10 уникальных экскурсий на круизных лайнерах по Австралии: от Улуру до Большого барьерного рифа

Couple experiencing Lady Elliot Island Lady Elliot Island with lighthouse. Photo / TEQ The highlight of an Australian cruise is often the wide-ranging and memorable shore excursions, writes Tiana Templeman. Here are 10 Aussie ship tours featuring everything from hands-on cultural experiences to exploring underground caves. Uluru Mid-Cruise Journey Seabourn Hold onto your hats (and your wallet) as this high-endtwo-night tour takes you into the heart of the Red Centre. While most Aussies would say you’re “mad as a cut snake” to fly to Uluru for 48 hours, this shore excursion packs a lot of “must-sees” into a short space of time. Your adventure begins with an early morning flight from Sydney to Uluru for lunch, followed by dinner and a drone show. After watching the sunrise, there’s a dot painting class and another visit to Uluru where you’ll hear Aṉangu creation stories such as the legend of Liru (the snake) and Kuniya (the python). After a dawn viewing of the Field of Light art installation, you’ll fly to Melbourne and rejoin the ship. Margaret River might be famous for wine, but it’s also home to some of Australia’s most impressive caves. This tour starts off slowly with a stroll along an interpretive boardwalk to learn how the Ngilgi Caves were formed and their importance to the local Wadandi people. Inside the cave, things get more exciting. There are stalactites, stalagmites, and formations like the shimmering Mother of Pearl Shawl and the equally impressive Arab’s Tent. Wriggle through the narrowest tunnel on your stomach if you dare. On your way back to Busselton, there’s a stop at Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to admire the view. Your kids will be eternally grateful you didn’t drag them around the region’s cellar doors. Darwin is packed with stories of courage, adventure and lucky escapes. After a stop at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, discover Darwin’s war history at the Darwin Military Museum and the Darwin Aviation Museum. The indoor/outdoor military museum is surrounded by lush foliage and includes everything from dioramas showing a soldier’s life in the field to a bombed-out truck. Highlights at the aviation museum include an F-111, a B-52 bomber, a Mirage jet fighter and a Mitsubishi Zero. The volunteers also have some fascinating tales about the museum’s aircraft and artefacts. celebritycruises.com Soar above the Kimberley in a Grumman Mallard Pearl Expeditions A 30-minute scenic flight over the Kimberley’s ancient landscape in a historic Grumman Mallard Flying Boat is a one-of-a-kind adventure. Built in the 1940s, the Mallard is one of the world’s most iconic aircraft and can take off and land on an airstrip and on water. There are fewer than 10 of them remaining in the world, and three belong to the Paspaley family. They’ve restored the aircraft using modern technology, preserving a piece of history that feels as timeless as the Kimberley itself. While the scenery is fabulous, it’s hard to beat the thrilling spash-tacular landing next to your luxury ship. After a walking tour through the historic Rocks area, you’ll arrive at the Sydney Harbour Bridge. From here, an escorted tour takes you up a series of ladders to the bottom of one of the bridge spans. You don’t need to be brave for long as the actual ascent is over surprisingly quickly. Even with a couple of commentary stops, you’re at the top in around 15 minutes. There’s plenty of time to take in views of the Blue Mountains, Sydney Harbour and the Opera House before the descent. It’s a unique way to see one of Australia’s most iconic cities and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Sydney Harbour. Cairns is famous for being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, but this tour offers a different look at Tropical North Queensland’s unofficial capital. It begins with a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, and comes with entertaining commentary about the railway, which has been operating since the late 1800s. Try to grab seats on the right-hand side of the train as these have the best views. After strolling around the township of a, you’ll board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and travel 7.5km above World Heritage-listed rainforest, with time to hop off at interpretive stations to experience the sights and sounds of the Australian bush before you return to Cairns. royalcaribbean.com.au Tasmanian Drinks: Meet the Makers Norwegian Cruise Line The factory tour of the Cascade Brewery in Hobart takes about an hour, and includes stair climbing, walking along metal gantries and beer tasting. After slipping on a neon yellow high-vis vest, you’ll walk the floor of the oldest continuously operating brewery in Australia. Closed-toe shoes are a must, so remember to pack a comfortable pair in your suitcase. After the tour of the historic stone brewhouse, you’ll travel to Lark Distillery to learn about all things whiskey, and taste single malts, blends and more. Given the amount of alcohol on this tour, it’s no surprise participants must be aged 18+. ncl.com Lady Elliot Island Viking Cruises This Brisbane shore excursion takes you to Lady Elliot for a flying visit, literally, with a scenic flight to and from the island and a day spent exploring everything it has to offer. After a short orientation walk, there’s a glass-bottom boat ride and snorkelling trip. Lady Elliot has fantastic reef and you’re pretty much guaranteed to see manta rays drifting above the coral, slowing occasionally to let a turtle pass in front of them. From July to October, you can also watch humpback whales frolicking in the waters along the coast, either from the plane or off the beach while you’re at Lady Elliot Island. The National Anzac Centre & Torndirrup National Park Holland and America Albany in Western Australia is famous for its natural wonders and Anzac history. On this half-day tour, you’ll get to experience both. Start your day at Torndirrup National Park where a metal viewing platform offers a view straight down the sheer cliff face of The Gap and into the churning ocean. If you’d prefer not to look down, the 180-degree ocean views are equally impressive. The next stop, the National Anzac Centre, uses multimedia, interactive technology and historical artefacts to connect visitors to the bravery of the Anzacs who boarded troop transports, warships, and support vessels in nearby King George Sound and set sail towards the battlefields in World War I. hollandamerica.com Snorkelling the Wrecks Carnival Cruise Line Hang out with stingrays, wobbegongs and a kaleidoscope of colourful tropical fish on a snorkelling tour around the Moreton Island wrecks. This easily accessible dive and snorkel site is made up of 17 vessels which were deliberately sunk to create a break wall for small boats and an exciting diving and snorkelling site. Although you can swim to the wrecks at low tide, the current can be challenging if you don’t time it right. It’s much easier to take a guided snorkel tour, especially since this snorkel boat has a set of stairs for entering the water instead of a ladder. It’s an easy trip for mature travellers and kids.