One of Asia's great economic successes, Singapore has fused diverse cultures into one dynamic nation. Behind high-tech industries and high-rise buildings lives a society with an ingrained sense of conservative Confucian values. Beneath the westernized modernity beats a totally Asian heart. Strong beliefs center around extended families, filial piety, discipline, respect and Asian work ethics. Singapore’s name, meaning "Lion City," can be traced to the 13th century, and today there is the mythical Merlion, half-lion, half-fish, standing guard at the mouth of the Singapore River as the symbol of Singapore. A recent advertising campaign billed Singapore as "A Fine City."

Destination Guide

Excursions

Half Day Singapore City Tour – 4 hours - Singapore — Optional Private Excursions
Highlights:

• Bumboat Ride
• Merlion Park
• Drive around the Civic District
• National Orchid Garden Admission

Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour can operate: Morning or afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, if guests can walk a short
distance to board the bumboat when wheelchair must be foldable to fit into the minivan.

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Pick up/ Drop off services to/from cruise port
• Licensed, professional English-speaking guide
• Transportation by deluxe, air-conditioned vehicle
• A Bottled Water

Not Included:

• Meals that are not mentioned in the above itinerary
• Drinks or personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities
• Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurants, etc. 

Singapore - Good Morning, Ni Hao (Walking Tour) — Optional Private Excursions

GOOD MORNING, NI HAO (WALKING TOUR)

Destination: Singapore    
Tour Duration: 4 hours 
Code: MDSINSP001

Tour Description:

Move your senses with the sights and sounds of a wet market and watch how locals hunt for the freshest bargain. It's no mystery why the term 'wet' is used as stall owners use water in the market to wash floors, to keep fruits and vegetables fresh, and to keep seafood alive. Check out local favorites like century egg, black chicken and wide array of spices. Next adjourn to Singapore's largest hawker centre for a leisurely breakfast. Your day is not complete without visiting a traditional heritage shop where you will see where locals purchase their supply of herbs, tonic and even pastries, which are used for family tea time. End your tour on a sweet note with a sampling of local desserts.

Notes:

• Pick up time: 09:00
• The market visit will be substituted if it’s closed for spring cleaning
• Inclusion: Food sampling at hawker centre and local dessert shop are included.
• Capacity: 1 – 14 persons. Bigger group is on request basis.
• Availability: Everyday, except during F1 Period when surcharge might be applied.
• Guide: TBA

Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Full Day Singapore Tour – 8 hours - Singapore — Optional Private Excursions

Highlights:

• Bumboat Ride
• Merlion Park
• Drive around the Civic District
• National Orchid Garden Admission
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Kampong Glam
• Arab Street
• Chinatown
• Little India
• Tekka Centre

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible:  Yes, if guests can walk a short distance to board the bumboat when wheelchair must be foldable to fit into the minivan.

Physical Activity Level:  Moderate

Inclusions:

• Pick up/ Drop off services to/from cruise port
• Licensed, professional English-speaking guide
• Transportation by deluxe, air-conditioned vehicle
• Bottled Water

Not Included:

• Meals that are not mentioned in the above itinerary
• Drinks or personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities.
• Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurants, etc.

Singapore - Gardens By The Bay (3.5 Hours) — Optional Private Excursions
Highlights:

• Enter one of the "Top 10 Indoor Gardens of the World" - a futuristic area of garden artistry and horticulture spread over 101 hectares.
• In the Flower Dome we can marvel at the world's largest glass greenhouse, and wander amongst baobabs, thousand-year-old olive trees, a changing flower field display and more.
• In the Cloud Forest we will enter a mysterious world veiled in mist, as we come face to face with the 35-metre tall indoor waterfall and explore seven discovery zones.

Tour Duration:      3.5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• English-speaking guide.
• Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle.
• 1 complimentary bottle of drinking water and 1 cold towel per person per half day tour/ 2 bottles of water and 2 cold towels per person per full day tour.
• Sightseeing including admission fees according to itinerary.

Not Included:

• Visa fees
• Lunch
• Drinks
• Personal expenses

Singapore - Heartlands Tour (3.5 Hours) — Optional Private Excursions
Highlights:

• Visit Toa Payoh New Town. This is the first town to be built by the Housing Development Board, the government arm in charge of public housing in Singapore.
• Explore a typical self-sufficient town complete with public vs private housing, public transport, public amenities as well as industrial and commercial areas.
• Visit the public recreation areas and view a typical show flat for a public housing building. Visits to a wet market and hawker centre will give us an even deeper glimpse into local life. (Showflat is not open on Sundays and public holidays)

Tour Duration: 3.5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning (Suggested starting time: 09h00 or 14h00)
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Local English Speaking Guide
• Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle.
• 2 bottles of water and 2 cold towels per person
• Sightseeing including admission fees according to itinerary. 

Not Included:

• Personal Expenses, Tipping

Singapore City Tour (4 hours) — Optional Private Excursions

Half-day tour to Singapore City

Highlights

• Botanical Gardens
• Chinatown
• Bum Boat ride - 30-minute ride (share-basis)
• Merlion Park & Little India

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

Not Included

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel Insurance
• Any Visa

Singapore Sentosa Tour (4 hours) — Optional Private Excursions

Half-day tour to Singapore - Sentosa

Highlights

• Sentosa Resort
• Sentosa Merlion Tower
• SEA Aquarium

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

 
 

Singapore Night Safari Tour (4 hours) — Optional Private Excursions

Evening Singapore Safari Tour

Highlights

• 1815 hrs   Singapore Night Safari
• 2215 hrs  Return to hotel

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Ethnic Neighbourhood Tour (4 hours) — Optional Private Excursions

Half Day Tour to Singapore Ethnic Neighbourhood

Highlights

• Kampong Glam
• Bugis Village
• Trishaw ride (2 persons to 1 Trishaw)

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Foodie Tour (4 hours) — Optional Private Excursions

Half day tour to Singapore Foodie

Highlights

• Maxwell Hawker Centre or Lau Pat Sat (either one of the above venue depending availability)
• Tea Chapter

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Flyer & Gardens By The Bay (4 hours) — Optional Private Excursions

Half day tour to Singapore Flyer & Gardens By The Bay

Highlights

• Singapore Flyer - a 35 minutes ride (share-basis)
• Gardens by the Bay (Flower Dome and Cloud Forest)

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Toa Payoh Hub Tour (4 hours) — Optional Private Excursions

Half day tour to Singapore Toa Payoh Hub

Highlights

• Toa Payoh (a first generation New Town built in the late 1960s)
• Coffee break in a local coffee shop
• Take a subway for a 5 minutes drive to Bishan (a second generation New Town, designed and built in the early 1990's)

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Crazy Rich Asians Movie Locations Tour (4 hours) — Optional Private Excursions

Half day tour to Crazy Rich Asians Movie Locations in Singapore

Highlights

• Bukit Pasoh
• Newton Food Centre
• Chijmes
• Raffles Hotel

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 
Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Benoa (Tanjung Benoa) is a modern Balinese resort - a government-run dreamland of coconut palms, white sand beaches and pristine waters located near the island's southernmost tip. Geologically, the area is quite different from the rest of Bali, and even from the rest of the Bukit peninsula upon which it rests. Instead of rice fields or limestone cliffs, there is sandy soil reaching down to a long, sandy beach protected by a reef. Coconut trees are everywhere. The climate here is also drier than the rest of Bali, freshened by a mild ocean breeze.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Bali Highlights & Twin Lakes - 9 hours - Benoa — Optional Private Excursions
Highlights:

• Your adventure begins at the conclusion of your welcoming ceremony.
• After boarding your motor coach you’ll drive through the emerald green hills and into central Bali.
• Your first stop is Sangeh Monkey Forest, a 34-acre sanctuary for hundreds of monkeys.
• Visit the 400-year-old Pura Bukit Sari Sangeh Temple.
• Next on your itinerary, you’ll see Lake Bratan. Located almost 4,000 feet above sea level, this sparkling lake sits in the crater of Mt. Catur.
• Then, you’ll make a photo stop at a viewing area where you can look out over the “twin lakes,” Buyan Lake, the smallest lake in Bali, and Tamblingan Lake.
• Continuing on, you’ll head over to the highland village of Munduk for lunch.
• After lunch, you’ll visit the colourful Pasar Candi Kuning market. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, you can also purchase handicrafts, paintings, and fabrics.
• Your final destination is the village of Tohpati, famous for its fine batik. After observing the batik process you can try your hand at painting traditional batik designs.
• Later, you're invited to browse for souvenirs, gifts and fine Balinese crafts.
• When your exciting highland exploration comes to an end, you’ll return to your motorcoach, perhaps laden with crafts from the market or Tohpati, for the relaxing ride back to your ship.

Tour Duration: 9 hours

Tour can operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions: 

• Pick up/ Drop off at Benoa Port
• Entrance Fees, English speaking guide assistance, Welcome dance
• Soft drinks/ mineral water/ refreshments, Lunch

Not Included:

• Personal expenses, telephone, laundry service, tips and gratuities, personal travel insurance
• All services which are not mentioned on the program above.

Bali’s Heritage Sites – 9 hours - Benoa — Optional Private Excursions
Highlights:

• After a traditional Balinese pendet welcome dance, you’ll board your motorcoach and travel to Tohpati near the capital city of Denpasar. Along the way, you’ll see beautiful landscapes of coastal plains, lush terraced hillsides, rice paddies, and fruit and spice plantations.
• Once you arrive in Tohpati, you’ll visit a factory to see first hand the entire batik process.
• After observing the batik process you can try your hand at painting traditional batik designs.
• Later, you're invited to browse for souvenirs, gifts and fine Balinese crafts.
• Re-board your coach and travel to Penglipuran Culture Village. The village people live under strict rules just like their ancestors centuries ago.
• Continuing on, you’ll visit Pura Besakih, the Mother Temple of Bali. Perched over 3,000 feet up the gentle slopes of Mt. Agung, Bali’s largest and holiest temple dates back 2,000 years.
• Next, is a delicious buffet lunch featuring Indonesian dishes in the village of Rendang. As you enjoy your meal, marvel at the breathtaking views of the rice paddies and Mt. Agung.
• Following lunch, you’ll journey to the village of Klungkung for a photo stop at Kertha Gosa.
• Finally, you’ll travel to your ship with photos and memories to share with everyone back home.

Tour Duration: 9 hours

Tour can operate: Full day

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Pick up/ Drop off at Benoa Port
• Entrance Fees, English speaking guide assistance, Welcome dance
• Soft drinks / mineral water / refreshments / lunch / snacks

Not Included:

• Personal expenses, telephone, laundry service, tips and gratuities, personal travel insurance.
• All services which are not mentioned on the program above.

Mt. Batur & Rural Bali with a Local Family – 8 hours - Benoa — Optional Private Excursions
Highlights:

• This unique full-day excursion not only introduces you to a local family but offers you the opportunity to learn a little bit about their culture and language.
• Your day begins with a pendet welcome ceremony at the pier.
• Then, you’ll board your motorcoach and travel into central Bali.
• You’ll continue on to a charming village and disembark at a Balinese home and meet a local family. After a warm welcome, you’ll join them for a traditional Balinese breakfast, which may include fried banana fritters and rice cakes served with coffee or tea.
• Later, you’ll go for a stroll through the village and stop for a welcome dance performed by local children. Then, you’ll walk through the farms and watch the farmers at work in the rice fields.
• To experience the spiritual side of Bali, you’ll climb back aboard your coach bound for Kehen Temple, considered the most beautiful Hindu temple on the island.
• You’ll then proceed to an Indonesian buffet lunch in the village of Kintamani, which sits on the edge of Mt. Batur. Relax over your delicious meal while marvelling at the outstanding views of the active volcano and the sparkling waters of Lake Batur
• Kemenuh is the centre of the intricate art of woodcarving. You’ll visit a woodcarving studio and watch skilled craftsmen.
• Before returning to port, you can comb through the gallery and purchase these wooden works of art that capture the spirit of this incredible place.

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can operate: Full day

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Pick up/ Drop off at Benoa Port
• Entrance Fees, English speaking guide assistance, Welcome dance
• Soft drinks/ mineral water/ refreshments, Balinese breakfast, lunch

Not Included:

• Personal expenses, telephone, laundry service, tips and gratuities, personal travel insurance
• All services which are not mentioned on the program above

Darwin
Soak up Darwin's balmy weather and the melting pot of food and cultures in the city's many outdoor festivals and markets. Then explore the region's dramatic history - from World War II air raids to Cyclone Tracey - in the museums and galleries. Sail Darwin harbour at sunset, cruise next to crocodiles and bushwalk through monsoon forest. Swim in the crystal-clear waterholes of Litchfield National Park and visit the colourful communities of the Tiwi Islands. This vibrant, tropical capital has a youthful energy you'll find hard to resist.

Five ways to discover Darwin and its surrounds:

1. At festivals, markets and on the harbour In Darwin, the action happens outside - in markets, parks, by the beach or on boats. You can join the locals with a crate and a plate of sizzling satay at The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets from May to October. Or watch them build boats out of beer or soft drink cans at the annual Darwin Beer Can Regatta in July. At the Deckchair Cinema from April to November you can watch movies under a canopy of stars with a drink from the bar and a picnic dinner. Soak up Darwin's tropical weather with a harbourside dinner at Cullen Bay Marina or a sunset harbour cruise complete with a history lesson.

2. With wildlife and in tropical parklands
Cycle past orchids and bromeliads and traditional Aboriginal plants in George Brown Botanic Gardens. Swim, have a sunset barbecue and explore sacred Aboriginal sites at Casuarina Coastal Reserve. In Berry Springs Nature Park, you can spot birds in monsoon forest and fish in the crystal clear swimming holes. Get up close to fish, birds-of-prey, nocturnal animals and reptiles in the Territory Wildlife Park, a 45-minute drive from Darwin. Have a close crocodile encounter at Crocodylus Park, the Darwin Crocodile Farm or on a crocodile cruise along Darwin's coastal fringe and rivers.

3. Hot on the heels of history
Learn more about Darwin's rich Aboriginal heritage in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Here you can also relive the tragic Cyclone Tracy which hit Darwin on Christmas Eve in 1974. See the Chinese Temple it nearly destroyed in Litchfield Street. Darwin endured 64 Japanese air raids in World War II, and you can watch dramatic footage of the bombings and visit the bunker where Top End defense strategy was planned at East Point Military Museum. See original B52 bomber planes at the Aviation Heritage Centre and a network of walking trails leading to World War II oil tunnels around the Wharf Precinct. In Myilly Point Historical Precinct you can see some of the few surviving cottages designed by architect B.C.G Burnett in the colonial style popular before World War II.

4. Under the waterfalls of Litchfield National Park
Make time for a day trip to the waterfalls and plunge pools, wildlife and birdlife, ranges and rainforest of Litchfield National Park, a one-and-a-half hour drive from Darwin. Swim in the crystal-clear swimming hole at the base of Florence Falls and bush-walk through monsoon rain-forest to Walker Creek. Picnic next to roosting fruit bats at Wangi Falls and see sweeping valley views at Tolmer Falls. Take a wildlife cruise on the Reynolds River, part of a working cattle station. Explore this Tarzan landscape with traditional Aboriginal owners the Wagait people or peer into a pastoral past in the ruins of Blyth Homestead.

5. On a trip to the Tiwi Islands
Join in the excitement of the Tiwi Islands Grand Football Final, held every March in Nguiu. Browse and buy Tiwi art, distinctive for its strong design, decorative features and vivid colours. Take billy tea and damper tea with Tiwi ladies as they demonstrate traditional weaving and painting. Then watch them perform a traditional dance and a smoking ceremony to clear bad spirits. Catch big barramundi on a fishing tour on the Tiwi coast. You'll find a warm welcome and a lush landscape of rainforest, beaches and rock pools on Melville and Bathurst Islands, together known as the Tiwi Islands. Explore them on a day or overnight tour, traveling a 20-minute flight or two-hour ferry from Darwin.

Destination Guide

Yorky's Knob is situated in eastern Australia, on the coast, and is nearby the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. Neighbor to Cairns, this idyllic stretch of land has beaches, shopping and a top-notch marina.
 

Destination Guide

Brisbane
Laze in the lush riverside gardens of South Bank, then browse the markets and swim in its lagoon. Bike ride in the City Botanic Gardens and abseil the cliffs of Kangaroo Point. Glide down the river on a majestic paddle steamer or take a high-speed ferry to vibrant inner-city villages like Bulimba and New Farm. When culture cravings hit, wander the art galleries and museums, watch a performance by the Queensland Ballet, Opera or Orchestra perform or see cutting-edge theatre in the Powerhouse. In the boating hub of nearby Moreton Bay and Islands, you can swim, sea kayak, snorkel coral reefs, toboggan down the world's tallest sand dune, hire a sail boat or tussle with a marlin.

Five things you should do in Brisbane:

1. Glide down the river and relax in the gardens

Bike ride beneath macadamia trees and mangroves in the City Botanic Gardens or roller blade over a floating walkway. Then cruise down the river in a wooden paddle steamer, spotting pelicans and eastern water dragons. Laze or picnic under the palms on South Bank's 17 hectares of riverside gardens. Here you can swim from the lagoon and pools of Paul Breka Beach, browse the markets, visit a summer open-air cinema and dine alfresco in the sun. Follow an Aboriginal art trail through the bushland in Mount Coot-Tha Reserve, also the place to spot native wildlife and take in panoramic city views. At the foot of the mountain you can wander the tropical zone, rainforests and Japanese gardens of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. Cuddle up to koalas and meet possums, kangaroos, wombats, emus and lyrebirds in the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, just a short bus drive from the city centre.

2. Soak up culture and architecture
See the skeleton of a Queensland dinosaur in the Queensland Museum and the work of famous Australian artists in the Queensland Art Gallery. Both sit in the sprawling Queensland Cultural Centre on South Bank. At night, visit the dress circle of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre or catch a show by the Queensland Ballet, Opera or Orchestra. Watch plays, browse art galleries and dine out in the transformed industrial space of the Powerhouse, which towers over the wide, brown river like a post-apocalyptic vision. Brisbane also houses many cultural institutions in fine old civic buildings, such as Customs House, the Treasury Building, Brisbane City Hall, the Commissariat Store and the Old Mill. In Brisbane, sandstone cathedrals and classic Queenslander houses on stilts blend seamlessly with steel and glass skyscrapers.

3. Hit the water and islands of Moreton Bay
Sea kayak from North Stradboke Island or Moreton Island or go deep-sea fishing from Scarborough, Bribie Island, Manly or Raby Bay. Jet ski and windsurf on the Redcliffe Peninsula or kite-surf on Wellington Point. Slide down the world's tallest sand dunes on a toboggan or sand buggy on Moreton Island. Scuba dive with colourful fish, crustaceans, corals and turtles at Cowan's Artificial Reef, Flinders Reef and in the Tangalooma shipwrecks. Watch out for humpback whales between July and October and dolphins and dugongs all year round. Meet colonies of koalas in Victoria Point and hundreds of wading birds in the Egret Colony and Boondall Wetlands. Aqua-bike from Coochiemudlo Island then mountain bike the BMX tracks at Cleveland and Deception Bay. Four wheel drive Moreton, North Stradbroke and Bribie Islands. See Queensland's oldest banyan tree in Cleveland Point, Aboriginal scar trees and middens in the Redlands and Myora Springs and a notorious old convict settlement on St Helena Island.

4. Eat, drink and enjoy in the urban villages
Listen to live music, shop along the lively outdoor mall and feast on Chinatown dumplings in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane's cultural core. Next door in New Farm, you can people watch from trendy cafes, buy gourmet delights from the famous deli and picnic in the riverside parklands. Dine in warehouse converted restaurants and explore the transformed industrial space of the Powerhouse, now a buzzing centre for the live arts. Take the citycat to Bulimba on the river. Then visit pretty Paddington and hop between the popular bars, cafes and restaurants of Latrobe and Given Terraces. Then take in the traditional Queenslander homes which dot the hills and wide-lined streets. Cross the river for the funky restaurants and art house theatres of the West End, the shops of Stones Corner and the brewery of Queensland's most famous beer.

5. Embrace adventure
Abseil or rock climb the Kangaroo Point Cliffs at sunrise or at night when the city is dancing with lights. Climb the Story Bridge for spectacular 360 degree views. Free fall on a tandem sky dive or float over the city in a hot air balloon. You can even glide like a bird over the Sunshine Coast on a motor glider. Travel down the Brisbane River on a golden gondola, historic paddle steamer or wildlife cruise. Or take a luxury whale watching cruise from the Redcliffe Peninsula, just 30 minutes north of Brisbane. Do an eco cruise past Bribie Island and the Glasshouse Mountains to Pumicestone Passage Marine Park. Bushwalk, swim, four wheel drive, spot wildlife and explore glow worm caves on an eco-tour to Springbrook and Lamington National Parks. See the city sights on the back of a Harley Davidson or go horseriding in the sprawling bush on the edge of the city.

Destination Guide

Sydney
Soak up Sydney’s gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty. Kayak under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave at the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee. Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington. As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festivals and 24-7 fun.

Five Sydney Experiences Not to Miss:

1. Explore the historic Rocks
Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history in the harbourside quarter where it all began. Just five minutes from Circular Quay, you can hear stories of hangings and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge. In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you’ll find historic workman’s cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney’s oldest pubs. See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.

2. Hit the world-famous harbour
Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak. Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands. Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney’s first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise. Watch the harbour glitter from the green parklands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge. Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watsons Bay at South Head. Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay, on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.

3. Visit Manly on the ferry
Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour. Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower. Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail or kayak from Manly Wharf round the harbour. Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach. Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.

4. Enjoy café culture and top shopping in Paddington
Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra. Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets. Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford St or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores. Crawl between the lively, historic pubs. They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or a race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled trackside finery.

5. Walk from Bondi to Coogee
Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee. Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant above. See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand. From mid-October to November, the stretch from here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte. Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon’s Bay. See the graves of poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs. Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.

Destination Guide