Sydney and its world famous harbor is a good starting
point for an Australia cruise, although it is of course
possible to start at other Australian ports, and also
at ports outside of Australia. For instance, you could
join the US to Australia leg of a round-the-world cruise
at Los Angeles and find yourself in Sydney, Australia
30-days later. From Sydney you could depart on a smaller
cruise around Australia and/or New Zealand.

Cruise routes around Australia normally concentrate on
port stops along the East and North coasts. Brisbane,
the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Port Douglas,
Townsville and Darwin are the main ports of call, with
cruise durations typically of between 7-10 days. From
Darwin, a few cruise lines offer services westwards
towards Broome. Cruises along the southern and western
coasts are less popular. Here, the main ports of call
are Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. A port stop in
Tasmania is also incorporated into many an Australia
cruise, as are ports of call in New Zealand, such as
Auckland and Dunedin, and sometimes ports of call in
Indonesia.

So, what great treasures await those who adventure to
Australia on a cruise? Sydney, Australia’s capital and
the jewel in the crown of Australia’s south-east
coastline, offers a whole host of sightseeing
opportunities just on its own. Sydney harbor, the Opera
House, Bondi Beach and Watson’s Bay are among the top
attractions. Sydney is also bursting with museums,
fine restaurants and excellent shopping facilities.
Two hours outside of Sydney is the world renowned
Hunter Valley wine region, where you can sample some
of Australia’s finest wines.

Further to the North, the Gold Coast – one of the
world’s hottest surfing locations – and the city of
Brisbane await. In Brisbane you will have many shore
excursions to choose from, including boat trips up the
Brisbane River and a bushwalking experience in Brisbane
district’s forests.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s main
attractions. You can dive the reef to experience its
full glory, join a snorkeling tour of the reef or see the
reef from the air. There are also opportunities for
landward adventures into the great Australian outback.

Cairns offers a further experience with the Great Barrier
Reef, as well as beautiful sandy beaches, while Darwin
- one of the hottest coastal regions in Australia during
the summer – is another great place in which to relax
under the hot Australian sun.

John Metcalfe is the author and web publisher of A to Z Cruises your #1
source
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