Bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east, Australia is the largest island nation in the world. Its 7.6 million square kilometer land surface is home to everything from deserts to tropical rainforests, from snow-topped mountains to beautiful beaches. With a population of just 23 million, large parts of the country remain uninhabited. Australia offers access to a slew of island nations scattered across the Pacific Ocean, including New Zealand, Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. Destinations such as these, as well as Australia itself, have become very popular with cruise-goers.
Australia is the departure and arrival point for cruises headed to and coming from Hong Kong and Singapore as well as occasional trips to other ports in Southeast Asia. Many cruise-goers also opt for a shorter trip between Sydney and Auckland in New Zealand, which takes in the likes of Melbourne, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Tasmania. Those wishing to visit the South Pacific can board a ship at a number of ports, including Sydney, as well as Los Angeles and Honolulu, before taking in the likes of Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and Bora Bora. A number of shorter cruises are available that cover the South Pacific alone, including trips from Tahiti to Fiji.
