Australia's Great Southern Coastline

Arrive at Outer East Station Pier, Melbourne at 4:00pm, where there is time to settle into your stateroom before our 5:00pm departure. Take the time to become acquainted with all the facilities onboard before joining your fellow explorers on the Sun Deck for Captains Welcome Drinks.

Located along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay is part of the Great Otway National Park. Explore the natural beauty of this location by strolling the park to spot the 3 cascades of the Triplet Falls and walk to the lookout for panoramic views of the seascape.

View the rugged splendor of the renowned 12 Apostles that lie in the Southern Ocean off Victoria’s coast. The limestone cliffs are subject to constant erosion from the impact of storms and winds, which carved the caves in the cliffs. When the caves eroded into arches and collapsed, their 45m high rocky remains were left along the shore.

Enjoy a walking town tour of this historic heritage settlement. Grand public buildings sit side by side with restored whalers’ cottages and Georgian styled merchant homes. Continue to the infamous Shipwreck Coast. This stretch of coastline is graveyard to around 700 submerged wrecks, leaving behind their fascinating stories. Captain Matthew Flinders notably said he had never seen a ‘more fearful section of coastline’.

Spend time today in the historic and picturesque town of Robe. Located on the Limestone Coast, it offers incredible views and unique food, drink and shopping opportunities. One of Australia’s most character-filled small towns, Robe is known for its cottage industries. Spend your day exploring through the quaint shops and craft breweries or relax on the beach and watch surfers catching a wave.

Antechamber Bay, located on the north coast of the Dudley Peninsula, is one of Kangaroo Island’s finest coastal havens. The deserted, untouched long beach of the bay is where Chapman river meets the sea. The area is covered with forest of gum trees and narrow-leaf mallee which makes the walk at Lashmar Conservation park truly a magnificent experience.

> Antechamber Bay Walk – (1 Hour Return, 4.2km One Way, Easy-Moderate)

> Lashmar Conservation Park (1 Hour Return, 1km, Easy-Moderate)

As a secondary option, we may visit historical Penneshaw. Landing at Hogs Bay where we will learn of the history of Baudin and Flinders. We may also cruise past the rarely viewed northern cliffs of Kangaroo Island towards Cape Borda.

Here we will hike through the Coffin Bay National Park to get an understanding of the forests and environment – enjoy the interpretation of the heathlands, mallee forest and she-oak woodlands. Discover the tranquil bays and snorkel or kayak with the chance to spot some of the marine life. There is also the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable wild cuisine experience – enjoy a small boat cruise along the oyster beds to collect your oysters and enjoy them fresh from the sea.

Flinders Island is located about 35km from the Eyre Peninsula Coast and has been owned by the Woolford family since 1979, where they fish for abalone and are working to establish a safe haven for vulnerable native species. Meet Tobin and Jonas Woolford on Front Beach, learn of the island’s history and taste freshly pan-seared abalone. Explore the historic shearing sheds and head to Bryant’s Bay to visit the Kapara shipwreck.

For 100km along the Great Australian Bight runs these awe inspiring 120m tall white chalky Bunda Cliffs. This 300m thick limestone slab was once part of an ancient seabed, and now forms the Nullarbor Plain, extending far inland many layers containing many fossils. This is a very rarely explored area of the Australian coastline with over 1000 islands. Depending on sea conditions we will cruise along the cliffs and enjoy a vantage point from sea very rarely experienced.

Today we will explore Woody Island. Located just 15km off the coast of Esperance, Woody Island’s stands of tall trees have given it its name. Surrounded by pristine, clear waters, you will have the opportunity to experience the snorkel trail in Shearwater Bay. The cool southern waters provide excellent visibility for your journey of discovery.

There are several beautiful walks on the island, from easy to moderate, and you will appreciate the spectacular views across the archipelago along the way.  For the bird lovers, a wide variety of bird life is sighted on the island, from land dwellers to those dependent on the sea. Spot singing & new holland honeyeaters, silvereyes, red-eared firetails, rock parrots and sacred kingfisher. While along the walk trails catch a glimpse of the golden whistlers, brown quails, spotted pardolalotes, brush bronzewings, raptors and fan tailed cuckoo.

Along quiet Lucky Bay, kangaroos are known to laze on the whitest sand in Australia. Enjoy time on the beach meeting the friendly wildlife and the turquoise water is wonderful for a quick swim. If time permits, enjoy a walk to Thistle Cove, taking in the peaceful beauty of the national park, which is home to pygmy possums, western grey kangaroos and many colourful native wildflowers.

Albany is the oldest colonial settlement in Western Australia, predating Perth and Fremantle by over two years. For many years, it was the colony’s only deep-water port, having a place of eminence on shipping services between Britain and its Australian colonies. The town has a role in the ANZAC legend, being the last port of call for troop ships departing with infantry and cavalry horses from Australia in the First World War.

Today guests will have the opportunity to visit the National ANZAC centre or Albany’s Whaling Station, exploring an intact whale processing factory and whale chasing ship, fully restored and ready to discover. Guests also have the option to enjoy free time in Albany, with opportunity to view the Museum of the Great Southern.

Augusta is the most south-western town in Australia and is nearby to the towering karri timber of Boranup Forest and spectacular Jewel Cave. We will visit Jewel Cave, an awe-inspiring and extremely well decorated cave, containing many beautiful examples of delicate helictites, cave coral, pendulites, a very large stalagmite called ‘The Karri Forest’ and beautiful examples of flowstone such as ‘The Frozen Waterfall’ and ‘The Organ-Pipes’. Remarkably, fossilised remains of several Tasmanian Tigers have been discovered within Jewel Cave.

Hamelin Bay is located on the southwest coast on a serene open sandy bay, famous for the abundance of stingrays which frequent the bay. Snorkel with these friendly giant rays, which can measure up to 2 meters wide, and love to swim up close to snorkellers. With clear and calm water, this is a great snorkel spot for all levels to enjoy interesting fish and plant life in the bay.

A quintessential Western Australian destination, Margaret River is flanked with national parks including towering forests, pristine coastlines, and rugged granite outcrops. Spend the afternoon savouring a wine tasting at the award-winning Leeuwin Winery, with time to view the art gallery and walk the grounds of this picturesque Estate.

Arrive in Fremantle at 8:00am as we say goodbye to fellow travellers and crew before a 9:00am disembarkation. A complimentary post-cruise transfers to the airport or CBD will be available.