Eastern Australia Intensive Cruise: Sydney, Brisbane & Great Barrier Reef

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.

Brisbane—or Brizzy if you’re a Brisbanite—is one of the oldest cities in Australia. Often referred to as the Gateway to Queensland, we think this river city might be one of the most underrated in Australia. Get your bearings with a ride on the Wheel of Brisbane—think London Eye only down under—an iconic landmark that offers bird’s eye views of the entire city below. And if that’s not high enough for you, opt for a helicopter tour that will give you a better lay of the land and the surrounding area.

Just off the coast of Queensland is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fraser Island. At 76 miles in length and 13 miles at its widest point (124 and 22 kilometers respectively), it’s the largest sand island in the world, and the only place on Earth where ancient rainforests grow in sand along the banks of pristine creeks.

This sunny port on Australia’s northeast coast is in a perpetual state of vacation, and with the Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep, it’s easy to see why. Small in size but with a beachy, cosmopolitan vibe, Airlie Beach offers excellent shopping, dining, and nightlife, plus a long list of outdoor activities that range from sunbathing to soaring in a seaplane

With an average of 320 days of sunlight every year, we can think of just as many reasons to visit Townsville. Situated on the shore of Cleveland Bay in Queensland, Townsville borders the central section of the Great Barrier Reef and enjoys warm temperatures year round—reason enough for us to want to visit.

Cairns is the gateway to many of northern Australia’s natural attractions. Suit up and head offshore to explore the incredible world beneath the waves at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Great Barrier Reef. Filled with incredible beaches, coral reefs, and turquoise blue waters, you can swim, snorkel, dive, and enjoy a living masterpiece that is so big it can be seen from outer space.