Australia, New Zealand cruises captivate with scenery, shore tours

Like many cruise ships that sail out of Sydney, Voyager of the Seas ties up in the heart of the city's downtown at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, which is located within walking distance of the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal is just steps away from several of the city's top attractions, including The Rocks area and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

A highlight of cruises out of Sydney is a sail-away past the city's Opera House and downtown skyline.

Passengers on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas line the top deck of the ship as it sails out of Sydney toward Sydney Heads, the entry to Sydney Harbor.

DreamWorks characters such as Shrek dance on the top deck of Voyager of the Seas during a Sydney sail-away party.

Cruise ships sailing out of Sydney often visit ports in New Zealand, including Auckland, the country's largest city.

The Auckland area offers cruisers a number of rugged beaches, including Bethells Beach.

A top attraction for cruisers visiting Auckland is a day trip to the many vineyards nearby the city, such as the Fullers Waiheke Vineyard.

Adventure activities available in the Auckland area include Blokarting.

Cruise-ship passengers gaze out over forests and bays during a walk in Waitakere Ranges Regional Park with Auckland-based tour company Bush and Beach.

Piha Beach is one of several black-sand beaches along the west coast of New Zealand that can be visited on day tours from Auckland.

Tony Dunn, of tour company Bush and Beach, uses a magnet to show tourgoers the heavy iron content of the black sand at Piha Beach.

Skyline Rotorua offers gondola rides up a mountain overlooking Rotorua, New Zealand, a lake resort area near the port of Tauranga.

Other adventure activites in the Rotorua area include what's billed as the world's first human-powered monorail ride. Called a Shweeb, it's located at Agroventures, an adventure park that also offers bungee jumping and New Zealand's fastest jet-boat ride.

Rotorua also is known for its geothermal sites, including the Champagne Pool at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.

A visitor watches as a geyser shoots water skyward at Te Puia, a Maori-run complex in Rotorua that features several acres of geothermal sites as well as Maori cultural performances and displays.

A cultural performance at Te Puia in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Mountain biking is a popular activity in the Rotorua area and can be arranged by cruisers visiting for the day.

Cruisers visiting Tauranga, New Zealand and nearby Rotorua often stop at Kiwi 360, a kiwi fruit farm that offers tours and tastings.

A field of kiwi fruit plants at Kiwi 360.

The view from Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas on Nov. 30, 2012 after it docked for the first time in Napier, New Zealand.

Among the day trips available for cruisers visiting Napier, New Zealand is Gannet Safari Overland's tour to see an unusually accessible cliff-side colony of gannets near the town.

More than 20,000 gannets live along the coast near Napier, New Zealand. credit: By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

A close-up of a gannet near Napier, New Zealand.

The coastline at Cape Kidnappers, near Napier, New Zealand, is rugged and steep.

Cruise ships sailing around New Zealand often stop at the Scot-founded town of Dunedin, home to what's billed as the world's steepest street.

Another often-visited attraction in Scot-founded Dunedin, New Zealand is Larnach Castle, a 19th-century creation that affords spectacular views of the Otago Peninsula and Dunedin's harbor.

Dunedin's architecturally significant Railway Station is often on the must-see list for cruise ship visitors.

A ride into the mountains on the Taieri Gorge Railway is a top attraction for cruisers visiting Dunedin, New Zealand.

Rare yellow-eyed penguins live along a peninsula near Dunedin, New Zealand and can be seen from hidden blinds at a private reserve called Penguin Place.

A yellow-eyed penguin saunters across a field at Penguin Place, a private reserve near Dunedin, New Zealand.

Penguins gravitate to small shelters that dot the countryside at Penguin Place, near Dunedin, New Zealand.

Passengers line the front of Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas as the ship sails into glacier-carved Doubtful Sound in New Zealand's Fiordlands.

A view from a cabin balcony on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas as the ship sails into glacier-carved Doubtful Sound in New Zealand's Fiordlands.

Passengers gaze out over New Zealand's glacier-carved Doubtful Sound from the promenade deck of Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas.

Passengers line the deck of Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas as the ship enters New Zealand's glacier-carved Milford Sound.

A view from the top deck of Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas as it sails deep into Milford Sound in New Zealand's Fiordlands.

A view from a cabin balcony on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas as it sails through New Zealand's Milford Sound.

Cosmopolitan Melbourne, Australia is home to high-end shops, restaurants and a wide range of attractions that will appeal to cruise visitors.

Janine Duffy of Melbourne-based tour company Echidna Walkabout leads a cruiser through a nature park that's home to emu.

Echidna Walkabout guide Janine Duffy and a tourgoer kick their legs in the air during a walk through a reserve near Melbourne, Australia. The practice is known for drawing the attention of emu.

An emu in a reserve near Melbourne, Australia eyes visiting tourists.

Tours operated by Melbourne-based Echidna Walkabout take visitors to see kangaroos in regional parks within an hour's drive of the city.

A visitor gets up close to a kangaroo during an outdoor trip with Melbourne-based Echidna Walkabout.

Echidna Walkabout guide Janine Duffy swings a pot of hot tea during a tour, mimicking the brewing techniques of early Australian explorers.

Cruisers on nature tours operated by Melbourne-based Echidna Walkabout often spot koala resting in trees.