Sydney Harbour Bridge Archives - Wheelie Good Cruises

They say that the cruise ship is the destination. But for the majority of cruisers half the fun of a cruise is going ashore when you reach a port of call. If at all possible, and your mobility requirements allow you - Don’t miss these great experiences in Aussie ports.

Discover A Truly Original Museum

Contemporary modern art buffs should definitely visit MONA (photo credit: Museum of Old and New Art

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart is Australia’s biggest privately funded museum and has a captivating and extensive collection of works not like anything else you’ll find in the country. And once you’ve had your fill of arts, there’s also a winery and brewery onsite for refreshments.

Expedition Underneath The Earth

Find yourself in some of the country’s most remarkable subversive caves

The Margaret River, just south of Perth, is best known for its wine but venture below ground and you’ll find yourself in some of the country’s most remarkable subversive caves. The air is cool and the stillness quite eerie, and you’ll be compensated with ancient stalactites, stalagmites, helicities and shawl rock formations.

Take A Trip Back In Time at Mossman Gorge

Walk through the ancient forest, subsequent to a cruise along the Mossman River to spot crocodiles

Make your way through some of the ancient rainforest on the planet in the Mossman Gorge, close to Port Douglas in Far North Queensland. Local directors from the indigenous Kuku Yalanji tribe lead informative walks through the ancient forest, subsequent to a cruise along the Mossman River to spot crocodiles.

Unwind In The Hunter Region

Visit the famed vineyards of the Hunter Valley tasting some of the country’s best wine

As more cruise ships add Newcastle to their schedules, the famed vineyards of the Hunter Valley are now within reach. Many of the wineries date back to the 1800s and harvest some of the country’s best wine, together with the region’s signature Semillon.

Snorkel the Frankland Islands

Take the 20-minute journey to the Frankland Islands and snorkel on a immaculate reef surrounded by tropical fish and turtles

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the big draw cards for cruises calling at Cairns, yet a journey to the reef can take up to two hours each way. As an alternative, take the 20-minute journey to the Frankland Islands and snorkel on a immaculate reef surrounded by tropical fish and turtles. There are even semi-submersible tours for those who prefer to stay dry.

Climb The Sydney Harbour Bridge

Attempted to climb up our most famous landmark

It seems evident, but an astonishing sum of Aussies have never attempted to climb up our most famous landmark. Countless cruises depart from or call at Sydney, stopping right beside the Harbour Bridge. The whole experience takes around 3.5 hours (including briefing, tuition and the climb itself) and the view from the top is almighty, extending all the way to the Blue Mountains.

Ride A Camel Along Cable Beach

Ride a camel along Broome’s famed Cable Beach along the unadulterated white sand on the edge of the Indian Ocean

Outback Australia is home to at least one million wild camels, initially brought here more than 150 years ago as working animals. Ride one of these ‘ships of the desert’ along Broome’s famed Cable Beach, a 22-kilometre strip of unadulterated white sand on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Sunset is the best time for the ride so you can watch the sun dip right into the water.

Embrace A Koala

Head to see Australia’s national icons. The Healesville Sanctuary is just outside of Melbourne and is the place to snuggle a koala

Don’t miss the chance to come head to see Australia’s national icons. The Healesville Sanctuary is just outside of Melbourne and is the place to snuggle a koala, hand feed a kangaroo or pat a gigantic python. The sanctuary is also involved in vital conservation work, which you can learn about at the on-site rehabilitation centre.

Indulge In The Gourmet Delights Of Kangaroo Island

Head to see Australia’s national icons. Spend the day touring the island and tasting the local produce

Kangaroo Island, just 15 kilometres off the coast of South Australia, is attaining the reputation as a regional cruise port and it also happens to be one of the country’s leading gourmet destinations. Spend the day touring the island and tasting honey, native spices, marron, artisan cheese, small batch gin, sheep’s milk yoghurt, oysters and local wines.

Have you ever cruised in Australia? What was your favourite part? Let us know in the comments.

Even though a record $4.6 billion was injected into the nation’s economy last financial year through cruise ships, international cruise ship appearances fell 18 per cent for the simple reason – Sydney has a shortage of cruise ports.

As the NSW government mull over the publication of its long anticipated 25-year cruise plan, which is due before the year’s end — but is postponed — while the cruise industry’s fiscal impact soared 27 per cent in 2015-16, carrying approximately 150,000 global visitors to Australia who spent $158 million.

“As cruise lines increasingly announce exciting new ships and deployments in this region, Australia will only continue to benefit in the long term if steps are taken to put the necessary infrastructure in place,” he said.

“Sydney is the gateway and Sydney has to be the place where people join or leave ships.

NSW is the leading state for economic share from the cruise industry, accounting for 63 per cent of the total, though the share was down from 68 per cent in 2014-15.

“It is harder to sell Brisbane, Melbourne or Perth. You can sell these ports as an inter-port destination but Sydney is the key.”

Releasing the industry’s economic impact report, Cruise Lines International Association’s Australasia chairman Steve Odell said it was difficult to sell international cruise itineraries if Sydney was not involved.

Mr Odell said Sydney’s ports were full during December and January, even though there were sustainable options for port growth including increasing the time cruise ships spent at the city’s Overseas Passenger Terminal.

“I speak for the cruise industry and there are a known number of solutions, east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There has to be a sol¬ution in Garden Island and Port Botany and there’s a concept of hot-bedding at the Overseas Passenger Terminal for a longer ¬period.”

Mr Odell said the 18 per cent fall in international cruise ship ¬arrivals last year was due to the increasing prevalence of “home porting”. Ships not semi- or permanently based in Australia were finding it difficult to get slots.

Mr Odell said home porting had grown by 45 per cent in the past few years, but if there were more port capacity, cruise ship ¬activity growth would be “open-ended”.

“If there is space to come, the ships will come because companies are trying to deploy to more ports around the country, (given) Australia is one of the most popular global destinations.”

“There’s an attraction to see the country domestically in the comfort of a cruise ship, that is driving it.

“There is a growing appeal for domestic cruises, to South Australia or Tasmania; it’s a comfortable way to see the country,” Mr Odell said.

Carnival Australia executive chairman Ann Sherry said the CLIA study was a reminder that investment in improved port infrastructure was vital as the industry continued to expand with more ships and a growing range of cruise itineraries.

“Sydney remains Australia’s major cruise hub but the new study, showing a decline in NSW’s share of cruise tourism’s economic contribution, should be a wake-up call that capacity constraints are having an adverse impact that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency,” Ms Sherry said.

A spokeswoman for NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said the 25-year report would be released early next year.

Original story and photo credit: The Australian

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