Round-the-world Cruise - from Sydney - 129752

Noumea is the perfect place for deep-sea fishing, a helicopter trip over the breathtaking landscape or just relaxing on a catamaran. Anyone who would like to find out more about the indigenous people of the island can visit the outstanding cultural centre at Kanak Path.

Apia is both the largest town on the island of Upolu and the capital of Samoa. Despite its important function, this port has retained its small-town character. Most of Apia's attractions are located around the centre of the town at the harbour, including the clock-tower (the town's old landmark), the government building and the "Museum of Ancient and Recent Samoan History. Just five kilometres from the city centre is the 15 metre high natural water slide "Papaseea Sliding Rocks". The tiny village of Vailima is also well worth a visit. It is here that world-famous author Robert Louis Stevenson spent the last few years of his life. One of Stevenson's best- known novels is "Treasure Island".

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii. With a population of 1.24 million it is the largest city between America and Asia. The most important sights on Hawaii include the memorial at Pearl Harbour and Punchbowl National Cemetery, the King's Palace (the only one ever to be built on US territory) and the extinct volcanoes "Diamond Head" and "Koko Head".

Hilo is the capital of the "Orchid Island" of Hawaii. The extremely humid climate means the town has been spared the travails of mass tourism. It has snow-covered volcanoes, huge macadamia nut plantations, forests of orchids and black volcanic beaches. The main attractions in Hilo are the old town, "Susian" fish market and the Akaka Falls.

Puntarenas means 'sandy tip' and the town lies on a tongue of land that sticks out into the Gulf of Nicoya. For a long time it was the most important Pacific port in the country, and even today the harbour is lined with fishing boats, giving the town its incomparably maritime character. This beach resort, which is steeped in tradition, is the perfect place for a stroll along the southern beach promenade, Paseo de los Turistas, which is particularly busy at the weekends. In the evening you can watch the glowing red sun sink down into the Gulf von Nicoya while enjoying a cocktail at the popular beach.

Balboa is a port at the Pacific end of the Panama canal in the canal zone. With 2,000 inhabitants, the city is considered to be the administrative hub of the Panama canal zone.

In the middle of Central America lies the tropical region of the Panama Canal with its lush vegetation and rainforests. The Panama Canal is a technical masterpiece and one of the most important waterways in the world. It takes just a day to travel along the canal, but visitors are sure to remember the trip for many a long year.

La Romana is located on the south coast of the province of the same name. With a population of about 200,000 it is one of the largest cities in the Caribbean. Originally, however, La Romana was a small village, which only gradually developed through industry, including a sugar refinery, to a large workers' settlement and later, after the construction of the port and the international airport, to a tourist center. Worth seeing, besides the breathtaking scenery of the typical Caribbean beaches, are the replica of a medieval European village (Altos de Chavón) and the Casa de Campo, a luxury resort with world-renowned golf courses.

Road Town is the main town and the administrative seat of the island of Tortola, one of the British Virgin Isles. The town was rebuilt after being destroyed by a hurricane in 1924. Today it is a colourful little place. There are small Victorian houses along the main street with unique little shops, including "Pusser's Company Store", which still supplies rum to the British navy to the present day. The Folk Museum is also well worth a look. There is an abundance of tropical plants in the botanic garden, as well as waterfalls and outdoor enclosures for birds. Nearby the town, on Fort Hill are the remnants of Fort George and Fort Charlotte. The beautiful forested island of Tortola with its coral reefs is perfect for diving, snorkelling and swimming.

Sint Maarten with its capital Philipsburg is the smaller, Dutch part of the magical Caribbean island peacefully shared by the Netherlands and France since 1648. The Dutch part of the island is one of the most popular shopping and holiday destinations in the Caribbean. In Philipsburg alone there are more than 500 shops in the pastel-coloured Dutch style where tourists can buy luxury goods at up to 50% less than the standard retail price. The best place to experience real Caribbean atmosphere is at the Saturday market in the capital. Sights include: the zoo, the Philipsburg Museum, the fort at Great Bay Harbour, the casino and the beaches.

The largest city on the Canary Isles is on Gran Canaria and has a population of 355,000 and a totally original and unique architecture. The cathedral, on which construction work began following the discovery of America, has a Gothic and Neo-classical style. It stands on the lovely square "Santa Ana", which is where the archiepiscopal palace and several other buildings in the distinctive 'Canary' style are also situated. The "Barrio de la Vegueta" area stands out due to its many manor houses, which show the influence of the Latin American colonial style. Sights include: the "Centro Atlantico de Arte Moderno" which has an important collection of contemporary art.

Ibiza is the most westerly of the Spanish Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean. Together with Formentera to the South and the smaller islands in the vicinity it forms part of the Pityuses Group. Ibiza itself has a great deal to offer: sunshine, sea, beautiful sandy beaches, breathtaking scenery and the vibrant centre, Ibiza Town with its picturesque old town. Extensive parts of the island have kept their natural landscape, cultural monuments and their rural charm. The island is also an eldorado for clubbers and a mecca for fans of watersports.

The town is Greek in origin and in the 11th century belonged to the Norman Kingdom of Sicily and from 1282 until the founding of Italy in 1861, was the capital of the Kingdom of Naples. The Piazza Garibaldi is a must-see - it is the main square in Naples, located in front of the main train station and the site of the Garibaldi monument, Via Umberto I. with many shops, fruit and fish markets and lots of streets sellers everywhere in between; the old town with the harbour, the city gate Porta Capuana, the Franciscan church, the town hall and Galleria Umberto I.; the former royal palace Palazzo Reale, which also houses the national library; Castel Sant Elmo dating from the 14th century and built on a hilltop overlooking the city; the San Gennaro cathedral, built in the 13th century, which houses the grave of the city's patron, -St. Januarius; the National Archaeological Museum, home to the famous Alexander mosaic; the National Museum with many finds from Herculaneum and Pompeii.

The Italian capital of Rome is also often called "the eternal city", as this buzzing metropolis still has many precious treasures from ancient times, which are known around the world. The most impressive sights include the "Thermae of Caracalla", the emperor's forum, the Colosseum, the Piazza Navona, the Fountain of Neptune and of course St. Peter's Basilica, with the dome designed by Michelangelo.

This northern Italian port lies at the Gulf of Genoa and is the capital of Liguria and the province of Genoa. It has a population of 660'000. Academic highlights in the city, which was built in the 10th century, are the university founded in 1783, the academy of arts and the college of music. Other sights include the magnificent churches built on the hillside in the shape of terraces, "San Lorenzo" and "Santi Abrògio e Andrea" and the palaces "Palazzo Durazzo", "Palazzo Ducale" and "Palazzo Bianco".

Marseille is considered to be the largest and oldest port on the French Mediterranean coast and a glamorous metropolis. The city was founded in a picturesque bay in the 6th century B.C. by the Greek colonists. Initially it thrived from trading and quickly developed into an important port. Marseille is a welcoming cosmopolitan tourist town with a wide variety of shopping, entertainment and recreational facilities. Sights include: St. Victor's basilica, the old harbour, the poor house "la Ville Charité", the cathedral of la Major, the town hall, the historical museum, the Roman Docks Museum, the Archaeological Museum, Longchamp Museum, Grobet-Labadié Museum, Cantini Museum.