Shore excursions across Australia & New Zealand.
Curated day tours for cruise passengers visiting ports across Australia and New Zealand — local guides, cruise-compatible timing and guaranteed return to ship.
What's included
- —Cruise ship-compatible timing and logistics
- —Private and small-group options
- —Local guides at every port
- —Seamless return-to-ship coordination
- —Flexible itineraries for all activity levels
- —Live monitoring of cruise schedules and traffic
Australian ports
Sydney
Sydney's cruise terminal sits steps from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge — the city itself is the headline excursion, with the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley as full-day options.
- Sydney highlights — Opera House, Bondi Beach & The Rocks
- Blue Mountains & Featherdale Wildlife Park
- Hunter Valley wine tasting day tour
- Sydney Harbour lunch cruise
Melbourne
Station Pier is 15 minutes from the CBD by tram. Passengers can explore Melbourne's laneways and arcades, or head to the Great Ocean Road, Yarra Valley or Phillip Island.
- Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles
- Yarra Valley wineries & gourmet lunch
- Phillip Island Penguin Parade
- Melbourne city, laneways & Queen Victoria Market
Brisbane
Brisbane's new terminal opens onto South-East Queensland — the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast hinterland and Moreton Bay are all within easy reach of a single port day.
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary & Mt Coot-tha
- Gold Coast & Currumbin Wildlife
- Sunshine Coast hinterland — Montville & Maleny
- Moreton Island day cruise
Hobart (Tasmania)
Hobart's wharf is a short walk to Salamanca Place and the MONA ferry. Tasmania rewards day-trippers with Mt Wellington, Port Arthur and Bonorong wildlife sanctuary.
- MONA museum & Salamanca Place
- Port Arthur historic site
- Mt Wellington summit & Bonorong wildlife sanctuary
- Bruny Island gourmet & wildlife tour
New Zealand ports
Auckland
Auckland's CBD is right at the wharf. Waiheke Island wine tours, Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Hobbiton are the classic day-tour options.
- Waiheke Island wine tour
- Waitomo Glowworm Caves
- Hobbiton Movie Set
- Auckland city sights & Sky Tower
Tauranga
Tauranga is the gateway to Rotorua's geothermal landscapes and Māori culture, just over an hour inland.
- Rotorua geothermal & Māori cultural performance
- Mt Maunganui summit walk
- Tauranga & Papamoa Beach
- Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard tour
Christchurch
Gateway to the Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula — rebuilt garden city with tram tours, Avon punting and easy access to Akaroa's French colonial village.
- Christchurch city & tram tour
- Banks Peninsula & Akaroa village
- International Antarctic Centre
- Canterbury high-country & Castle Hill
Timaru
South Canterbury port giving access to the Mackenzie Country, Lake Tekapo and the limestone landscapes of the Waitaki Valley.
- Lake Tekapo & Church of the Good Shepherd
- Mt Cook alpine scenic drive
- Waimate White Wallaby sanctuary
- Timaru historic city & Caroline Bay
Dunedin (Port Chalmers)
Scottish-heritage city on the Otago Peninsula — Larnach Castle, Speight's Brewery and world-class wildlife including royal albatross and yellow-eyed penguins.
- Otago Peninsula wildlife & Royal Albatross Centre
- Larnach Castle & gardens
- Dunedin city, Railway Station & Speight's
- Taieri Gorge scenic rail
How to choose the right shore excursion.
Not every port call suits every tour. A 10-hour Auckland turnaround leaves plenty of time for Hobbiton or Waitomo; a 6-hour window is better filled with a city highlights loop or Waiheke ferry.
Tender ports like Akaroa add extra complexity. Even when the schedule looks generous, tendering can eat 30–45 minutes from your usable time. Cruise-compatible itineraries are designed around the real window, not the published one.
Mercury Travel builds every shore excursion with a guaranteed return-to-ship clause and live traffic monitoring. If a road closes or a ship's departure shifts, our ground team reroutes or switches to a local alternative on the fly.
Check your real window
Subtract tender time and all-aboard buffer from the published hours to find your true tour window.
Match the group size
Private vehicles suit families and small groups; coach tours work well for larger parties.
Pick one highlight
Trying to cram two long-distance attractions into one port day almost always ends in stress.
Confirm the backup plan
Ask your operator what happens if the ship arrives late or the itinerary changes.
Shore excursion FAQ
How long before departure should I return to the ship?
Mercury Travel shore excursions plan to return at least 60–90 minutes before published sail-away time. This covers traffic delays, tender queues and last-minute changes.
Are private shore excursions available for small groups?
Yes. We run private vehicles and guides for groups of 4–20 passengers. Private tours offer flexible pacing, custom stops and dedicated return timing.
What happens if the ship arrives late or changes itinerary?
Our operations team monitors cruise schedules in real time. If a call is shortened or shifted, we adjust start times, swap long-distance itineraries for local options, or provide full refunds if the tour cannot run.
Can I book directly or do I need to go through my cruise line?
Travel agents and wholesalers book our shore excursions on behalf of their clients. If you are a passenger, ask your agent about Mercury Travel day tours.
Planning a cruise call?
Request a full shore excursion programme with port-by-port itineraries, pricing and backup plans.