AUSTRALIA

Expect over-the-top adventure when you travel down under on a Holland America Line cruise to Australia. You can scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge, meet Tasmanian devils in Port Arthur (or ghosts in Hobart!), ride camels on Cable Beach in Broome, and hop a helicopter in Melbourne for a flight down the Yarra River Valley. Other wow-worthy moments on your Australia cruise: trekking through the planet’s oldest rainforest in Townsville, and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef during a call in Cairns.

In Partnership With

Scenic cruising Christmas Island

This Australian territory—a small speck in the Indian Ocean between Darwin and Indonesia—takes its name from December 25, 1643, the day when Captain William Mynors, an English navigator and master of the East India Company vessel the Royal Mary, discovered it. Remote and inhabited today by fewer than 2,000 residents, the 135-square-kilometer (52-square-mile) island is 966 kilometers (600 miles) from any other land and is mostly taken up by a national park. Often referred to as the Galápagos of the Indian Ocean, Christmas Island is home to numerous species of wildlife as well as beautiful rain forests, wetlands and waterfalls. And of course, as is the case with most Indian Ocean isles, Christmas Island has a plethora of stunning beaches.
In Partnership With

Scenic Cruising Torres Strait

Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula stretches northward like a long arm, with the Great Barrier Reef running parallel to the east. Cape York, at the end of the peninsula, is the northernmost point of the Australian mainland. Past the cape, the Torres Strait Islands continue onward toward Papua New Guinea, creating a maze of tropical islands and reefs that divide the Coral Sea from the Arafura Sea.Only 14 of the strait's 274 islands are inhabited. The languages and customs vary from island to island—the people have largely maintained their indigenous cultures, a mix of Australian Aboriginal, Melanesian and others from Papua New Guinea. 

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

With a burgeoning creative class, top-notch wining and dining, and a pace of life that feels distinctly more leisurely than high-profile siblings Melbourne and Sydney, Adelaide has evolved into a must-visit destination. The biggest buzz is going on in the city's Central Business District, which has become the hub for artists, designers and restaurateurs. Not everything changes though: The town's reputation as a genteel, leafy haven is still justified, and Adelaideans' love of sport—particularly Australian Rules football and cricket—continues unabated. Citizens of Adelaide are devoted to fine wine and great food, and they're particularly proud of the world-class vintages being produced in the famous Barossa Valley wine region.

In Partnership With

Cascade, Norfolk Island, Australia

Norfolk Island was a British penal colony from 1788–1814 and 1825–1855, before being settled by descendants of the Bounty mutineers. Explore the region’s history at the Norfolk Island Museum.
In Partnership With

At Sea (Great Barrier Reef)

The world’s largest coral reef is staggeringly beautiful. Above the water are hundreds of coral cays and white-sand islands, while the reef systems below water are home to a mosaic of marine creatures. The great reef stretches for 2,300 kilometers (more than 1,400 miles). The Great Barrier Reef is a haven for a huge variety of plants and animals. Dive, snorkel or swim among the colorful coral and marine life. Look for the array of wildlife on the islands’ beaches and in the rain forests. At night, gaze up at the stars that shine crystal-clear in the southern sky.

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Tasmania, once the butt of many jokes, is finally cool. Our Australia cruises take you to this little island that is home to stunning landscapes, old-growth forests and exceptional local produce.

Featured Shore Excursions