“I love cruising - it is so relaxing and I can do as much or as little as I want.

The three days from Sydney to Milford Sound wasn’t too rough and I enjoyed it.

When the ship arrived, it was right in front of Bowen Falls.

The ship cruised the sound to Thompson Sound, rounded Secretary Island which took us to Doubtful Sound around Resolution Island and exited at Dusky Sound.

The panoramic views were spectacular with huge snow- capped mountains and waterfalls. I even saw the hotel I stayed in after the Milford Track walk.

Then it was around the southern-most point to Otago Harbour, Dunedin.

As I’ve spent a lot of time in New Zealand, I didn’t do any organised tours but was happy to disembark and walk around.

I was excited as we headed to Lyttelton (Christchurch) and I spent a lovely day with my girlfriend’s family.

Three year-old Katie talks like a thrashing machine and James, who I hadn’t seen before was gorgeous, turning two after I left.

The next port was Wellington’s own namesake and it lived up to its description of windy Wellington. I walked the three kilometres into the city when we entered Hawke Bay Napier. It has only been two years since my girlfriend Margaret and I drove from Katie’s place in far north New Zealand to Wellington and back via Napier and Rotorua.

Tauranga was next and I walked into the city which was a very pleasant walk alongside the beach.

I was hoping to walk around and up Mt Manunganui, a 45 minute walk, but it was closed as there was an unstable rock which was being blasted at the back of the mountain.

We rounded the Island of Rangitoto and into the Rangitoto Channel. The city skyline was very impressive including the Auckland sky tower with 360 degree views of Auckland.

Auckland Harbour Bridge and the harbour with thousands of boats is known as the city of sails. Three out of 10 people own a boat or know someone who owns a boat.