Allow yourself to fall under the spell of this itinerary in Australia that has been specially designed for travellers looking for unspoiled islands and turquoise lagoons. You will set sail aboard Le Lapérouse for an 10-day expedition cruise with Ponant to discover the treasures of the Great Barrier Reef. Starting in Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, set sail towards Willis Islets in the Coral Sea Territories featuring not less than 30 separate reefs along with the spectacular Coral Sea Marine Park, as well as Willis Island where a monitoring station was established in 1921 to...read more provide cylclone early warnings services to Queensland.Lying some 50 km to the north-east of the Whitsunday Islands, you will reach Hardy Reef, which boasts the uniquemarine biodiversity of the area. You will continue your exploration of the Australian coast with the discovery of Percy Island, whose shallow waters beckon you in for a dip, and Lady Musgrave Island, which is ideal for snorkelling. Both are located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, a gigantic ecosystem of coral reefs.Your next call will be the Hawkesbury River region in New South Wales, famous for its colourful cliffs and historic townships, and join your expedition team to explore the area in our fleet of Zodiac®.The end of your cruise will be marked by a disembarkation in the irresistible city of Sydney.
Cruise Itinerary
Arrive
Depart
Day 1:Cairns
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18:00
Day 2:Willis Island, Coral Sea Territory
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Day 3: Cruising At Sea
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Day 4: Hardy Reef
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Day 5: Percy Island
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Day 6: Lady Musgrave Island
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Day 7: Cruising At Sea
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Day 8: Cruising At Sea
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Day 9: Hawkesbury River
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Day 10:Sydney
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Note: Ship ports may not be located in the starting & ending cities listed. Transfers to and/or from the ship port may be required.
Fantastic Kimberley 1Lee and David, QLD, Australia, Aug 2023
One of the best holidays we have ever done Expensive, yes but you get what you pay for in the end This was 6* cruising at its best. The daily and at times twice daily zodiac excursions were special and led by well informed guides all of whom had professional qualifications in a relevant field.
Food was of the highest standard an the open bar well ...read more stocked to meet all tastes. Don't worry too much about formal gear, a sports coat and a colourful dress are all that is required on the two gala nights. On the other nights, slacks and polo are fine.
We helicoptered to Mitchell Falls which again was expensive but well worth it. Forget about the Horizontal Falls boat ride. Those that went were very dissatisfied as the most exciting of the two Falls is now closed due to a boating accident. I've seen more challenging wave sets in Moreton Bay. Overall 11/10 from us and very highly recommended
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Note Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Ponant. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Ponant. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.