Australia Cruise - from Fremantle - Perth - 124658

Fremantle was founded in 1829 and was the capital of western Australia in the early 19th century. For many migrants, the harbour represented the gateway to the land "Down Under" and Fremantle developed into a multicultural town. It is most famous for its market.

Broome, the centre of the pearl industry, lies on the Indian Ocean. The town is surrounded by wide, white sandy beaches with turquoise-blue water and the reddish-orange coloured cliffs along the shoreline. Thanks to the former pearl divers, the town has an Asian touch and still has a Chinatown area. In the 19th century, Broome was one of the most famous pearl harbours in the world. In 1910, 400 boats met 80% of the worldwide demand for mother-of-pearl. Today, the Australian port relies mainly on tourism. Sights include: Cable Beach, the Japanese cemetery, Broome Historical Society Museum, the historic outdoor cinema "Sun Pictures", where you can watch a film from the comfort of your deckchair.

Broome, the centre of the pearl industry, lies on the Indian Ocean. The town is surrounded by wide, white sandy beaches with turquoise-blue water and the reddish-orange coloured cliffs along the shoreline. Thanks to the former pearl divers, the town has an Asian touch and still has a Chinatown area. In the 19th century, Broome was one of the most famous pearl harbours in the world. In 1910, 400 boats met 80% of the worldwide demand for mother-of-pearl. Today, the Australian port relies mainly on tourism. Sights include: Cable Beach, the Japanese cemetery, Broome Historical Society Museum, the historic outdoor cinema "Sun Pictures", where you can watch a film from the comfort of your deckchair.

The relaxed atmosphere of the outback dominates in Darwin too. The nearby wilderness of Cockatoo National Park boasts cave paintings and aboriginal art, rock formations that are more than 20,000 years old, and the dense lush Australian rainforest with many many waterfalls.

Cairns, the capital of the "Far North" region is full of that tropical lust for life. As the secret "backpacker capital" of Australia, it has an almost magical pull on young travellers thanks to the seemingly limitless recreational activities it has to offer. It is far easier to reach the Great Barrier Reef from here than from central Queensland. The crystal-clear waters, palm-lined islands and sandbanks attract divers and snorkellers in particular, making the two offshore islands, Green Island and Fitzroy Island, hugely popular holiday destinations. The outer reef loved by divers is around 50 km away. In the near vicinity are untouched sections of coast and a mysterious wilderness of rainforest backed by a high mountain range.

Brisbane or 'Brissie', as the city is familiarly known to Australians, is on the east coast of southern Queensland. Beautifully sited by the Brisbane river, it has many sights, lively shopping streets, a huge variety of restaurants and a very broad and ambitious cultural programme. Sights include: the Botanic Gardens, the Lone Pine Sanctuary with its Koalas and Kangaroos, Brisbane City Hall, the pedestrian area at Queen Street Mall , Roma Street Parkland, South Bank Parklands, the viewing point at Mt. Coot-tha Lookout, with its fantastic view of Brisbane and the suburbs.