• 35th Anniversary circumnavigation of Australia over 60 days (59 nights) departing Darwin 30 October 2021 returning 28 December 2021 
• Once in a lifetime never to be repeated cruise ship expedition of Australia with only 60 staterooms on offer for this intimate, personal journey of discovery 
• Special events on offer Christmas dinner under the stars at Uluru with private jet transfers, Sail on the historic square rigger James Craig on Sydney Harbour, Winemakers dinner at Leeuwin Estate winery Margaret River  
• Our cruise ship circumnavigation of Australia covers remote regions showcasing the history, culture and nature of Australian Maritime history

A circumnavigation of Australia on a 60 day cruise for only 120 guests on our newly built cruise ship that will be your home for this extraordinary voyage. Depart Darwin 7th November 2020 return 5th January 2021

With accommodation for only 120 guests in 60 staterooms, her relaxed and intimate onboard atmosphere is a trademark of our small ship expedition cruises.

Our Master, Captain Wilson has designed a voyage that will be a celebration of the history, culture and nature and of Australian Maritime history.

Share the experience of navigation with the Captain with a visit to our open bridge or share stories with new friends at the statement wine-tasting table in the Dining Room.

Spacious bar and lounge areas provide relaxation and time to connect, and all Explorer Deck and Bridge Deck staterooms and suites offer private balconies.

Our brand new cruise ship is purpose-built for comfortable ocean voyages and for exploring remote areas inaccessible to larger commercial cruise ships.

She is outfitted with dual Xplorer tenders and eight zodiacs, and our unique hydraulic platform enables easy walk-on boarding for shore excursions.

She is Australian flagged and crewed, so you can expect the highest standard of service, environmental responsibility, and the intimate and personal experience of boutique smallship cruising.

Welcome to our 35th Anniversary Circumnavigation Expedition of Australia.

Sailing aboard our historic voyage will commence from Darwin on the 7th of November 2020 and undertake a full circumnavigation of the Australian Coastline over 60 days (59 nights) returning on 5th January 2021.

This is a once in a lifetime and never to be repeated expedition of discovery and we would love for you to join us.

With only 60 staterooms available for this voyage, this is an intimate and personal journey of discovery.

With our unique Xplorer tenders, explore hard-to-reach locations of historic significance or natural beauty.

Book early as selling fast

35th Anniversary Cruise Ship Circumnavigation of Australia

With excitement buzzing in the sea breeze, we will embark on our circumnavigation voyage in the afternoon of Saturday 7th November 2020 from Darwin port as the sun sets.

We begin and end our epic Australian Circumnavigation in the northern port city of Darwin, which has been a launching point of our Cruising Expeditions for over 25 years on our Kimberley, Cape York, Spice Islands and Papua New Guinea voyages.

This tropical city is a gateway to some of Australia's most significant natural and cultural wonders and has centuries-old connections with cultures and people to the north of Australia.

Your Voyage Experiences

Visit famous places and share stories of historic maritime events that shaped our nation from ancient times to early explorers and more modern wartime. 

Be immersed in the arts and cultures of the people and communities of Australia on your travels. 

Whether it be coastal walks, snorkelling the reef, sharing amazing wildlife encounters or just taking in the scenery, you will enjoy a unique perspective of the greatest coastline in the world.

Our experienced Expedition Team, along with guest lecturers and special guests, accompany and guide our voyage.

Their commentary and skill at story telling will immerse you in the culture, history and nature of the Australian coastline.

Cruise Ship Circumnavigation of Australia - SPECIAL EVENTS

Included in your circumnavigation cruise are three special events.

1.) Winemaker’s Dinner at Leeuwin Estate winery, Margaret River, Western Australia

Enjoy a walk in the vines and hosted tours in the cellar and gallery of this award-winning winery before settling in to enjoy a 4-course degustation dinner with paired wines presented by the winemaker and chef.

2.)  Sail on the historic square rigger James Craig on Sydney Harbour

 Spend an afternoon aboard the historic square rigger, the James Craig as we sail Sydney Harbour with guest lecturers and historians to share their stories

3.) Christmas Dinner under the stars at Uluru – with private jet transfers

A very special day awaits with an outback Christmas celebration at Uluru.

Enjoy champagne and carols on our flight to Uluru, an afternoon cultural tour, sunset drinks on the dunes overlooking Kata Tjuta followed by a Christmas Dinner at the famed “Sounds of Silence” experience.

Overnight City Ports

DARWIN is the host city for our expedition with departure on Saturday, 7 November 2020 and returning on Tuesday, 5 January 2021.

FREMANTLE: Saturday, 21 November 2020. Explore the foreshores, historic sights, marketplaces and fabulous restaurants.

PORT ADELAIDE: Monday, 30 November 2020. A chance for guests to visit the museums, gardens and old-world charm of the city, and a special visit to the historic clipper City of Adelaide.

HOBART: Sail through the D’Entrecasteaux Channel at sunrise on Tuesday, 8 December 2020. Have the day at leisure to explore this beautiful city.

SYDNEY: Wednesday, 16 December, 2020. Experience a tall ship sailing on the majestic waters of Sydney Harbour in the afternoon and then time to explore in the evening.

OVERNIGHT CITY PORTS CAIRNS: Friday, 25 December 2020. Our home port of Cairns Expeditions will welcome us on Christmas Day for a morning brunch and then flights by private jet for dinner under the stars at Uluru.

The Itinerary

DEPARTS DARWIN SATURDAY, 7 NOVEMBER 2020 

DAY 2 KOOLAMA BAY

DAY 3 CAREENING BAY

DAY 4 CYGNET BAY

DAY 5 AT SEA

DAY 6 DEPUCH ISLAND

DAY 7 TRYAL ROCKS & MONTEBELLO ISLANDS

DAY 8 AT SEA

DAY 9 DIRK HARTOG ISLAND

DAY 10 DENHAM

DAY 11 HMAS SYDNEY & HSK KORMORAN SITES

DAY 12 HOUTMAN ABROLHOS

DAY 13 HOUTMAN ABROLHOS

DAY 14 FREMANTLE

DAY 15 FREMANTLE & BUSSELTON

DAY 16 AUGUSTA - CAPE LEEUWIN WINERY

DAY 17 ALBANY

DAY 18 ARCHIPELAGO OF THE RECHERCHE

DAY 19 ARCHIPELAGO OF THE RECHERCHE

DAY 20 AT SEA

DAY 21 AT SEA & HEAD OF BIGHT

DAY 22 AT SEA

DAY 23 WHYALLA

DAY 24 PORT ADELAIDE

DAY 25 PORT ADELAIDE & PENNESHAW, KANGAROO ISLAND

DAY 26 PENNESHAW, KANGAROO ISLAND & ENCOUNTER BAY

DAY 27 PORT FAIRY

DAY 28 PORT FAIRY, 12 APOSTLES, & HALF MOON BAY

DAY 29 HALF MOON BAY

DAY 30 KING ISLAND

DAY 31 AT SEA

DAY 32 HOBART

DAY 33 HOBART & NORTH BAY

DAY 34 SHOAL BAY & DARLINGTON, MARIA ISLAND

DAY 35 GEORGETOWN

DAY 36 PRESERVATION ISLAND

DAY 37 BOYDTOWN, TWOFOLD BAY

DAY 38 EDEN, TWOFOLD BAY

DAY 39 BOTANY BAY & PORT HACKING

DAY 40 SYDNEY

DAY 41 SYDNEY & BROKEN BAY

DAY 42 AT SEA

DAY 43 TANGALOOMA

DAY 44 HERVEY BAY / FRASER ISLAND

DAY 45 SEVENTEEN-SEVENTY (1770)

DAY 46 PERCY ISLANDS

DAY 47 GREAT BARRIER REEF & ISLANDS

DAY 48 GREAT BARRIER REEF & ISLANDS

DAY 49 CAIRNS - ULURU

DAY 50 CAIRNS & ENDEAVOUR REEF

DAY 51 COOKTOWN

DAY 52 RESTORATION ISLAND

DAY 53 THURSDAY ISLAND & CAPE YORK

DAY 54 POSSESSION ISLAND & BOOBY ISLAND

DAY 55 CULLEN POINT & PENNEFATHER RIVER

DAY 56 CAPE KEERWEER

DAY 57 CAPE ARNHEM

DAY 58 WESSEL ISLANDS

DAY 59 AT SEA

ARRIVES DARWIN TUESDAY, 5 JANUARY 2021

See more amazing Great Barrier Reef cruise ship tours.

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

At Sunset in Darwin

Departure Instructions

To be advised on booking

Destinations

• Cairns
• Cruise commences in Darwin
• Circumnavigation of Australia
• Careening Bay, Western Australia
• Cygnet Bay, Western Australia
• Depuch Island, Western Australia
• Montebello Islands, Western Australia
• HMAS Sydney, Western Australia
• Denham, Western Australia
• Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia
• Archipelago of the Recherche, WA
• Head of Bight, South Australia
• Kangaroo Island, South Australia
• Port Fairy, Victoria
• King Island, Tasmania
• North Bay & Maria Island, Tasmania
• Preservation Island, Tasmania
• Twofold Bay, New South Wales
• Botany Bay, New South Wales
• Broken Bay, New South Wales
• Fraser Island, Queensland
• Percy Islands, Queensland
• Cooktown & Endeavour Reef, Queensland
• Restoration Island, Queensland
• Thursday Is & Cape York, Queensland
• Possession Is & Booby Is, Queensland
• Pennefather River, Queensland
• Cape Arnhem, Northern Territory
• Wessel Islands, Northern Territory

Months of Operation

October

Days of Operation

Daily

30 October 2021 to 28 December 2021

Duration

59 Nights
60 Days

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Scuba diving
• Alcoholic beverages outside of lunch and dinner service, specialty beverages

Fitness Level Required

Medium

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving.
• Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
• Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years.
• Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

Personal items suitable for cruising on a luxury ship and for participating in land tours

• Full payment due 30 days prior to travel
• 14 - 30 days prior to departure - forfeit 20% of the relevant fare
• 7 - 13 days prior to departure - forfeit 50% of the relevant fare
• No show - 6 days - forfeit 100% of the relevant fare
• It is recommended that all passengers purchase appropriate travel insurance upon making their reservation and prior to their departure. We operate in remote areas and whilst our crew are trained in remote area first aid, we do not employ doctors on board our cruises.