We were only able to spend a very limited time in Australia. It is such a beautiful and intriguing country that it only left us wanting more. All the hopes I had for our Sydney area trip were realized and surpassed leaving us with a huge bucket list of locations to see when we return.
One of our goals is to take a full year camping around the entire country. It's a lofty and expensive goal but one that I research often none the less. As I was researching this option however I came across the time saving option of cruising. It is also expensive, by our standards, but it can be a great way to see loads of the country while at the same time saving all that in between transit time that a road trip would eat up.
There are loads and loads of options that you can discover with OzCruising, but these 5 Australian cruises are the best ones to add to any bucket list, in my humble opinion anyway.
Tasmania and Adelaide
Where it goes: Most of the cruises start in Sydney, which is quite convenient since in my experience flights in and out of Australia are cheapest and offer the most frequency going into Sydney. This cruise starts there, heads over to Tasmania and also ports in Adelaide and Melbourne before stopping on the other side of Tasmania as it returns to Sydney.
Why I love it: Tasmania is very high already on my list of Australian spots to visit. Since it is an island you already need to either take a boat or fly to get there, this cruise porting in 2 locations saves loads of time and probably a fair bit of money. It is a nature lovers paradise!
In Melbourne you can discover and enjoy the 12 apostles on the great ocean rd, see wild penguins on Phillip island, shop the queens markets, and enjoy the city life.
In and around Adelaide you will want to visit Kangaroo Island, enjoy the city's charming blend of old and new, and relax on one of their famed beaches
Queensland
Where it goes: Again this cruise originates in Sydney, then heads towards Cairns stopping along the way in Newcastle, and the famous Whitsunday islands.
Why I love it: The easiest answer is all things ocean, which happens to be where most of my family feels most at peace! This cruise will take you through some of the most beautiful spots on the planet, most of them water related. Cairns is where the Great Barrier Reef is so you can enjoy stunning underwater scenery, whether you dive or snorkel, on the worlds largest living reef.
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The Whitsunday islands offer perhaps the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, in photos of course, but wow. I mean just look at that photo!! It is also an expensive spot to visit from land and one many people pass over. This cruise assures you will get to see the best ocean life Australia has to offer!
Moreton Island
Where it goes: Once more this cruise will start you out in Sydney and head directly to Moreton island and back. It is a relatively short cruise at just 4 days so may be a good intro if you are new to Oz or cruising in general.
Why I love it: Moreton Island was never on any of my must see lists for Australia, it seems to get passed over for some of the bigger sites but I can assure you this is a gem of a spot and one you should consider strongly. The island is located in Brisbane and is the 3rd largest sand island in the world. Here you will be able to relax on one of the islands many beautiful beaches, dive among mysterious wrecks, hand feed wild dolphins or swim in one of the crystal clear lakes or lagoons.
Freemantle (Perth)
Where it goes: Originating in Sydney harbor, this cruise has many variations on spots to stop such as Melbourne and Adelaide but ends up in Perth.
Why I love it: Personally I have a huge interest in Perth as a lot of friends hail from the area and from what I have heard and observed through various blogs, it seems to be a wonderful child friendly city as well as a great jumping off point for wine country as well as Ningaloo, where you can swim with whale sharks amongst other amazing aquatic life.
Around Australia
Where it goes: A better title would be where doesn't it go? This cruise is the all in one cruise that offers you nearly the whole of Australia. It starts in Sydney and circumnavigates the entire continent making stops in all the most highly desired ports; Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Darwin, Cairns, and Brisbane, with a few other stops along the way. Some of the cruises even include Bali and/or New Zealand in the route on the way back to the starting port of Sydney.
Why I love it: Easy, you get to see not only the best Australia has to offer but nearly all of it. I had no idea this was even an option before but at the end of this article I am realizing that a cruise may be an even better route to go than a road trip. This particular cruise will take you to all the biggest cities, all the most beautiful beaches, and give you a really good sampling of Australia from a view most never have!
That's it, we are cruisng it! How about you? Had you ever considered a cruise as a means to explore the land down under?
