"Why Take
an Australia Cruise ?"
By John Metcalfe
Australia is a country of amazing diversity and awe- inspiring
beauty. From grand cities to ancient coral reefs, there is no
end of star attractions in the land of Oz and the best way to
see them is to book yourself on an Australia cruise.
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.
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