Australasian Cruises

Introduction to Australasian Cruises

Nestled between the Pacific and Indian oceans, Australia is the world’s smallest continents. Australia is similar in size to that of the United States and in many ways resembles the United States in composition and overall appearance. Australia is divided into states within the continent boundaries which include: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western, Southern and Northern Australia. The 2010 population of Australia was estimated at 22,519,256. Sydney, the largest city in Australia has a total population of over 4 million people, with Melbourne following a close second at slightly under 4 million. Australasian cruises are available to every port within the boundaries of this vast open country.

Attractions

Often referred to as “down-under”, Australia has some of the most well know tourist attractions in the world. The Great Barrier Reef located in Brisbane and Alice Springs- the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia; draw millions of visitors on an annual basis.

The Great Barrier Reef is Australia’s’ most remarkable gift. The composition of over 3,000 individual reef systems and coral coves are home to hundreds of species of marine life that are abundant and only found in The Great Barrier Reef. With miles of white sandy beaches, bleached by abundant sunlight, the beaches of the Great Barrier Reef are considered to be some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The Great Barrier Reef is larger than The Great Wall of China and the only living thing that can be easily viewed from space. With picturesque scenery available at every glance, The Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and truly a gift to be cherished and remembered for eternity.

Alice Springs, located in central Australia, is yet another popular tourist attraction. Alice Springs is the introduction to the Australian “outback”. With rugged terrain visible as far as the eye can see, the “outback” is serene, desolate and vast. Dotted with brush, sand and an occasional grassy area, the “outback” is not lacking in history or traditional values. Although a guide is highly recommended when touring this barren land, comfort features are near and frequent.

Climate

The Australasian climate varies across all continents with high heat, to tropical, to cool in the far north. December to February is summer for the majority of Australia and is the wet season with heavy rain in the tropical north. Australian winters, from June to August, are usually mild compared to other continents with snow in the southern mountain regions. The Australian sun is hot, blistering and continuous which requires adequate protection at all times.

Cost

The cost for an Australasian cruise is considerably higher than that of other possible destinations. Due to the similarity of the United States and currency values, an Australasian cruise can range into the thousands of dollars relatively easily depending on locations selected to visit and length of stay. It is highly recommended to conduct additional research on an Australian cruise before arriving at an educated and informative decision.