western australian excursions

[capriccio]

We spent a total of 7 days in Sydney (4 upon arrival from the US before going to the South Island of New Zealand for a week, then 2 days before our cruise, and one day after the cruise).

 

SYDNEY – We did lots of sightseeing, mostly DIY including:

·         Visit the Rocks (first English settlement):

o   General information: https://www.therocks.com/

o   Walking tour: https://www.rockswalkingtours.com.au/

·         Opera House:

o   General information: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/

o   Various tours: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/content/soh/visit-us/tours-and-experiences/guided-tours.html/

·         Royal Botanic Garden:

o   General information:  https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/

·         Circular Quay:

o   Ferry to:

§  Taronga Zoo:  https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo

·         Darling Harbor:

o   General information:  https://www.darlingharbour.com/

o   SEA LIFE Aquarium:  https://www.visitsealife.com/sydney/plan-your-day/before-you-visit/attraction-map/

o   Australian National Maritime Museum:  https://www.sea.museum/

·         Hyde Park:

o   General information: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/facilities/parks/major-parks/hyde-park  

o   Australian Museum (FREE natural history museum):  https://australian.museum/visit/

o   Hyde Park Barracks (built for and by convicts; UNESCO site):  https://hydeparkbarracks.sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/

·         Bondi Beach to Bronte Walk:

o   https://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/recreation/places_of_interest/waverley_walks/bondi_to_bronte_coastal_walk

·         Blue Mountains

o   Go Beyond Tours:  Blue Mountains Private Tour.  We did this on disembarkation day.  We (just 4 of us; the other couple flew out that day) were picked up at the ship, had a private all day tour, and then dropped off at the Rydges airport hotel and only had to walk across a small street to the international terminal at 6 am the next morning.

 

HOBART (TASMANIA) – was canceled shortly before the cruise because the pier was under construction.  This was the tour we had hoped to take.  No deposits had been made.

·         Hobart and Surrounds private (6 people) tour by Let’s Show You Tasmania tours:  https://www.showyoutasmania.com.au/

 

MELBOURNE – was substituted for Hobart.  We are all bike riders and all of us have e-bike experience (in fact most of us have them).  We were able to reserve this excursion just a few days in advance.  It is a beautiful city full of parks and a nice place to ride.  The train to the city stops right at the port and is quick and inexpensive.

·         https://bluetonguebikes.com.au/e-bike-tour-of-melbourne

 

BURNIE (TASMANIA) – the ship provided a free shuttle to/from town.  This was a great little port stop.  Don’t miss the museum and the hop on/hop off bus stops were very interesting.

·         General information:  https://www.discoverburnie.net/About/Burnie

·         Burnie Regional Museum (FREE):  https://www.discoverburnie.net/Experience/Federation-Street-at-Burnie-Regional-Museum

·         https://toursaroundtasmania.rezdy.com/518679/burnie-shore-excursion-burnie-attractions-bus

 

KANGAROO ISLAND (T) – if you plan to DIY and rent a car do so as far in advance as possible.  The supply is very limited.  Driving was very easy because there is very little traffic.

·       2 hour Fat Tire E-Bike Ride of the Sand Dunes and Brush by Little Sahara Tours:  https://littlesahara.com.au/kangaroo-island-activities-tours/fat-bike-tours-2/electric-fat-bike-tour/ .  The e-bikes on the dunes were great fun, 2 out of 6 of us thought the rides thru the brush were more like mountain biking; the other 4 thought it was one of our best excursions.

·      75 Minute Ocean Safari by Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari: https://kangarooislandoceansafari.com.au/

 

ADELAIDE – I don’t remember if the ship had a shuttle (we took the day off).  The others in our group took the train. The station is directly across from the dock; ride is about 20 minutes and costs $4 and there are free City Connector busses in the city

·         General information:  https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/visit/

·         FREE self-guided walking trails: https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/visit/things-to-do/heritage/historical-trails/

 

KIMBERLY COAST:  Scenic Cruising (no disembarkation).  If you are on the Coral Princess, make sure you go through the very front doors on Caribe and Baja (?) to the front decks.  The views are excellent.

 

DARWIN – So much to do and such a nice city.

·         Hop On Hop Off Bus:  https://www.bigbustours.com/en/darwin/service-information

·         DIY:

o   Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (FREE): https://www.magnt.net.au/

o   Parliament House and FREE Tour: https://parliament.nt.gov.au/about/tours-of-parliament-house

o   Crocosaurus Cove:  https://www.crocosauruscove.com/

o   RFDS (Royal Flying Doctors Service) Tourist Facility:  https://www.rfdsdarwin.com.au/ (Don't miss this - it is excellent!)

o   WWII Secret Oil Storage Tunnels:  https://www.ww2tunnelsdarwin.com.au/

·      Note:  Darwin was bombed 64 times during WWII so you will see some reminders in various parts of town. It was also destroyed by a cyclone in 1974.

 

CAIRNS – we were there on ANZAC Day so took the Green Island Eco-Adventure Tour Princess tour.  https://www.princess.com/cruise-excursions/cairns-australia-excursions/green-island-eco-adventure

·         Green Island information:  https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/green-island/about

 

WILLIS ISLAND –Scenic Cruising Drive-by

 

BRISBANE – The new port is nice but a long distance from downtown Brisbane so we went on the Princess Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary excursion.  The Sanctuary was great and we had a very good tour guide that shared lots of information about Brisbane on our bus to/from it.  We even made a stop at scenic overlooks in each direction.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2023 by capriccio

[konatyme]

Thanks so much! Sorry I didn't reply to you right away; we were out of town and off the computer.

[Mary loves to travel]

@capriccio

 

how was the Princess Green Island tour (out of Cairns)?

we're considering that, or going with an independent operator (Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises).

 

Thanks,

Mary

[capriccio]

3 hours ago, Mary loves to travel said:

@capriccio

 

how was the Princess Green Island tour (out of Cairns)?

we're considering that, or going with an independent operator (Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises).

 

Thanks,

Mary

The boat to the island was conveniently located a 10 minute walk along the waterfront from the ship and the ride to/from the island was about 45 or 50 minutes. In addition to passengers from Princess there were independent groups of passengers too.  The only distinction that I can remember is that Princess provided us with a bag lunch that was sufficient (choice of pre-made sandwiches, drink, fruit and chips or ice cream cone IIRC) to ward off hunger but not memorable.  In our group of 6 half of us took the 30 minute glass bottom boat ride and all loved it.  The other half snorkeled by the dock for most of the visit and enjoyed that too.  Some of the paths on the island were not accessible - it looked like they were doing some paving - so there wasn't much rainforest to see which was disappointing.  You could walk the beach but I have trouble walking any long distance in the sand so that really wasn't a viable alternative.  The ride back was rough and rainy but that couldn't be helped.  I must say we were glad it was only a 50 minute ride.  I know some of the excursions that go further out to the reef have longer boat rides.

 

I would give the excursion a 3 1/2 - 4.  We were all glad we did it.

[Mary loves to travel]

@capriccio Thanks!    This is very helpful.