Australia’s Top End: Cape York & the Great Barrier Reef

The new Darwin cruise ship terminal at Fort Hill Wharf is adjacent to the convention centre, only one kilometre from Darwin’s CBD. Modern amenities, hotels and parking are there, plus a mini-market with beautiful local productions – Aboriginal art and crafts, diamonds and opals, and eateries, distinctive of the Top End. Darwin is a home port for the small luxury vessels Coral Princess and Coral Discoverer that explore the Kimberley coast to Broome. Read more about Darwin, Australia

The Cobourg Peninsula is located 190 km (direct line) NE of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is a major Arnhem Land tourist attraction as the entire wilderness of this remote peninsula forms the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, which also includes the surrounding small islands and sea. It is known for its pristine wilderness, and the turquoise water in which visitors are likely to see dolphins and turtles. Read more about Cobourg Peninsula, Australia

The Cobourg Peninsula is located 190 km (direct line) NE of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is a major Arnhem Land tourist attraction as the entire wilderness of this remote peninsula forms the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, which also includes the surrounding small islands and sea. It is known for its pristine wilderness, and the turquoise water in which visitors are likely to see dolphins and turtles. Read more about Cobourg Peninsula, Australia

Thursday Island, or 'T.I.' as it's usually known, is the name of the island and the town that is the administrative and commercial centre of the Torres Strait Islands. The island group is off the far north Queensland mainland in Torres Strait, just 39 km north of Cape York Peninsula. The lucrative pearling industry founded in 1885 attracted workers from around Asia, particularly South Pacific Islanders, and this has resulted in a fascinating cultural mosaic. Read more about Thursday Island, Australia

Cape York is at the tip of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, and is at the very northernmost part of the Australian mainland, with New Guinea just north of the island-studded Torres Strait. It was named by James Cook in 1770 after His Royal Highness the Duke of York. Tourists now visit throughout the year, as facilities are surprisingly modern for such an isolated spot, and tours are always available. Read more about Cape York, Australia

Read more about Osprey Reef, Australia

Cooktown, Australia's first European settlement, was charted and settled by Captain Cook and his crew in 1770. It is a small frontier town located on the Endeavour River (named after Captain Cook's ship) in far north tropical Queensland. A century later thousands, including many Chinese, came to Cooktown, the port for the Palmer River gold rush, leaving a fascinating history that can be explored at the James Cook Historical Museum. Read more about Cooktown, Australia

Port Douglas, once a goldfield port and fishing village, is now one of Far North Queensland's tourism capitals, as no other region in the world is bordered by two World Heritage Listed areas. Firstly, there’s the renowned Great Barrier Reef that is easily reached, and offers great snorkelling and scuba diving. Then there’s the amazing Daintree Rainforest where one should visit the Rainforest Habitat with its over 120 species of wildlife, and hand-feed the kangaroos. Read more about Port Douglas, Australia

Located beyond the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea you will find Willis Island, the only permanently inhabited island in the Coral Sea Islands Territory. Willis Island is located approximately 450 kilometres east of Cairns, Queensland. Experience beautiful scenic cruising through the Island and duty-free purchases whilst on board any Australian departure. Read more about Willis Island (scenic cruising), Australia

Cairns is a Far North Queensland city located on the northeast coast of Australia. This laid-back city is just over a 2 hour flight from Brisbane, Queensland’s state capital. With a backdrop of rainforest mountains, Cairns is known to be the gateway of 2 iconic Australian sites, The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Read more about Cairns, Australia

Cairns is a Far North Queensland city located on the northeast coast of Australia. This laid-back city is just over a 2 hour flight from Brisbane, Queensland’s state capital. With a backdrop of rainforest mountains, Cairns is known to be the gateway of 2 iconic Australian sites, The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Read more about Cairns, Australia