Hunter Valley
Blue Mountains
New Zealand is overfl owing with sights and attractions. North Island
off ers a wealth of spectacular scenery from beautiful islands to rugged ranges, volcanic peaks and plateaus, lakes and white sand beaches.
Choose a city stay in Brisbane, and you’ll be able to explore the beautiful southern coast of Queensland. Extending 75 kilometers south of the city is the popular beach playground of the Gold Coast. Whilst north is the elegant Sunshine Coast. 30 kilometers from the city you can go bushwalking or picnic in the beautiful area surrounding the Glasshouse Mountains – a series of steep sided volcanic plugs.
North Stradbroke Island, only a 30 minute ferry ride away from Brisbane, offers fantastic coastal walks, street cafés and a museum housing local artefacts. And then there’s Bridie Island (accessed from Moreton Bay) which is home to several small and charming settlements.
Perth, another city stay destination, allows you to explore some of Western Australia’s wider attractions. Beyond the beautiful parks and gardens on the city’s rim, tranquil Rottnest Island is an ideal day trip from here. It boasts a rugged coastline, including beaches, coves and reefs and is also home to Quokkas (a type of wallaby).
140 kilometers north of Perth is New Norcia, one of Western Australia’s most important heritage sites, characterised by its small monastic community and Spanish colonial architecture. If you set off early enough, the three hour drive to see the curious limestone Pinnacles amidst the sand dunes of Nambung National Park is well worth the effort.
In New Zealand you can choose a city stay in Auckland. Though a fraction of the size of Australia, New Zealand is overfl owing with sights and attractions. North Island offers a wealth of spectacular scenery from beautiful islands to rugged ranges, volcanic peaks and plateaus, lakes and white sand beaches.
Only minutes away from Auckland’s harbour are the stunning Hauraki Gulf Islands, famed for their recreation and conservation. Two of the most accessible are Great Barrier Island, where popular activities include mountain biking, kayaking and fi shing and Waiheke, enjoyed for its boutique wineries, restaurants and galleries.
The Waitekere Ranges Regional Park offers a vast area of native rainforest and coastline and is only about 45 kilometers from downtown Auckland. The giant Kauri trees, huge sand dunes and spectacular waterfalls of the Cascades are worth a visit.
235 kilometers south of Auckland is Rotorua, a fascinating area of geothermal activity (in the form of steaming geysers, bubbling mud and dazzling silica terraces) and Maori culture.
The mesmerising Waitomo Caves, a 28 mile network of underground limestone caves and grottoes lit by the indigenous Arachnocampa luminosa glow worms, is also a day trip away from Auckland.
There’s so much on offer outside of these cities, but there’s always the option, of course, to simply do as the name suggests and stay in the city. From really getting to know the historic Rocks area of Sydney to watching Brisbane go by from the river, relaxing in Perth’s pretty gardens or dining alongside Auckland’s vibrant harbour. City stay or city go (beyond!), these breaks ‘down under’ are certainly worth taking.
96 WORLD CRUISES 2013
CITY STAYS
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