Who needs the Caribbean when you can cruise from Australia?

Champagne Beach in Vanuatu: a quick cruise from Australia ... photo by CC user Jae Lee on wikipedia.org

When one thinks of cruises, people usually picture a holiday through the islands of the Caribbean. Being one of the places where the industry got its start, its understandable that anybody would make that association.

However, with the expansion of this luxury vacation option around the world, there are places around the world that can make an argument for being a better cruise circuit. One of these regions is the South Pacific, as these volcanic and coral isles possess beauty that rivals what can be found on the other side of the globe.

With a variety of South Pacific family cruises from Brisbane available, you’ll have the opportunity to see how this part of the world doesn’t just match the Caribbean in brilliance … it blows it away. Let’s explore this region in further detail in the article below…

New Caledonia

A territory well known for its outstanding snorkeling, picture perfect beaches, and the opportunity to eat sumptuous French food in tropical surroundings, New Caledonia makes a fine first stop on any family cruise from Australia. If you are looking for a shore excursion that will appeal to everyone in your party, then heading out to Amedee Lighthouse Island is the option you’ll want to pick.

It is one of the best places in New Caledonia to slap on a snorkel, mask and a pair of fins, but if you don’t want to swim out amidst the reefs here, then a glass bottomed boat will allow you and your children to take in the splendor that exists below the water’s surface in this corner of the South Pacific.

Vanuatu

With thousands of years of Polynesian habitation, those looking for some culture to go along with their time on flawless white sand beaches will find it in Vanuatu.

Whether you seek to drink kava, eat a lap-lap meal that spent countless hours baking beneath the surface of the earth, or simply want to splash among the baby blue waters that graces the shores of this gorgeous archipelago, you will find it all here.

One more tip: try the locally raised beef when you are dining out on-shore: it is reputed to be among the best in the world due to this nation’s cattle being raised exclusively on grass.

Papua New Guinea

Looking for a South Pacific destination that can truly be considered exotic? Papua New Guinea, with its numerous tribes and traditions, lush jungle, techicolor reefs, and smoking volcanoes fits this ideal perfectly.

A typical destination for most cruise lines in this region is Rabaul on the island of New Britain. Apart from the usual assortment of beaches and duty free shops, an attraction you’ll definitely want to consider checking out is its Volcanological Observatory, which monitors the dozens of active and dormant volcanoes in the area.