Friday, November 9, 2007

Winter is a Great Time to Cruise to Australia


If you're looking for a way to escape winter in the northern hemisphere, perhaps a cruise down under would make a nice vacation. While we're fighting snow flurries, Australia and New Zealand are enjoying sunny summer weather.

Since Australia is a big place, there are numerous climates and areas to explore. You can find everything from bone-dry deserts to snow-capped mountains to towering fjords to coral reefs when you're visiting the continent.

Australia Cruise Highlights
  • Snorkeling or SCUBA diving at the Great Barrier Reef
  • The world-famous Sydney Opera House
  • Taking a trip into the fabled Australian Outback
  • Seeing kangaroos and koala bears in their natural milieu
  • Exploring the famous Ayers Rock
  • Wine-tasting excursions that visit local vineyards and wineries
Things to note:
  • If Australia sounds like your cup of tea, book well in advance because there aren't as many cruises heading down under as in the Caribbean, and good cabins sell out quickly.
  • If you're leaving from North America, you'll lose a day going over the International Date Line, plus the flight itself takes a day, so you'll need to leave at least two days before the cruise is scheduled to begin (more is better so you have time to get over jet lag and relax).
  • Cruises are usually 12 to 16 days.
  • The prime Australia cruise season is from October to March.

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