NSW Australia Cruise from Sydney

Cruise line	Holland America
Ship	ms Noordam
Duration	35 nights
Port calls	17
Departures	1 sailings
Year built	2006
Guests	2366
Cabins	986
Crew	820
Length	285 m
Beam	32 m
Cruising speed	22.0 kn

Day 1

Sydney, Australia

From the water, Sydney’s harbour frames the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and ferries crossing between historic quays. Beyond the waterfront, central Sydney pairs nineteenth-century buildings with contemporary architecture and leafy streets. Walk the Royal Botanic Garden for harbour views, or take a ferry to Manly for a coastal perspective. Allow time to explore The Rocks, where the city’s colonial beginnings meet galleries, cafés and a lively weekend market.

Day 3

Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane is a river city with a relaxed subtropical pace and a confident cultural scene. Ride a CityCat ferry for an easy view of its bridges, riverside parks and skyline. At South Bank, galleries, restaurants and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre sit close to a man-made beach. Two leading art museums anchor the Queensland Cultural Centre. Afterward, explore the city’s dining precincts, where Queensland produce and global influences share the menu.

Day 6

Alotau

Alotau sits on Papua New Guinea’s southeastern coast, where rainforest hills frame the sheltered waters of Milne Bay. The town is the gateway to a province of islands, reefs and traditional coastal communities. History is close: in 1942, Allied forces defeated Japanese troops at the Battle of Milne Bay. It was the first major Japanese defeat on land in the Pacific War. Visit the local market, then look out across a bay made for slow exploration.

Day 7

Trobriand Islands PNG

The Trobriand Islands lie in Milne Bay Province, off Papua New Guinea’s eastern coast. Kiriwina, the largest island, is known for villages, coral beaches and gardens where yams hold deep social significance. Discover the region’s distinctive matrilineal traditions and its connection to the famed kula exchange, a ceremonial network linking islands. With local guidance, you can see how these customs remain part of community life.

Day 9

Cairns, Australia

Cairns puts two World Heritage landscapes within reach: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest. Boats leave the marina for coral reefs and islands. Inland, the scenic railway and Skyrail connect Cairns with Kuranda, a mountain village above the rainforest. The Esplanade’s waterfront lagoon offers a refreshing pause in the tropical city. Allow time for Cairns itself: its markets, cafés and relaxed waterfront reward a slower pace between excursions.

Day 11

Townsville QLD, Australia

Townsville puts tropical North Queensland within reach, with the Great Barrier Reef offshore and Magnetic Island just across the water. Take the ferry to Magnetic Island, where walking trails, quiet bays and koalas make a compelling day ashore. Back in town, The Strand follows the waterfront, while Castle Hill rewards a climb with broad views over the harbour. Allow time for the Museum of Tropical Queensland, whose exhibits explore the region’s maritime and natural history.

Day 15

Darwin, Australia

Darwin is Australia’s northern gateway, where the Timor Sea meets a city shaped by tropical heat and Asian influence. Its compact waterfront puts the harbour within easy reach. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory offers insight into Indigenous cultures and the region’s wartime past. Beyond town, Kakadu’s wetlands and Litchfield’s waterfalls reward a longer stay. Visit in the dry season for easier travel and clear, warm days.

Day 17

Broome WA, Australia

Broome sits where the red Kimberley meets the Indian Ocean, shaped by tides and pearls. At Cable Beach, pale sand and a vast horizon invite an unhurried swim or a sunset camel ride. Chinatown and the Japanese cemetery trace a pearling history built by divers from across Asia. At Gantheaume Point, low tides can expose dinosaur footprints in the red rock. Between March and October, Roebuck Bay’s Staircase to the Moon may turn its mudflats into an evening spectacle.

Day 19

Exmouth WA, Australia

Exmouth is the gateway to Ningaloo Reef, where coral gardens begin just offshore and snorkelling can start from the beach. On the North West Cape, this remote Western Australian town opens onto Cape Range National Park. Here, limestone gorges and red cliffs frame beaches along the Indian Ocean. Choose a reef excursion, or explore Yardie Creek by boat beneath the park’s rugged escarpments. From March to August, whale sharks visit Ningaloo, though sightings are never guaranteed.

Day 21

Fremantle, Australia

Fremantle is Perth’s historic port, where Victorian streets meet the Indian Ocean. Visit 19th-century Fremantle Prison, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, then explore the West End’s limestone buildings. Fishing Boat Harbour serves fresh seafood beside working vessels. The Western Australian Maritime Museum tells the story of the state’s seafaring past. Perth is just 30 minutes away by train, making Fremantle an easy gateway to the city and coast.

Day 24

Albany WA, Australia

Albany sits on King George Sound, where the Southern Ocean meets a coast of granite headlands and sheltered bays. Western Australia’s first European settlement, founded in 1826, retains a handsome historic centre and a working harbour. At the National Anzac Centre, exhibits trace the departure of Australian and New Zealand troops in 1914. Beyond town, Torndirrup National Park brings you close to The Gap and Natural Bridge, where waves hammer the cliffs.

Day 27

Adelaide, Australia

Adelaide pairs a polished city centre with easy access to South Australia’s celebrated wine country. Outer Harbor, the cruise terminal, lies about 20 kilometres from central Adelaide. A train connects the area with the city. Explore the Central Market, North Terrace’s museums and galleries, or the broad encircling parklands. Glenelg’s beachside cafés and the vineyards of the Barossa Valley make rewarding excursions beyond town.

Day 28

Kangaroo Island, Australia

Step ashore at Penneshaw and discover an island where wildlife remains part of daily life. Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third-largest island, with rugged coast, eucalyptus forests and open farmland. At Seal Bay, guided walks bring you close to a breeding colony of Australian sea lions. Flinders Chase National Park rewards the drive west with Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Leave time for local honey, seafood and wines, and watch for koalas and kangaroos along the road.

Day 30

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is a city best explored with curiosity, a good appetite and comfortable walking shoes. From Station Pier, the centre is roughly six kilometres away, with tram and taxi connections into town. Explore its arcades and laneways, lined with shops, espresso bars and street art, then visit the National Gallery of Victoria. At Queen Victoria Market, browse local produce and Australian specialties; along the Yarra, find restaurants and skyline views.

Day 31

Phillip Island, Australia

Phillip Island, 90 minutes southeast of Melbourne, pairs rugged coastal scenery with wildlife encounters few Australian destinations match. At the Penguin Parade, little penguins return ashore at dusk, drawing visitors to the island’s best-known spectacle. See seals and seabirds around the Nobbies, then follow coastal paths above Bass Strait. Cowes offers cafés and sheltered beaches, while the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit brings a different kind of speed.

Day 33

Hobart, Australia

Hobart gives you a rare pairing: a handsome harbour, a lively food scene and wilderness within easy reach. Founded in 1804, Tasmania’s capital sits beneath kunanyi / Mount Wellington, whose changing weather shapes the city’s skyline. Browse Salamanca Place’s sandstone warehouses, then sample local oysters, cheese and cool-climate wine along the waterfront. Beyond town, MONA offers a provocative art collection, while Bruny Island and the Tasman Peninsula reward a longer excursion.

Day 34

Port Arthur, Australia

On Tasmania’s rugged Tasman Peninsula, Port Arthur makes the country’s convict history tangible. From 1830 to 1877, this isolated settlement held prisoners sent from Britain and its colonies. Today, its UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins, restored buildings and harbour setting reward a thoughtful visit. Walk the former prison grounds. Then take the included harbour cruise for a wider view of the settlement and coastline.

Day 36

Sydney, Australia

From the water, Sydney’s harbour frames the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and ferries crossing between historic quays. Beyond the waterfront, central Sydney pairs nineteenth-century buildings with contemporary architecture and leafy streets. Walk the Royal Botanic Garden for harbour views, or take a ferry to Manly for a coastal perspective. Allow time to explore The Rocks, where the city’s colonial beginnings meet galleries, cafés and a lively weekend market.

NSW Australia Cruise from Sydney — 36 Days

Sydney, Australia

Brisbane, Australia

Alotau

Trobriand Islands PNG

Cairns, Australia

Townsville QLD, Australia

Darwin, Australia

Broome WA, Australia

Exmouth WA, Australia

Fremantle, Australia

Albany WA, Australia

Adelaide, Australia

Kangaroo Island, Australia

Melbourne, Australia

Phillip Island, Australia

Hobart, Australia

Port Arthur, Australia

Sydney, Australia

ms Noordam Cruises

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