See Australia by sea
23 Apr 2016
Stick close to home and discover the vast beauty of this land right on your doorstep.
You’ve already done the iconic grey nomad roadtrip around Australia and either resolved ‘never again’ or ‘more please!’.
This time the coastline beckons, though you don’t want to – and can’t – tackle all 35,876km of it, by road, rail, or train. Rather, you may want to do a Matthew Flinders and circumnavigate Australia by sea, though in more comfort.
Why not opt for all the glamour, fine food and entertainment that a cruise can offer, while indulging your thirst for discovery at sea?
Seeing Australia’s coastline from a ship delivers enduring memories, whether sailing in or out of big city ports at dawn or dusk, or remote bays and beaches.
Nothing equals watching enormous waves thrashing the dolerite pillars of Cape Raoul on the Tasman Peninsula.
Or, for this cruiser, sailing into Albany when the whole town turned out to welcome our cruise liner; slinking into Hobart’s picturesque harbour past the historic houses of Battery Point; or witnessing the enormous tidal changes and thundering waterfalls of the Kimberley from a ship.
The long way ‘round
There are usually only five Australian circumnavigations each year because of cost and duration. Many see 28-33 days as a long voyage. Traditional itineraries include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth (Fremantle), Darwin, Cairns, maybe Port Hedland and Geraldton (WA) and sometimes smaller regional ports such as Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln, or Eden. There are 10-15 port calls including one international (usually in Indonesia or Papua New Guinea).
Princess was the first major line to offer a circumnavigation in 2005 and continues to operate one, sometimes two each year.
Other big ship players are Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Cunard. Not all do complete Australian circumnavigations. Some lines offer two semi-circumnavigations – a northern and southern route, which sometimes work back-to-back, though policies fluctuate. Holland America Line sells the entire
voyage with no sector fares, while others include New Zealand ports. Meanwhile, Cunard sometimes sells sectors as part of a world cruise.
A newcomer to watch is boutique, destination-focused Azamara Club Cruises, which made its Australian debut in January and will return for 2017 and 2018 seasons.
But if you seek close encounters with remote regions like the Kimberley and the Great Barrier Reef, a small expedition ship is the way to go. Outstanding operators are Silversea, Coral Expeditions and from 2017, Ponant Cruises will make its Kimberley debut.
Coral Expeditions also has new seven-night itineraries from Hobart, exploring Tasmania’s World Heritage Area at Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour. Their tender vessel Explorer, allows disembarkation in remote areas throughout (and there are tastings of Tasmania’s legendary oysters, wines and cheeses to spur you on).
Silver Discoverer is engineered to explore isolated coastlines and archipelagos and in April 2017, there will be 10-day cruises from Broome to Darwin. Guests will see the spectacular Montgomery Reef, King George’s towering twin falls, ancient rock art and enjoy a complimentary flight over the Bungle Bungles. The best reward is sharing the knowledge with traditional owners and like-minded fellow travellers – and recounting the stories to friends back home.
Handy info
Australian circumnavigations usually operate from October to March. Research shore excursions online. They can be expensive. If you do your own thing, don’t miss the boat.
2016 CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS
17 October 2016: Sun Princess
30-day circumnavigation Sydney (or Brisbane) return. Ports Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Port Douglas, Darwin, Alotau (PNG), Broome, Fremantle, Margaret River, Albany, Adelaide, Melbourne, Burnie, and Hobart.
20 October 2016: ms Maasdam
29-day circumnavigation cruise from Sydney to Brisbane, Hamilton Island, Cairns,
Great Barrier Reef, Ribbon Reef Region, Sherrard Island, Far North Region, Torres Strait, Darwin, Komodo Island, Bali, Fremantle, Albany, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Tasmania, and Melbourne.
THE TOP END
31 October 2016 and 9 February 2017: Radiance of the Seas has two 16-night Top End sailings from Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Bali, Port Hedland, Geraldton, Fremantle.
SOUTHERN ROUTE
22 December 2018: Azamara
Quest New Year’s Eve cruise, 15 days Fremantle to Melbourne. Ports: Albany, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Sydney for New Year’s Eve, Hobart, Melbourne.
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