Queen Elizabeth Queensland Cruise

he stunning harbour city, Sydney, is Australia’s oldest and largest urban centre. Gold mining and sheep breeding propelled Sydney’s development, and today it’s the largest port in the entire South Pacific. Mark Twain called it “the wonder of the world”.

Your port guide to Sydney.

Blessed with a natural harbour, countless golden beaches and world-class restaurants, Sydney is a dazzling metropolis and international gateway to Australia’s east coast. The city is famed for the quality of its outdoor living, yet a visit here offers more than a chance to soak up the sun. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, world-famous Opera House and the constant bustle of the harbour itself make Sydney one of the world’s most dynamic destinations. Venturing outside the capital of New South Wales unlocks mysterious protected coves, miles of sandy beaches and the dramatic landscape of the breath-taking Blue Mountains.

Exploring.

For spectacular 360-degree views, ascend Sydney Harbour Bridge’s south-east pylon from which Sydney Opera House and The Rocks - one of the city’s liveliest precincts and home to the Museum of Sydney and Museum of Contemporary Art - are visible. The Sydney Aquarium, National Maritime Museum and the Chinese Garden of Friendship can be found in Darling Harbour, with Chinatown also nearby. The Australian Museum, ranked one of the top five history museums in the world, is ideal for anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge of Australia’s aboriginal heritage. Alternatively, escape the city’s hustle at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens. Incorporating Government House and the Conservatorium of Music, this sprawling parkland offers 24 hectares of native exotic trees.

Eating and drinking.

Those unfamiliar with Sydney may be surprised by the sophistication of the city’s culinary scene. Sydney offers myriad dining experiences drawing on both eastern and western influences, along with restaurants producing some of the most innovative nouveau cuisine in the world. Thai, Vietnamese, Ind

Keep up with your exercise routine, or try something new, at fitness classes for all levels.

Enjoy West End calibre production shows in the extravagant setting of the Royal Court Theatre.

Take inspiration whilst on holiday and immerse yourself in the largest book collections at sea.

The capital of Queensland is a wonder. The Brisbane River meanders through the heart of the city, past the elegant Georgian buildings of native sandstone and their neighbouring towers of sleek glass.

Semi-tropical Brisbane is beautifully landscaped, with jacarandas, flame trees and bougainvillea thriving here. Tours from the city bring you face to face with koalas, kangaroos and wombats.

Children aged 2 to 7 will love the activities and themed days in this supervised haven.

Beautiful wedding flowers bring added romance to your nuptial celebrations.

When you experience the freedom of being at sea you'll soon realise it's the perfect time to indulge in the joys of art.

With waters that radiate turquoise intensity, sands as white as snow and forests the colour of emeralds, the 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays are the definition of paradise - so beautiful you’ll hesitate to leave.

Your guide to Airlie Beach (Whitsunday Islands).

Sandwiched between the coast of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday’s beaches rank among the best in the world. In Airlie Beach itself, you’ll find a laid-back coastal town with surf boutiques, charming souvenir markets and inviting bistros serving a plethora of seafood. Its star attraction, however, is a swimming lagoon of mirage-like proportions. Be sure to wear your swimmers or you’ll kick yourself when you see it.

Exploring.

Balancing tradition with modernity, Airlie Beach offers a diverse selection of cultural sites and experiences, both along the beautiful coast and inland. The section of the long Shute Harbour Road is the centre of activity, with ticket agencies, information centres, restaurants, cafés and shops to entice you. Conway National Park, a short distance off the road to Shute Harbour, offers several scenic walks, while Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands are renowned for the opportunities to snorkel and scuba dive. The Whitsunday Islands can be reached by ferry from Airlie Beach in minutes and offer wonderful opportunities to see tropical fish and coral reefs up close.

Eating and Drinking.

Airlie Beach enjoys a diverse culinary scene anchored around flame-grilled steaks and fresh catch of the day while its ambient frontline bars offer cold drinks accompanied by ocean views. Seafood reigns supreme in The Whitsundays; coral trout is a local delicacy (considered to be one of the tastiest fish in Queensland) while shellfish features prominently on Airlie Beach menus. Shute Harbour Road and the Esplanade are where you’ll find a concentration of restaurants and cafés as well as informal street food outlets serving carry-out dishes. Look out for the few establishm

Cairns port guide.

Laid-back Cairns is located in the tropical Far North of Queensland. It’s the remarkable gateway to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, a spectacular location renowned for snorkelling and diving amongst kaleidoscopic marine life and coral.

A mecca for divers and a haven for lovers of the great outdoors, Cairns is a unique city and home to two World Heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree National Park. A visit to Cairns offers an ultimate tropical discovery.

Cairns’ cruise port is situated next to the vibrant city centre. Here you’ll find extensive shopping and dining experiences, and direct access to the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage Tropical Rainforests.

Top landmarks and sights in Cairns.

Cairns boasts an array of waterfalls and untamed rainforests, combined with a bustling city centre. There’s truly something to suit all tastes.

Be treated to a breathtaking bird's eye view by taking to the sky in the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. The gondola cableway spans 7.5 kilometres over the lush UNESCO Wet Tropics of Queensland Rainforest connecting Cairns to Kuranda. It’s not only a unique experience and a fun way to immerse yourself in nature, but also an ideal way to witness the beauty of the world’s oldest rainforest ecosystem in the Barron Gorge National Park.

You could also take in the delights of the scenic, heritage-listed Cairns to Kuranda railway ride. The line, constructed in 1891, takes you from Cairns, over the Great Dividing Range, to the tranquil mountain village of Kuranda. Enjoy taking in the scenery of the Macalister Range, the suburbs of Stratford, Freshwater, and Redlynch, before stopping at a lookout point providing stunning views of Barron Falls.

Cairns is a haven for nature and wildlife lovers. Each year, visitors flock to the Great Barrier Reef, via Cairns, to swim, snorkel and dive with more than 1,500 marine species.

Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the reef, known as the Final

Adjacent to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, Port Douglas is a gateway to some of Australia's most breathtaking natural wonders.

Marvel at the tranquil beauty of the wildlife-laden paradise of Willis Island. The only permanently inhabited island of the many tiny islands that make up the Coral Sea Islands Territory, Willis Island is a spectacular feat of nature that you’ll have the opportunity to witness as you gently cruise through the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

Although not a port of call, Willis Island remains a visual delight, one which no cruise to Australia would be complete without.

Willis Island port guide.

A tiny drop of sun-lit white sand rising from the shallows of the Great Barrier Reef, Willis Island stands 280 miles from the cosmopolitan city of Cairns. Just 1,600 feet from tip to tip, the island has a population of just five residents – experts from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology who man the island’s weather monitoring station.

First established on the island in 1921, the station helps to track cyclone activity in the area, relaying early warning signs to Queensland on the Australian mainland.

Wave from the deck as you take in the awe-inspiring backdrop of the island and enjoy the rich array of wildlife that also calls the island home.

Top landmarks and sights in Willis Island.

As part of the Great Barrier Reef, Willis Island plays host to some spectacular species of natural significance.

The island is a bird watcher's paradise. Relax on deck as you try to spot many of the thousands of resident seabirds as they gracefully glide on a cooling breeze, or gently nest on the atoll - from gannets and high-flying frigates to boobies and wedge-tailed shearwaters.

Peek into the crystal-clear waters below at the dazzling display of exotic fish as they dart around the ship’s hull, including angelfish and clownfish as well as hammerhead and black-tipped reef sharks.

If you’re lucky, you may spot some of the magnificent green sea turtles who nest on the island annually.

Things to do on Willis Island.

Experience the beautiful wildlife and try and spot some of the rar