A cruise and visits to beautiful and interesting places with no worries- without having to carry suitcases and almost without having to change hotels. An opportunity to enjoy the wonders of nature combined with a legendary sea experience.
The southern hemisphere is covered in water- more than ninety percent of it! Situated in the east are two amazing countries- Australia and New Zealand. The best way to visit them is by way of the sea, on a cruise. And if by sea, then only on a pleasurable, elegant cruise.
There is no need to change hotels. On this ship we can allow ourselves to become addicted to enjoying life since this is a ship that has that as its purpose- for us to relax and enjoy every minute. We will be on deck of a luxury ship of one of the leading cruise companies in the world, “Holland America.”
The Europeans discovered Australia in the seventeenth century with a Dutch explorer, Willem Janszoon arriving in 1606. In 1688 English explorer William Dampier explored the western coast and in 1770, Captain James Cook landed in eastern Australia and claimed it for Great Britain. At first it was used as a penal
colony for British criminals. But as years passed, it became a vibrant developing country. Most of its residents are of European extraction with only about 3.2% of the population being Aboriginal.
In Australia there is a large and active Jewish community. In our history, we remember with affection the soldiers from Australia and New Zealand (ANZAC) who took an active part in removing the Ottoman rule from Israel in 1917- and particularly in the battles in Gaza, Beer Sheva, and Jerusalem.
Australia is the chief breeding ground for marsupials. After a very short gestation, the newly born crawl into the pouches of their mothers where they are nourished and protected until they are able to live on their own.
Located almost 2000 kilometers (1200 miles) from Australia, New Zealand, its neighbor, also was claimed by the British crown. New Zealand is a group of large and small islands that contain the largest meadows and flocks of sheep in the world.
New Zealand is considered one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is idyllic for those who love nature and cultures. There is a mosaic of landscapes, cities, gardens, and sea. There are impressive fiords, bays, and rain forests. There are golden beaches near rocky beaches. There are active volcanoes, geysers, and quiet country villages. The country is comprised of two major islands- the North and the South. We will arrange visits to beautiful nature reserves and major cities.
Arrival to Sydney. We will be transferred to our hotel.
Weather permitting, we will travel to the Blue Mountains for a lovely day. It is a beautiful nature reserve that has forests of huge eucalyptus trees. The name “Blue Mountains” was given to this location because of the light fog caused by the evaporation of the ethereal oil of the eucalyptus trees.
READ MOREThe forests are huge and contain tens of varieties of eucalyptus trees. On the way to the Blue Mountains, we will stop at a very special zoo and in it we will see animals native to Australia: kangaroos, wallabys, koalas- and we will be able to be photographed with them. We will descend to the rain forest on an air conditioned cable car. It is the steepest descent in the world! On the way back, we will return to the visitors’ center via railway car!
Close thisToday we will go out to tour this vibrant city. We will go to a special observation point, from which we will be able to see both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the iconic Sydney Opera House.
READ MOREWe will take a walk near Bondi Beach and see the famous rock formations. We’ll visit the royal botanical gardens that are spread over 30 dunams (7.5 acres) of lawns- displaying many exotic plants- A truly a magnificent experience. We return to the hotel and prepare for shabbat.
Close thisAfter tfilot and breakfast, we will take a walk in the vicinity of the hotel.
Today we will board the MS Noordam for a spectacular two-week cruise to the magical shores and sites of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The ship is scheduled to sail at 18:30.
A cruise day during which we’ll enjoy films, lectures, and all sorts of treats!
At 8 a.m. we will dock at Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria and the second largest city in Australia. We will take a tour of this green city that sits on the banks of the Yarra River.
READ MOREWe will visit the city center, the train station, the national museum, and the memorial for the soldiers of Australia and New Zealand.
Close thisThis morning we will dock at the island of Tasmania, an island of abundant nature and amazing landscapes. It is one of the states that makes up the Federation of Australia. We will dock at the city of Burnie.
READ MOREWe will visit the city of Launceston, the second-largest city in Tasmania. The city offers an interesting combination of architecture, both Colonial and Victorian alongside magical cityscapes. We will continue on to the Cataract Gorge Reserve that combines dramatic natural landscapes and garden design from the Victorian period.The reserve is surrounded by wild natural parks and almost vertical cliffs by the side of the South Esk River as if flows into the Tamar River. We will finish our visit at Cradle Mountain, thought to be the most famous park in Tasmania.
Close thisFor these two days, the ship will offer us the opportunity to enjoy the many offerings it has for us.
Today we will sail through one of the most beautiful fjords in New Zealand and the world! Its steepness and depth allows ships to sail only a few meters from the cliffs that surround them and even to be sprayed by the powerful waterfalls falling to the sea the entire length of the fjord.
READ MOREWe will enjoy the dramatic view of the cliffs that fade away in the fog. If we are lucky we may see sea lions and seals, waterfowl and more. After the tfila and a meal, we will enjoy studying, listening to lectures, and other activities offered on the ship.
Close thisAt 8:00 a.m. we will dock in Port Chalmers and we will go by way of lookout points where we will see landscapes and isolated beaches to the city of Dunedin which has a Scottish character- because it was established by Scottish people in the period of the Scottish “Gold Rush.”
READ MOREWe will visit one of the houses that typifies the lifestyle in the beginning of the last century, “Olveston Historic Home” likewise we will visit “Glenfalloch Garden,” one of the prominent gardens in New Zealand, and the local museum. We’ll go on to visit the Otago Peninsula, home of animals and birds like the royal albatross and the yellow-eyed penguin.
Close thisToday we will anchor in the port city of Timaru that is located not far from Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, the capital of the Canterbury region.
READ MOREChristchurch is the last stop of expeditions before they leave for Antarctica. Therefore, we will visit the International Antarctic Center where we will see giant photos of Antarctica and we’ll see how it was discovered and mapped. We’ll see the animals that can survive its harsh weather and we’ll learn about the warming of the earth that has enabled large movements of ice. We may have a chance to ride in one of the specialized vehicles designed to move around in the harsh icy conditions.
Close thisThis morning we will dock at the small town of Kaikoura. We will travel to Picton, a small and picturesque town which is the gateway to the South Island. We will enter through Queen Charlotte Drive, 40 kilometers of breathtaking views.
READ MOREWe will visit the town of Blenheim which lies in the heart of the wine producing region of Marlborough, in which area are produced the finest wines in New Zealand, including kosher wines, known for their quality throughout the world. We will enter the fascinating flight museum and later we will enjoy walking along the main street of Picton and along its charming shore.
Close thisThis morning we will dock at the port of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, the second largest city after Auckland.The city is found at the southernmost point of the North Island.
READ MOREWe will take a train to see the beautiful view and later visit the botanical garden. We will be amazed at this world of spectacular flowers, preserved forests, collections of flora, and beautiful views in the city of Wellington. After this we will visit “Te Papa,” the famous national museum of New Zealand. In the museum are exhibits, some of them interactive, of the geology of New Zealand, the unique nature of New Zealand, and the history of the Maori, the original inhabitants of New Zealand. We will continue on to the center of the city and see the old parliament buildings.
Close thisToday we will dock in Napier and we will go for a tour of the “Art Deco” capital of New Zealand. Most of the buildings in the city are in the style of Art Deco, which accounts for its uniqueness.
READ MOREWe will walk through the streets of the city and we’ll see the buildings which are decorated and painted in a variety of pastel colors. We’ll visit the commercial area which has less expensive items than stores in other areas. We will talk about New Zealand’s success in the last 140 years particularly with Hastings Wine.
Close thisToday we will visit Rotorua which is commonly called “the brimstone city.” It is located in an active volcanic and thermal region. We will travel to Wai-O-Taou. In this reserve, we will see geo-thermic phenomena for which the entire area is known.
READ MOREWe also will visit the Maori village that contains Te-Puia. In the geo-thermic reserve we will see hot mud bubbles bubbling like boiling water and geysers. The ground here is sizzling and bubbling, boiling and creating sleam. The people ot Te Arawa came to New Zealand in the middle of the 14th century from the birthplace of the Maori, Hawaiki, and settled in Rotorua. Today, the Maoris are trying to preserve their culture and exhibit it at every opportunity with good humor and kindness. We will see this in their village Te-Puia. When we finish our visit there, we will return to the ship and prepare for shabbat.
Close thisAfter tfila and a meal, we will enjoy lessons and lectures. For all of our shabbatot, we will acfor volunteers for tfila , reading the torah, and for lectures/divrei torah. Of course we can enjoy whatever the ship offers us as well.
Good things come to an end- the cruise has ended. We will debark at the port of Auckland, called “the city of sailboats,” the largest and most populated city in New Zealand. We will leave our beautiful ship and go out for a tour of the sity.
READ MOREWe will visit the Auckland Museum which displays treasure of rare Maori art. We will continue with a visit to its botanical gardens, the home to more than 10,000 varieties of plants from all over the world. We will ascend the Sky Tower, the tallest tower in the Southern hemisphere that measures 328 meters high, and we will enjoy the 360 degree, panoramic view. We will visit the caves of Waitomo that stretch over a large area and will see the very special natural wonder of the glowworm cave!
Close thisOur incredible adventure in Australia and New Zealand is over, full of experiences! We will be transported to the airport and begin our journey home.
* Price per person in USD double or twin room
** Supplement Price for single room
Internal flights including fuel and taxes (subject to change)
Air conditioned bus for all tours and transfers included in the itinerary
Tours, visits, and entry to all sites mentioned in the itinerary
First class hotels
On the boat, a cabin with a window
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the ship and the ability to have sandwiches for lunch on days of excursions
A Shai Bar Ilan guide and local English speaking guides
Tips for local guides and service personnel
A logistical person from Shai Bar Ilan
Australian Visa (approximately $100)- from application, the visa may take as long as 45 days and your passport must have validity for at least 6 months.
Travel insurance for health and luggage
Tips for staff in ship- $15 per day, paid directly on ship
Personal expenses- drinks not included in the meals, laundry, other purchases
Tip for the Israeli guide, recommended $5 per person, per day
Shows or events not included in the itinerary
Note:
• The price of the tour is based on the participation of a minimum of 25 paying passengers
• With any change, cancellation, or problem related to flights, to the cruise, or traffic, the responsibility is on the airline or company providing the service
• There may be changes in the itinerary because of circumstances that we do not control
• The production of the tour is dependent on the responsibilities and condition that appear on the Kesher website www.keshertours.com
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the tour.
• Increases in flight and fuel costs may affect the price of the tour.
There may be changes to the order of places visited. We will make every effort to visit every place mentioned in the itinerary.
The tour organizers have no control over airline services such as seating, special meal requests, changes in departure times or delays. These remain the sole responsibility of the airline company.
Only strictly kosher food is provided to our travelers on all our tours. On some of our tours we are able to provide glatt meals. Kashrut is of utmost importance to us and we take special measures to ensure that everything served is kosher.
Breakfast is prepared using our utensils. We use local fresh fruits and vegetables, and we use milk products when they are permitted. We use kosher cereals, and bread. We usually serve hard boiled eggs and sometimes scrambled eggs or omelets. At breakfast, we prepare our lunches so that people have their choice as to what they eat for lunch. We bring food from Israel to supplement what is served in the hotel such as cheeses, peanut butter, tuna, etc.
For dinners, we serve either fish or meat (usually chicken) as our main course. In areas where meat is not available nor readily acquired, we will have fish. When possible, we acquire the meat locally from Chabad or other reliable kosher source, and in some cases we fly the meat in from Israel. We try to provide as many meat meals as possible. The main course at dinner is preceded by soup and salad and accompanied by freshly prepared vegetables. Dessert typically consists of fresh fruits.
We do not guarantee Pat Israel and Chalav Israel for all destinations.
In many destinations we have our own dishes and silverware. Where we don’t, we provide disposables at the meals. When we cook in hotel kitchens, we use our own knives, cutting boards, pots and pans, cooking implements and disposable metal trays. All food preparation is done on covered surfaces under the strict supervision of our trained staff/guides who function as our mashgichim.
We make great efforts to assure that our travelers will experience local foods first-hand, while maintaining stringent observance of Kashrut laws on all occasions.
On most of our tours, you will be accompanied by two of our staff members- one a guide for the tour who is knowledgeable about the places you are visiting and will accompany you throughout the day and the second, a person who will deal with the logistics of the tour and provide kashrut supervision in the kitchen.
It is our aim to provide the finest hotel possible in each area we visit. We require our hotels to allow us to work in the kitchen and to supervise the cooking and there are many hotels that are not willing to cooperate. They simply have no desire for us to be “meddling” in their cooking process nor are they happy about our bringing our equipment into their kitchens. We work very hard to find the best hotel in the area that will meet our requirements. Because we are not ready to compromise on kashrut, we may not always be able to use a five star hotel.
Payment conditions
• From the date of registration until 90 days before tour departure, the passenger will be charged a $500 registration fee.
• From 89 days to 61 days before departure, the traveler will be charged 50% of the cost of the tour.
• 60 days before departure, the payment will be completed.
Cancellation conditions
• Up to 90 working days* before departure, the traveler will be charged $100 registration fee only
• 61-89 working days* before departure, the traveler will be charged 50% of the price of the tour
• 15-60 working days* before departure, the traveler will be charged 75% of the price of the tour
• From 14 working days* before departure, until the day of departure, the traveler will pay the entire cost of the tour and any additional costs incurred.
Working days do not include: Fridays and Shabbat, holidays (chagim) including chol hamoed, Sundays and holidays in the US or other countries.
