NT Australia Cruise from Darwin to Lautoka — 23 Days

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.

At Sea (At Sea)

Ambon Island Indonesia, Indonesia

Ambon wraps around a natural harbour, with green hills descending to sheltered Ambon Bay. The city became a Dutch East India Company stronghold during the clove trade. Its layered past remains visible in old churches and fortifications, while the port still anchors the Maluku Islands. Beyond town, clear water and nearby reefs draw divers; hillside villages reveal a quieter side of island life. For travelers drawn to history and working waterfronts, Ambon offers a compelling gateway to Indonesia’s spice islands.

At Sea (At Sea)

Kokas (Ask Travel Agent)

Misool Island Indonesia, Indonesia

Misool is the southernmost of Raja Ampat’s four main islands, set among the reefs of Indonesia’s Southwest Papua province. Limestone towers rise above clear lagoons, while coral reefs shelter manta rays, turtles and abundant reef fish. Reaching Misool requires a boat journey, commonly aboard a liveaboard or via a remote resort. Bring time for diving or snorkeling: the island’s appeal lies beneath the surface as much as along its dramatic coastline.

Waigeo Island Indonesia, Indonesia

Waigeo is the largest of Raja Ampat’s four main islands, a forested outpost in Indonesia’s far west. Waisai, the regency capital, is the usual base for reaching nearby reefs and island villages. Divers come for clear water, coral gardens and exceptional marine life in the Dampier Strait. On land, guided dawn walks offer a chance to see the red bird-of-paradise, native to Waigeo and nearby Batanta.

Raja Ampat Islands Indonesia, Indonesia

Raja Ampat rewards travellers who value wild places over polished resorts. This Indonesian archipelago lies off West Papua’s Bird’s Head Peninsula, famed for exceptional marine life and clear, warm seas. Its four principal islands—Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati and Misool—anchor a maze of forested islets and limestone karsts. Snorkel above coral gardens, look for manta rays, or boat into sheltered lagoons. Here, nature sets the itinerary.

Manokwari (Ask Travel Agent)

Auri Islands Indonesia (Scenic Stop)

Jayapura, Indonesia

Jayapura, capital of Indonesia’s Papua province, sits on the island’s north coast. Curving around Humboldt Bay, it pairs a busy waterfront with steep, forested hills and lively local markets. Nearby Lake Sentani offers island scenery and a window into the region’s enduring traditions. The city was called Hollandia during the Allied campaign in New Guinea during World War II. Come for a rare encounter with Indonesia’s far eastern frontier and a gateway to Papua’s landscapes and cultures.

Vanimo PNG

Vanimo sits on Papua New Guinea’s remote north coast, near the Indonesian border. Its beaches and offshore reefs offer a quieter encounter with the country than its better-known eastern ports. Surf is the town’s calling card, with seasonal swells drawing riders to the coast. Inland, forested hills frame a small working town where daily life remains part of the appeal.

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Garove Island PNG (Scenic Stop)

Rabaul

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.

• Duke of York Islands PNG (Scenic Stop)

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Gizo

Gizo rewards travellers with clear water, accessible reefs and a strong sense of island life. Set on Ghizo Island, this small town is the capital of Solomon Islands’ Western Province. Boats reach coral gardens, fishing grounds and nearby Kennedy Island. In 1943, John F. Kennedy and the surviving PT-109 crew swam there after their boat was rammed. The waterfront makes a good starting point for exploring the surrounding islands.

Honiara

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.

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Solomon Islands

Honiara, the capital, lies on Guadalcanal’s north coast, the gateway to an archipelago of more than 900 islands. The capital’s Central Market brings island produce, fish and handwoven goods into vivid view. Beyond town, the Battle of Guadalcanal left a powerful legacy, while clear-water reefs invite snorkelling and diving. Pair market browsing with wartime memorials, or arrange a guided reef excursion.

Ambrym Island Vanuatu, Vanuatu

Ambrym is one of Vanuatu’s most volcanic islands, shaped by a vast caldera. Marum and Benbow rise within it, though access depends on current volcanic conditions and local guidance. Along the coast, village life offers another perspective: carved slit gongs, known locally as tam-tams, and ceremonial Rom dances. Come for an island where living traditions and an elemental landscape share the same horizon.

At Sea (At Sea)

Lautoka, Fiji

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.