42 nights · NSW Australia · Departs Sydney (Australia) · Visiting Phillip Island, Melbourne, Burnie, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Hobart, Port Arthur, Eden, Newcastle NSW, 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 | 42 nights |
| Port calls | 25 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $7,444 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.
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.
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.
Burnie brings Tasmania’s working character into sharp focus. On Tasmania’s north-west coast, this compact port pairs a busy harbour with a proud paper-making past and lively arts scene. At the waterfront Makers’ Workshop, local craftspeople turn timber, glass and wool into distinctive souvenirs. Come at dusk in season, and the Little Penguin Observation Centre offers a memorable glimpse of penguins returning ashore. Beyond town, green valleys lead toward Tasmania’s wild interior.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eden sits above Twofold Bay on New South Wales’s Sapphire Coast, where deep water meets forested headlands. Its harbour once supported a thriving whaling industry. The Killer Whale Museum tells how orcas famously worked alongside local whalers. Migrating humpback whales can be spotted from shore. Explore Ben Boyd National Park’s rugged coves, or try oysters from nearby Pambula Lake. Coastal walks and quiet beaches make Eden a rewarding base for exploring this stretch of New South Wales.
Newcastle is a working harbour city with surf beaches, sandstone heritage and a confident food scene. Begin in the East End, where Fort Scratchley overlooks the Pacific and recalls the city’s military past. Follow the Bathers Way, a coastal walk linking beaches, ocean baths and dramatic headlands. At the table, look for fresh seafood and Hunter Valley wines, produced in the region west of the city.
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 22, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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