Page 565 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  563

Travelling by Ferry and DIRECTORY
Cruise Boat Shipping Companies

For a country with a relatively small population, Australia is one Cunard Line
Sydney. Tel 132 441.
of the world’s busiest cruise markets. Domestic cruises up the ∑ cunardline.com.au
east coast from Sydney to Queensland, and internationally to Southampton, UK.
Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and New Zealand are popular. Tel (0845) 071 0300.
Elsewhere ferries run between the mainland and island P&O
destinations such as Rottnest Island, Western Australia (see Sydney. Tel 132 494.
pp312–13), and Fraser Island, off the Queensland coast (see ∑ pocruises.com.au
p246). Large cruise ships mostly sail in and out of Sydney. Southampton, UK.
Tel (0843) 374 0111.
Princess Cruises
Sydney. Tel 13 24 88.
∑ princess.com
Sealink
Kangaroo Island.
Tel 131 301, (08) 8202 8688.
∑ sealink.com.au
Spirit of Tasmania
Devonport. Tel 1800 634 906.
∑ spiritoftasmania.com.au
Tourist Information
Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority
∑ gbrmpa.gov.au
Passenger ship berthed at Circular Quay, Sydney (see pp78–89) Rottnest Express
Arriving by Boat berths to fully equipped suites. ∑ rottnestexpress.com.au
There is probably no better There are restaurants, shops, Rivers and Harbours
way of arriving in Australia than and entertainment for children.
to sail into Sydney Harbour You can book to take a car, too. Hiring a houseboat is an
aboard a cruise ship. Cruising is The price is fair, considering the excellent way of seeing some
expensive, however, and inter­ experience – a double cabin will of Australia’s spectacular river
national services to Australia are cost around A$400 return for a scenery. Popular spots include
more limited than domestic couple in off the Hawkesbury River, New
couple in off­­peak season, less if
couple in off
cruises. To sail to Australia from there is a special offer. South Wales, and the Murray
the US or Europe, you may have River which runs through
to wait for the next world cruise New South Wales, Victoria
on P&O or Cunard Line vessels. Island Cruises and Ferries and South Australia. There are
Another option is to fly to an A Sealink ferry departs from Sealink ferry departs from Sealink tours of Darwin and Sydney
Asian city such as Hong Kong Cape Jervis, south of Adelaide, harbours, and cruises of the
and join up with Princess for Kangaroo Island (see p358). Swan River in Perth and the
Cruises. Sydney is the main port In Western Australia, Rottnest Yarra River in Melbourne.
of call for most cruise ships, and Express runs regular ferries State tourist authorities can
there are two passenger to Rottnest Island from Perth. provide details (see p547).
terminals, one in the heart of the There are many
city and another at White Bay. services between the
mainland and the
Barrier Reef islands
Ferries to Tasmania (see p220). A boat
The Spirit of Tasmania takes also runs between
just over 14 hours to cross the Seisia, Cape York, and
Bass Strait from Melbourne to Thursday Island, (see
Tasmania. It runs daily, with day p256). Check the
and night sailing options from Great Barrier Reef
Port Melbourne and Devonport. Marine Park
The ship has every level of Authority website
accommodation, from reclining for a list of certified
cruise seats and backpacker operators. Taking the ferry to Rottnest Island (see pp312–13)