Australia Cruise - from Hongkong - 135198

The Chinese island of Hong Kong ("Xiang Gang" in Chinese) has, together with the island of Lantao and the Kowloon peninsula, has belonged to the Chinese special administrative region since July 1st 1997. "Hong Kong in the narrow sense" forms the core settlement of the group of islands with a population of more than 4 million. The city is one of the largest financial centres in the world and represents a major junction for sea transport in the region. Sights include: floating restaurants at the harbour, Tai Po racecourse, the beaches at Castle Peak, Man Mo Temple; the bell tower at the tip of the Kowloon peninsula serves as an excellent viewing platform of the city skyline; the 800 m long escalator on Hongkong Island (the longest in the world), "Tiger Balm Garden" with its small caves and statues from Chinese mythology, Victoria Peak with views of the port and the city. There is also a huge number of restaurants and shops.

The metropolis of Manila, which has a population of around 1.7 million, is the capital of the Philippines and is considered to be a very important port. The city lies in Manila Bay, Luzon, and consists of 7 main areas. Manila has several universities, an international airport, many shopping centres, oil refineries and other industrial trades. Sights include numerous Baroque churches, which were granted World Heritage Site status in 1993, "China Town", a magical area of Manila, the Chinese cemetery, "Intramuris", the oldest part of the city with many churches and ancient buildings and "Mataki", an ultra-modern and luxurious shopping centre.

The Island of the Gods lies between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Paradise beaches, colourful temple festivals, idyllic rice paddies and fire-spouting volcanoes shape the island's image. The magical secret of Bali lies in the unity of everyday life, art, religion, community and nature. That is why it is also known as the "Island of 10,000 temples", since every village has at least three sacred buildings. One of the most famous of these is the temple of "Tanah Lot" which is shrouded in mystery and located in the South of the island directly by the sea.

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.

The third-largest Australian island is around 110 km South-West of Adelaide, 16 km from the mainland. Today, Flinders Chase Nationalpark on the western side covers 20 percent of the island. The island is a must-see for animal lovers, since you can watch wild kangaroos, koalas and emus up close. The island is also home to a huge variety of parrots. Another of the island's main attractions is "Remarkable Rocks". These sandstone rocks lie on the brow of a granite cliff-face directly by the sea and erosion has shaped them into the most bizarre forms. Kangaroo Island also has beautiful secluded sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. Anyone who loves swimming, fishing or sailing has come to the right place.

Melbourne is an Australian metropolis founded by settlers in 1835. Unlike Sydney or Hobart, Melbourne was never a prison colony. The city has an individual tradition with beautiful architecture and enchanting art and culture. As well as the settlers, you will also encounter the indigenous people of Austrialia, the Aborigines, in the city. Melbourne has a large number of shopping, cultural, sport and recreational facilities, making it extremely attractive to visitors. Sights include: the city's tram system, the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne University, the Convention Centre and Carlton District Crown.