Round-the-world Cruise - from Sydney - 116809

The seafarers' town lies at the mouth of the Derwent River at the foot of Mount Wellington. The capital of the smallest Australian state (Tasmania) was founded in 1803 as a prison colony. Nowadays, Hobart's image is shaped by houses from the colonial era and spacious parks. The town is also home to the 'tasmanian devil'. Sights include: Anglesea Barracks, the parliament building and the "Cascade" brewery.

The wide, remote area of the untouched "Doubtful Sound" fjord is sure to leave visitors lost for words. Due to heavy rainfall, there is a layer of fresh water measuring several metres on top of the seawater, which absorbs light through the leached remains of plants. This is why coral, usually found only at lower depths, grows here just a few metres below the surface. The fjord is also home to dolphins, penguins and brown fur seals.

"Dusky Sound" is the largest fjord in New Zealand. The sight of this massive fjord apparently also impressed Cook, who returned for several weeks following his discovery in 1770, to further explore the landscape.

Dunedin, the Gaelic name for the port city of Edinburgh, is famous for its historic buildings. The city's architecture is mainly Victorian, Edwardian and Flemish in style. The second-largest city on South Island with a population of roughly 120,000, was founded by the Scots in the mid-19th century. The city centre is at the "Octogon", an eight-sided town square surrounded by lots of cafés and museums. Sights include: the oldest university in New Zealand with a stylised clock tower, the Dominican Prioriat, the whisky distillery, and Otago Early Settler Museum.

Christchurch is the British town that isn't in Britain! Even today, the town, founded in 1850, uses the slogan "A Touch of English". This influence is unmistakable in the town centre in particular. Numerous shops, cafés, parks and gardens shape the town's image. Sights include Christchurch Cathedral (founded in 1881), the clock tower with a panorama view of the Southern Alps, the Zoo, the Wizard in front of the cathedral and a city tour on the nostalgic tram.

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is surrounded by an untouched mountain landscape. It has excellent shopping facilities, a professional theatre and cafés and restaurants to suit every taste. Wellington is just two kilometres wide and, as such, can be easily explored on foot. 'Te Papa', New Zealand's National Museum, is located directly by the harbour. The city is home to both the parliament building and many historic buildings and museums that bring New Zealand's history to life.

'The harbour town of Tauranga lies 200 km South-East of Auckland at the Bay of Plenty. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century on peninsulae connected by bridges. The bustling focal point of the town is the beach promenade with the Coronation Pier, from where pleasure boats and ferries set off for the neighbouring town of Mount Maunganui, which was built at the foot of a 232 metre high volcano, from where you can enjoy a fantastic view of white beaches and the harbour. Tauranga's greatest attraction is the Tauranga District Museum and Historic Village, where you can see 85 reconstructed and restored buildings from the time of Colonialism, including a Maori village, a pioneer settlement and military barracks dating from the territorial wars. 5 km to the East of Tauranga, Kiwifruit Country, a Disneyland-style funpark is also a great magnet for tourists.

With a population in excess of 1 million, Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. It lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasmanian See. It got its nickname the "City of Sails" on account of the "thousand ships" moored in its harbour. The city spans an 11 km wide sound of volcanic rocks and is a paradise for watersports fans. To the North of Auckland, Leigh Marine Reserve provides plenty of opportunity for every imaginable kind of underwater activity. The main cultural attraction is the Auckland Museum.

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.

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.

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.

Komodo is one of the Lesser Sunda lslands, a part of Indonesia as yet almost untouched by tourism. It could have been the set for the film "Jurassic Park", with its prehistoric animals the Komodo dragons and its unique landscape of craggy mountains, grasslands and forests with dried-up riverbeds. There are no roads and only a single village. Not far from Komodo are some of the most beautiful islands with a huge diversity of plant and animal life and fantastic areas for snorkelling in untouched coral colonies.

Benoa is a traditional fishing village in the South of Bali. At the entrance to the port is the Pura Sakenan temple . It is linked with the pilgrimage of the Buddhist saint Dang Hyang Nirartha and is particularly important during the Galungan Festival celebrated every second year.

Benoa is a traditional fishing village in the South of Bali. At the entrance to the port is the Pura Sakenan temple . It is linked with the pilgrimage of the Buddhist saint Dang Hyang Nirartha and is particularly important during the Galungan Festival celebrated every second year.

The Indonesian port of Surabaya on the North-Eastern coast of Java is also called the "city of heroes" on account of its turbulent past. Today, this metropolis with a population of over one million is an important production and trading centre and the second-largest city in Indonesia. From Surabaya it is easy to reach the tiny neighbouring island of Madure, which is famous for its legendary bull races. Sights include: Surabaya zoo, the harbour of Kalima, the martyrs' memorial and Kayoon flower market.

Semarang is the capital and the most important port in the central province of Java. The town is also a centre of the economy and tourism. A visit to the world-famous Buddhist temples of Borobudur in the Provinz Yogyakarta is well worth it. Excavation of the temple began only in 1814 and in 1983 it was declared a national monument by the president in office at that time.

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and is situated on the island of Java. The city is a fascinating mix of various cultural influences. The old town with buildings from the Dutch and Portuguese colonial periods is well worth seeing. This is also where you will find the National Monument at Merdeka Square. The Central Museum has an excellent anthropology section and exhibits sculptures from the pre-Hindu era, among other things. The Portuguese church with the huge Dutch pump organ (1695) is also well worth a visit. The modern Istiqlal Mosque in the town centre is one of the largest in the world. The antiques market in Jalan Surabaya (Surabaya street) and the many batik factories in the Karet district are also must-sees. In the South-East of the city is Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, a theme park covering 100 hectares which provides an insight into the (at times very varied) cultures of the 26 Indonesian provinces. Each province is represented in Taman Mini by a scale model house in the respective traditional style. Inside the houses are exhibitions of traditional costumes and handicrafts from the various regions. The majority of the houses also provide cultural tours - an events guide is available at the tourist information office. The Jakarta cultural centre is one of the largest in South East Asia.

Singapore is a city state at the lower end of the Malay Peninsula, only around 100 km North of the equator. Today the city is one of the most important ports and trading centres in South East Asia. Singapore has a population of over 3 million, including first and foremost Chinese, Malaysians and Indians. Europeans and other ethnic groups round off the city of many nationalities and four official languages. Visitors will notice the spotlessly clean and well-kept roads and squares; Singapore is also one of the safest cities in the world. Some interesting buildings dating from the colonial era have been placed under preservation order, including several former British administrative buildings and Raffles Hotel, whose guests included many authors. From the southern shore of the Singapore River visitors can take a boat trip around the river and Marina Bay. Sights include: the shopping street Orchard Road, Chinatown, Little India, Singapore River, the Botanic Gardens, the zoo and Fort Canning.

Singapore is a city state at the lower end of the Malay Peninsula, only around 100 km North of the equator. Today the city is one of the most important ports and trading centres in South East Asia. Singapore has a population of over 3 million, including first and foremost Chinese, Malaysians and Indians. Europeans and other ethnic groups round off the city of many nationalities and four official languages. Visitors will notice the spotlessly clean and well-kept roads and squares; Singapore is also one of the safest cities in the world. Some interesting buildings dating from the colonial era have been placed under preservation order, including several former British administrative buildings and Raffles Hotel, whose guests included many authors. From the southern shore of the Singapore River visitors can take a boat trip around the river and Marina Bay. Sights include: the shopping street Orchard Road, Chinatown, Little India, Singapore River, the Botanic Gardens, the zoo and Fort Canning.

The island of Penang is also a federal state on the west coast of the peninsula. It is Malaysia's most famous destination, and hardly needs an introduction. Georgetown is known not only as a city full of history, but also for the long beach at Batu Feringghi with its lovely hotels and the expansive view of the sea. The island is connected to the mainland by the Penang Bridge, measuring 13.5 km in length, making it one of the longest bridges in Asia. Sights include: Fort Cornwallis, which today is home to an outdoor museum and acts as an open-air theatre, Penang Bird Park, the Orchid and Hibiscus Garden, the leisure park at Bukit Mertajam and the small but extremely interesting butterfly farm just North of Batu Feringghi.

Visitors to Thailand's largest island can look forward to paradise beaches, a varied landscape, a bustling provincial capital and a wide variety of recreational activities. It's no wonder that Phuket, with its 215,000 inhabitants, is South-East Asia's most popular holiday island. The island's beauty lies in its magical coastline. There are gently sloping white sandy beaches with still waters and precipitous headlands with thunderous crashing waves. The town centre of Phuket is a popular destination for shopping. Sights include: Thai Village, a Thai-Folklore village with a cultural performance featuring traditional Thai dancing, sword-fighting and Thai boxing, Thalang National Museum, the Wat Phra Thong temple with a partially-buried statue of Buddha.

The capital of Sri Lanka (which used to be known as "Ceylon"), has developed into an important port for ships travelling in the Far East over the last few years. "Beira Lake" surrounds the town, which is connected to the port by means of a canal. The Clock Tower, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of the town and the port is well worth seeing. The town also has many buildings built in the 18th and 19th century by the Dutch, such as St. Peter's Church or Pettah, once the Dutch residential area, which today is bursting with a colourful bazaars. To the South of Beira Lake is Victoria Park. Colombo town centre is home to Dehiwela Zoo with animals from all around the world and a daily elephant circus.

Male is the capital of the Maldives on the island of Male. The Maledives consist of two circular atolls, a northerly and a southerly one. The island with a population of approximately 65,000 has a central location and is the largest in the country. The parliament has its seat in Male, and the city also has a presidential palace and an airport, various shopping centres and a large mosque. Sights include: the mosque in the Islamic Centre, the 'Friday Mosque', the National Museum, the fish market and the vegetable market.

Port Louis, the capital of the African island paradise of Mauritius lies on the West coast of the island, nestled between the Moka mountains and the Indian Ocean. The city is an invigorating mix of city bustle, the grand elegance of a bygone age and multicultural cooperation. Popular destinations in the town centre include the wide luxury street with its King palms and the market with its iron market halls. If you want to buy something here, you have to be prepared to barter. In the town centre close to the port a number of colonial buildings add a touch of palatial pizazz. The best view of the city is to be had from Fort Adelaide, which dates from the British era and sits enthroned in the centre of the city atop a small hill. The island of Mauritius itself is of volcanic origin which is why it is lined by mountain ranges. Huge sugar-cane plantations and paradise beaches are what the island is famous for.

Port Louis, the capital of the African island paradise of Mauritius lies on the West coast of the island, nestled between the Moka mountains and the Indian Ocean. The city is an invigorating mix of city bustle, the grand elegance of a bygone age and multicultural cooperation. Popular destinations in the town centre include the wide luxury street with its King palms and the market with its iron market halls. If you want to buy something here, you have to be prepared to barter. In the town centre close to the port a number of colonial buildings add a touch of palatial pizazz. The best view of the city is to be had from Fort Adelaide, which dates from the British era and sits enthroned in the centre of the city atop a small hill. The island of Mauritius itself is of volcanic origin which is why it is lined by mountain ranges. Huge sugar-cane plantations and paradise beaches are what the island is famous for.

The South African city of Durban lies in the Kwazulu Natal area. "Durbs", as its residents refer to it, is a city with an intercontinental character. With its countless street traders, more than 2 million Indian residents (the city is at the Indian Ocean) and beautiful white beaches, it is a perfect example of "new" South Africa. Sights include: Sea World, rickshaw buses, Durban Botanic Gardens, the Sugar Terminals, Durban Natural Science Museum and Natal Maritime Museum.

Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha is at Algoa Bay and is the fifth-largest city in South Africa. The pretty old town has retained its rural charm, while modern buildings line the periphery of the city. Climbing the steps up the 52-metre-high bell tower, 'Campanile', is well worth it for the excellent view of the port and the city centre. One of the oldest buildings in the city is on Castle Hill Street, the manse built in 1827 which today houses the Historical Museum. Other sights include: Fort Frederick, Market Square, the Oceanarium with a snake park and tropical hothouse

Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha is at Algoa Bay and is the fifth-largest city in South Africa. The pretty old town has retained its rural charm, while modern buildings line the periphery of the city. Climbing the steps up the 52-metre-high bell tower, 'Campanile', is well worth it for the excellent view of the port and the city centre. One of the oldest buildings in the city is on Castle Hill Street, the manse built in 1827 which today houses the Historical Museum. Other sights include: Fort Frederick, Market Square, the Oceanarium with a snake park and tropical hothouse

Cape Town, (Afrikaans Kaapstad) is the seat of the South African parliament, an anglican and a catholic archbishop and the capital of the Western Cape province, as well as a cultural centre with two universities and various research institutes, museums, libraries, theatres, botanic gardens and a zoo. Cape Town is situated at the northern edge of the Cape peninsula and is one of the largest ports and one of the most important centres of industry in South Africa. The suburbs stretch around the bay by the Cape peninsula and far into wine-growing country. The oldest part of the city between Table Bay and the slopes of Table Mountain (which measures 1,086 metres in height) is also a popular holiday destination. The surrounding area is dominated by Table Mountain. A cablecar route to the summit has been in place since 1926. The historic sights include the oldest building in the city (and, indeed, the country), Castle Good Hope (1666), the Dutch Reformation Church (1699), the old town hall (1755) and the Malai district around Signal Hill. Other sights include the parliament building (1886), the South African Museum (1825), the South African National Gallery (1871) and the South African State Library.

Cape Town, (Afrikaans Kaapstad) is the seat of the South African parliament, an anglican and a catholic archbishop and the capital of the Western Cape province, as well as a cultural centre with two universities and various research institutes, museums, libraries, theatres, botanic gardens and a zoo. Cape Town is situated at the northern edge of the Cape peninsula and is one of the largest ports and one of the most important centres of industry in South Africa. The suburbs stretch around the bay by the Cape peninsula and far into wine-growing country. The oldest part of the city between Table Bay and the slopes of Table Mountain (which measures 1,086 metres in height) is also a popular holiday destination. The surrounding area is dominated by Table Mountain. A cablecar route to the summit has been in place since 1926. The historic sights include the oldest building in the city (and, indeed, the country), Castle Good Hope (1666), the Dutch Reformation Church (1699), the old town hall (1755) and the Malai district around Signal Hill. Other sights include the parliament building (1886), the South African Museum (1825), the South African National Gallery (1871) and the South African State Library.