January 5 – 19, 2028

Down Under Wine Odyssey

Two weeks across the Tasman with Bart and Barb. Auckland to Melbourne, aboard Silversea's Silver Moon.

Overview

A Slow Two Weeks at Sea

We'll board Silversea's Silver Moon in Auckland on January 5 and sail south through New Zealand's wine country — Tauranga and Gisborne first, then Hawke's Bay for Chardonnay and reds, on through Wellington, Christchurch, and the harbor towns of the south. The fjords of Doubtful and Milford Sound in the middle of the journey. Across the Tasman to Tasmania's pinot valleys for a day in Hobart, then Melbourne to wrap.

The journey is built around eight on-board O'Brien Estate evenings — quiet rooms, our wines, the people we'd want to spend two weeks with. Plus the optional shore tours we curate ourselves: Napier and Wellington in the middle, Yarra Valley after Melbourne if you want to extend, Sydney before if you can come early.

Day by Day

Itinerary

Jan5

Auckland, New Zealand

Embark · Depart 6:00 pm

5:00 – 6:00 pmO'Brien Estate Welcome Reception
Jan6

Tauranga, New Zealand

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 6:45 pm

Jan7

Gisborne, New Zealand

Arrive 9:30 am · Depart 6:00 pm

6:00 pmO'Brien Estate Cocktail Hour
Jan8

Napier, New Zealand

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

Optional Napier shore tour — F&WT release date August 2027

Jan9

Wellington, New Zealand

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

Optional Wellington shore tour — F&WT release date August 2027

Jan10

Lyttelton (Christchurch), New Zealand

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

6:30 pmO'Brien Estate Winemaker's Dinner
Jan11

Dunedin (Port Chalmers), New Zealand

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

Jan12

Timaru, New Zealand

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 4:00 pm

4:00 – 5:00 pmWine Hour — From Vineyard to Voyage
Jan13

Stewart Island, New Zealand

Arrive 9:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

Jan14

Doubtful Sound & Milford Sound

Cruising the fjords

3:00 – 4:00 pmWine Hour — Sips Among the Sounds
Jan15

Day at Sea

6:00 – 7:00 pmSundowner Gin Tasting
Jan16

Day at Sea

2:00 – 4:00 pmWine Seminar & Tasting
Jan17

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Arrive 8:00 am · Depart 5:00 pm

Jan18

Day at Sea

5:00 – 6:00 pmFarewell — Toast to the Journey
Jan19

Melbourne, Australia

Debark · Cruise ends

What Makes It Ours

Eight Evenings on Board

Day 1 · Jan 5

Welcome Reception

Embarkation evening in Auckland — meet the group, find your sea legs, and pour the first glass.

Day 3 · Jan 7

Cocktail Hour

After Gisborne — our first proper hour together with the wines that brought you here.

Day 6 · Jan 10

Winemaker's Dinner

Christchurch evening — a multi-course dinner paired with reserves we don't open often.

Day 8 · Jan 12

Wine Hour — From Vineyard to Voyage

Timaru afternoon — the journey of a wine from vine to glass to ship.

Day 10 · Jan 14

Wine Hour — Sips Among the Sounds

While the ship slips through Doubtful and Milford — wine to match the view.

Day 11 · Jan 15

Sundowner Gin Tasting

Barb's idea. A quiet evening of small-batch gin before the sea takes over again.

Day 12 · Jan 16

Wine Seminar & Tasting

Day at sea — two hours on what makes Estate wines what they are. Questions encouraged.

Day 14 · Jan 18

Farewell — Toast to the Journey

Last evening before Melbourne — a toast to whatever the trip became.

If You Want More

Optional Programs

Jan 8

Napier Shore Tour

F&WT-curated optional tour of Hawke's Bay wine country. Itinerary released August 2027.

Jan 9

Wellington Shore Tour

F&WT-curated optional tour of Wellington's wine and food scene. Itinerary released August 2027.

Jan 19 – 22

Melbourne & Yarra Valley · 3-Night Land Program

Optional post-cruise extension into one of Australia's most respected wine regions. Itinerary released May 2027.

Jan 22 – 24

Sydney · 2-Night Extension

Optional post-Yarra extension to wrap the trip in Sydney. Itinerary released May 2027.

The Ship

Silversea's Silver Moon

Small enough to feel intimate, large enough to be comfortable. All 596 guests in private suites, each with butler service. Complimentary wines and spirits throughout the voyage. Gratuities included. Transportation into town in most ports.

The ship's S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Taste) program brings the food and wine of each destination on board — so the journey continues whether you're ashore or on deck. Specialty venues include Atlantide, La Terazza, The Grill, the S.A.L.T. Lab, and the Panorama Lounge.

596Guests
All SuiteAccommodations
40,700Gross Tons

Per Person, Double Occupancy

Pricing

Cruise-only fares below are valid if booked by September 16, 2026. All-inclusive: suite accommodations, butler service, most onboard meals, gratuities, complimentary beverages, government taxes.

Vista Suite

$11,025

Panorama Suite

$11,525

Classic Veranda Suite

$12,325

Superior Veranda Suite

$12,625

Deluxe Veranda Suite

$13,125

Silver Suite

$21,125

Royal Suite

$30,225

Silver Suite — 2 Bedroom

$30,725

Grand Suite

$32,925

Owner's Suite

$36,225

Prices do not include roundtrip airfare, transfers, cruise-line shore tours, select specialty dining, or Food & Wine Trails optional land programs. Silversea offers promotional savings throughout the year that may reduce the cruise fare; F&WT travel advisors will secure the best available rate at time of booking. Prices subject to change and availability; F&WT reserves the right to correct pricing errors. Once paid in full, prices will not increase except for government-imposed taxes, fees, or fuel surcharges.

Ready to Come Along?

Reserve Your Suite

Early-booking bonus through July 30, 2026 — $200 per suite shipboard credit.

Bookings, full terms, and the most up-to-date itinerary are handled by our travel partners at Food & Wine Trails. Click through for their booking page, or call them directly — they know the trip well.

Reserve at Food & Wine Trails

Or call 800-367-5348 · email info@foodandwinetrails.com

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