cruises Archives

The swirling sands of Hill Inlet on Whitsunday Island, Queensland.

How to go inside Hill Inlet, Whitsunday Island | Which tour?

The only tour company allowed inside Hill Inlet on Whitsunday Island, Queensland, is Ocean Rafting. These high speed RIB tours from Airlie Beach sacrifice comfort and style for accessibility. What is Hill Inlet? You’ve probably seen Hill Inlet before. It’s that fabulously photogenic swirl of…

A New Zealand fur seal on Breaksea Island, Albany.

Breaksea Island, WA: A guide to visiting Albany’s historic nature reserve

Overview: History, what to expect, and unique features Breaksea Island is a rugged, 103-hectare granite island located in King George Sound, approximately 12 km south-east of Albany, Western Australia. It holds significant cultural and natural heritage status, being listed on the State Register of Heritage…

The Corroboree Billabong in the Northern Territory's Top End.

Corroboree Billabong: Mary River Wetlands wildlife cruise visitor guide

Overview: History, what to expect, and unique features Corroboree Billabong is a stunning, expansive section of the Mary River Wetlands system in the Northern Territory. While not an ancient ruin or formal government park, it is one of the most ecologically significant and historically used…

A crocodile sunbathing on the Daintree River, Queensland.

Exploring the Daintree and Cape Tribulation: Crocodile cruises, rainforest trails and reef adventures

The road north stops at the Daintree River. The only way across is via a basic cable ferry, gamely chugging back and forth until midnight. It’s the dividing line between relative happy-holidays civilisation and a Tropical North Queensland with a far greater emphasis on the…

Heart Reef on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

Exploring the Great Barrier Reef: Best tours, islands and how to visit

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is one of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders, stretching along the Queensland coastline. This guide explains the best ways to visit, where to stay and snorkel, and how to reach key departure points for reef tours. Overview of…

Aboard the TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Soft adventure in Queenstown: Tiki Trail, Skyline Luge & Lake Wakatipu cruises and ticket prices

Soft adventure in Queenstown: hike the Tiki Trail, race the Skyline Luge (NZD $89 for three rides), or cruise Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw (NZD $115). Given that the plan was to enjoy Queenstown without indulging in extreme sports, the Tiki Trail isn’t…

Mostraumen fjord cruises from Bergen, Norway: Complete guide to Norway’s most accessible fjord experience

Gliding through water channels so narrow the boat barely fits, watching waterfalls tumble from cliff faces just metres away, and cruising beneath mountains that rise vertically from the sea creates instant understanding of why Norway's fjords captivate millions. The Mostraumen fjord cruise from Bergen delivers…

Paddlesteamers on the Murray River near Echuca, Victoria.

Port of Echuca, Victoria: Visiting the Discovery Centre and taking a paddlesteamer cruise

Chuntering along the Murray River on the PS Alexander Arbuthnot is an unquestionably idyllic way to spend an hour. Well, unless you’re the poor engineer down below, continually throwing logs into the hungry boiler. The romance of being on board a paddlesteamer probably doesn’t stretch…

River red gums in Murray Valley National Park, New South Wales.

Murray Valley National Park: river red gums and birding from a boat

Discover Murray Valley National Park, a tranquil haven of towering river red gums on the Murray River, perfect for birding and wildlife spotting from a boat. Tracing the past with a mileage marker Carved into the side of a tree is the number “258”. It’s…

10 astonishing lagoons around the world for your bucket list

Explore 10 astonishing lagoons around the world, from the Cook Islands and Bora Bora to Iceland's glacial Jökulsárlón, for your travel bucket list. There are few geographical features that are as reliably sexy as a lagoon. Usually, they're the stuff jealousy-inducing holiday photos are made…