella, and comfortable walking shoes. Be sure to leave room in your suitcase for gifts from both countries. 

Complete valet services, including laundry, pressing and wet cleaning, are available at an additional charge and may be arranged through your butler. Customary charges will apply. A self-service launderette offers washing machines, dryers, irons and laundry supplies, allowing you to limit the amount of cruise luggage needed.

A valid passport is required for all entering visitors, and it must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure date from Australia. All visitors (except citizens of New Zealand) must obtain an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority), an electronic visa prior to arriving. The visa itself is free, although there is a service charge (about $20AUD/$13USD) for getting it via Internet. It allows for unlimited visits to Australia, up to 3 months each, within one year period. To apply online, go to www.eta.immi.gov.au, or you can apply at Australian embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world.

A valid passport is required for all entering visitors, and it must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure date from New Zealand. Starting on October 1 2019, all travelers to New Zealand will be required to obtain an electronic New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) prior to arriving in the country. An individual NZeTA can be obtained either through the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority app, which costs $17NZD (seventeen New Zealand dollars), or through the NZeTA web site, which costs $23NZD (twenty-three New Zealand dollars). A NZeTA is good for two years. When you apply for your NZeTa, you will also be charge $35NZD (thirty-five New Zealand dollars) for IVL, which funds New Zealand's tourism infrastructure and protects their natural environment.

This tour starts in Sydney, Australia and ends in Auckland, New Zealand. You should make your own flight arrangements using the "open-jaw" or "multiple-city" search, to arrive in Sydney, Australia on Saturday, December 27, 2025. This tour ends after breakfast, on Monday, Friday, January 9, 2026 in Auckland, New Zealand.

To avoid jet lag (common when crossing more than five time zones), drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and eat light meals. Upon arrival, get exposure to natural sunlight and readjust your schedule (for meals, sleep and so on) as soon as possible. If you are prone to jetlag or travel fatigue, we recommend arriving a day early.

To avoid paying the single supplement, we offer guaranteed roommate matching, and we will try to match you with a roommate of similar age. Otherwise, there are single suites available on this cruise, but since the price is almost double that of a shared space, we expect that most of our travelers will be matched with a roommate. 

The Australia and New Zealand tour group is limited to a maximum of 16 women + the Tour Director. The minimum group size is 11 women + the Tour Director. In addition to the Sights and Soul Travels' Tour Director, the tour guests will be assisted by the Silversea staff (almost 1 :1 ratio of staff to cruise passengers.)

No vaccinations are required to enter New Zealand or Australia. it is important that you bring a sufficient supply of any prescription medicine you may need. Prescriptions cannot be refilled onboard, and usually cannot be refilled overseas. To prevent delays in clearing Customs, it is also a good idea to travel with a doctor’s letter explaining that your prescription medication is required for your continued health. It is also recommended that the medicine remain in its original container with the original pharmacy label intact. Each Silversea ship is equipped with a Medical Centre, which is customarily staffed by a doctor and nurse on 24-hour call when at sea. When docked, supplementary emergency care may also be obtained through local medical facilities. Guests may be charged for medical services and for medications used for their medical treatment.

New Zealand tap water is pollution-free and safe to drink. Australia's tap water is pollution-free and safe to drink, and bottled water is readily available, as well.

There are western style "public conveniences" strategically located in all cities and many towns. You'll also find well signposted public toilets on the street in most towns and cities. They can also be found in hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, museums, department stores, railway and bus stations, and service stations. Large hotels and fast-food restaurants are often the best bet for clean facilities. Please keed in mind that some public toilets may require payment, so you should always have some coins in the local currency with you to pay for them. 

New Zealand and Australia are generally very safe destinations, one of the safest in the world. Still, exercise the same care that you would in any major city. The downtown areas of the major cities, especially Sydney, Auckland and Christchurch, are now well covered by closed-circuit cameras, which are monitored by police. This has significantly helped to reduce crime. It is still advisable to exercise caution, especially on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, when social drinking sometimes gets out of hand. When it comes to traveling in the countryside, you should always be as cautious as you would be anywhere else. 

New Zealand men generally are respectful towards women, but there is a macho undercurrent in the society, especially when rugby and alcohol are part of the equation. Always take care in social environments, and if you are a single female traveling alone, don't drink too much, or you'll be easy prey.

Australia is generally a safe place for women travelers, although the usual sensible precautions apply. Australian men are generally respectful towards women, and sexual harassment is rare, though some macho Aussie males still slip, particularly when they've been drinking. Always take care in social environments, and if you are a single female traveling alone, don't drink too much, or you'll be easy prey. Some pubs in Sydney and other big cities post warnings about drugged or 'spiked' drinks: probably not cause for paranoia, but play it safe if someone offers you a drink in a bar.

During the Sydney to Auckland Luxury Cruise, we'll be traveling by bus to our land excursions, and we'll be covering some ground by foot. To be able to enjoy the cruise and the land excursions and to participate in scheduled activities, you need to be able to walk, at a leisurely pace, up to 3 miles throughout the day, frequently on uneven surfaces. You need to be able to stand unassisted for up to 30 minutes, you need to be able to climb stairs and get in and out of vehicles without assistance.

On this cruise you can expect mild to warm summer weather. Auckland will have temperatures around 18°C - 24°C (64°F - 75°F) with occasional rain, and Tasmania will be cooler, ranging from 12°C - 22°C (54°F - 72°F) with unpredictable weather and breezes. Milford Sound is typically 10°C - 20°C (50°F - 68°F), with possible rain but also lush greenery, while Sydney will be warmer, around 18°C - 26°C (64°F - 79°F), with sunny days and occasional heatwaves. Pack light, breathable clothing, sunscreen, and layers for cooler evenings and rain protection.

All guests onboard Silversea Nova will be granted free, unlimited standard Wi-Fi for 1 device at the time. Standard Wi-Fi is provided at regular satellite speed, ideal for emailing, web surfing, chat or similar, but not suitable for video, audio calls, or streaming. Premium WI-FI access is available at an additional charge and is suitable for all kinds of applications, including video and audio call and streaming. Telecommunications via satellite is a significantly different experience compared to high-speed connections on shore. The signal travels in a similar manner to radio waves but at much greater distances. That is why onboard Internet access is inconsistent and cannot be guaranteed at all times. Satellite communications are also affected by weather and the ship’s location. On board, guests may make and receive phone calls, text messages and other select data services on their own cell phone. Guests will be billed by their home cell phone provider and calls or messages will appear as roaming charges on their bill. Before leaving home, you should contact your provider to confirm that a roaming agreement with Silversea has been established. Silver Cloud is also equipped with a phone system that allows guests to make direct-dial calls from their suite whilst at sea. Calls will be billed to the guest’s onboard account.

Both 110-volt (U.S. current) and 220- volt (European current) outlets are provided in all suites, accommodating small appliances without the use of adapters or electric converters. A hair dryer is provided in each suite.

English is spoken by all New Zealanders. You'll hear Maori spoken on some TV and radio programs and in some Maori settlements. As New Zealand is officially a bicultural country, you'll also hear Maori words spoken in daily conversation.

Australia’s official language is English. However, being a multicultural nation with a significant migrant population, the country also enjoys a tremendous diversity of languages and cultures.

Some people like to bring local currency with them when traveling to a foreign country, but it is not needed, and depends on what you're comfortable with. We believe that the easiest way to get local currency is on arrival at the airport ATM. ATMs are common throughout New Zealand and Australia. You'll find them inside and outside all banks, in major shopping centers, in supermarkets and gas stations. Be sure you know your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Australian ATMs use a four-digit code, so check with your bank and make sure you change yours before you leave. Always carry a little cash, because many merchants will not take cards for purchases under A$15.

While onboard the Silversea Endeavor, cash, credit cards and travelers checks can be used. Upon embarkation, you will be asked to register your credit card number and expiration date, which must be valid through the final day of the voyage. All charges for services provided and products purchased on board must be settled in cash (U.S. dollars), by travelers cheques in U.S. dollars, or the registered credit card before final disembarkation from the ship. A 2% transaction fee will be charged for all cash advances. Foreign transaction fees are possible Authorization holds may be made on credit card purchases.

All gratuities are included in the cost of the Silversea Sydney to Auckland Luxury cruise. At the conclusion of the tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director a gratuity. We recommend $15 per person per day if you feel that her services enhanced your experience of visiting Australia and New Zealand.

Souvenir shops often sell New Zealand-made products that you won’t find anywhere else. The soft and resilient possum merino knitwear is made from the fur and wool of two species that thrive in New Zealand (brushtail possums and merino sheep). Sheepskin footwear, found for all ages in almost every color and handmade wooden photo albums are also very popular with travelers. Other things to bring from New Zealand are artistic glass, Maori handicrafts, New Zealand’s skincare products, especially the Evolu brand which uses botanical ingredients that are simple yet potent, New Zealand’s wines and extra virgin avocado oil, plain or infused.

The uniquely Australian gifts and souvenirs evoke the ancient mystery of Aboriginal culture with an Aboriginal artwork or artefact, such as the famous dot paintings. The popular souvenirs include jewellery made from opals, Australian pearls, the rare pink diamonds found only in Kimberley. Australia's fashion designers take pride in their outback inspired clothing, and you may like to bring home a pair of soft sheepskin boots or UGG boots. Other items that we've enjoyed are Australian wines, Bondi Wash cosmetics, TimTam chocolate biscuits, and tea from T2.

While onboard, the Silversea Endeavor Boutique is located on Deck 5, and it offers a selection of designer fashions, perfumes and Silversea logo items. Toiletries and convenience items are also available for purchase. The boutique is closed whilst in port and on occasion due to local government regulations..

New Zealand: Maori Culture | Maori Legend | New Zealand Wine | Books & Movies 
Australia: Sydney | Great Barrier Reef | Aboriginal Art | Books & Movies
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