Danielle McCarthy
Cruising

5 unmissable Aussie shore excursions

There are so many beautiful places to cruise to in the world and some are closer than you realise. Here are five unmissable shore excursions in Australia.

1. Port Douglas: Daintree National Park

Who goes there: Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal, P&O, Princess, Royal Caribbean

A day tour from Port Douglas will let visitors see the old sugar town of Mossman, Daintree Village and enjoy a cruise on the Daintree River. One of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world, the Daintree is praised for its biodiversity and vast range of animal species.

2. Cairns: Great Barrier Reef

Who goes there: Azamara, Celebrity, Crystal, HAL, NCL, Oceania, P&O, Ponant Princess, RSSC, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking

A visit to this national treasure is unforgettable. The reef is one of UNESCO’s Seven Natural Wonders of the World and despite the coral bleaching, the reef continues to house many marine lives.

3. Brisbane: Australia Zoo

Who goes there: Cunard, HAL, P&O, Princess

This conservation park allows for visitors to hand-feed kangaroos, meet koalas and wombats and watch crocs and giant snakes. Australia Zoo is an hour’s drive from Brisbane and visitors should allow four and a half hours to tour the park.

4. Port Arthur

Who goes there: Azamara, Carnival, Crystal Cunard, HAL, P&O, Princess, Seabourn

To get a glimpse of Australia’s rich history, Port Arthur is the place to visit. It is Australia’s most preserved convict site and has more than 30 buildings, ruins and restored period homes and landscaped grounds. A shore excursion here includes a walking tour, a harbour cruise and access to buildings and gardens.

5. Melbourne: Great Ocean Road

Who goes there: Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, P&O, Princess, RSSC, Royal Caribbean, Silversea

Besides from enjoying the views the mesmerising 12 apostles, visitors can also check out the Shipwreck Museum, complete walking trails and visit seaside towns.

Have you been lucky enough to visit any of these places before? Let us know in the comments below. 

Tags:
travel, cruise, aussie, shore, excursions, unmissable