Viking Orion Cruise Australia and New Zealand

After spending a few weeks in Sydney Australia, we boarded the Viking Cruise Lines ship Orion. The Orion sailed from Sydney to Melbourne and then across the Bass Strait to Hobart, Tasmania. From there we sailed the Forveaux Strait across to New Zealand and visited Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Rotorua/Tauranga and finally departed at Auckland.

As a cruise, opportunities for serious landscape photography were limited. Shore excursions tend to be during the day and quick paced. There isn’t any freedom to stay in a place and see what the sunset or sunrise will produce since you are limited by sailing times of the ship and transportation. Even so, I think there are a number of interesting photographs here that are worth seeing as they document our travels.

Note: None of my images use AI generated content.

Blue Mountain Cable Car

Blue Mountain Cable Car

Before embarking our ship we took an excursion to the famous Blue Mountains outside of Sydney.

Blue Mountains Panorama

Blue Mountains Panorama

Sailboat on the Parramatta River at the entrance to Sydney Harbor.

Sailboat on the Parramatta River at the entrance to Sydney Harbor.

Goofing around at the Sydney Zoo.

Goofing around at the Sydney Zoo.

We embark Viking Orion.

We embark Viking Orion.

Exploring Viking Orion. Grand Stairway.

Exploring Viking Orion. Grand Stairway.

A light lunch on board.

A light lunch on board.

Exploring Viking Orion. Explorer's Lounge.

Exploring Viking Orion. Explorer's Lounge.

Exploring Viking Orion. Explorer's Lounge.

Exploring Viking Orion. Explorer's Lounge.

Exploring Viking Orion. Wintergarden.

Exploring Viking Orion. Wintergarden.

Exploring Viking Orion. Aquavite Terrace.

Exploring Viking Orion. Aquavite Terrace.

Good night's sleep on board.

Good night's sleep on board.

Sailing away from Sydney under the Harbour Bridge.

Sailing past historic Fort Denison.

Sailing past historic Fort Denison.

We interrupt a sailboat race as we leave the harbor.

We interrupt a sailboat race as we leave the harbor.

Farewell to the harbor pilot.

Farewell to the harbor pilot.

Truly at sea...

Truly at sea...

Melbourne, Victoria Australia.

Melbourne, Victoria Australia.

Shrine of Remembrance War Memorial. Melbourne Australia.

Shrine of Remembrance War Memorial. Melbourne Australia.

Shrine of Remembrance Entrance. Melbourne Australia.

Shrine of Remembrance Entrance. Melbourne Australia.

Shrine of Remembrance Interior. Melbourne Australia.

Shrine of Remembrance Interior. Melbourne Australia.

Sailing the Bass Strait to Tasmania.

Sailing the Bass Strait to Tasmania.

Arrival in Hobart, Tasmania.

Arrival in Hobart, Tasmania.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens. Magnolia Blossom.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens. Magnolia Blossom.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens.

Dunedin New Zealand. Train Station.

Dunedin New Zealand. Train Station.

Dunedin New Zealand. Victorian Manor House.

Dunedin New Zealand. Victorian Manor House.

Dunedin New Zealand. St. Paul's Gothic Church.

Dunedin New Zealand. St. Paul's Gothic Church.

Dunedin New Zealand. Robert Burns Statue.

Dunedin New Zealand. Robert Burns Statue.

Royal Albatross Center, Otago Peninsula near Dunedin New Zealand. Red Billed Gull.

Royal Albatross Center, Otago Peninsula near Dunedin New Zealand. Red Billed Gull.

Royal Albatross Center, Otago Peninsula near Dunedin New Zealand. Endangered Northern Royal Albatross.

Royal Albatross Center, Otago Peninsula near Dunedin New Zealand. Endangered Northern Royal Albatross.

Royal Albatross Center, Otago Peninsula near Dunedin New Zealand. Northern Royal Albatross Launching.

Royal Albatross Center, Otago Peninsula near Dunedin New Zealand. Northern Royal Albatross Launching.

Royal Albatross Center, Otago Peninsula near Dunedin New Zealand. Northern Royal Albatross in flight.

Royal Albatross Center, Otago Peninsula near Dunedin New Zealand. Northern Royal Albatross in flight.

Arrival at Christchurch New Zealand.

Arrival at Christchurch New Zealand.

Christchurch New Zealand. Dog herding sheep.

Christchurch New Zealand. Dog herding sheep.

Christchurch New Zealand. Sheep shearing.

Christchurch New Zealand. Sheep shearing.

Christchurch New Zealand. Sheep shearing.

Christchurch New Zealand. Sheep shearing.

Wellington, New Zealand. Cable Car.

Wellington, New Zealand. Cable Car.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden Lilly Pond.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden Lilly Pond.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden Water Lilly.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden Water Lilly.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden Orchids.

Wellington, New Zealand. Lady Norwood Rose Garden Orchids.

Cook Strait Sunset.

Cook Strait Sunset.

Napier, New Zealand. Arrival.

Napier, New Zealand. Arrival.

Napier, New Zealand. Art deco architecture. Criterion Hotel.

Napier, New Zealand. Art deco architecture. Criterion Hotel.

Napier, New Zealand. Art deco architecture.

Napier, New Zealand. Art deco architecture.

Napier, New Zealand. Art deco architecture.

Napier, New Zealand. Art deco architecture.

Napier, New Zealand. Art deco architecture.

Napier, New Zealand. Art deco architecture.

Napier, New Zealand. Marla goofing around.

Napier, New Zealand. Marla goofing around.

Tauranga, New Zealand. Mount Maunganui.

Tauranga, New Zealand. Mount Maunganui.

Tauranga, New Zealand. Bay of Plenty sunset.

Tauranga, New Zealand. Bay of Plenty sunset.

Tauranga, New Zealand. Bay of Plenty sunset.

Tauranga, New Zealand. Bay of Plenty sunset.

Tauranga, New Zealand. Bay of Plenty sunset.

Tauranga, New Zealand. Bay of Plenty sunset.

At sail in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

At sail in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Auckland, New Zealand. Arrival at dawn.

Auckland, New Zealand. Arrival at dawn.

Auckland, New Zealand. Michael Joseph Savage Memorial.

Auckland, New Zealand. Michael Joseph Savage Memorial.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Auckland, New Zealand. Maori Haka Ceremony.

Here are a few short videos taken during our cruise…

Maori children perform Haka at Paengoroa Community Hall near Tauranga, New Zealand.

Maori children perform Haka at Paengoroa Community Hall near Tauranga, New Zealand.

Maori Haka performed on Viking ship Orion at anchor in Auckland Harbor New Zealand.

Maori Haka performed on Viking ship Orion at anchor in Auckland Harbor New Zealand.