16 December - At sea

17 December

Australia: Brisbane

Brisbane has plenty of shopping malls and, with great weather, a fantastic café culture. Amongst the steel and glass skyscrapers are some interesting historic buildings, and with plenty surrounding the city there’s enough on offer to make for an interesting short stay.

18 December - At sea

19 December

Australia: Airlie Beach

The lively town of Airlie Beach is backpacker central, and serves as a transport hub for the many offshore attractions of the east coast. From here you can take a trip out to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, or visit the stunning tropical beaches of the nearby Whitsunday Islands.

20 December

Australia: Cairns

Cairns is a buzzing tourist hub, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. A snorkelling trip out to the reef is the most obvious excursion to take here, but other options include riding the Skyrail cableway over the rainforest canopy or swimming in the croc-free saltwater lagoon.

21 December

Australia: Cooktown

Cooktown is a small place with a big history, named after Captain James Cook, who beached his ship the ‘Endeavour’ here in 1770 after it was damaged on a nearby reef. It’s a remote and sleepy town, and the seafront statue of Captain Cook is the main sight worth seeing.

22 December to 23 December - At sea

24 December to 25 December

Australia: Darwin

More of a large town than a city, Darwin is less about what’s contained within the city limits and more about the huge expanse of wild landscape that’s outside it. Closer to Jakarta than Sydney, the city really does feel remote in its tropical perch.

26 December to 27 December - At sea

28 December

Indonesia: Komodo Island

Komodo Island is situated within an area of spectacular natural beauty, home to the famous Komodo dragon. The stunning beaches are tinged with pink thanks to the high concentration of red coral just offshore, and the waters draw intrepid divers from all over the world.

29 December to 30 December

Indonesia: Benoa (Bali)

The beaches, spectacular volcanic scenery and lush green rice terraces lend Bali a natural beauty that seems to dovetail perfectly with the island’s distinct Hindu culture, which adorns the landscape with stunning temples.

31 December

Indonesia: Lombok

Quieter and less developed than neighbouring Bali, the island of Lombok is an appealing alternative. To the north, the landscape is dominated by the huge crater of Gunung Rinjani, while the south and west coasts are home to some stunning beaches.

1 January

Indonesia: Waingapu (Sumba)

2 January

Indonesia: Kupang

The city of Kupang is the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, and lies at the southwestern end of Timor island. It’s more of a transit hub than a tourist destination, although there are some interesting markets, and there are some nice beaches nearby - just watch out for the crocodiles!

3 January to 6 January - At sea

7 January

Australia: Fremantle (Perth)

The capital of Western Australia, Perth sits in glorious isolation on the shores of the Indian Ocean, where the Swan River meets the sea. Laid back and relaxed, this must be one of the most easy-going capital cities in the world, with everything within easy reach.

8 January

Australia: Busselton

Situated to the south of Perth on the west coast of Australia, the seaside town of Busselton is the gateway to the Margaret River wine region. Situated on the sandy shores of Geographe Bay, the town is best known for its remarkable wooden jetty, which stretches over a mile out to sea.

9 January

Australia: Albany

The historic port of Albany was the first European settlement in Western Australia, and the town still has plenty of photogenically faded colonial architecture. Albany sits on Princess Royal Harbour, one of the world’s best natural deep water harbours, and the surrounding coastline is spectacular.

10 January

Australia: Esperance

The town of Esperance is situated on one of Western Australia’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, surrounded by stunning beaches, crystal clear waters and scattered islands. Highlights include the nearby Cape Le Grand National Park and the Recherche Archipelago, home to the vivid pink Lake Hillier on Middle Island.

11 January to 12 January - At sea

13 January

Australia: Adelaide

Residents of Adelaide still take pride in the fact that their city was freely settled rather than founded as a penal colony, and the city traditionally had a reputation as a stuffy and pious sort of place. Adelaide has moved on, however, and these days it’s a thriving cultural hub with a superb culinary scene.

14 January - At sea

15 January

Australia: Melbourne

Culturally sophisticated and fashionably hip, Melbourne combines edgy street art with gold rush era architecture while offering excellent restaurants and top museums. If you have time, check out some of Victoria's other attractions, including the beautiful 12 Apostles and the excellent wines of the Yarra Valley.

16 January to 18 January - At sea

19 January

New Zealand: Picton

The pleasant little town of Picton, situated on a sheltered bay at the north eastern tip of the South Island, is the arrival point for ferries arriving from Wellington, and serves as the gateway to the stunning flooded river valleys of the Marlborough Sounds.

20 January

New Zealand: Wellington

New Zealand’s cosmopolitan capital is arguably the country’s most likeable city. Hemmed in by forest-clad hills, Wellington is compact and easily walkable, with a lovely waterfront area where you’ll find the must-see Te Papa national museum. The city is also renowned for its strong winds, so make sure you hold on to your hat!

21 January

New Zealand: Napier

When Napier was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931 the city was rebuilt entirely in the Art Deco style, making this a fascinating architectural time capsule. It’s a lovely, sunny seaside city, and a visit to the surrounding Hawke’s Bay wine region makes for an enjoyable day trip.

22 January

New Zealand: Gisborne

Gisborne is the first city on earth to greet the sun each morning, and it’s also a popular destination for foodies and wine lovers, known as the unofficial ‘Chardonnay capital of New Zealand’. This is a great place to enjoy some beach time, learn about Maori culture or grab a surfboard and catch some waves.

23 January

New Zealand: Tauranga

Tauranga is the largest city on the Bay of Plenty, and is said to be one of the sunniest spots in the whole of New Zealand. There’s a real boom town feel here, with new restaurants, bars and hotels opening all the time, and neighbouring Mount Maunganui is a popular beach destination.

24 January

Arriving in Auckland

Auckland offers a buzzing waterfront and a vibrant arts scene, and provides a fascinating introduction to New Zealand’s proud cultural heritage. The centre is home to excellent shopping and a number of fantastic restaurants, and to the west is the city's oldest wine region.