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.
 

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

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.
 

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.

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.

New Caledonia is approximately 1,600 kilometres (995 miles) from the Australian coast, just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, and forms a part of Oceania. It was discovered in 1774 by Captain Cook, who named it New Caledonia. In 1853, it was annexed by Napoleon III for France, and the original colonists were soon joined by convicts from Paris. The final quarter of the 19th century saw the discovery of rich mineral sources, which resulted in a flood of miners from many different lands. This, together with the nickel boom of the late 1960s, which attracted a further influx of people, resulted in today’s multicultural population.

UNESCO has recently listed (7th July 2008) the New Caledonia Barrier Reef on the World Heritage List under the name The Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems.

The currency of New Caledonia is the French Pacific Franc.
 

The “land train” is an excellent option for those of us seeking a guided orientation tour of the city and resort area, complete with the best viewpoint of the peninsular.

Leaving our ship we will take an approximate 30 minute ride through the countryside to Parc Fayard at Dumbea where we will be met by our “Terra Incognita” guide.

Our tour of the picturesque peninsular will provide us with an easy paced, guided overview of Noumea’s city, hills, bays, beaches and immediate countryside. All in all, ‘the best of Noumea’.

Upon our arrival we will join our friendly crew on an approximate 45 minute cruise out to Duck Island’s Marine Reserve. We will view a wide variety of colourful fish and coral through the glass bottom. During our journey we will have an opportunity to help feed the swarms of fish surrounding the boat.

Travelling with our guide, we will make our way through the city centre where we will be able to view various landmarks and observe the blend of typically French architecture and South Pacific lifestyle.

This comprehensive tour of Noumea will provide us with an easy paced, guided overview of Noumea’s city, hills, bays, beaches and state of the art aquarium.

Boarding our mini bus we will take a short drive to visit Ekasup Village which has been awarded Vanuatu’s best tourist attraction for the past two years. Here Ekasup villages in traditional dress will give us an insight into the magical and mysterious world of Ancient Melanesia.

Once we reach the sheltered reef near Irifa Island we will be given the opportunity to enjoy some snorkelling within the Port Vila Harbour. Alternatively if we would rather we could relax on the vessel’s upper sun deck and enjoy the sunshine and scenery.
 

Cascades waterfall is 20 metre high waterfall with naturally eroded rock swimming pools set amidst jungle-like rainforest.

Departing from the quayside we will be taken on an orientation of Port Vila which will include many points of scenic, cultural and historic interest.

Please note that the tours are all by coasters (mini buses) which may not have working p/a systems or air-conditioning and the quality of the vehicles used may not match the standards we have come to expect in Europe. Unfortunatley the tour mini buses cannot take wheelchairs onboard.

We strongly recommend passengers on tour to take insect repellent with them.

The official currency of Port Vila is the Vatu, although Australian Dollars are widely accepted.

We will board our handmade canoe, paddled by traditional warriors to travel along the Epile River for approximately 30 minutes. At a local village we will be met by the chief and his tribe who will entertain you with local dances.

Today we will experience the length and breadth of Port Vila from Pango Point to Mele Bay. We will begin with a visit to Nicholai Michoutouchkine and Aloi Pilioko Foundation Museum which are centred within a privately owned tropical garden.

Along the way we will receive full commentary as we cruise past private homes, villages, rainforest and sea-side resorts and restaurants.
 

A boutique resort set on one of Fiji’s longest beaches will mean that we will get to enjoy uninterrupted views of Stunning Beqa Lagoon.

We visit Fiji during the wet season, so brief tropical showers can be expected and a light jacket or raincoat is recommended. Coaches or small buses are generally used for tours, although transport could be by car.

The currency of Fiji is the Fiji Dollar – Euros and US Dollars may be accepted.

Our tour will take us to Fiji’s capital city, Suva – centre of commerce and the seat of government.

Spices of Fiji is just west of Suva, a twenty minute drive from our ship. The farm is 90 hetore paradise of jungle, waterfalls, streams and river and home to the Organic Spice Gardens of Fiji.

Departing the pier in Vaitape, our exploration by glass-bottom boat will allow us to see Bora Bora’s famous marine life without getting wet.

Le Truck’ is a popular mode of transportation in French Polynesia – a non-air-conditioned jitney. We depart from the pier and commence a drive around this island paradise, heading first to the district of Fa’anui, passing small villages and fields where we may see the everyday life of the people of Bora Bora. We’ll make a short stop at Fa’anui Bay for photographs.

This is a true off-road tour. We will be riding in four by four vehicles to places which are usually inaccesssible to all other modes of transport.

The Lagoonarium is a highlight of Bora Bora, located on a remote islet. We head here from Vaitape in a motorised outrigger canoe or catamaran style boat, travelling half-way round the island.

Discover the beauty of the ever-changing colours of the lagoon of Bora Bora, on a covered snorkeling boat.
 

Enjoy Bora Bora's magical lagoon onboard our covered boat.

Please note that there is only one rather basic road on Bora Bora, and the quality of the vehicles used may not match the standards we have come to expect in Europe. Should we wish to swim during our time in Bora Bora, there is only one public beach – Matira Beach, an approximate 20 minute drive from Vaitape, the main village on the island, where we tender into.

We call into French Polynesia during the rainy season, so a tropical shower or two can be expected (they finish almost as soon as they start).

We advise passengers on tour to take insect repellent with them.

French and Tahitian are the official languages, however, English is widely understood. The preferred currency is the French Pacific Franc, although US Dollars may be accepted (not Sterling).

Our adventurous tour will take us ‘off the beaten track’, into Tahiti’s lush vegetation. Travelling in four-wheel drive vehicles, we will journey towards the East Coast, making our way to the Papeeno Valley.

Leaving Papeete, we head towards the East Coast. We will pass the Tahara’s point and continue to the Arahoho Blowhole where we shall witness (conditions permitting) the ocean spurting dramatically out from underneath the coastal road.

Departing Papeete, our tour will take us along the west coast of Tahiti. At La Pointe des Pecheurs (Fishermen’s Point), we stop to visit the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands, which displays not only a number of archaeological finds, but will help us to gain an impression of the island’s geology, its flora and fauna, and to learn about the culture and customs of ancient and modern Tahiti.

Our boat tour today will take us on the blue waters of Tahiti!

Please note that roads in Tahiti may appear to us, as rather basic. The traffic in the small but busy city of Papeete can be heavy.

French and Tahitian are the official languages, however, English is widely understood.

We advise passengers on tour to take insect repellent with them.

The official currency of Tahiti is the French Pacific Franc, although US Dollars may be accepted (not Sterling).

Travelling to the Marquesas will be a discovery of secluded islands with very limited facilities. Tours run using locals’ vehicles and with drivers speaking very limited English. The guides may not be certified: their English and knowledge may be very basic. Our tours are mainly sightseeing tours with one guide every 10-15 (subject to availability). Cars may not come with air-conditioning. Seating is usually four passengers per vehicle.

The official currency of Nuka Hiva is the Pacific Franc, however US Dollars and Euros are also accepted in tourist areas.

Departing from the pier in a four-wheeled drive vehicle we will use the steep trail through the lush vegetation of the interior of the island to reach Taipivai Valley.

On this excursion we can enjoy a visit to one of Peru’s largest private collections, amassed over a lifetime by the late diplomat Miguel Mujica Gallo.

Starting out from Callao port we will board our coach and drive through the centre of Lima where we will see the Government Palace, the cathedral and the old colonial section to view the lights of Plaza Mayor and other main streets.

From the pier we will travel to Plaza Mayor, the main square, where we can appreciate the majestic colonial architecture.

Let us start with a wonderful fact about Peru – without the Incas we would not be able to enjoy chips, mash, and roast or baked potatoes. They discovered the cooking potential of the potato and cultivated them.

The currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol.

Founded in 1926 in a renovated 1707 mansion, the Larco Herrera Museum contains the biggest private collection of pre-Columbian art that exists in the world and consists of about 45,000 pieces, mainly pottery, that were excavated by Peruvian archaeologist Rafael Larco Hoyle.