Today was by far our most enjoyable day of cruising since starting out. We left Darwin on Friday, sailed across the Arafura Sea skirting the north of the Gulf of Carpentaria on Saturday, and today, Sunday, sailed through Torres Strait and began our journey down the coast of Queensland. We woke early and went up on deck to farewell the full moon and welcome the sunrise. The sea was like glass and the quiet of the morning was hauntingly beautiful as we slid through...

Into our third week at sea and we continue to roll with the waves - lulled more and more by their relaxing rhythms. In fact, we are so relaxed we almost missed Bali. It was a grey old day there and the Port of Benoa does nothing much to highlight the true beauty of Bali. Having been to the country several times before, we decided to only spend a short time ashore and expend minimal effort fighting off the hawkers and trying to stay dry from the downpours. I fear ...

Today we landed in Fremantle, our third Western Australia port of call. As we had last spent time in Perth earlier this year we did not venture in to the capital city, but instead decided to stay and enjoy the atmosphere and sights this very scenic port. Established in 1829, the city has many beautiful old buildings. This time we went to the World Heritage listed Fremantle Prison and also spent time in the Shipwreck Galleries where the wreck of the Batavia figure...

Today we made history as we stepped ashore at Busselton off the first cruise ship to ever visit here. We anchored a long way out and had to tender in and, although the day started off wet and grey, the warm welcome we received could not be dampened in any way. The locals went all out, dressed in costume, bands playing, market stalls set up, volunteers handing out maps and information and providing free guided tours, free shuttle buses to the nearby town of Dunsbo...

After two days at sea crossing the Great Australian Bight in five to six metre swells, we arrived in Albany, a charming and picturesque town on the southern most tip of Western Australia's rugged coastline. Settled as a penal outpost in 1826, it became the first European settlement in Western Australia. With its fine natural harbour it became a busy trading port and also developed into the base for a profitable whaling industry. What this wind-swept settlement is...