NSW Australia Cruise from Sydney to Darwin — 13 Days

12 nights · NSW Australia · Departs Sydney (Australia) · Visiting Mooloolaba, Gladstone QLD, Airlie Beach, Townsville QLD, Cairns, Cooktown QLD, Darwin · Aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises on the Seven Seas Explorer

Regent Seven Seas Cruises logo
Cruise lineRegent Seven Seas Cruises
ShipSeven Seas Explorer
Duration12 nights
Port calls8
Departures1 sailings
From fare$28,198 per person
Year built2016
Guests829
Cabins375
Crew552
Length224 m
Beam31 m
Cruising speed22.0 kn
  1. 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.

  2. Day 3

    Mooloolaba, Australia

    Set on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba pairs a broad, patrolled beach with a working marina and an easygoing seaside centre. Walk the Esplanade for cafés, boutiques and views across the water, or follow the coastal path towards Alexandra Headland. Mooloolaba prawns are a local speciality, best enjoyed overlooking the marina. SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast offers a look at the region’s marine life. Beyond the shore, the hinterland rewards a longer excursion with villages and the Glass House Mountains.

  3. Day 5

    Gladstone QLD, Australia

    Gladstone is a working port with an unexpectedly broad horizon. Set on Queensland’s central coast, it faces the sheltered waters of Port Curtis and the Southern Great Barrier Reef. See the harbour from Auckland Hill, then follow the waterfront paths at East Shores. Heron Island, a celebrated coral cay, is reached by boat from Gladstone and rewards time spent snorkelling or diving. Beyond town, Tondoon Botanic Gardens offers a quieter change of pace.

  4. Day 6

    Airlie Beach, Australia

    Airlie Beach is the mainland gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, on Queensland’s Coral Sea coast. Boats leave its marina for island beaches, reef snorkelling and sailing, on day trips or overnight cruises. The foreshore lagoon offers a saltwater swim and bay views; cafés and shops line the town centre. Conway National Park’s rainforest trails provide a quieter inland counterpoint.

  5. Day 7

    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.

  6. 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.

  7. Day 10

    Cooktown QLD, Australia

    Cooktown sits where the Endeavour River meets the Coral Sea, beneath the hills of Cape York Peninsula. In 1770, James Cook repaired the Endeavour here after it struck the Great Barrier Reef. Climb Grassy Hill for broad river and coastline views, then visit the James Cook Museum in a former convent. Cooktown’s gold-rush past and living Guugu Yimithirr culture give this remote Queensland town its distinct character.

  8. Day 13

    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.

Seven Seas Explorer Cruises

Published September 5, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard


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