This was published 2 years ago
7 destinations that will reignite your love for travel
By Ben Groundwater
Carnival Cruises offers fun onboard and far-flung adventures.
Travel is back and it's time to find your fun and reconnect with friends and family in some of our favourite local destinations.
And what better way to "sea our backyard" than on a cruise? Avoid airports and planes all together, and jump on a round-trip cruise from Australian ports to get reacquainted with the region, and have some serious fun while doing it.
Here are a few destinations you could explore on an adventure with Carnival Cruise Line – sure to give you a holiday packed with funbelievable memories
Hobart, Australia
Cuisine and culture await in Hobart.Credit: Getty
It seems as if everyone wants to visit the Tasmanian capital right now, and with good reason. You can find some of Australia's best food and wine in Hobart, with a huge number of restaurants, cafes and delis to choose from.
And if your visit happens to fall on a Saturday, a visit to the iconic Salamanca Market is a must. To work off all of that food and drink, there's also Mt Wellington, the imposing peak from which visitors can enjoy some incredible views while taking the chance to stretch their legs.
Cairns, Australia
Enjoy al fresco adventures in Cairns.Credit: Getty
Australia's adventure capital requires no introduction: this is the place to get in touch with everything Tropical North Queensland has to offer, from adrenaline sports to microbreweries to lagoon-side hangs.
This is the home of Skypark, the AJ Hackett bungy centre; it's also the place to ride the gondola up to Kuranda, sample the great food in Cairns, visit local shops, art galleries, museums, and enjoy the sprawling esplanade area. Don't miss a quick dip in the lagoon, either.
Noumea, New Caledonia
In Noumea, French charm meets Pacific paradise.Credit: Getty Images
Interested in the charm of France, but also fancy a tropical getaway? Then we have the place for you: Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia, and a destination that seamlessly blends French charm with Pacific idyll.
Visit Noumea and you can call past a bakery for a fresh baguette, sit at a sidewalk café and watch the world go by, and wander streets filled with both French and Melanesian culture. After that, prepare for a swim in some of the warmest, clearest waters you have ever seen.
Moreton Island, Australia
Snorkel shipwrecks on the breathtaking coastlines of Moreton Island.Credit: Getty
When it comes to exploring more of our own backyard, it doesn't get much better than Queensland's Moreton Island – the greatest setting for laid-back beach holidays and adrenaline adventures alike.
Beyond its postcard perfect shorelines, Moreton Island delivers incredible scenery, mammoth sand dunes, glassy lakes, rocky outcrops, wild forest, and a lonely lighthouse. With plenty to see and do, if you name it, Moreton Island likely has it.
Fiordland Park, New Zealand
Breathtaking views at Fiordland Park.Credit: Getty
Few destinations around the world can top the natural beauty of this rugged coastal area on New Zealand's South Island, which takes in Milford Sound, Mitre Peak, and so many more jaw-dropping landmarks.
To cruise here is to understand just how beautiful the world can be. Carnival passengers can not only witness Milford Sound and the surrounding area by water, but there's also the chance to visit Mitre Peak and snap some incredible photos of the Fiordland scenery.
Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland is the multi-cultural cosmopolitan heart of New Zealand.Credit: Getty
New Zealand's largest city is also one of its biggest attractions. This is a place to explore local Maori culture, to sample delicious food and wine, to enjoy views of the harbour, check out the Sky Tower, and even to indulge in that most Kiwi of pastimes: bungy jumping.
There's far more to do in Auckland than you could ever pack into a short stay, so the trick is to choose the attractions that most appeal, and dive in. New Zealand's cosmopolitan heart has got you covered.
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Take a splash in Vanuatu's Cascade Waterfalls.Credit: Getty
Port Vila is a true experience of the Pacific, a character-filled city that's big on culture, based on an island that's huge on natural beauty.
A shore excursion here provides the chance to visit the amazing Cascade Waterfalls (and take a splash with locals in the waterhole), to visit Vanuatu's national museum, or to wander Port Vila and pick up a souvenir or two at the local market. Or, plan a trip out to the reef for a snorkel.
Carnival Cruise Line is the World's Most Popular Cruise Line®. Carnival Splendor and Carnival Spirit are both scheduled to return to Australia when cruise operations resume from their scheduled home ports of Sydney and Brisbane. Designed with fun in mind and featuring over 45 activities to enjoy each day, Carnival offers families and couples fun, memorable holidays at great value.
The health and safety of Carnival's guests is the utmost priority. As such, the actual cruise offerings may vary from the descriptions and images displayed, while Carnival assesses the enhancements of its onboard health and safety protocols in light of COVID-19.
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