Coral Adventurer
Ship Facts
Year Built: 2019
Passenger Capacity: 120
Crew: 48
Length: 93.4 m
Beam: 17.2 m
Draft: 4.5 m
Cruising Speed: 13.8 knots
Flag: Australia
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New Zealand Lesbian Adventure Cruise 2025
January 06 – 16, 2025
Coral Expeditions Coral Adventurer
Join us aboard the Coral Adventurer for an adventure all-lesbian cruise of a lifetime. We will board in Wellington and spend 10 days exploring the rolling green hills, charming coastal towns, and pristine coastline of the North and South Islands. You’ll have the chance to hike a portion of the world-famous Queen Charlotte Track, spot endemic wildlife like the Yellow-eyed Penguin (the world’s rarest penguin!), or stroll the quaint colonial streets of Akoroa, a historic French settlement nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano. We will cruise through the emerald waters of Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, marveling at the ancient rainforest that clings to the shimmering granite cliffs of Milford, Dusky, and Doubtful Sounds.
You will have ample opportunities to savor world-renowned New Zealand wines and enjoy small-batch dining with locally sourced ingredients while on board. Throughout our adventure, we will be guided and educated by a team of onboard naturalists as we keep an eye out for wildlife like whales, dolphins, seals, albatross, and more!
• Cruise past Solander Island, a trio of uninhabited volcanic islets with rare wildlife, ferns, orchids, and birds such as fernbirds, snipe, and white-fronted terns.
• Explore Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage site with 14 fiords carved by glaciers over thousands of years. Our voyage visits the iconic Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds over three epic days
• Take a guided tour or enjoy time to yourself in Dunedin, a city settled in and around an ancient volcanic crater, with rich Scottish and Maori heritage and unique cathedrals and architecture
• Stroll through the quiet forests of Ulva Island to spot New Zealand’s iconic birds, including the Stewart Island Weka, South Island Saddleback, Yellow-and Red-crowned Parakeet (Kakariki) and Rifleman (New Zealand’s smallest bird)
• Visit Kaikoura, renowned as amongst the best whale watching destinations in the world to sight the breaching sperm whales
• Enjoy a day at sea as we sail by Solander Island and a memorable day in Akaroa, a small and scenic settlement with a unique French heritage
Coral Adventurer Expedition Cruise Ship
Launched in April 2019, Coral Adventurer is a tropical expedition ship purpose-designed to access remote wilderness shores in Australia and internationally, that are often inaccessible to large cruise vessels.
Coral Adventurer features spacious and vibrant living spaces created by Brisbane interior design firm, Arkhefield, inspired by the company’s Australian ethos and the wide-open spaces the ship visits. The ship’s lightweight dual Xplorer expedition tenders, another trademark feature of all Coral Expeditions vessels, extend the capabilities of the ship by allowing deeper exploration on shore excursions. These ‘safari jeeps’ of the sea are fast, sturdy, and comfortable and developed to allow easy boarding from the ship and walk-off disembarkation onto remote shores.
The perfect balance between being large enough for ocean voyaging in comfort yet creating the intimate and relaxed atmosphere for which Coral Expeditions is renowned, Coral Adventurer embodies our Australian philosophy of adventure, relaxation, generosity, storytelling, and appreciation for the great outdoors. Carrying a maximum of 120 passengers – Coral Adventurer is purpose-built to take you closer to unspoiled vistas in comfort, style, and safety.
The Coral Adventurer features all outside-facing guest cabins with ensuite bathrooms; the majority have a private balcony. Our active stabilisers dampen sea motion whilst travelling on your voyage. Coral Adventurer also features a well equipped gym, passenger elevator and Wi-Fi in all areas for guest comfort.
Meet like minded explorers during single seating dining, with communal table serves for breakfast and lunch, and multi-course table d’hote dinners. The showcase galley allows for viewing as our chefs create fresh small-batch cuisine featuring Australian and local produce. There are multiple indoor and outdoor bars, including our Explorer Bar on the sundeck for sunset drinks, and a curated wine cellar featuring boutique wines and exceptional vintage Australian red.
With a maximum of 120 guests, our chefs have the creative freedom to prepare small batch meals from fresh seasonal produce. Our dining room offers open seat dining without the need to reserve a table. Meals are served in a combination of family table platters and table d’hote. Morning and afternoon teas are also provided, as is 24-hour access to tea and coffee.
Selected beers, wines and spirits are included with lunch and dinner service, as well as soft drinks and juices. Fresh drinking water is available onboard at water stations. We offer two new Wine Selections that guests may purchase in addition to the included house selection.
There are fully stocked bars onboard with an excellent selection of beers, wines, and spirits. Bar hours are 10:00 am to late. The laws governing our liquor license prohibit alcohol being brought onboard by guests.
Coral Adventurer features two trademark Xplorer tenders, which seat all passengers and facilitate comfortable shore excursions, and six zodiacs for more intrepid exploration. The lecture lounge allows for daily expedition briefings and expert presentations, and the small onboard library features a range of books on destinations and wildlife. The shallow draft and advanced navigation and propulsion systems allowing access to locations closed to large cruise ships.
Guests can enjoy over 1000 square metres of open deck space, including a wrap-around promenade deck with panoramic views. Our crew invite you to join engine room tours, with a high level of crew interaction with guests.
The vessel is air-conditioned throughout and passengers are able to modify room temperature in their cabin. Please note, for safety reasons the windows and portholes do not open.
What's Included?
• Accommodations for 11 days / 10 nights on board Coral Expeditions’ Coral Adventurer
• Excursions and services on a tailor-made itinerary
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner; including morning and afternoon teas and 24-hour access to coffee and tea
• Selected beers, wines and spirits are included with lunch and dinner service, as well as soft drinks and juices
• Fresh drinking water at drinking stations
• Lecture series about the destinations we will visit
• Daily housekeeping service and turndown
• Wifi available in all guest areas
• Gratuities, port taxes and fees (as covered by your NDAs)
• Personalized Team Olivia assistance throughout
What’s not included?
• Airfare home to Wellington, New Zealand and from Bluff, New Zealand to home
• Arrival airport transfer to the check-in location
• Travel insurance
• Beer, wine, spirits outside of lunch and dinner service
• laundry service, medical attention, and other incidentals.
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New Zealand
Lesbian Adventure Cruise
Itinerary
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Date |
Port |
Arrive |
Depart |
| 06 Jan |
Wellington, New Zealand |
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5 PM |
| 07 Jan |
Queen Charlotte Sound Scenic Cruising |
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| 08 Jan |
Kaikoura, New Zealand |
7 AM |
8 PM |
| 09 Jan |
Akaroa, New Zealand |
7 AM |
3:30 PM |
| 10 Jan |
Dunedin, New Zealand |
6 AM |
4 PM |
| 11 Jan |
Stewart Island & Ulva Island |
9 AM |
4 PM |
| 12 Jan |
Dusky Sound |
8 AM |
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| 13 Jan |
Fjordland: Dusky, Doubtful & Thomson Sounds |
6 AM |
8 PM |
| 14 Jan |
Milford Sound |
9 AM |
5 PM |
| 15 Jan |
Solander Island Cruise |
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| 16 Jan |
Bluff (Queenstown), New Zealand |
7 AM |
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Itinerary is subject to change.
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Day 1 - Monday, January 06, 2025
Wellington, New Zealand
Recently named “the coolest little capital in the world” by Lonely Planet, Wellington sits at the Southern tip of the North Island. Surrounded by nature, this compact city is fueled by a powerful mix of creativity, culture, history, and cuisine. Relax at Oriental Bay, Wellington’s golden-sand inner-city beach, or delve into the many museums, art galleries, and theater shows that make up the city’s vibrant cultural scene.On the waterfront, you’ll find one of the best interactive museums in the world: New Zealand’s national museum, colloquially known as Te Papa, meaning 'our place'.
Day 2 - Tuesday, January 07, 2025
Queen Charlotte Sound Scenic Cruising
20% of New Zealand’s coastline weaves through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, a collection of ancient sunken river valleys filled with the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The region is also famed for its culinary delights, producing nearly 80% of New Zealand’s wine and over 70% of New Zealand’s salmon and Greenshell Mussels. We will make a stop at Ship Cove (Meretoto), recognized as Captain James Cook’s favorite New Zealand base, and the location of some of the earliest sustained contact between Maori and Europeans. We will have several activity options while anchored here. Hop in an Xplorer tender and cruise the cove looking for marine wildlife. Grab your binoculars and join a fantastic bird watching walk at Motuara Island birdlife sanctuary. Slip on your trekking shoes and walk a section of the Queen Charlotte Track. If the waters are calm, you may even grab a paddle and try your hand at sea kayaking. After we raise the anchor, we will cruise the length of Queen Charlotte Sound, taking in the breathtaking scenery while we scan the horizon for marine wildlife.
Day 3 - Wednesday, January 08, 2025
Kaikoura, New Zealand
Known for abundant wildlife including dolphins, seals, albatross, and the possible sperm whale sighting, Kaikoura sits in a spectacular location between the rugged Seaward Kaikoura Range and the Pacific Ocean. Seafood lovers will be pleased to know that the town’s Maori name means “to eat crayfish.” You will have the option to explore Kaikoura’s museums, galleries, and cafes, or join an included tour, such as a whale watching charter or hiking with the Expedition Team on the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway.
Day 4 - Thursday, January 09, 2025
Akaroa, New Zealand
The charming town of Akaroa was the only French settlement ever established in New Zealand. The French-named streets and charming colonial cottages sit within the deep, sheltered Akaroa Harbour, a rocky inlet formed when the sea breached the crater of an ancient volcano. Today we will enjoy many activity options. Venture out on an included tour via land or sea: go wildlife spotting in the harbor, hike to Newton’s Waterfall with the Expedition Team, or join a 4WD penguin safari to visit White Flippered Penguin nesting sites. If you choose to explore on your own, you may stroll the charming streets of Akaroa and visit the historical cottages, museums, galleries, and French-inspired cafes.
Day 5 - Friday, January 10, 2025
Dunedin, New Zealand
The second-largest city on the South Island, Dunedin’s name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh. This boutique city sits within a former volcanic crater and is known for its Scottish and Maori heritage and Victorian and Edwardian architecture.
Today, you will have the choice between two included tours: an Otago Peninsula Coach Tour to scenic beaches and wildlife sites, or journey via railway through the spectacular and rugged Taieri River Gorge. In your free time, explore Dunedin at your own leisure and pay a visit to the famous Speights Brewery, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Settlers Museum, or New Zealand’s oldest botanical gardens.
Day 6 - Saturday, January 11, 2025
Stewart Island & Ulva Island
The Maori name for Stewart Island is Te Punga o Te Waka a Maui, which translates as “The Anchor Stone of Maui’s Canoe,” referencing the legend of how the North Island was fished from the sea by Maui, the great hero of Polynesian mythology. Today, the island is the southernmost Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world and over 85% of the island is designated as a National Park. Stewart Island has just 28 km of road, but 280 km of walking tracks, and is a haven for New Zealand’s iconic bird: the brown kiwi (Tokoeka), which outnumber humans on the island. Blue penguins and the rare, Yellow-eyed penguins waddle along the rocky shores. Today’s activity options will include a guided birdwatching tour at Ulva Island, a guided Xplorer cruise to Princes Point Whaling Station, short or long hikes, or free time to explore the village of Oban.
Day 7 - Sunday, January 12, 2025
Dusky Sound, New Zealand
No roads lead into Dusky and Doubtful Sound, so the area is only accessible by sea, making our ship the perfect vessel to explore the deep, glacially carved fjords of Fiordland National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a wild region famed for its rugged isolation, so what we will do very much depends on the weather. We may have a chance to take Xplorer cruises to see fur seals and marvel at the sheer granite walls soaring from the sea, or even go ashore at Astronomer’s point. Everything is subject to change, and we will truly be in ‘Expedition Mode.’ But rest assured, whether we go with Plan A or Plan G, we will be immersed in awe at this world-renowned wilderness!
Day 8 - Monday, January 13, 2025
Fjordland: Dusky, Doubtful, & Thomson Sounds
No roads lead into Dusky and Doubtful Sound, so the area is only accessible by sea, making our ship the perfect vessel to explore the deep, glacially carved fjords of Fiordland National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a wild region famed for its rugged isolation, so what we will do very much depends on the weather. We may have a chance to take Xplorer cruises to see fur seals and marvel at the sheer granite walls soaring from the sea, or even go ashore at Astronomer’s point. Everything is subject to change, and we will truly be in ‘Expedition Mode.’ But rest assured, whether we go with Plan A or Plan G, we will be immersed in awe at this world-renowned wilderness!
Day 9 - Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Milford Sound, New Zealand
On our third day of exploring Fiordland National Park, we will learn why Milford Sound was described as the Eighth Wonder of the World by Rudyard Kipling. The weather conditions will continue to determine the order we visit each location and the time spent at each site as we cruise Stirling Falls, the Overhang, Harrison Cove (where glaciers used to enter the sound), and Bowen Falls. We will keep an eye out for wildlife and enjoy opportunities to photograph one of the greatest icons in New Zealand: Mitre Peak, which rises 1,682 meters straight up from the Sound!
Day 10 - Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Solander Island Cruise / At Sea
The Maori name for this trio of uninhabited volcanic islets is Hautere, which translates to “flying wind.” Laying to the south of the South Island, these islets have never been inhabited apart from brief marooning or shipwrecks. The Solander islands are a designated Important Bird area: fernbirds, snipe, and white-fronted terns call the islands home, and common diving petrels and Buller’s albatross breed here. We will cruise the islands from the ship, watching birds soar through the skies and hoping to catch a glimpse of migratory whales.
Day 11 - Thursday, January 16, 2025
Bluff (Queenstown), New Zealand
We will disembark in Bluff and take included coach transfers to Queenstown, where commercial flights are widely available from the Queenstown International Airport (ZQN). The transfers will take you directly to your Queenstown hotels or the airport, depending on your travel plans.
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