Australia & New Zealand
Australia
Australia is teeming with vast treasures. Indulge in seasonal delicacies and fine wines. Snorkel among technicolor fish. Discover ancient cultures, explore historic landmarks, and tour the country’s most charming cities. Princess will help you create memories to last a lifetime.
While the Sydney Opera House is a prime example of architectural design at its finest, Port Arthur’s humble penal colony stands as a grim reminder of Australia’s early beginnings. There are a number of natural World Heritage Sites, including the Great Barrier Reef, the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the Blue Mountains and the Rainforestation National Park.
At Princess® we want you to have an unforgettable Australian adventure – so we’ve created onboard experiences designed to immerse you in the destination:
Sydney hosts several architectural delights, including the iconic Sydney Opera House and the 320-meter-tall Sydney Tower and Government House, one of Australia’s finest examples of colonial-style architecture. In the heart of Melbourne sits Federation Square, and rising 230 meters into Brisbane’s skyline, the SkyPoint viewing deck boasts 360-degree views of the Gold Coast
Many of Australia’s museums are closely tied to the land, its people and history. Hobart is known for its well-preserved 19th century National Trust buildings, Broome’s museum traces native life and the pearling industry, while in Tasmania you can discover what life was back in the early 1900s.
Pursue your passion for wine, beer and chocolate with a taste-testing tour in the Margaret River region. Explore the art and crafts in the charming cities of Hahndorf and Montville, or visit a variety of museums and cultural parks to celebrate Australia’s rich native and colonial history.
Traverse a canopy path above the forest floor for a bird’s-eye view of the ancient karri and tingle trees near Albany. Behold the otherworldly spires at Perth’s Nambung National Park. Explore the underwater beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, or travel inland to Tamborine Mountain, a fertile volcanic plateau that boasts 21 species of birds.
From Tasmanian devils to wombats and kookaburras, you’ll encounter fascinating animals and plants from the region and from around the globe at Brisbane’s Australia Zoo, Melbourne’s Healesville Sanctuary, Sydney’s Featherdale Wildlife Park and the Perth Zoo.
Explore the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach. Visit the award-winning Rainforestation National Park in Cairns. Ride a camel along the shore, and learn the secrets to pearl farming in Broome. On itineraries with More Ashore Late Night calls, we stay until at least 9 p.m. in port so you can experience some of the fabulous nightlife.And with a range of Discovery Recommended and Exclusive excursions available only with Princess Cruises, you’ll see Australia in a whole new way.
Our most extensive Land & Sea Vacation guides you through the highlights of Sydney, radiant Uluru in the heart of the outback, scenic Kakadu National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with wildlife), Darwin, Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef.
Visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: soak in the brilliant underwater colours of the Great Barrier Reef, and then watch the setting sun transform the sky as Uluru glows red from afar.
The gateway to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Brisbane is also a living museum dedicated to keeping its heritage alive with an abundance of 19th century buildings.
MoreOnce considered the "country cousin" among Australian cities, Brisbane is today the nation’s third-largest metropolis - and one of the most desirable places to live in the country. Lying on the banks of the meandering Brisbane River, this cosmopolitan city boasts elegant 19th-century sandstone buildings, a lively cultural scene and superb parklands. Brisbane is also your gateway to uniquely Australian adventures, be it the theme parks of the Gold Coast or Queensland’s dazzling beaches.
The beaches south of Brisbane form Queensland’s Gold Coast. Travel tip: Brisbane is pronounced "Bris-bin."
With 26 miles of beaches, resort hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, a casino, luxury homes and golf courses, the Gold Coast serves as both Australia’s vacation and retirement capitals.
Founded by the late Steve Irwin, TV’s "Crocodile Hunter," this 70-acre zoo is home to exotic wildlife, such as fresh and salt-water crocodiles, koalas, kangaroos and giant pythons.
Lying inland from the famous Gold Coast, this volcanic plateau is a fertile landscape of national parklands, rainforests, and groves of macadamia nut, kiwi fruit and avocado.
More than just a brewery tour, this famed Irish alehouse is home to the iconic "XXXX" brand beer. A visit provides insight into over a century’s old legacy and its place in Queensland history.
This beach was voted one of the best beaches in the world, with wide golden sands and excellent surf. It is located on Queensland’s famous Gold Coast of luxury resorts and designer shops.
Rising 230 meters into the sky with 360-degree views, the Skypoint viewing deck is a spectacular vantage point on the world’s tallest residential tower, and boasts the highest point on all of the Gold Coast.
Settled in 1887, this village is often described as the "Creative Heart of the Sunshine Coast," home to art galleries, artisans, crafters’ workshops and restored Victorian cottages.
A popular cruise tour venue, this river runs through Brisbane and is the longest in southeast Queensland. It was na
Western Australia’s capital is a cosmopolitan mix of high rises and colonial buildings, beautiful beaches and verdant parkland, as well as the mystical yellow quartz sand of the Pinnacles Desert.
MoreLying at the mouth of the Swan River, historic Fremantle - founded in 1829 - is your gateway to Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Situated on the banks of the Swan River some 15 miles upriver from Fremantle, Perth is a bustling city where soaring high-rises co-exist with elegant sandstone buildings from the colonial era. Life here moves at a slower pace, so during your visit, relax and savor the bounties of Western Australia, from the wonders of the bush to the wineries of the Swan Valley, from excellent shopping to a leisurely cruise on the Swan River.
Perth’s explosive growth in recent decades has engulfed the old historic port of Fremantle - some 70 percent of Western Australia’s population live in and around Perth.
This riverboat cruise from Perth to Fremantle offers views of a restored brewery, the Royal Perth Yacht Club, magnificent homes on Millionaire’s Row and Fremantle’s busy inner harbor.
Venture from Perth’s premier park, home to hundreds of species of native plants and birds, to Perth’s most popular beach, featuring glistening turquoise waters and lush white sands.
Millions of years of interaction between the elements have transformed the ancient sea floor of Nambung National Park into a forest of spires and mystical forms (pinnacles) dotting desert sands.
Famous for its late-blooming wildflowers, this popular bush reserve features beautiful walking trails, an abundance of native flora and fauna, stunning caves and an aboriginal cultural exhibit.
Dedicated to the marine environments of Western Australia, this magnificent walk-through aquarium features live coral reefs, kelp beds and over 400 species of marine animals including sharks and tropical fish.
Named in 1696 by a Dutch mariner who thought the island’s small marsupials resembled rats, this "rat’s nest" island features magnificent bays and beaches and unique flora and wildlife.
Australia’s long and colorful maritime history is showcased in this museum which features internationally acclaimed exhibits filled with relics and artifacts salvaged from the coast’s many shipwrecks.
Built in 1855 to house imperial and colonial prisoners, enemy aliens, prisoners of war and maximum-security detainees, this prison’s history includes hangings, floggings, and dramatic convict escapes.
The Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are just two of the welcoming sights greeting you as you approach Australia’s oldest and largest city. Once you’re in town, visit the golden sands of Bondi Beach, travel to the Blue Mountains, or explore the historic Rocks district.
MoreAs your ship passes Harbour Heads, you are presented with the shimmering skyline of Sydney - hailed by many seafarers as "the most beautiful harbor in the world." Two prominent landmarks, Harbour Bridge and the sail-like curves of the Sydney Opera House, grace the backdrop of this picturesque harbor. There is a wealth of adventure waiting in Sydney - from its cosmopolitan city center to miles of beautiful beaches and the Blue Mountains.
Australia’s oldest and largest city was born in 1788 with the arrival of the "First Fleet" transporting 760 British convicts. Today, Sydney is the largest port in the South Pacific and is often voted the most popular destination in the South Pacific.
This masterpiece of late modern architecture is a symbol of both Sydney and Australia. It has earned a reputation as a world-class performing arts center and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Spanning Sydney Harbour from the central business district to the North Shore, this icon, nicknamed the "coat hanger" by locals, is the world’s widest long-span bridge and tallest steel-arch bridge.
The sandstone cliffs of this region were once believed impassable. Today this major gateway to Western New South Wales boasts ancient ravines, lush forests and stunning waterfalls.
Enjoy face-to-face encounters with one of the country’s largest private collections of native Australian animals in a natural bush setting, easily accessible and within metropolitan Sydney.
This beach is one of Australia’s most popular for residents and tourists. At a little over a half-mile long, this stretch of sand plays host to numerous festivals and events each year.
Also known as Lady Macquarie’s Chair, this famous attraction was carved from a rock ledge for Governor Macquarie’s wife, Elizabeth and offers excellent views of Sydney Harbour.
Sandstone cliffs give the area its name. Site of the first penal settlement, the district is rich in colonial history and is home to 5 star hotels, restaurants, pubs, shops, galleries and museums.
Discover the "Grand Canyon" of giant rock formations, geological history, deep, tree-studded valleys and cascading waterfalls. View the world famous rock formation, The Three Sisters, and panoramic views of the Jamieson Valley, Mount Solitary and the Ruined Castle.
Stroll through Queen Victoria Market, a Melbourne institution since 1878, and pick up gourmet goods. For cutting-edge culture, food and shopping, Federation Square offers a city block full of galleries, restaurants and stores.
MoreVictoria may be Australia’s smallest continental state, but Melbourne, its capital, is big on everything. With a population of 4.25 million people living in 59 separately named communities within 715 square miles, Melbourne is a sprawling city offering culture, art, fashion and friendly, sports-minded Australians. It is also an easy city to explore. At the heart of the city is the Golden Mile, the city’s governmental and commercial center, home to hotels, shops, restaurants and theaters.
Originally part of New South Wales, Victoria became a colony in its own right in 1851. The discovery of gold propelled Melbourne’s growth to prominence and prosperity.
Travel Tip: Melbourne is pronounced "mell-burn."
Explore the fertile Valley, known to be a world-class wine region like those in France and Italy and/or visit a lush haven of the Dandenong Ranges’ secret fern glades, towering forests and eclectic villages.
The vast Royal Botanic Gardens are considered to be among the finest in the world. Located on the southern banks of the Yarra River just 5 minutes from the bustling city.
Step back in time and experience Australia’s exciting gold rush days. Pan for gold and explore this award-winning, interactive outdoor museum that recreates the hustle and bustle of 1850s life.
Also known as "Fed Square," this world-class, cutting-edge cultural and entertainment destination takes up an entire city block! Explore the art galleries, museum, restaurants, bars, shops and more.
Experience a distinctly Australian wildlife experience. Get close to over 200 species of native wildlife, including platypus, koalas, emus, Tasmanian devils, lyrebirds and wombats in a bush setting.
While it’s close to the city, it seems a world away. Reminiscent of the Mediterranean, it offers vineyards and olive groves, historic country house retreats, seaside villages and intimate hotels.
This century-old train is one of the most popular steam heritage railways in the world. It still runs on its original mountain track in the scenic Dandenong Ranges, just as it did in the early 1900s.
Opened in 1878, this huge open-air market is a Melbourne institution. You’ll find a wide array of goods amongst the "sheds," from fresh produce and meats, to clothes, housewares, and souvenirs.