Southern Australia Explorer

Victoria may be Australia’s smallest continental state, but Melbourne, its capital, is big on everything. With a population of 2.7 million people living in 59 separately named communities within 715 square miles, Melbourne is a sprawling city offering culture, art, fashion and friendly, sports-minded Australians. It is also an easy city to explore. At the heart of the city is the Golden Mile, the city’s governmental and commercial center, home to hotels, shops, restaurants and theaters.

Originally part of New South Wales, Victoria became a colony in its own right in 1851. The discovery of gold propelled Melbourne’s growth to prominence and prosperity.

This small island off the coast of Victoria is Australia’s most popular destination after Ayers Rock. The reason? The island is home to the Fairy Penguin, the smallest of the 17 species of penguin. Your ship makes a special call at Phillip Island to afford passengers the opportunity to view these charming creatures in their native habitat.

Founded in 1836, this graceful city lies nestled on the coastal plain between Gulf St. Vincent and the Adelaide Hills. Adelaide was the vision of Colonel William Light, Australia’s Surveyor General, who created a one-mile-square grid for the city’s center and surrounded it with a belt of stunning parkland. Today, Adelaide is a metropolis of over one million people, boasting wide, tree-lined boulevards, superb Victorian and Edwardian architecture, tranquil parks, world-class shopping, and the highest number of restaurants per capita of any city in Australia.

Beyond the city and the rugged Adelaide Hills lie the Barossa and Eden Valleys. Here Australian vintners are winning international acclaim for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz.

Port Lincoln, the “Seafood Capital of Australia” With its population of 14,500 Port Lincoln is a major commercial centre for the Eyre Peninsula and a popular destination for visitors. Not only a beautiful township overlooking Boston Bay, Port Lincoln makes an ideal base from where to explore the coast and experience Eyre Peninsula first hand. The shopping is extensive, offering everything from supermarkets and department stores to a myriad of specialty stores. Galleries and quality art and craft outlets with local products and souvenirs will add to your holiday experience.
Make you holiday memorable by participating in one of our exciting tours and attractions on offer in and around Port Lincoln and Eyre Peninsula. For the adventurous, go Shark Cage Diving or Swim with the Australian Sea Lions. Or just stay on land and visit our local wildlife Fauna Park.

Kangaroo Island boasts the kind of beauty that will stop you in your tracks. Over half the island is covered with “old-growth” bush land supporting huge populations of kangaroo, koala, goana, wallaby and other native Australian animals. Blessed by vast, open spaces and loads of sun, the “Islanders” raise sheep, create and cellar wines, produce sheep’s milk cheese, distill eucalyptus oil, and harvest the honey of the treasured Ligurian Bee. And there is a thriving art community producing internationally-renowned artwork, woolen items, and crafts. The quintessential seaside town of Penneshaw, where cruise ships dock and ferries come and go, is your gateway to it all.

Victoria may be Australia’s smallest continental state, but Melbourne, its capital, is big on everything. With a population of 2.7 million people living in 59 separately named communities within 715 square miles, Melbourne is a sprawling city offering culture, art, fashion and friendly, sports-minded Australians. It is also an easy city to explore. At the heart of the city is the Golden Mile, the city’s governmental and commercial center, home to hotels, shops, restaurants and theaters.

Originally part of New South Wales, Victoria became a colony in its own right in 1851. The discovery of gold propelled Melbourne’s growth to prominence and prosperity.