Australia & South Pacific
Introduction
Talk of Australia conjures up images of the Outback, but visitors to this
multicultural country are just as likely to be drawn by the sophistication of
its burgeoning cities. Frontier-minded Aussies do constitute a great part of the
population, but today, that population is saturated by the influence of its
Italian, Greek, Maltese, Lebanese, Chinese and other settlers. In short,
Australia is one of the most fascinating continents on the world, and you may be
surprised to find that while visiting, you'll see more world-class operas than
koala bears.
A host of other nations rounds out the South Pacific. New Zealand, beset with
glacial mountains, fast-flowing rivers, deep, clear lakes, hissing geysers and
boiling mud, is an adventurers dream. Vanuatu is known for its bungee jumpers
and firewater. Samoa, with palm-fringed beaches and booming white surf, is noted
for its beachcomber lifestyle.
Getting Around
Traveling around Australia and the South Pacific can be extremely easy - or
extremely difficult. You'll find that metropolises such as Sydney have good
transportation network, so adventuring out on your own is not a problem. Other
places, especially remote South Pacific islands like Tuvalu, can be tough to
navigate on your own. Exercise a little "directional caution" in such regions
and do yourself a favor by following a guide. |
Cruise Tip
Almost every ship has laundry service (including dry
cleaning), but the tab can add up. Consider bringing a small amount of detergent
for washing clothes in your own cabin.
...More Tips |
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Examples of shore excursions in Australia and the
South Pacific include:
Adventure Expeditions
- Fish for marlin and swordfish in the outer Bay
of Islands in New Zealand.
- Catamaran the Bay of islands to the famous
Hole-in-the-Rock and the majestic Grand Cathedral Cave.
- Snorkel in breathtaking lagoons in Bora Bora.
Shopping Districts
- Wander through the Aorai Tinihau handicrafts
center in Tahiti.
- Shop for gifts and souvenirs in Lambton Quay,
Wellington, New Zealand's main shopping district.
- Pick up an authentic Australian boomerang in the
village of Esplanade in Darwin.
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Cultural Attractions
- Visit the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts
Institute in New Zealand, where young apprentices are taught the ancient art of
carving and weaving.
- See the legendary Gauguin Museum in Tahiti.
- Attend a performance at the legendary Sydney
Opera House
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Nature Trips
- Tour Rotorua in Auckland, New Zealand and
witness boiling mud pools, silica terrace formations and powerful thermal
geysers.
- Enjoy a guided tour of one of the South
Pacific's largest and most beautiful botanical gardens in Tahiti.
- Explore Sydney's Blue Mountains, which is
comprised of giant rock formations, deep-studded valleys and cascading
waterfalls.
Historical Tours
- Visit Tahiti's Marae Arahurahu, an ancient,
open-air temple where pre-colonial islanders worshipped their Moahi gods.
- View the splendid Victorian architecture of
Kelburn and Thorndon in New Zealand.
- Tour Darwin, Australia's Christchurch Cathedral,
the seven-gabled Government House and the Chinese Temple.
Wildlife Interaction
- Feed sharks off the coast of the island of
Moorea in Tahiti.
- Take a glass-bottom boat excursion down into the
electric blue waters of Pofai Bay in Bora Bora and see over 300 species of fish.
- See giant tree frogs and koalas in the Rain
Forest Habitat in Cairns, Australia.
| Enhance
your travel to Australia and the South Pacific by reading about its culture,
people and history in these novels: |
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Cold Beer and Crocodiles - Roff Smith
Following the Equator Volume I - Mark Twain
The Happy Isles of Oceanica - Paul Theroux
In Search of Tusitala: Travels in the Pacific after Robert Louis Stevenson
- Gavin Bell
Island of the Human Heart - Laurie Gough
No Worries: A Journey Through Australia - Mark McCrum
The People's Lawyer - Philip Ells
Sean & David's Long Drive - Sean Condon
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