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OUTbound · Australia & New Zealand

Australia & New Zealand Cruise

Full-ship LGBTQ+ charter aboard Azamara Pursuit.

Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge glow at dusk in OUTbound's Australia and New Zealand Cruise artwork.
OUTbound website; used with permission · Image source
Dates
February 14, 2028 – February 26, 2028
Ship
Azamara Pursuit · Azamara
Published price
$3,597 USD

Sailing snapshot

This 12-night ocean sailing runs from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia and lists 7 distinct stops. It is a full-ship LGBTQ+ charter, so the community program takes over the vessel.

Trip overview

Australia & New Zealand Cruise is OUTbound's full-ship LGBTQ+ charter aboard Azamara Pursuit from February 14 to 26, 2028. The Auckland-to-Sydney itinerary visits Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, then spends three days crossing the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait before an overnight in Melbourne and arrival for Sydney's 50th Mardi Gras anniversary. Published double-occupancy fares start at $3,597 per person; confirm the current cabin category and final terms directly with OUTbound.

Editorially rewritten from the operator's published trip details · reviewed September 4, 2026.

Before you put down a deposit

The booking decision

Best fit
Travelers who want a full-ship LGBTQ+ crossing from Auckland to Sydney timed to flow into Sydney Mardi Gras, with enough sea days to make the charter community as important as the ports.
Trip format
OUTbound charters the full 702-guest Azamara Pursuit. The ship-wide LGBTQ+ program accompanies a one-way New Zealand-to-Australia route rather than operating as a small hosted group.
What is included
The official page includes select spirits, beer and wine, bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, self-service laundry, and concierge service. Confirm gratuities, specialty restaurants, excursions, flights, hotels, transfers, and Mardi Gras land arrangements separately.
Fare basis
Double-occupancy fares start at a published $3,597 per person. Request the cabin-specific total, taxes and fees, payment schedule, cancellation rules, and any linked Sydney stay before comparing it with cruise-only prices.
Solo and cabin reality
OUTbound shows a separate solo-price schedule with single supplements that vary widely by category. Ask for the current total and exact room; on a 12-night crossing, both private space and deck position can justify more scrutiny than the starting fare.
Accessibility
No accessible cabin is promised on the public trip page. Christchurch transport, Dunedin terrain, tender or shuttle arrangements, and Mardi Gras crowds all require separate planning; confirm the ship room and any land component together.
Embarkation plan
This is Auckland to Sydney, so arrange open-jaw flights and arrive early in New Zealand. The ship ends in Sydney near the festival period, but any hotel, event access, or airport transfer should be treated as extra unless explicitly itemized.
Itinerary rhythm
Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin arrive before three consecutive sea days cross the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait past Tasmania; Melbourne stays overnight, then another sea day leads to Sydney. The central crossing gives the charter program unusually generous room.

Editorially reviewed September 4, 2026 from the primary trip source: iamoutbound.com. Confirm live inventory and individual requirements before paying.

Program itinerary

  1. 1Auckland, New Zealand
  2. 2At Sea

    Sailing New Zealand's North Island

  3. 3Wellington, New Zealand
  4. 4Christchurch, New Zealand
  5. 5Dunedin, New Zealand
  6. 6At Sea

    Tasman Sea crossing

  7. 7At Sea

    Tasman Sea crossing

  8. 8At Sea

    Bass Strait crossing past Tasmania

  9. 9Melbourne, Australia

    Overnight

  10. 10At Sea
  11. 11Sydney, Australia

    Overnight

Confirm the current daily itinerary with the operator before planning ashore. Ports and times may change.

Is this sailing a good fit?

Who it tends to suit

LGBTQ+ travelers who want an all-LGBTQ+ ship or riverboat, destination-rich itineraries, inclusive package elements, and a smaller-group community feel.

What the trip feels like

Warm, hosted, and destination-forward, with entertainment and themed programming rather than a party-only identity.

Operator profile reviewed September 4, 2026 from the OUTbound official website.

About the operator

OUTbound produces LGBTQ+ ocean and river cruises designed as full-ship community experiences, alongside smaller destination-led journeys. Its published cruises pair a hosted LGBTQ+ program with a deliberately intimate scale, so the social side is there without pretending every traveler wants a 3 a.m. pool-deck keynote.

Editorially rewritten from the operator's published information · reviewed September 4, 2026.

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