Australia is a country of amazing diversity and awe-\rinspiring beauty. From grand cities to ancient coral \rreefs, there is no end of star attractions in the land of \rOz and the best way to see them is to book yourself on \ran Australia cruise.

Sydney and its world famous harbor is a good starting \rpoint for an Australia cruise, although it is of course \rpossible to start at other Australian ports, and also \rat ports outside of Australia. For instance, you could \rjoin the US to Australia leg of a round-the-world cruise \rat Los Angeles and find yourself in Sydney, Australia \r30-days later. From Sydney you could depart on a smaller \rcruise around Australia and/or New Zealand.

Cruise routes around Australia normally concentrate on \rport stops along the East and North coasts. Brisbane, \rthe Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Port Douglas, \rTownsville and Darwin are the main ports of call, with \rcruise durations typically of between 7-10 days. From \rDarwin, a few cruise lines offer services westwards \rtowards Broome. Cruises along the southern and western \rcoasts are less popular. Here, the main ports of call \rare Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. A port stop in \rTasmania is also incorporated into many an Australia \rcruise, as are ports of call in New Zealand, such as \rAuckland and Dunedin, and sometimes ports of call in \rIndonesia.

So, what great treasures await those who adventure to \rAustralia on a cruise? Sydney, Australia's capital and \rthe jewel in the crown of Australia's south-east \rcoastline, offers a whole host of sightseeing \ropportunities just on its own. Sydney harbor, the Opera \rHouse, Bondi Beach and Watson's Bay are among the top \rattractions. Sydney is also bursting with museums, \rfine restaurants and excellent shopping facilities. \rTwo hours outside of Sydney is the world renowned \rHunter Valley wine region, where you can sample some \rof Australia's finest wines.

Further to the North, the Gold Coast - one of the \rworld's hottest surfing locations - and the city of \rBrisbane await. In Brisbane you will have many shore \rexcursions to choose from, including boat trips up the \rBrisbane River and a bushwalking experience in Brisbane \rdistrict's forests.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's main \rattractions. You can dive the reef to experience its \rfull glory, join a snorkeling tour of the reef or see the \rreef from the air. There are also opportunities for \rlandward adventures into the great Australian outback.

Cairns offers a further experience with the Great Barrier \rReef, as well as beautiful sandy beaches, while Darwin \r- one of the hottest coastal regions in Australia during \rthe summer - is another great place in which to relax \runder the hot Australian sun.

John Metcalfe is the author and web publisher of A to Z Cruises your #1 \rsource \rfor cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit \rhttp://www.azcruises.com \rnow to book your very own dream Australia Cruise vacation.