Day 1 Perth

Depart 5pm

Lying at the mouth of the Swan River, historic Fremantle - founded in 1829 - is your gateway to Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Situated on the banks of the Swan River some 15 miles upriver from Fremantle, Perth is a bustling city where soaring high-rises co-exist with elegant sandstone buildings from the colonial era. Life here moves at a slower pace, so during your visit, relax and savor the bounties of Western Australia, from the wonders of the bush to the wineries of the Swan Valley, from excellent shopping to a leisurely cruise on the Swan River.

Day 2 Geraldton

Arrive 7am, Depart 4pm

Days 3-4 At Sea

Be sure to try the Bayou Café and Steakhouse, which features New Orleans-inspired Cajun and Creole cuisine, join friends for cocktails and Movies Under the Stars by the pool or try some decadent treats at the International Café.

Day 5 Broome

Arrive 7am, Depart 6pm

In the 1870s, pearl fishermen discovered the rich waters of Roebuck Bay. A decade later, Broome was founded as a base for the pearl trade and was soon described as "the pearling capital of the world." Japanese, Chinese and Aborigine divers toiled in arduous, dangerous labour to harvest oysters from the seabed. For all its importance to the pearling industry, Broome remained a remote outpost on Australia's Kimberley Coast until its discovery as a travel destination. The legacy of its pearling days can be seen in the town's colourful mix of 19th- and early 20th century buildings. Broome also boasts Cable Beach - a 13-mile strand of white-sand that stretches along the azure waters of the Indian Ocean.

Day 6 Kimberley Coast

Scenic cruising from 2pm to 6pm

Day 8 At Sea

Day 9 Darwin 

Arrive 7am, Depart 7pm

Closer to Indonesia than to any other Australian city, Darwin is the capital of the "Top End" - the remote, vast Northern Territory. Home to more than half of the territory's population, the city reflects the rugged endurance and individualism required to survive the Outback. Darwin also boasts a colourful history to add to that heritage. During World War II the Japanese bombed the city and threatened invasion. In 1974, Cyclone Tracy cut a destructive swath through the region. In addition, man-eating crocodiles, tropical monsoons, searing heat and bush fires that burn for weeks are all part of everyday life.

Days 10-12 At Sea

Day 13 Cairns

Arrive 7am, Depart 5pm

Cairns is one of Australia's hottest vacation destinations. Cairns boasts three of Australia's great natural wonders. Just offshore, immense bastions of living coral form the Great Barrier Reef. Sixteen miles of superb beaches stretch to the north of the city - the famed Marlin Coast. And inland lays the immense Daintree National Park. Cairns itself basks in tropical sunshine, balmy breezes waft in from Trinity Bay. The city's graceful, tree-lined esplanade was once the gateway to the gold fields of North Queensland.

Day 14 Willis Island

Scenic cruising 9am to 10am

This tiny island measures in at just 1,600 feet long by 490 feet wide, though it is the only permanently inhabited island in the Coral Sea Islands Territory. You won't find any neighbourhoods, schools or homes here, however. The only structures on Willis Island comprise a weather monitoring station hosted by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, where just a handful of weather observers reside at any given time.

Day 15 At Sea

Day 16 Brisbane

Arrive 7am, Depart 5pm

Once considered the "country cousin" among Australian cities, Brisbane is today the nation's third-largest metropolis - and one of the most desirable places to live in the country. Lying on the banks of the meandering Brisbane River, this cosmopolitan city boasts elegant 19th-century sandstone buildings, a lively cultural scene and superb parklands. Brisbane is also your gateway to uniquely Australian adventures, be it the theme parks of the Gold Coast or Queensland's dazzling beaches.

Day 17 At Sea

Day 18 Sydney

Arrive 6am