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These are examples of the types of cruises on offer in which the focus is the exploration of Australia's waterways and coastline. |
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NB: Day cruises, which involve exploring a waterway within a single day or part day, are covered under the "Destinations" section, Part and Full Day Cruises. The cruises in this section generally involve at least one night's accommodation on board a vessel and travelling substantial distances from one location to another.
Feature: Cruises ... In The Beginning
Listed below are the main kinds of cruises available from Australian ports today. Each type is illustrated by an actual scheduled cruise, showing the average duration of the cruise, the type of vessels employed, the facilities on board and the activities available for passengers.
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Papua New Guinea Coastal Cruise - MV True North
One of the numerous cruises that explore the waters of Australia's far north, Adventures in Paradise is presented by Broome based North Star Cruises Australia. Cairns is the departure point - passengers are flown to Alotau in Paua New Guines where the Far North is waiting to take them on a 7 night-8 day cruise along the coast of Papua New Guinea. The True North is only 54 metres in length and carries a maximum of 36 passengers so there is little chance of getting lost in a crowd here and personal attention is assured as their is one crew member for every three passengers.
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Cruising the Kimberley Coast - Oceanic Discoverer
The region known simply as The Kimberley is a place universally acknowledged as the world’s last - and possibly most beautiful - wilderness. Though the majority of Australian don't even know it exists, of those who do, few have seen it as it is in one of the most remote corners of the country. There's one pretty average gravel road in and out to a tiny section of it, but apart from that, the only way to experience the Kimberley coast is to either fly over it or take a cruise. We've taken the cruise and it is one of the most memorable journeys we have ever made. No superlative used to describe this journey is an exaggeration.
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Whitsunday Islands, Qld
The Whitsunday Islands on Queensland's tropical coast are the epitome of the perfect tropical island holiday destination and are synonymous with the image of paradise. Centrally located on the Queensland Coast, the Whitsundays are right in the heart of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. The main islands lie directly between the Queensland Coast and The Great Barrier Reef to the east. They are the most well known and well visited island group in Australia, and as one of the country's major tourist attractions and holiday destinations, they are without question a very special part of Australia. There are a mind boggling array of cruise options when it comes to the Whitsundays - including diving, yachting or plain old sightseeing.
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Circumnavigate Tasmania
If you have your own seaworthy yacht or cruiser and would like to join up with others like yourself who enjoy life on the high seas, the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania has just the cruise for you. Each year they embark on a 25-day, 800 nautical mile Van Diemen's Land Circumnavigation Cruise. The number of vessels invited to join the flotilla is limited to 45 and is always over-subscribed. Participants are guided around the shores of Tasmania by locals who know the coastline well. The cruise includes beach barbecues, visits to friendly fishing ports and yacht clubs along the way, a complementary manual of cruise information, a Tasmanian National Parks pass, and 2 tickets to an end-of-cruise dinner in Hobart.
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Kayak the Roaring 40s
Sea kayaking is an activity that pits man against nature on the open sea, and there are few places around the Australian coast where the activity is more challenging and rewarding than the south-west corner of Tasmania. Roaring 40s Wilderness Tours operates three to seven day kayaking eco-tours out of Hobart to the magnificent Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Guests are flown across isolated coastlines and mountain ranges to land deep in Southwest Tasmania, where they explore pristine wilderness harbours and ocean coastlines, remote islands and wild rivers. Under the expert eye of qualified instructors and guides, they paddle through ever changing landscapes from campsite to campsite.
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Spirit of Tasmania
Whilst not being what one normally deems a coastal cruise to be, the daily journey of the Bass Strait ferry between Melbourne (Vic) and Devonport (Tas) is included here because it does afford the opportunity to sail along sections of the coast of two Australian states. The current Bass Strait ferries, Spirit of Tasmania I and II, are each capable of an 11 hour crossing of Bass Strait, enabling two return services within 24 hours, using both of them, at peak times. The largest car ferries to operate in Australian waters, they offer a variety of accommodation for the 11 hour journey between Melbourne and Devonport from fully equipped cabins to sleeper seats.
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Cruising the Murray River by Paddlesteamer
The Murray River is Australia's longest river and its river system one of the most expansive systems in the world. In the pioneering days of the 19th century, the Murray River and its tributaries became the busiest highway in the whole country. Paddle steamers were used to carry wool, wheat, and other goods up and down the river system including the Murray, Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers. Paddlesteamers still ply the Murray, but not carrying supplies or cargo but passengers, who cruise the river to explore its history, culture and unique ecology.
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