Best cruise shore excursions in Australia

Cruise lines are upping the ante with excitement-packed excursions in Australia this summer.

Sydneysiders and cruise lovers would have struggled not to notice a new ship arriving in the harbour this month. Virgin Voyages’ billionaire founder Sir Richard Branson led the fanfare for Resilient Lady, welcoming his vessel from a speedboat and even climbing to the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as she sailed to the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay.

The ship’s inaugural Australian summer season means new on-board experiences for cruisers – tattoo parlours! Record stores! Shake your phone for Champagne! – and also introduces a plethora of new shore excursions. Those visiting Sydney on Virgin Voyages have the chance to emulate Branson and do the Harbour Bridge Climb small-group tour to marvel at the surrounds, including Resilient Lady, from above. It’s just one of the small-group shore tours Virgin Voyages offers. Another highlight excursion is the chance to take a seaplane over spectacular Wineglass Bay in Tasmania, then stop off at Maria Island for a beachside seafood lunch with wine before flying back to Hobart.

Also in Tassie, imagine a shore excursion where you get to learn from the best at a world-class sporting venue. Cunard is offering exclusive tours during its Sporting Greats and Wellness Voyage on Queen Elizabeth from Sydney roundtrip via Hobart in February. One highlight is the option to explore Tasmania’s cricketing history at Bellerive Oval (Blundstone Arena) with fast bowler Brett Lee, one of several sports stars on the cruise – others being Adam Goodes and Karrie Webb. Cruisers will have exclusive access to the changing rooms, indoor nets, players’ viewing room, members’ area, and media centre.

There’s also a visit to the Tasmanian Cricket Museum in Bellerive. Lee will be there to regale lucky guests with personal stories – he has played many games at this historic ground. The cruise departs Sydney on February 13, 2024.

Meanwhile, Viking is offering a number of in-depth shore tours that go well beyond bus tours that tick off photo ops. Victorian Sights of Melbourne is one, where cruisers are led by a social historian on a tour through the city to learn of the history and architecture, Included are visits to the Royal Exhibition Building and the Old Treasury Building, and the chance to marvel at the magnificent glazed dome at the State Library Victoria.

Another enticing shore tour for those sailing into Albany, WA, on Viking’s Grand Australian Circumnavigation journey is a day learning about Noongar history, on the Spiritual Homeland of the Koreng People tour. Indigenous elder Joey will guide cruisers through the land to learn about bush tucker. Guests then visit sacred sites, see a dance performance and learn about the Carrolup School of Art, which raises awareness for the children of the Stolen Generation.

Originally published as Best cruise shore excursions in Australia