Northstar

10 | www.travelweekly-asia.com EXPEDITION CRUISE SYDNEY King Island Flinders Island Wineglass Bay Coles Bay Maria Island Bruny Island Hobart Milford Sound Doubtful Sound Dusky Sound Bluff Stewart Island Dunedin CHRISTCHURCH AUSTRALIA TASMANIA NEW ZEALAND TA S M A N I A & T H E FJ O R D S O F N E W Z E A L A N D 14-NIGHT TASMANIA & FJORDS OF NEW ZEALAND (SYDNEY – CHRISTCHURCH) DAY DESTINATION DEPART 1 Sydney, Australia Embark / pm 2 Cruising the Coast of Australia 3 King Island, Tasmania, Australia 4 Flinders Island, Tasmania, Australia 5 Wineglass Bay, Tasmania, Australia Coles Bay, Tasmania, Australia 6 Coles Bay, Tasmania, Australia Maria Island, Tasmania, Australia 7 Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 8 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 9 Cruising The Tasman Sea 10 Cruising The Tasman Sea 11 Milford Sound, New Zealand Doubtful Sound, New Zealand Dusky Sound, New Zealand 12 Dusky Sound, New Zealand Bluff , New Zealand Stewart Island, New Zealand 13 Stewart Island, New Zealand 14 Dunedin, New Zealand Christchurch (Lyttelton), New Zealand Disembark / am Visit crystalcruises.com for more information or call +65 6832 9687 for booking enquiries. CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR Overnight Suite up to the palatial 119sqm Expedition Suite. Not only that, travellers can expect their every request from a comforting midnight snack to unpacking to be fulfilled by Crystal's expertly- trained butlers. Dining will be a treat with Michelin-inspired options such as Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa's Umi Uma & Sushi Bar. It will even have a casino on board – the first for expedition ships – as well as a shopping boutique. Roaming the world's remotest corners Amid its luxurious array of creature comforts, the ship retains its strong expedition focus. What is apparent are its cleverly designed venues that maximise the views of spectacular scenery outside. Perched at the top two levels of the ship's bow, guests will enjoy floor-to-ceiling views from the Palm Court or can opt to wander to the ship's rear to the two-storey, glass-enclosed Solarium for a relaxing swim. Off the ship is where the real adventure begins. Expeditions to the world's most vivid tropical regions uncover a natural world teeming with unique biodiversity. Travellers are well-equipped to zoom on zodiacs for shore landings on untouched beaches and national parks, kayak along coastal areas as well as snorkel in crystal clear waters to see colourful corals, fishes and turtles that inhabit some of the world's richest ecosystems. In November, guests of Crystal Endeavor will have the rare opportunity to go on a comprehensive top-to-bottom expedition of Australia's Great Barrier Reef with scenic detours to the outlying islands along the eastern coast. Enriching the expedition experience is a dedicated expedition team consisting of 25 experts in fields ranging from marine biology and ornithology to history and more to provide their in-depth insights and unique highlights of the tropical region. four dedicated days have been allocated for expedition stops. There are perhaps few places that are like Percy Isles, which is part of the Northumberland Islands off the tropical coast of Queensland. Only accessible by private boat (there are no public ferries), guests of Endeavor will have a chance to visit the largest of the three islands, Middle Island, a national park teeming with some 600 species of flora and fauna. Deep into destinations Another enticing option for travellers is a voyage to Tasmania and the remote coastal stretches of New Zealand's South Island. The 14-night voyage traces the less-visited areas of Tasmania such as Coles Bay on the eastern coast, recognisable by its pinkish granite mountains and home to abundant wildlife at the neighbouring Freycinet National Park, and Maria Island, affectionately known as the Noah's Ark of Tasmania when it became a haven for imperilled Australian species in the 1960s such as emus, swift parrots, bare-nosed wombats and eastern grey kangaroos. Travellers can opt to take their exploration to new heights with a soaring helicopter ride over the bays and waters or plunge up to 298 metres into the water in a submersible in search of corals, fishes and turtles that inhabit some of the world's richest ecosystems. Crossing over the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, the ship's route begins from the southwest Milford Sound to the southern tip of Stewart Island, the spot to watch the birds on Ulva Island, and makes a stop at the Scottish-influenced Dunedin before concluding in Christchurch. The social hub of Crystal Endeavor is the Palm Court for afternoon teas by day and entertainment by night. Travellers begin their 14-night exploration from the Tropical North Queensland city of Cairns all the way to Sydney, winding along the coast to visit Magnetic Island, a wildlife haven where visits can gaze at sleepy-eyed koalas, huggable rock wallabies and brushtail possums. The national park, which stretches 52sq km, provides a rich backdrop for scenic walks or cycling. But the main event will undoubtedly be the remote excursions far out on the Coral Sea, where Sheep grazing along the coasts of Christchurch. CREDIT: ALIZADASTUDIOS/GETTYIMAGES Watch huggable Koalas in action at Magnetic Island situated off the coast of Queensland.

• Cover