Viti Levu Island Fiji Cruise from Lautoka to Broome — 27 Days

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.

Yasawa Island Fiji, Fiji

The Yasawa Islands rise in a volcanic chain northwest of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu. Remote villages, pale beaches and clear lagoons offer a quieter counterpoint to the country’s resort hubs. Choose a snorkel among coral, a village visit with local guidance, or a walk for views across the rugged islands. Small-ship calls make reaching this island chain part of the appeal.

At Sea (At Sea)

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.

Pentecost Island Vanuatu, Vanuatu

Pentecost Island is one of Vanuatu’s most striking destinations, with forested mountains rising above the Pacific. Village life remains closely tied to custom and the land. From April to June, men perform the famous land dive, plunging from wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles. Explore coastal communities, follow forest tracks and cool off beneath waterfalls. Local guidance helps make each encounter respectful and rewarding.

Luganville, Vanuatu

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.

At Sea (At Sea)

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.

At Sea (At Sea)

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.

Kimberley Coast, Australia

The Kimberley coast is one of Australia’s great wildernesses, where red sandstone cliffs meet the Indian Ocean. Expedition vessels reach tidal inlets, mangrove creeks and waterfalls spilling from the plateau after rain. Aboriginal custodians share a deep connection to Country here. In season, watch for saltwater crocodiles and migrating humpback whales. Tides, weather and careful planning shape every landing.

• Jar Island Australia (Scenic Stop)
• Ashmore Islands Australia (Scenic Stop)

Lacepede Islands, Australia

Some 120 kilometres north-west of Broome, the Lacepede Islands are four low coral islands set in turquoise water. This protected reserve ranks among Western Australia’s leading seabird breeding sites. Brown boobies, frigatebirds and terns gather along its shores. Green turtles also nest here. There are no towns or visitor facilities. The reward is a rare glimpse of wildlife-rich islands, best seen from the water with expert guidance.

Kimberley Coast, Australia

The Kimberley coast is one of Australia’s great wildernesses, where red sandstone cliffs meet the Indian Ocean. Expedition vessels reach tidal inlets, mangrove creeks and waterfalls spilling from the plateau after rain. Aboriginal custodians share a deep connection to Country here. In season, watch for saltwater crocodiles and migrating humpback whales. Tides, weather and careful planning shape every landing.

Buccaneer Archipelago, Australia

The Buccaneer Archipelago lies off Western Australia’s remote Kimberley coast, where ochre cliffs meet the Indian Ocean. More than 800 islands shelter secluded beaches, mangrove-lined creeks and reefs rich in marine life. At Horizontal Falls, powerful tides surge through narrow coastal gaps, creating one of the region’s most remarkable sights. Take a boat cruise or scenic flight to grasp the scale of this rugged seascape. Indigenous culture and history are deeply rooted throughout the region.

• Montgomery Island Australia (Scenic Stop)

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.