26 nights · NSW Australia · Departs Sydney (Australia) · Visiting Moreton Island, Townsville QLD, Cairns, Alotau, Trobriand Islands PNG, Rabaul, Honiara, Luganville, Port Vila, Mystery Island, Lautoka, Suva, Nukualofa, Bay of Islands, Auckland · Aboard Holland America on the ms Westerdam
Image courtesy of Holland America ©
| Cruise line | Holland America |
|---|---|
| Ship | ms Westerdam |
| Duration | 26 nights |
| Port calls | 16 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $4,834 per person |
| Year built | 2004 |
| Guests | 2362 |
| Cabins | 984 |
| Crew | 817 |
| Length | 285 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 22.0 kn |
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.
Moreton Island sits just off Brisbane, yet its long beaches and forested dunes feel a world away. Much of the island is protected national park, with freshwater lakes, sheltered bays and walking tracks through coastal heath. At Tangalooma, the wrecks offer rewarding snorkelling among fish and coral. Climb the island’s high dunes for sweeping views across Moreton Bay. Ferries from Brisbane make day trips possible, but an overnight stay reveals the island’s quieter side.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rabaul occupies the rim of Simpson Harbour, where rainforest slopes meet a dramatic volcanic caldera. Tavurvur still steams above town, recalling the 1994 eruptions that buried old Rabaul in ash. Explore Japanese wartime tunnels and wreckage, then visit the Rabaul Museum for context. For a closer look at local life, Kokopo, the province’s quieter commercial centre, lies about 30 kilometres away.
Honiara sits on Guadalcanal’s northern coast, where the capital’s busy streets meet a landscape shaped by the Pacific War. At the Central Market, island produce, fish and woven goods offer a glimpse of daily life across the Solomons. The Guadalcanal American Memorial recalls the fierce campaign fought here, while nearby Bonegi beaches offer access to Japanese wartime wrecks. Beyond town, rainforest-covered hills and village roads invite exploration with a local guide.
Luganville is the gateway to Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu’s largest island, where wartime history meets clear-water lagoons. Explore the SS President Coolidge, a luxury liner sunk during World War II. At Million Dollar Point, Allied equipment was dumped into the sea after the war. Beyond town, freshwater blue holes and beaches reward a drive through the island’s green interior. Choose Luganville for accessible history, warm-water diving and unhurried island scenery.
Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital, curves around a sheltered harbor on Efate, where green hills meet the sea. Along the waterfront, cafés, markets and shops reveal a lively blend of Ni-Vanuatu, French and island influences. Visit the National Museum to learn about Vanuatu’s cultural traditions, then browse local produce at the central market. Beyond town, Mele Cascades offers a refreshing walk to tiered falls, while nearby villages provide insight into island life.
At Vanuatu’s southern edge, Mystery Island is a palm-fringed speck of sand reached by tender from your ship. Known locally as Inyeug, it has no permanent residents, roads or resort distractions. Step ashore for clear water, coral gardens and an easy circuit of the island on foot. Bring a mask, then browse the small market, where islanders from nearby Aneityum sell local handicrafts. Here, the day is yours to spend slowly: swim, snorkel or simply watch the reef shimmer.
Lautoka, Fiji’s second-largest city, sits on Viti Levu’s western coast, where sugar fields meet the Pacific. Known as the Sugar City, it offers a glimpse of everyday Fijian life beyond the resorts. Browse the municipal market, stroll the botanical gardens, or take in the waterfront before heading farther west. Lautoka is also a departure point for excursions to the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups.
Suva is Fiji’s lively capital, set on Viti Levu’s southeast coast beside a deep-water harbour. The Fiji Museum traces the islands’ history, while nearby Thurston Gardens offer a leafy walk. At the municipal market, tropical produce, yaqona and crafts reveal everyday Fijian life. Suva’s Indian, Fijian and Chinese influences also shape its cafés and cuisine. A short drive inland, Colo-i-Suva Forest Park offers rainforest trails and swimming holes.
Nuku'alofa, Tonga’s compact capital, brings you ashore on Tongatapu, the kingdom’s largest island. Walk the waterfront to the Royal Palace, a wooden landmark still used by Tonga’s royal family. At Talamahu Market, growers sell taro, yams, coconuts and seasonal fruit beneath a lively roof. Beyond town, Tongatapu’s low coastline reveals blowholes, ancient stone monuments and villages shaped by a living Polynesian culture.
Northland’s Bay of Islands rewards a day ashore with sheltered water, Māori history and access to New Zealand’s oldest settlements. Its 144 islands scatter across a blue gulf, where ferries link Paihia with historic Russell. At Waitangi, the Treaty Grounds mark the signing of New Zealand’s founding document in 1840. Take a boat for coastal views, or stay ashore for cafés, galleries and a waterfront walk.
Few cities bring water so close to daily life as Auckland. Set between the Waitematā and Manukau harbours, New Zealand’s largest city is shaped by the sea. From the waterfront, ferries reach Waiheke Island, with vineyards, beaches and coastal walks. Climb volcanic Maungawhau, or Mount Eden, for sweeping views across the city and its harbours. Back downtown, Viaduct Harbour offers galleries, restaurants and a vivid sense of Auckland’s maritime life.
Published August 1, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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