Preparing for the Great Australian Circumnavigation
On 17 October 2022, our team will embark on the greatest expedition undertaking in our history as we set sail to circumnavigate Australia. This is no small challenge. We are happy to share some of the months-long planning and logistics involved in carrying a single group of guests on voyage for 60 days across 8,000 nautical miles.
Understanding the pattern of ocean currents and resulting impact on vessel speed was an important planning consideration. We will enjoy the following current of the Indonesian Flowthrough, the Leeuwin Current and the Antarctic Circum before our final stretch headlong into the Eastern Australian Current, or ‘the EAC’, made famous by Nemo and Squirt. Our longest sea passage will be a stretch of 690nm between Lucky Bay in the Recherché Archipelago and Flinders Island off the coast of Adelaide.
The ocean depths along the way will vary greatly from the 70m shallows of the Great Sandy Straights around K’Gari (Fraser Island) to depths of over 12km in the Bremer and Esperance canyons along the shores of the Southern Ocean.
As you can imagine, this voyage is one that our crew are keen to work on. We will have approximately 120 crew involved in delivering the voyage, some participating for shorter 3-4 week lengths, and the keener seafarers for the entirety of the 60-day expedition. Crew will be led by Master Matt Fryer & Purser Zac Romaine for the entire duration.
We will visit 35 significant places and operate over 50 varied excursions planned to take place including the 3 Special Events: dinner under the stars at Uluru, our Winemakers gala dinner at Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River and tall ship racing in Sydney harbour.
A team of 11 expert Guest Lecturers will share their knowledge through the voyage delivering talks and interpretation on history, nature, marine and culture. They will conduct daily presentations and mix and mingle with guests throughout all activities.
Our galley has created a 59-night menu that is route-specific to put the best of Australia on a plate and in a glass. We will feature produce and wines matched to the regions in Australia we are passing by. Guests will enjoy a full selection of Australia’s greatest terroirs with wines of the Margaret River, Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley and Tasmania as our house selection. Spirits and ales from small independent distillers are handpicked from the vessel’s coastal destinations. We have opportunities to replenish our fresh produce at various points of our journey at our major port stops of Cairns, Darwin, Fremantle, Adelaide, Hobart and Sydney. Creating an evolving culinary experience reflecting the Australia’s diverse regional produce.
Learn More about our ‘Circumnavigation of Australia’ Voyage