Western Australia & Bali Voyage

Head Down Under to the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia, the one and only Sydney. With a sunny attitude and a climate to match, Sydney is a vibrant place that combines the best of the beach, with the convenience of the city.

Your first stop should be the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Sydney Opera House. Snap a picture of this iconic building that is a prominent feature of Sydney’s famous skyline for the folks back home. Get out and explore the streets to shop, dine, and view spectacular architecture and heritage buildings including Parliament House, Sydney Town Hall, and the Australian Museum.

If you’re chasing paradise along the shores of the Sapphire Coast, you’ll find it in Eden. Set on the breathtaking Twofold Bay, Eden’s laid-back atmosphere, charming locals, and stunning natural surroundings make it a destination you’ll never want to leave.

Start by making your way to the Eden Lookout, where the best views of Twofold Bay are found. In the distance, marvel at the vast hinterland, as well as Boyd’s Tower—an elaborate structure crafted from sandstone that was once used as a lookout for whale spotting.

Melbourne has the honor of being “the world’s most livable city” not to mention “Australia’s cultural capital”, a UNESCO City of Literature, the hub of the country’s film and television industry, and the unquestioned sporting capital of Australia. But don’t mistake Melbourne for a relentless overachiever, it’s got a laid-back and easy vibe that will leave you wanting more.

Adelaide, to some, is the civilized part of Australia. Pretty and leafy, with spacious green parklands, history buffs can download several walking tours around Victoria Square. Foodies will relish the vibrant culinary scene here. And everyone will be fascinated with the Aboriginal Culture Gallery at the South Australian Museum with an amazing collection of boomerangs, grouped according to purpose – hunting, fighting, ceremony.

Wander through the glass houses in The Botanic Gardens and see everything from endangered plants to noisy pitta birds to water lilies that only open at night. Or visit the Cleland Wildlife Park where you can hold a koala (cute) or a snake (scary).

You’ll find more than just kangaroos on Kangaroo Island. There are wallabies and koalas, not to mention platypus, and ring-tailed possums. And at Seal Bay Conservation Park, you can sit just a few yards from rare and magnificent sea lions, while whales play in the water and penguins and pelicans parade along the beach. Try to spy bandicoots, birds, and 45 plant species found nowhere else on earth. And you’ll see more sheep than people—at a ratio of about 136 to one. And, yes, there are kangaroos.

European explorers fell in love with Albany in the 17th century and we’re betting you’ll do the same. The beauty of its rugged coastline befits its dramatic whaling, convict and settler history, and the city retells it in exceptional ways.

“The capital of the Margaret River region.” “The gateway to Margaret River wine country.” “The events capital of Western Australia.” Whatever you want to call it, “the coastal playground” of Busselton sure does have a lot of monikers—and even more things to do.

The adventures begin the moment you step off the ship, as we dock next to the famed Busselton Jetty, the longest wooden pier in the world. From here you can walk to the beach and waterfront district, where there are more than enough water sports, shops, restaurants, cafés, and bars to entertain you for the rest of your stay in Busselton.

Perth, once an Australian backwater, is now at the vanguard of cool, with cutting-edge art, miles of stunning beaches, and a culture that’s both relaxed and impatient for the future.

Situated beside the Swan River, Perth is a magical place to explore. Start in Kings Park on Mount Eliza for the best views and an enchanting treetop walk. To indulge in some retail therapy, visit the high-end fashion boutiques of King Street. Art lovers will want to get acquainted with the center of Perth’s art scene—the Art Gallery of Western Australia which features the best collection of Aboriginal art in the country.

Bali is enchanting – a lush, verdant isle where rice terraces color every available acre with the brilliant green of young shoots, and volcanic peaks said to house the gods tower above. It is a deeply spiritual place, where artful offerings of flowers and incense are ever present, and on any given day at least one of the thousands of temples scattered around the island will be hosting a colorful festival. Culturally rich, each village has its own artistic specialty – music, dance, painting, and sculpture. The beaches are tempting, but if you want the real Bali, head for the hills – the Balinese occupy that middle ground, and demons reside in the sea.

Bali is more than just a place—it’s a state of mind. And from yoga retreats to more than 20,000 temples there’s plenty here to help you achieve a state of inner om. But don’t worry, you don’t have to embark on a spiritual journey worthy of the pages of Eat, Pray, Love; Bali has plenty to cater to your physical body as well.

Take a relaxing dip in one of the many hot springs that dot the remote and beautiful countryside. Indulge in a little pampering; Bali is a renowned spa destination. Choose from wraps and masks made from native herbs and spices, specialty massages, or even plunge your feet in a bucket of tiny fishes who will give you a pedicure you won’t soon forget.

This commercial port, busily exporting the island’s most important products (including of course the beans for your next cup of java), is your gateway to two amazing religious sites. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world – a 3D mandala (diagram of the universe), and perhaps a gigantic textbook to guide mortals striving to attain enlightenment. Prambanan is a complex of lofty, sharply sculpted towers honoring the Hindu triumvirate of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. Both religions traveled this way with Indian traders in the early centuries AD.

Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions meld in this island-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The site of the world’s busiest port, Singapore offers the Mustafa Centre, a 24-hour mall and Sunte, the world’s largest fountain. Play evening golf on lighted fairways; experience the nightlife on Mohamed Sultan Road; or relax at an outdoor spa. Be certain not to miss the savory seafood.

Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions meld in this island-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The site of the world’s busiest port, Singapore offers the Mustafa Centre, a 24-hour mall and Sunte, the world’s largest fountain. Play evening golf on lighted fairways; experience the nightlife on Mohamed Sultan Road; or relax at an outdoor spa. Be certain not to miss the savory seafood.