Leaving our ship, we will take a short walk to board our luxury vessel for an approximate two and a half hour leisurely dinner cruise around this stunning harbour. We will enjoy a seven course menu set to the brilliant backdrop of Sydney by night.

Our evening will begin with a coach transfer to the Opera House. Located in A-Reserve seats in the theatre, we will then relax for a dazzling performance of Turandot by talented professionals in this unparalleled performing arts venue.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (TURANDOT) - WEDNESDAY 7TH MARCH 2012

The Opera House is situated on Bennelong Point and reaches out to the harbour. Described as the eighth wonder of the modern world, it is certainly one of the most recognisable images, along with the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building – and one of the most photographed.
 

This is an exclusive journey of Australian Discovery and is perfect for visitors who are interested in Australian animals and their environment. This special tour has been designed to encourage interaction between visitors and Australian animals.

THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR WITH LIMITED NUMBERS - PRE BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED

We are in for the thrill of a lifetime as we enjoy the experience and romance of a water-based flight!

The original site of Sydney is a place highly valued by the oldest civilisation in the world! For at least 50,000 years, its Aboriginal people fished the waters of its sheltered harbour, and speared the plentiful supply of animals that inhabited its heavily-wooded shores.

The Australian sun can be very hot – it is recommended to wear sunscreen and a hat and carry water at all times.

The official currency in Sydney is the Australian Dollar.
 

Experience the exhilaration of climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Joining our coach we will drive west through Sydney to the renowned Featherdale Wildlife Park, one of Australia’s largest private collections of Australian native animals and bird life. Operating since 1972, Featherdale has more than 2200 animals from over 230 species.

Our evening will begin with a coach transfer to the Opera House. Located in A-Reserve seats in the theatre, we will then relax for a dazzling performance of The Marriage of Figaro by talented professionals in this unparalleled performing arts venue.

(THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO) - TUESDAY 6th MARCH 2012

Meet and journey with Chris Darwin in the footsteps of his great-great grandfather Charles through the Blue Mountains exploring the wildlife and landscapes that inspired his theories.
 

Our day will begin with a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, which houses a great variety of wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, Australian reptiles, Tasmanian devils, wombats and various species of Australian birds. We can enter enclosures for face to face, touch to touch meetings with friendly kangaroos and cuddly koalas – we can even have our photograph taken standing next to a koala (optional, at extra cost).

Discover the grace and magic of Sydney Harbour, a stunning and unique destination. A cruise on the harbour is a must for all visitors to Sydney, and provides magnificent views of waterfront homes, secluded bays and beautiful beaches.

Leaving our ship and Eden behind us we will head into the Ben Boyd National Park where we will find out about the Whaling History of Eden and take a walk to Boyd’s Tower to enjoy magnificent views across the Pacific Ocean.

Today we board our coach and head for the Sunshine Coast to spend a thrilling time at Australia Zoo – home of the family of the late ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin. Here we will see some of Australia’s most unique and amazing wildlife, as well as some interesting animals from around the world, including freshwater and saltwater crocodiles, kangaroos, dingoes and snakes.

This is no doubt one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the city of Brisbane as we travel down the meandering Brisbane River on a marvellous wooden Mississippi-style paddle wheeler.

A stop will be made at the Mt Coot tha Look Out, this location is ideal for photos offering us stunning views of the Great Dividing Range, Brisbane City and Moreton Bay with its small islands to the east, and the Glasshouse Mountains and D’Agilar Range to the west.

Enjoying a semi-tropical climate, this lovely city is lushly landscaped with jacarandas, flame trees, bougainvilleas and numerous other flowers and shrubs. Our tour will take us past the Parliament House, the Treasury Building, the Old Customs House, the Cultural Centre, the magnificent Botanical Gardens and many other historical and landmark sites.

Our tour invites us to experience the life of the “Rich and Famous” of the Gold Coast and spend our day at Surfers Paradise, voted one of the best beaches in the world!

From Brisbane we will take a drive south and the inland to the Mount Tamborine volcanic plateau, home to rain forest, waterfalls, wineries and orchards. After our sojourn here, we will descend the mountains, travelling through Oxenford, to the Gold Coast, famed for its many resorts, fine shops and dazzling beaches.

For reference, the distance from where we shall dock into the city is approximately 10 kilometres (6 miles).

The official currency of Brisbane is the Australian Dollar.

Visit the world’s largest koala sanctuary and discover Brisbane – ‘The City of Sun Days’. Our tour today will explore this rapidly growing city built along the winding picturesque Brisbane River.

We shall climb aboard our 4-wheel drive vehicle for an unforgettable journey through the dramatic landscapes of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

We can soak up the peace and tranquillity of the Whitsundays aboard an 18 metres (60 foot) sailing yacht. The sheltered waters of the Whitsunday passage are one of Australia’s most popular and scenic sailing destinations.

It is important to note that all tours in the Whitsundays are weather dependent, due to the tendering involved.

The official currency of Hamilton Island is the Australian Dollar.

Daydream Island is also home to an outdoor aquarium, believed to be the world’s largest man-made living coral reef lagoon system. It is a complex and stunning network of reef lagoons containing thousands of tropical fish, live coral species and diverse sea creatures such as sharks, sting rays, clown fish, sea cucumbers and star fish.

Leaving our ship, we will be tendered to Hamilton Island where we will board the magnificent Denison Star, a 107-foot Huon pine motor cruiser. Steeped in tradition, the Denison Star has been luxuriously re-appointed and re-designed with a fully air-conditioned lower deck and an outside area on the upper deck that is shaded by a canopy.

We will step aboard a semi-submarine ride for breathtaking views of colourful fish and intricate coral reef gardens. The inviting aquamarine waters are sure to provide a tempting attraction for those of us wishing to swim with a mask and snorkel.

We will explore this friendly tropical town on our tour which has minimal walking.

Cairns is the best known city on the Queensland Coast – a tropical, laid-back, yet modern centre where anything is possible. This region is as diverse in natural treasures as the cosmopolitan mix of cultures and peoples that call it home.

Listed by the World Heritage Society and acclaimed as amongst the world’s most wonderful assets are the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforests. These year-round natural attractions are truly memorable and inspiring. The colourful, sophisticated capital of the tropical north, Cairns City is alive with life and charm. Here, warm northern hospitality and enthusiasm are the order of the day.

Please note that swimming from coastal beaches will be unsuitable for our call, due to the large number of poisonous jellyfish.

The official currency of Cairns is the Australian Dollar.

We shall take a short transfer from the pier to the General Aviation terminal where we will begin our 60 minute flight, offering the best that Tropical North Queensland has to offer – the reef and the rainforest!

Our tour today will allow us to experience Aboriginal culture; wildlife and an amphibious army duck ride at Rainforestation. We will learn interesting facts about Aboriginal culture on the Dreamtime walk and see the Pamagirri Dancers perform traditional song and dance in the rainforest amphitheatre.

The park is famous for its exciting crocodile feeding shows and educational wildlife presentations including wetland wildlife, crocodile farm tours, a snake show, cassowary feeding and koala feeding.

On this tour we travel north along the scenic Captain Cook Highway, enjoying views of the Coral Sea and rainforest-covered mountains to Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas. Situated on eight acres of land, the Habitat has been divided into three different and unique environments that depict numerous species of the surrounding rainforest, wetlands, and grasslands.

Our tour will take us on the amazing Skyrail and a visit to the charming village of Kuranda.

Making a drive by the Tun Mustapha Tower & the City Mosque we will continue onto the Heritage Village where we shall make a stop to take a look around this museum for a closer view of Sabah’s ethnic diversity highlighted by the unique local architectural styles of homes in North Borneo and the colourful costume displays.

A fun day out to explore the different aspects of Borneo!

Kota Kinabalu city, capital of Sabah is a beautiful city located by the sea. This tour will allow us to capture an overview of the City’s aspiration as we drive through the town and suburbs passing by major landmarks such as the State and City Mosque where we will make a short photo stop, Tg. Aru beach and the highest building, Tun Mustapha Tower.

We understand that seeing the orang-utans in their own environment may be one of the highlights of your cruise, but due to high demand, please appreciate that once we have reached the maximum capacity on our tours, it will be very difficult for us to secure further departures. Your understanding with this will be greatly appreciated.

The official currency of Borneo is the Ringgit, however the US Dollar and Pound Sterling is widely accepted in tourist shops.

Kinabalu National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the first in Malaysia. Whilst it’s tourist trails are well-worn, the majority of the park is an unspoilt paradise for rare flora.

This tour showcases the contrast between the old and new, and the blend of East and West.

We will board a bumboat, for a ride down the Singapore River through a night of glittering buildings, both historical and modern.

Our tour commences with a visit to Arab Street, which showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Malays and relives life in a kampong (small settlement) in the 50s and 60s.

Jurong Bird Park is a 20-hectare, open concept park, which is the largest Bird Park in the Aisa Pacific region. We will be fascinated by its collection of more than 8,000 birds from over 600 species. It is thought to be amongst the largest collection of its kind in the world.

For reference, the distance into the city from our berth is approximately 10 kilometres (6 miles). There is a walk of approximately 10 minutes from our ship in order to reach our tour transport. This is only applicable if the Black Watch is berthed at the Singapore Cruise Terminal.

The official currency of Singapore is the Singapore Dollar, although US Dollars may be accepted.

On this tour we will be able to discover Singapore on top of Asia’s most iconic architectural and engineering marvel – the Singapore Flyer.

A wonderful tour for those of us wanting to take a peek into the local traditional village lifestyle of the Backwaters of Kerala.

The backwaters are comprised of a myriad network of waterways and lagoons, at times only a few yards inland from the sea.

For reference, the distance into the city from our berth is approximately ten kilometres (six miles). Passengers are reminded that beggars may be a prominent sight when visiting India, we respectfully ask that you do not give them money. If you would like to make a donation, our local agent will be happy to put you in contact with local charity organisations and development projects to which you may donate money or other useful items.

For your reference the coaches used will not have toilet facilities onboard and may not have seatbelts (as these are not required by Indian law). A deep step may be encountered in order to board the coaches. Air-conditioned coaches are very limited and will be allocated to the longer tours first.

The official currency of Cochin is the Indian Rupee.
 

The Kathakali dance performance will be followed by a short Kalaripayattu performance. Kalaripayattu is a martial art that originated in the temples of Kerala. A rigorous discipline is enforced on the students and a display of this martial art will leave us exhilarated.

For those of us not wishing to travel too far, this combination of a city tour and harbour cruise rolled into one offers an ideal choice.

Our tour will take us to the Mattancherry area where we shall visit the Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1555 and renovated by the Dutch in 1663. Although this quadrangular palace, with a temple in the inner courtyard, is not an opulent building – white walls with sloping brown roofs – it is an interesting historical site.

Allapuzha is nestled in the midst of a thick tangle of lush tropical waterways, and it is here that we will board a Houseboat or the Kettuvullom (as called locally) for an idyllic trip through the palm shaded narrow canals.

THIS EXCLUSIVE TOUR WILL HAVE A LIMITED CAPACITY - PRE BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED

A walk through the Fort Cochin area is a journey back in time!

Evening is a great time to see the Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark; an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King Geroge V and Queen Mary.

Departing from the quayside, we will be invited to enjoy many of the prominent landmarks that Mumbai is famous for.

Mumbai is a bustling city of skyscrapers but there are still areas that have managed to retain their Old World charm.

In the heart of the city we will find some of the most beautiful buildings dating from the British period.

The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the new seven wonders of the world, and some historians have even noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed, especially when viewed at dawn or sunset. On a foggy morning, the Taj Mahal appears as if it is suspended in the air, when viewed from across the Jamuna River.

Our overland tour will enable us to visit Delhi as well as the world-renowned Taj Mahal.

NOT BOOKABLE ONLINE PLEASE COMPLETE & RETURN BOOKING FORM

Experience the sights and sounds of every day life in the busy city of Mumbai, the commercial capital of India.

Mumbai is a cluster of seven islands and was first home to the Koli fishing folk, who still occupy parts of the city shoreline today. Mumbai, the local name for Bombay was derived from Mumba or Maha-Amba – the name of the Hindu goddess ‘Mumbadevi’ and ‘Aai’ – Mother in the local Marathi language. The islands were ruled by a succession of Hindu dynasties, invaded by Muslims in the 14th century and then ceded to Portugal by the Sultan of Gujarat in 1534. The Portuguese called it Bom Baim (Good Bay) and set up a trade centre. The Portuguese did little to develop them before the major island of the group was included in Catherine of Braganza’s dowry where she married England’s Charles II in 1661.

Our guides will bring to life the panels as they elucidate stories from Indian mythology. The carvings centre on the life of Lord Shiva, the Destroyer, but the most impressive panel is that of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer.
 

This safari will give us the opportunity to discover the desert within a few hours.