Wine Country, Cities & Coasts: Perth to Sydney - A914H

Fremantle is known for its eclectic streets buzzing with buskers, sidewalks filled with cafes and bars and a focus on emerging arts. It's a combination that won it a place in Lonely Planet's Top 10 Cities list in 2016. Home to some of Western Australia's most well-preserved 19th century buildings, its streets are abuzz with a thriving music scene. It's easy to find live music to enjoy, especially on weekends. Throw some amazing beaches into the mix, and you'll find plenty of good reasons to spend a lot of your free time in Fremantle. Perth is only a 30-minute drive from Fremantle. But if you're only in port for a day, it's not possible to do justice to both cities. Fremantle is the easier option because of its proximity to the port and its compact size. However, if you want to experience a slice of 'big city' life, and you've been to Freo already, then it's worth heading up to Perth for a look. Perth, the capital of Western Australia, has an outdoorsy easy-going vibe and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The weather is usually great, the cafe and bar scene is buzzing, the beaches are beautiful, and there is plenty of scenic parkland. One of the best ways to see the Perth skyline and also marvel at the palatial riverside homes is to take a cruise on the Swan River.

Busselton was bustling with energy when it welcomed its first cruise ship in November 2014. It had been a long time between drinks, so to speak. The once busy port shut down in 1973, but residents once again eagerly welcome the arrival of visiting cruisers. A gateway to the famous Margaret River wine region, the coastal playground of Busselton is located on the sandy shore of Geographe Bay, 140 miles (220 kilometres) southwest of Perth on the west coast of Western Australia (WA). With large areas of national park, state forests, ancient caves and a bevy of beautiful beaches, Busselton is a popular seaside holiday spot, and its population of 25,000 swells with visitors over the summer season. The region is renowned for agriculture and viticulture, and with a growing younger population, Busselton is slowly shrugging off its image as a retirement destination. One of the earliest settlements in WA, it was named after the Bussell family who established a cattle station in the area in 1834. The town serviced the surrounding agriculture industry before becoming a major port for the timber industry in the mid-1800s. The Busselton Jetty, the only remaining from this period, is the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere, jutting 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometres) into shallow Geographe Bay, and serves as a tourist attraction with its Cultural Heritage Museum and Underwater Observatory. Like arms outstretched in a welcoming embrace, Geographe Bay's curving expanse of sweeping white beaches extend as far as the eye can see. Crystal-clear water and grassy foreshores shaded by towering Norfolk pines beckon swimmers, picnickers and fishermen alike, while a short distance over the headland, you'll see some of Australia's finest surf beaches, including Yallingup, host to the Malibu Classic surf competition. Head south, and an array of culinary delights and artisan products await in the Margaret River region. Indulge with olives and cheese, chocolate and nougat, beer and berries and vino and venison. On the migration route for humpback, southern right, blue and minke whales, Busselton operates whale-watching tours from September to November, though dolphins can be seen all year.

Albany might be Western Australia's oldest settlement, but there's nothing staid about the township. Just make sure you pronounce it correctly -- residents say Al-bany (as in Al Pacino), not Awl-bany. Located approximately 400 kilometres (250 miles) southeast of Perth on the state's southern coast, Albany sits at the northern edge of Princess Royal Harbour, part of the much bigger King George Sound. The main drag, York Street, runs toward the harbour, making for picturesque views as you explore the town. The surrounding coastal scenery is dramatic, with rugged rocky shores, sweeping white beaches and national park headlands, so if you miss it on arrival, make sure to catch it as your ship departs. Ataturk Entrance to Princess Royal Harbour is very narrow, and locals line the northern foreshore to observe cruise ships closely passing by. Albany was the first European settlement in Western Australia (WA), founded in December 1826, in part to beat the French colonising the area. Consequently, there are many historic buildings in town, which became a reprovisioning port for ships travelling between England and Australia and later a base for the area's whaling industry. With a population of about 34,000, it is now a tourist destination and service centre for the surrounding agriculture, timber and fishing industries. Consequently, fresh produce abounds, including seafood, fruits, cheeses and bush foods, many produced organically. Connoisseurs will enjoy sampling the region's award-winning wines or visiting a brewery and distillery. The area is famous, or infamous, for its whaling industry. The Historic Whaling Station pays tribute to these beautiful creatures while depicting the gruesome trade in its heyday. The National Anzac Centre, opened in 2014, is Australia's foremost museum honouring the Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) of World War I. Poignantly, the engaging, interactive museum overlooks Ataturk Entrance through which more than 41,000 Australian and New Zealand troops departed for the Great War, many never to return.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Adelaide (population 1.3 million) is the capital of the state of South Australia, located in the southern central part of the country. Historically, it prospered as the center of a region dedicated to mining and agriculture endeavors. The city was laid out by Colonel William Light in 1836, and locals are quite proud of the fact that the community was the only early Australian capital funded by land sales and not built by convicts. Today, it is an elegant, vibrant city and is home to world-renowned special events and festivals, such as the Adelaide Fringe. The city is also a culinary mecca with the greatest number of restaurants per capita of any Australian city. The commercial center of Adelaide is a lovely, compact area surrounded by parks. It is well laid out, with museums and attractions easily accessible -- many between the Torrens River and North Terrace. Nearby, Rundle Street boasts the pedestrian Rundle Mall, which is the city's main shopping area. Four blocks south of Rundle Street is Victoria Square, the city's geographic center. South Australia is the wine industry's powerhouse state, producing most of the nation's wine and boasting some of the oldest individual vines in the world. Within easy reach of Adelaide are some of Australia's most renowned wine regions: The Barossa and Adelaide Hills. The Barossa, home to Jacob's Creek, among others, has been producing wines for more than 150 years and is especially known for Shiraz. Adelaide Hills is renowned for pinot noirs, and another wine region in this area, Eden Valley, is famous for its Rieslings.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

It's no wonder Melbourne was ranked as the world's most liveable city for seven years in a row. Spend some time in the capital of the state of Victoria and you will soon discover it's welcoming, relaxed and has a tonne of flair. More cruise ships are now using Melbourne as a homeport as well as a destination stopover, providing the opportunity for passengers to discover the city's charm. Melbourne has a colourful history -- Victoria's 1850s' gold rush propelled Melbourne to become one of the world's great cities by the 1880s, when it was the chief conduit for people, goods and financial matters in and out of Australia. Melbourne was and still is the most English of Australian cities, and yet it also has a highly cosmopolitan population of more than 3 million. Waves of British, Italian and Greek immigrants began arriving after World War 2 and, when immigration restrictions changed to allow Asians to become residents, a huge influx arrived. They brought with them new tastes and flavours, with many establishing cafes and restaurants creating a cosmopolitan feel to Melbourne. The Yarra River slices through the city. North of the river, you will find the commercial heart and, to the south, most of the museums, theatres, concert halls and open spaces -- including the striking Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Nearby inland and coastal neighbourhoods such as Carlton, Fitzroy, Richmond, Toorak and St. Kilda are worth exploring on foot, with each area having its own distinctive flavour. Happily, pedestrians have lots of rights, and walking is free-flowing and safe. It's also easy to navigate the city via its tram system. The first electric models began running in 1889, and unlike so many other cities, Melbourne never abandoned them. Everyone talks about Melbourne's changeable weather and it is true you can get four seasons in one day. So be prepared. Due to its southern location, Melbourne gets cloudy, rainy and cold in the winter months and warms up to pleasantly and sometimes searingly hot during its summer. Given that Melburnians complain a lot about their winters, travellers are usually pleased to find out that most cruise ships call at Melbourne during the Australian summer. Cruise ships berth at Station Pier in Port Melbourne, the dock formerly used for overseas liners and the current facility for the Spirit of Tasmania, the overnight ferry that sails across the Bass Strait to Devonport on the island state of Tasmania. Melbourne's nearby skyline is well within view.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Eden is the southernmost port of NSW located on the Far South coast region known as the Sapphire Coast. Perched on the edge of Twofold Bay, the third deepest natural harbour in the southern hemisphere, Eden historically prospered in whaling, fishing and agriculture. The township was laid out by Thomas Townsend in 1843 and locals celebrate its unique whaling history, which saw men and killer whales work in tandem to capture baleen whales. Today, Eden is a sleepy coastal town renowned for being one of the few places in the world humpback whales feed during their southern migration in spring. The Killer Whale Museum even sounds a siren when whales are spotted. Calm waters and open ocean access make it the perfect viewing platform to watch these massive creatures, as well as dolphins, seals and penguins. There are several vantage points on land, too. Bounded by national forest and ruggedly beautiful coastline, Eden is abundant in nature trails, spectacular coastal scenery and surf beaches. Eden's town centre comprises one low-key street populated by modest shops, eateries, a local gallery, supermarket and pub. One street away is the stunning coastline and boardwalk leading to Aslings Beach. Grassy areas, parklands and the crystalline blue ocean waters are never far from sight.

Sydney is a definite stop on every cruise that travels Down Under and often serves as a starting or ending point for ships that also travel to New Zealand. Australia's largest city, Sydney is one of the world's most intriguing ports of call, with its appeal extending from a sophisticated and vibrant urban metropolis to stunning natural wonders. Although it is a modern city strongly influenced by British roots and current American popular culture, Sydney's real character is derived from its exotic location and brash beauty. Walking through the glass and concrete downtown, known as the Central Business District (CBD), you could be in any other Western-culture metropolis -- until a fluorescent red and green lorikeet parrot swoops overhead or an unexpected flash of the brilliant blue harbour appears between the skyscrapers. Any proper visit to Sydney must begin in the harbour, which is both the birthplace of the city and its current iconic centrepiece. The area is called Circular Quay (pronounced "key" by locals). It is hard to imagine a more picturesque setting for a city's heart than this, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge displayed against the inlet's bright water. Sydney spreads across a massive geographic area, but the majority of its most interesting areas can be found near the ocean coast in the area known as the Eastern suburbs, as well as in its delightful inner-city neighbourhoods, which each possess a distinct vibe. Oxford Street, the main thoroughfare running east from downtown to the ocean beaches, hosts Sydney's famous gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade each February and is popular year-round because of its bars and cafes. Sydney is a well-balanced blend of a big city lifestyle and the laid-back Australian mentality. Although Aussies who hail from other towns often disparage Sydney for its flashiness and hectic pace, urban inconveniences seem minor here compared to places like New York and London (although the peak-hour traffic and public transport system are actually quite bad). Tourism is a huge industry around Sydney, and locals are accustomed to providing visitors with service, helpful directions and a rousing welcome to the stunning city that they call home.