Port guides

Margaret River, Australia

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

“The capital of the Margaret River region.” “The gateway to Margaret River wine country.” “The events capital of Western Australia.” Whatever you want to call it, “the coastal playground” of Busselton sure does have a lot of monikers—and even more things to do. The adventures begin the moment you step off the ship, as we dock next to the famed Busselton Jetty, the longest wooden pier in the world. From here you can walk to the beach and waterfront district, where there are more than enough water sports, shops, restaurants, cafés, and bars to entertain you for the rest of your stay in Busselton.

27 cruises

Akaroa

New Zealand · Australia, NZ & South Pacific

With pretty painted cottages, overflowing verdant balconies and street names such as Rue Lavaud and Fleur Lane, you could be forgiven for thinking that you have stepped onto the streets of Provence upon arrival in Akaroa. And yet, here you are, in New Zealand’s South Island, less than 50 kilometres from Christchurch. The French connection stems from 1838, when Captain Jean Francois Langlois acquired the land for six British pounds (and questionable circumstances) from the Maoris. He then travelled home to France in order to bring back anyone who might want to join him in his new life. However, during his travels, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed (signatories included two Akaroa Maori chiefs) and New Zealand's first Governor, Hobson, declared sovereignty over the whole of New Zealand. Thus when Langlois and his settlers arrived back, they were faced with a choice: either return home to France or stay on. They chose the latter, and their legacy prevails. There are many stunning places on the coast of New Zealand, but none of them can quite hold a candle to Akaroa. Visually, it is stunning. Surrounded by natural wonders, the town (Maori for “Long Harbour”) stands on a peninsula formed by two volcanic cones, and is self-styled as nature’s playground. Such a moniker might seem superlative for other destinations, but not here: sheep graze almost right to the water’s edge, dolphins are regularly spotted in the many small, secluded bays and Lord of the Rings grandeur stretches as far as the eye can see.

26 cruises

Phillip Island (Cowes), Australia

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Phillip Island boasts wide sandy beaches, spectacular coastal scenery, excellent surfing and a world-famous Grand Prix circuit. However, its biggest attraction measures about one foot tall and weighs just two or three pounds. The island is home to thousands of little penguins, endearing not only as the smallest penguins on the planet but also for their unique blue coloring. Each day as the sun sets, the tiny birds return from a long day of fishing at sea and waddle up the beaches to the safety of their burrows. Affectionately known as the Penguin Parade, this magical scene has enchanted visitors since 1920. An array of wildlife beyond the penguins also can be observed here, including whales, koalas and Australia’s largest fur seal colony. Those not fond of furry friends might visit the National Vietnam Veterans Museum, take a stroll on the seaside boardwalk, or check out a local brewery or winery.

26 cruises

Tangalooma Island

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Tangalooma - Moreton Island

26 cruises

Yorkeys Knob

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Situated in tropical north Queensland, Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. These two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are why Cairns is the fourth most popular destination for international tourists in Australia. Enjoy the city's year-round tropical summer weather as you relax beside the man-made lagoon on the Esplanade. Then, experience one of Cairns' two main drawcards: Head into the rainforest in nearby Kuranda, which you can reach by taking the Skyrail Cableway or the Scenic Railway. Cruise to Cairns and take the half-day trip to Green Island — you'll be snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef within an hour of leaving the city.

26 cruises

Bahia d' Opunoha, Moorea

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Shaped like a heart and crowned with emerald-green spires, Moorea is easy to love. The Magical Island, as it's nicknamed, is celebrated for its untamed landscape and symmetrical side-by-side bays (called Opunohu and Cook's); it was said to be the inspiration for the mythical isle of Bali Hai in James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific. Its languid lagoon seems without end, wrapping this 132-square-kilometer (50-square-mile) isle in shades of liquid blue, from pale aqua to intense turquoise. Dolphins and stingrays glide through the waves alongside snorkelers and divers exploring the stunning undersea scene. Venture inland to the valleys and another aspect of island life becomes clear: agricultural abundance, with crops that include pineapples, bananas, taro, sugarcane, coffee and cotton. Moorea has shopping, too, mainly for lustrous Tahitian black pearls and brightly patterned pareus (wraparound skirts). Wherever you head, you'll find the South Pacific you have dreamed of, moving to the leisurely pace of island time. It can be hard to believe Moorea is just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Tahiti’s bustling capital, Papeete.

25 cruises

Champagne Bay, Vanuatu

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

As world famous beaches go, Champagne Beach is one of the big hitters. In 2003, CNN ranked it number nine in its list of top 100 beaches and independent travel specialists permanently include it on their list of 50 best beaches worldwide. It’s one of the world’s greatest natural beauties: picture-perfect beach white sand, turquoise water and nothing – save for the occasional cow or curious turtle - around. With only coconut plantations and a few friendly locals to keep you company, this might just be the island of your dreams. The glorious name “Champagne Beach” was given to the island in the 17th century, when Pedro de Quirós believed he had reached the famous unknown southern land or the “Tierra Australis Incognita” (or Australia as we now know it). He believed the effervescent bubbles of volcanic origin that bubble up from the crystal clear waters were reminiscent of the bubbles of Champagne. Additionally, the coastline is shaped like an art deco Champagne saucer, so the name stuck! The beach is located on the largest yet least populated island in the 40-island Vanuatu archipelago, near the village of Hog Harbor on Espiritu Santo Island. If you want to venture beyond the beach, then Espiritu Santu is also famed for its blue holes. The island is home to some of the clearest waters on Earth, benefiting from natural filtering from underground limestone caves. Ride or paddle your way through emerald green rainforest amid the sound of birdsong for an experience that will make your soul sing.

24 cruises

Tahuata, Marquesas Islands

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Located on Tahuata, the smallest of the inhabited Marquesas Islands, the village of Hapatoni will open its doors to you. A road built in old stones will lead you from the seashore to the village cathedral. You will also find a craft centre presenting various sculptures and engravings in bone or wood. Marquesan art is, in fact, recognised all over French Polynesia. Further on, vegetation takes over, inviting you to walk among its beautiful green valleys. Here, the population will give you a proper welcome, with traditional singing and dancing. A moment of conviviality you’ll remember!

24 cruises

Waitangi (Bay of Islands), New Zealand

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Historic sites—including the place where the most important treaty in New Zealand's history was signed—winemaking, golfing, sailing and scenic beauty all combine to make the Bay of Islands one of this South Pacific nation's most compelling regions. Located at the top of the North Island, the area has a subtropical microclimate that gives it an abundance of flora and fauna and a lengthy beach season. Comprising 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula, the Bay of Islands requires a few days to fully explore. Visitors with just a day here will have to make a tough choice: cultural immersion, nature appreciation or wining-dining-shopping. Waitangi, home to both the cruise port and the region's historic treaty grounds, is one of three main towns with celebrated sights. The others are Kerikeri, with its historic buildings and vineyards, and Russell, where a notorious seafaring past has mellowed into tidy, day-trip-worthy charm. Those who'd rather experience the Bay of Islands' breathtaking nature can walk amid majestic kauri trees, descend into glowworm caves or spy on whales and dolphins (or even swim with the latter) in one of New Zealand's sunniest and most picturesque playgrounds.

24 cruises

Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Home to the original mutineers of the Bounty, Adamstown’s is today the capital of all four Pitcairn Islands. The islands – the last British Overseas Territory in the Pacific – include the namesake Pitcairn Island itself, plus the uninhabited Oeno, Henderson and Ducie. Pitcairn is the archipelago’s only inhabited island, with the population of just 50 centred in Adamstown. It is no surprise that the nine mutineers along with six Tahitian men, 12 Tahitian women and one child stopped on Pitcairn in 1790; with its sloped and varied landscape, lush tropical promise and equidistant location between Peru and New Zealand, Pitcairn would have seemed an ideal hiding spot for the mutineers to settle. The ship was burnt to avoid detection (the ballast stone remains of the wreck in Bounty Bay). However, the ideal bucolic life that mutineer leader Fletcher Christian had envisaged was not to be. Poor treatment of the Tahitian men led to alcoholism, chaos and carnage and by 1800 only John Adams – who had recently discovered Christianity – remained. Adams taught the women and children to read and write from the bible. The capital is named after him. Not only had the island been misplaced on early maps of the region, but it can also be very difficult to come ashore as large breakers tend to build up just in front of the small harbour of Bounty Bay. The local museum houses the HMS Bounty Bible, the same bible that Adams taught the women and children to read and write from in the early 19th century.

23 cruises

Port Douglas

Australia · Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Cruise to Port Douglas and you’ll find a miraculous blend of coral reefs and subtropical rainforest, which means it’s an easy destination to find fun things to do in nature. For the beachy and the active, sunbathing on Four Mile Beach or diving the Great Barrier Reef awaits. For the athletic traveler, head into the heart of Daintree Rainforest to hike, zipline, or simply enjoy the beauty of the jungle. Stop in at the Wildlife Habitat for the chance to see koalas, kangaroos, and other native Australian species. Of course, Port Douglas isn’t all natural beauty. It’s also a popular resort and marina town where travelers can enjoy life’s simple pleasures, from a plate of freshly shucked oysters straight from the marina to a dip in a glittering five-star resort pool. On cruises, Australia makes for an ideal destination for every energy level. During your time in port on Port Douglas cruises, you’ll see a brand new side of Queensland, Australia.

23 cruises

Port Lincoln

Australia · Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Known as the seafood capital of Australia, Port Lincoln is a foodie paradise. Home to Australia's largest fishing fleet, numerous seafood restaurants and a prized local wine region, this is one destination where it pays to travel with your taste buds. The city’s traditional name in Barngala is ‘Kallinyalla’ (pronounced Galinyalla), literally translating as ‘sweet waters’. That should give you some indication of how seriously the ocean is taken in these parts – it provides employment, entertainment and experiences that are just unseen in other parts of the country. View less Add in contrasting coastal landscape that ranges from quiet coves to surf happy beaches to rugged oceanic coastline, and you’ll soon see why Port Lincoln is fast becoming one of Australia’s favourite places. The city is located on the lower Eyre Peninsula, on the shore of Boston Bay. Discovered by Matthew Flinders in 1802, Port Lincoln was once under consideration to become the state’s capital. However, a lack of freshwater mired that idea, forcing settlers to look 280 kilometres east, to Adelaide. While European discovery is fairly recent, historians should note that the region had been inhabited by Aboriginal groups including the Nauo (south-western Eyre), Barngarla (eastern Eyre), Wirangu (north-western Eyre) and Mirning (far-western Eyre) for over 40,000 years. For those who want to look beyond the city boundaries, Port Lincoln is home to some extremely diverse and abundant nature, and a trip to the National Park is well worth it.

23 cruises

Yampi Sound

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

23 cruises

Montgomery Reef, Western Australia

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Montgomery Reef, which is some 300 square kilometres in size, can show an amazing tidal change of up to 4 metres. When the tide drops, the reef seems to rise out of the water. At low tide a river is exposed that allows access to an amazing semi-submerged world. When the tide continues to ebb, Zodiacs will be used to make the way to the edge of the reef where one is surrounded by cascading waterfalls up to 3 metres high.

22 cruises

Talbot Bay/Horizontal Waterfalls, WA

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Talbot Bay is famous for the Horizontal Falls which have been described as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world“. The region’s tides of close to 36 feet create an amazing spectacle when the water tries to enter or leave Poulton Creek through two very narrow openings located one behind the other in the McLarty Ranges. Water builds up faster on one side than it can flow through the gaps, leaving or entering depending on the tide.

22 cruises

Port Denarau

Fiji · Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Port Denarau is your gateway to Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji. Fiji has been justly described as the "Crossroads of the Pacific." The islands' culture is a fascinating amalgam of Melanesian, Micronesian, Polynesian, Western and Indian influences. But what draws the traveler to Fiji is its beauty. Viti Levu offers some of the finest scenery in the entire South Pacific, from the emerald rainforests of the Nausori Highlands to the reef-fringed coral cays in the Mamanucas. The crystalline waters of the Pacific also provide some of the world's best diving and fishing. Port Denarau is located on the west coast of Viti Levu, the largest of Fiji's islands. William Bligh charted the west coast of the island in 1789 - after the mutineers of HMS Bounty had cast him adrift. Fiji offered no refuge - its people were renowned cannibals.

21 cruises

Exmouth, Australia

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Exmouth, the North West Cape's only settlement, will come into view as your Crystal ship rounds the northern tip of this arid North West Cape and enters the Exmouth Gulf. During World War II, Exmouth was a refueling stop for submarines, then later an air force base. In 1967 it became a U.S. Navy communications base and today, the Harold E. Holt Naval Communications Base services both Australian and American vessels in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Although military legend has left an indelible impression, Exmouth is becoming better known as a tourist base for visits to the Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park. These two stunning parks are adjacent land- and sea-conservation areas on the western edge of the cape. However you choose to spend your time in Exmouth, your visit to Australia's North West Cape will be one to remember.

20 cruises

Ambrym Island, Vanuatu

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Unlike Espiritu Santo with its raised coral reefs and white sand, Ambrym is a volcanically active island with dark sand beaches. Ambrym is known as the island of magic and is the source of five local languages that all evolved on Ambrym. This handful of languages contributes to the well over 100 languages of Vanuatu. Some of Ambrym’s magic takes place in the lush greenery of the local community of Ranon. Here the people perform a very special and traditional ‘Rom’ dance. Participants prepare their masks and costumes in secrecy and the dance is reserved for special occasions.

19 cruises

Sydney (White Bay), Australia

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

White Bay is a bay on Sydney Harbour with a surrounding locality near the suburbs of Balmain and Rozelle in the Inner West of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

19 cruises

Geraldton, Western Australia

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

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. View less 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!

18 cruises

Lacepede Islands

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

The Lacepede Islands, sometimes referred to simply as the Lacepedes, are a group of four islands lying off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia.

17 cruises

Kiriwina Island

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Located in Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay Province, Kiriwina is the largest of the Trobriand Islands and home to the majority of their 12,000-strong indigenous population. The picturesque island is steeped in history and is famous to many as a site of U.S. occupation during World War II. In fact, various relics of the war, including the remains of an American plane, can still be seen on the island. But Kiriwina is home to far more than history. Here, you’ll find an idyllic traditional lifestyle, incredibly friendly locals and a fascinating social structure that’s based on matrilineal clans, with unique marriage and courtship rituals. Many aspects of life revolve around the cultivation and exchange of yams.There’s also mesmerizing scenery, from crystal-clear waters to jungle-covered cliffs. Hire a dugout canoe, hike to the burial caves, peruse exquisite carvings and explore the coral-filled offshore islands. Be sure to stop and watch a game of Trobriand cricket, an innovative spin on the game. Whatever you choose to do, it’s bound to be an eye-opening experience.

16 cruises

New Plymouth, New Zealand

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

When asked to describe his homeland, (Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit director) Peter Jackson said “New Zealand is not a small country but a large village” and never a truer word was spoken about New Plymouth. Named after Plymouth in England when the first British settlers arrived in 1841, the city is a hybrid of traditions. Treasure, stories and culture fuse perfectly together with coastal walkways, botanic gardens and award winning golf-courses in this bubbly, artsy city. View less Located in the Taranaki Region on New Zealand’s North Island, New Plymouth has won multiple awards for its positive attitude towards pedestrians and cyclists and community sustainability. Ruled by the great outdoors and more notably Mount Taranaki, this majestic 8261 feet/2,518 metre snow-capped active volcano looms over the city with the ever-present threat of eruption (although the last eruption dates back to 1814), thus making the city and its surroundings a veritable haven for those who love outdoor pursuits. Rising above the clouds, the volcano beckons walkers and those who do make it to the top are compensated with spectacular sea vistas from their privileged position, perched high above the city.

16 cruises

Stewart Island

New Zealand · Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Located some 20 miles from the mainland, and separated from South Island by the Foveaux Strait, the island's attractions lie in its virtually untouched beauty and unhurried pace. There are few cars, few roads and little tourist development. You could say that Stewart Island is less a destination than a way of life.

16 cruises