Despite the obvious difficulties of recent years, tourism remains an important source of revenue in Australia, with tourists spending more than $100 billion per year. Likewise, The Land Down Under remains a top three destination on most people’s wish lists. While still significantly lower than “old normal” levels of almost 10 million visitors a year, Australia’s tourism is back up above six million per year and rising.
One of the hardest things about visiting Australia is working out what to fit into a 2-3 week visit – or more to the point, what to leave out. Try to fit in everything and all you will remember is a flurry of airports and hotels. So how’s this for an idea: Fly in and then let a cruise ship take the strain.
Fly + cruise – the perfect combination?
We have all heard of those mammoth cruises that start in Europe or North America and take in a couple of stops in Australia during their 99 day voyage or more. Those are well and good if you can afford to take several months off work and spend the time aboard what Michael Flanders once described as “some kind of floating Selfridges.”
Far more practical is to cover the open ocean part of the journey in a few hours, and only then to get aboard a cruise ship to enjoy the glorious Australian coastline from what is surely the best possible vantage point and leave it to the experts to show you the sights and get you where you need to be, when you need to be there.
Of course, you still have to choose where to go, but with a 12 to 15 day cruise, the choice is at least narrowed down to two or three choices. Cruise ships like the Princess fleet sail from Sydney and take a choice of routes. Examples include the following:
- Queensland and the Gold Coast
- Great Barrier Reef and Brisbane
- Tasmania and Kangaroo Island
Let’s quickly look as some of the destinations that are available on the different cruises.
Sydney – party and casino a couple of nights away
One thing all the cruises have in common is that they start and end in Sydney. Some packages include a couple of nights in a Sydney hotel before you depart. If yours doesn’t, then that’s one extra worth booking, as you don’t want to miss Sydney.
Most of the nightlife is in an area called The Rocks, and as luck would have it, that’s right alongside Sydney Harbour. Two towering casinos dominate the scene, The Star and The Crown. Now in this digital age, you might think that the locals would turn to cyberspace for the best online pokies for Aussies. You would be partially right. The number of Australian casino players going online increased by 50 percent from 2020 to 2021 and has continued to rise since. Land based casinos, meanwhile, have struggled in the face of regulatory issues Still, Sydney’s two super casinos survive and are great for celebrity-spotting.
There are also scores of night clubs and bars catering to every type of music from house and techno to jazz and blues. Of course, if you are looking for something a little more cultural, Sydney Opera House is only a 10 minute walk from The Rocks on the other side of the harbour.
The majesty of the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is by far the largest coral reef on the planet, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of earth’s great wonders and is something everyone should see at least once.
The only way to see it up close is by diving or snorkeling. However, if you are more comfortable staying above water, you can get a good look at it by taking a trip on one of the many glass-bottomed boat trips that set out from Cairns every day.
The Gold Coast – Australia’s watersports HQ
For many, the archetypal Australian scene involves golden beaches, and surf. Gold Coast is just a few miles from Brisbane and will bring those visions to reality. It is Australia’s capital of outdoor pursuits.
As well as the surfing there are activities like sky diving, golf and every watersport imaginable. When you need to catch your breath, Gold Coast has hundreds of shops a great choice of restaurants and a nightlife scene that is just as vibrant as Sydney, but a bit more relaxed.
Hobart, the beating heart of Tasmania
Beautiful Tasmania is like a miniature version of Australia in its own right. You won’t have time to explore the whole island when you visit during a cruise, so focus on the state capital of Hobart.
The Waterfront is the perfect place to enjoy the atmosphere and try the local cuisine. Mount Wellington provides great views across the city. There are also numerous things to see and do around Hobart to learn more about its past, from Aboriginal origins to the convict settlement years from about 200 years ago.
Kangaroo Island, home to more than kangaroos
If you want to meet Australia’s most famous animals, Kangaroo Island is the place to do so. As the name suggests, there are plenty of species of kangaroos, but they share the island with koalas, wallabies, sea lions and uncountable species of birds.
Access is strictly controlled, so visiting the island as part of an official excursion from a cruise is a great way to see it with minimal hassle.
The same can be said for many of the attractions we have mentioned. Touring as part of a cruise means there is never a wasted moment but still none of the hassle of repeated domestic flights and multiple hotels. It’s surely worth consideration.
