20-Day World Cruise: Australia Explorer

Perth is the vibrant capital city of Western Australia, spectacularly positioned between the vast Indian Ocean and the ancient Darling Range. It is renowned globally as one of the most isolated yet highly liveable metropolitan cities, consistently boasting more sun-drenched, blue-sky days than any other Australian capital. The city center is framed by the winding Swan River, creating a scenic waterfront backdrop that blends urban architecture with natural beauty. Crowning the city skyline is Kings Park and Botanic Garden, a massive inner-city parkland that stands larger than New York's Central Park and showcases diverse native wildflowers. Culturally, Perth thrives with dynamic arts and dining precincts like Northbridge and the historic, nearby port city of Fremantle. Pristine, white-sand stretches like Cottesloe Beach lie just minutes from the central business district, offering world-class swimming and spectacular ocean sunsets. The nearby Swan Valley region serves as a premier destination for wine enthusiasts, featuring Western Australia's oldest vineyards. The city's thriving economy is historically driven by a booming mining and resource sector, making it a major financial engine for the nation. Modern public transport, including a free inner-city transit zone, makes navigating the clean, relaxed metropolis incredibly simple for visitors. Ultimately, Perth offers an exceptional quality of life that seamlessly balances a relaxed coastal lifestyle with a booming, modern economy.

Surrounded by beaches, sun-drenched Geraldton in Western Australia is a thriving city facing the Indian Ocean. Located on the Coral Coast, the city has a friendly country town feel but is infused local history and cultural heritage. Like many coastal towns, the dining and café culture is superb and the choice of which restaurant to choose is a happy dilemma for most travellers!Celebrated for its annual display of spectacular wildflowers, Geraldton’s flora attracts visitors from all regions, with guides taking tourists on as much as 300 mile/500 kilometre round trips in order to make sure that they receive the best possible experience. A haven for visitors especially during the cooler months, the views differ year-in year-out and vary greatly depending on the rainfall. Whole fields become blanketed in colour and rare plants, such as the wreath-flower, burst into splendorous bloom. The well-informed guides keep a track of what is flowering where and visitors only have to ask to be pointed in the right direction. With over 300 species of native plants, it is only expected that insects and birds are attracted to the area. Over 120 types of bird have been classified as well as 22 types of reptile and seven types of frog. Happily, the iconic kangaroo also makes the plains their home, so visitors can expect a real Aussie welcome if they happen upon one!

Exmouth is a remote, world-famous coastal town located on the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia. It serves as the primary eastern gateway to the spectacular, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. Unlike the Great Barrier Reef, this pristine coral system sits just meters from the shore, allowing visitors to snorkel directly off the beach at pristine bays like Turquoise Bay. The region is internationally celebrated for providing once-in-a-lifetime marine wildlife interactions, notably swimming alongside massive whale sharks, humpback whales, and manta rays. Inland, the town gives way to the rugged limestone gorges, deep red canyons, and sweeping arid paths of Cape Range National Park. The area offers exceptional deep-sea game fishing, drawing global anglers to chase marlin and sailfish right outside the continental shelf. Accommodations range from luxury eco-retreats tucked away in the sand dunes to relaxed, family-friendly caravan parks within the town center. The weather is characteristically warm and sunny year-round, though the town experiences a massive influx of ecotourists during the peak autumn and winter reef seasons. Navigating the vast region typically requires renting a car, as the main township sits roughly 36 kilometers away from the regional Learmonth Airport. Ultimately, Exmouth provides an unmatched, raw wilderness experience where the ancient Australian outback directly collides with a thriving turquoise ocean.

Broome, a coastal town in Western Australia, is famous for its stunning beaches, rich history, and vibrant culture. Located on the Indian Ocean, it boasts Cable Beach, known for its white sand, turquoise waters, and iconic camel rides at sunset. Once a pearling hub, Broome retains its multicultural heritage, reflected in its cuisine and architecture. The town is also the gateway to the Kimberley region, offering breathtaking landscapes and unique natural attractions like the Staircase to the Moon. With warm weather year-round and a laid-back atmosphere, Broome is a perfect destination for adventure, relaxation, and cultural experiences.

The Kimberley Coast, located in the remote northern wilderness of Western Australia, is one of the world's most spectacular, pristine, and untouched marine environments. Characterised by a dramatic, red sandstone coastline, it features thousands of deserted islands, hidden white-sand beaches, and towering ochre cliffs carved over billions of years. Due to its extreme isolation and lack of road access, this raw wilderness is primarily explored via luxury expedition cruise ships or scenic helicopter flights. The region experiences some of the largest tidal ranges on Earth, creating jaw-dropping natural phenomena like the famous Horizontal Falls and the towering, multi-tiered Montgomery Reef rising from the ocean. Inland from the coast, massive tidal rivers plunge over spectacular vertical drops, most notably the iconic, twin-drop King George Falls. The turquoise coastal waters host a thriving marine ecosystem, sheltering significant populations of humpback whales, dugongs, green sea turtles, and massive saltwater crocodiles. Along the rugged rock faces, visitors can discover ancient, remarkably well-preserved Aboriginal rock art sites displaying distinct Wandjina and Gwion Gwion styles. Rich in pioneering history, the coast also features early European pearling shipwrecks and isolated settlements like the historic, isolated harbor of Cygnet Bay. The travel season is strictly seasonal, restricted to the dry winter months between April and September when the tropical weather is clear, warm, and calm. Ultimately, the Kimberley Coast offers a profound sense of isolation, presenting an unforgettable destination where the fiery Australian outback directly collides with a wild, tropical ocean.

Darwin is the cultural hub of the continent’s northernmost region. The laid-back city got its name after the HMS Beagle sailed into the harbor during a surveying expedition in 1839. The famed naturalist Charles Darwin was so esteemed that its captain named this newest discovery for him. Today, it is the largest city in the thinly populated Northern Territory state. It boasts a rich and lively arts and culture scene, much of it centered on the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Its collection of art and artifacts reflects the region and its indigenous people.

Darwin is the cultural hub of the continent’s northernmost region. The laid-back city got its name after the HMS Beagle sailed into the harbor during a surveying expedition in 1839. The famed naturalist Charles Darwin was so esteemed that its captain named this newest discovery for him. Today, it is the largest city in the thinly populated Northern Territory state. It boasts a rich and lively arts and culture scene, much of it centered on the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Its collection of art and artifacts reflects the region and its indigenous people.

Alotau is the provincial capital of the Milne Bay Province located in the southeast bay of Papua New Guinea. The town and surrounding area has been an important staging ground during World War II and we will see remains and memorials dating back or referring to the war. On a tour of the town, visitors will appreciate lovely vistas of the bay and experience the markets, which are frequented not only by locals, but also by islanders selling their products or looking for produce to take back into Milne Bay. Alotau is an important port facility for the islands and attracts many vendors of handicrafts from different islands.

The Conflict Island Group is an extraordinarily remote and pristine coral atoll located in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. Elegantly situated in the Coral Sea about 130 kilometers southeast of the mainland, the group consists of 21 privately owned, mostly uninhabited tropical islands. The islands are structurally arranged in a dramatic teardrop-shaped ring that encompasses a massive, brilliant turquoise lagoon. Despite the uninviting name, they were peacefully named in 1880 by Captain Bower after his naval ship, the HMS Conflict. The atoll is globally renowned for hosting exceptional marine biodiversity, sheltering roughly one-third of the world’s marine fish species. Notably, Irai Island within the group is scientifically recognized as having the second-best coral biodiversity in the entire world. Panasesa Island serves as the central eco-tourism hub for the group, featuring a low-impact resort, a grassy runway, and a cruise ship tender pier. The area is heavily protected by the Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative, which operates a crucial turtle hatchery to save endangered green sea turtles. Visitors arriving via premium cruise ships can experience world-class snorkeling, kayaking, glass-bottom boat tours, and deep-sea diving adventures. Ultimately, the Conflict Islands represent one of the last untouched marine paradises on Earth, beautifully balancing exclusive eco-travel with strict environmental preservation

Tourism is the lifeblood of Cairns (pronounced Caans). The city makes a good base for exploring the wild top half of Queensland, and tens of thousands of international travelers use it as a jumping-off point for activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling trips to the Barrier Reef, as well as boating, fishing, parasailing, scenic flights, and rain-forest treks.It's a tough environment, with intense heat and fierce wildlife. Along with wallabies and grey kangaroos in the savannah and tree kangaroos in the rain forest, you'll find stealthy saltwater crocodiles, venomous snakes, and jellyfish so deadly they put the region’s stunning beaches off- limits to swimmers for nearly half the year. Yet despite this formidable setting, Cairns and tropical North Queensland are far from intimidating places. The people are warm and friendly, the sights spectacular, and—at the right time of year—the beachside lounging is world-class.

This coastal city has little in the way of sandy beaches or surf, but it does have shady parks, charming colonial buildings, and a boardwalk-flanked waterfront Esplanade with a terrific man-made beach and picnic facilities. The historic town center has thrived recently, with an influx of lively eateries and bars. There are also some excellent museum and a world-class aquarium.Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has an office on Magnetic Island, but Townsville Enterprise's information kiosks in Flinders Square and the Museum of Tropical Queensland (MTQ), on the mainland, are the best sources of visitor info about the island.

Airlie Beach is a vibrant coastal town and the main gateway to the stunning Whitsunday Islands. Known for its relaxed tropical vibe, it offers beautiful waterfront views, lively markets, and a bustling marina. Visitors can enjoy activities like sailing, snorkeling, and exploring the nearby Great Barrier Reef. The town also features a popular lagoon, perfect for swimming and relaxing year-round. With its mix of adventure and laid-back charm, Airlie Beach is a favorite destination for travelers worldwide.

Founded in 1824 on the banks of the wide, meandering Brisbane River, the former penal colony of Brisbane was for many years regarded as just a big country town. Many beautiful timber Queenslander homes, built in the 1800s, still dot the riverbanks and inner suburbs, and in spring the city's numerous parks erupt in a riot of colorful jacaranda, poinciana, and bougainvillea blossoms. Today the Queensland capital is one of Australia's most up-and-coming cities: glittering high-rises mark its polished business center, slick fashion boutiques and restaurants abound, and numerous outdoor attractions beckon. In summer, temperatures here are broilingly hot and days are often humid, a reminder that this city is part of a subtropical region. Wear SPF 30-plus sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat outdoors, even on overcast days.Brisbane's inner suburbs, a 5- to 10-minute drive or 15- to 20-minute walk from the city center, have a mix of intriguing eateries and quiet accommodations. Fortitude Valley combines Chinatown with a cosmopolitan mix of clubs, cafés, and boutiques. Spring Hill has several high-quality hotels, and Paddington, New Farm, Petrie Terrace, West End, and Woolloongabba are full of an eclectic mix of restaurants and bars. Brisbane is also a convenient base for trips to the Sunshine and Gold coasts, the mountainous hinterlands, and the Moreton Bay islands.