Viking Grand Australia Circumnavigation

Friday 11 December

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Admire the Sydney Opera House as you cruise out of the harbour.

Saturday 12 December

Enjoy the amenities of your ship as you sail the scenic Australian coastline. Perhaps take a breath of fresh air on a brisk walk around the Promenade or begin your day with a workout in the well-equipped Fitness Center.

Sunday 13 December

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and one of the oldest cities in Australia. Enjoy views of the city's riverside skyscrapers - art galleries, museums and beloved musical venues also make the city one of Australia’s most vibrant and active cultural centers.

Monday 14 December

Follow the route of English explorer James Cook, who famously laid eyes on Australia’s “Sunshine Coast” from the deck of the HMS Endeavour. As you sail, take advantage of the array of delicious cuisine offered on board.

Tuesday 15 December

The Whitsunday archipelago emerges from the Coral Sea amid the Great Barrier Reef. Pure-white sands meet cerulean waters, swirling together at sandbars to merge into a palette of turquoise, cream and emerald-green hills. Glassy, invigorating and impossibly blue, the waters provide the ideal oasis for relaxing and idling away a few hours on the beach.

Wednesday 16 December

Townsville is the unofficial capital of North Queensland and a favorite cultural center. The city’s location on the banks of the Ross River and along the shores of Cleveland Bay hints at the local love of outdoor life. The Strand, a tranquil walkway, follows the long tropical beach. And no matter which corner of Townsville you are exploring, the red sandstone monolith of Castle Hill is always in view.

Thursday 17 December

Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef as well as the Daintree and Kuranda National Parks. Absorb Cairns’ thriving culture from the outdoor cafés or along the scenic waterfront promenade.

Friday 18 December

As you sail today, savor a range of international cuisine on board. Choose from a variety of international flavors at the World Café, enjoy al fresco dining on the Aquavit Terrace, or regional specialties in The Restaurant.

Saturday 19 December

As you sail, explore our well-curated Library, tucked in a private alcove of the Living Room, and select from a broad range of titles. Read a book by the Main Pool, a calming oasis in any weather with its retractable roof, allowing for year-round swimming.

Sunday 20 December

Follow in the footsteps of Indonesia’s indigenous people and sail the Timor Sea. This stretch of water shares its name with the independent state of East Timor, which lies to its north. Meet fellow guests and listen to the soothing sounds of classical music in the Living Room, an ideal setting for relaxation. Enjoy a cup of coffee or sip on a refreshing cocktail.

Monday 21 December

Darwin is the cultural hub of the continent’s northernmost region and boasts a rich and lively arts and culture scene, much of it centered on the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. 

Tuesday 22 December

Measuring approximately 300 miles wide and reaching a maximum depth of almost 11,000 feet in the Timor Trough, the Timor Sea is home to numerous reefs, uninhabited islands and important underwater deposits of oil and gas. As you sail today, attend an informative lecture or watch a film in our state-of-the-art theater. A range of insightful TED Talks and destination-inspired seminars are offered daily.

Wednesday 23 December

Komodo is one of the world’s most unique and prehistoric-feeling national parks with a magnificent menagerie of wildlife. Its most famous denizen is the legendary Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world. 

Thursday 24 December

With a thriving arts scene, lush beauty and magnificent seaside vistas, Bali has long beckoned travelers in search of ultimate beauty. 

Friday 25 December

With its distinct flavors and traditions, Bali’s food culture stands apart from that of the rest of Indonesia. Indigenous ingredients, recipes and techniques blend with influences from the island’s Chinese and Indian heritages to create dishes found nowhere else. 

Saturday 26 December

Sail the calm waters of the Indian Ocean, used to transport gold, myrrh, pottery, grain, dates and countless other products for more than 7,000 years. Renew your body, mind and spirit in our Scandinavian-inspired Spa, a Nordic sanctuary of holistic wellness, today while at sea. 

Sunday 27 December

Monday 28 December

Tuesday 29 December

Culture-rich Perth is located along the banks of the Swan River just before it flows into the Indian Ocean. While other settlements were established as penal outposts, Perth was founded as a true British colony. The city’s 19th century gold rush days were followed by the completion of the continental railroad, opening new economic opportunity. Today, Perth is home to one of the largest city parks in the world, Kings Park and Botanic Garden. This massive swath of green space covers almost 1,000 acres, hosting planned gardens, untamed bushland and 80 species of birds.

Wednesday 30 December

Perth is a food and wine lover’s paradise. With the fertile Swan Valley and the Perth Hills nearby, the city’s eateries serve fresh, locally sourced ingredients year-round. And the boutique shops of Perth have the best of the bounty on offer: gourmet cheeses, chocolates, nuts, coffees and fine wines ranging from a bold Shiraz to a fruity Verdelho. Artisanal brews are also available as the continent’s western reaches were the birthplace of the craft beer scene.

Thursday 31 December

Located on the south shore of Geographe Bay, Busselton was settled by the Bussell family during the early 1830s. Traditionally focused on agriculture and cattle ranching, the city is also a popular resort destination, renowned for its sheltered beaches, mild climate and the nearby Margaret River wine region. Its charming beachfront features the 19th-century Busselton Jetty; the longest wooden pier in the Southern Hemisphere, stretching 6,000 feet into the bay and culminating at the Underwater Observatory, where visitors can view a vibrant coral reef.

Friday 01 January

As you sail today, relax in the Explorers’ Lounge, inspired by epic journeys of discovery. Marvel at the views through the two-story panoramic windows as you share a cocktail with friends, or settle down to read a book.

Saturday 02 January

Albany was the first settlement in the state of Western Australia established in 1826 as a military garrison to defend against possible French encroachment on the Crown’s new colonies.

Sunday 03 January

Australia’s south-central coast boasts dramatic vistas of the wide Nullarbor Plain and towering oceanside cliffs. From the sea, the striated limestone walls seem to stand guard like sentries watching over the Great Australian Bight, the massive open bay that stretches some 720 miles along the continent’s southern shore. This is one of the largest bights in the world. Today, much of this rich marine ecosystem comprises the Great Australian Bight Marine National Park, designated to protect the calving grounds of the southern right whale and the Australian sea lion.

Monday 04 January

Tuesday 05 January

Adelaide is Australia’s unsung center of high culture, history and beauty. Often called a “city within a park,” almost half of Adelaide comprises green spaces, from the lush flora and gurgling fountains of the Adelaide Botanic Garden to the Japanese-style retreat at Adelaide Himeji Garden.

Wednesday 06 January

Separating mainland Australia from the island of Tasmania, the Bass Strait was discovered by British explorers George Bass and Matthew Flinders in 1799. This discovery allowed merchants and explorers to cut 700 miles off their journeys from Europe or India. The largest archipelago in the waterway’s eastern reaches, the Furneaux Islands, once formed a land bridge between Tasmania and Australia. In the strait’s western region, King Island hosts several settlements and is on the migration route of several bird species.

Thursday 07 January

Melbourne is celebrated as the country’s cultural capital of the arts and exudes a rich and lively British flair, from its narrow shopping lanes to the fanciful Victorian buildings along Collins Street. 

Friday 08 January

Burnie sits on Emu Bay, an inlet of the Bass Strait, at the mouth of the Emu River. Founded in 1827, it was later named after William Burnie, the director of Van Diemen’s Land Company. One of Tasmania’s largest cities, its deepwater harbor makes it an important commercial center. The city is also a gateway to Tasmania’s rugged natural beauty, including Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

Saturday 09 January

Trace one of Australia’s most scenic regions along the southeastern shore of the continent on the Bass Strait. Spend a relaxing day at sea to unwind and admire the vistas from your stateroom veranda.

Sunday 10 January

Eden was an important port for Australia’s powerful whaling industry for more than a century. oday, the town’s focus is on whale conservation, but its intriguing whaling history is on display at the Eden Killer Whale Museum, including the skeleton of Old Tom.

Monday 11 January

Bid farewell to Viking Orion and disembark.