Sidney - Bali, East or West Route?

[cayman09]

I'm looking at Sydney to Bali cruises (or reverse). One route goes from Sydney up the east side of Australia with stops at Brisbane, Whitsunday, Cairns and Darwin among others. The other route leaves Bali with western stops including Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Burnie before arriving in Sydney.

 

For those with experience cruising both sides of the continent, would you recommend one versus the other? We have never been to this part of the world before.

[OzKiwiJJ]

What time of year? If it's in our summer then the southern route might be more pleasant as it is very hot and humid around the Top End then.

 

[cayman09]

Either one will be in December.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Then it will probably be more pleasant doing the southern route weatherwise.

 

However it also depends on what you want to see in Australia. The southern route visits Australian cities. The east coast/northern route allows you to see some of the Great Barrier Reef, weather permitting.

 

 

[SinbadThePorter]

On 7/16/2019 at 4:57 AM, cayman09 said:

I'm looking at Sydney to Bali cruises (or reverse). One route goes from Sydney up the east side of Australia with stops at Brisbane, Whitsunday, Cairns and Darwin among others. The other route leaves Bali with western stops including Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Burnie before arriving in Sydney.

 

For those with experience cruising both sides of the continent, would you recommend one versus the other? We have never been to this part of the world before.

 

In December the climate across the North will tend to be hot and wet. The climate across the South will tend to be hot and dry.

 

The Northern route covers tropical ports (plus Brisbane). The Southern route covers most of the other state capital cities (except Hobart).

 

Either is good. Your choice would probably come down to whether you enjoy water activities in tropical climes or not.

[mort&fran]

On 7/15/2019 at 1:57 PM, cayman09 said:

I'm looking at Sydney to Bali cruises (or reverse). One route goes from Sydney up the east side of Australia with stops at Brisbane, Whitsunday, Cairns and Darwin among others. The other route leaves Bali with western stops including Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Burnie before arriving in Sydney.

 

Which cruise line are you considering?

[cayman09]

11 hours ago, mort&fran said:

 

Which cruise line are you considering?

Oceania, the Regatta does both trips.

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

I'm doing Regatta from Bali to Sydney - holiday cruise, I'm sure you've noticed that.  O will want final payment sooner than most cruises!  In Sydney we're continuing on to Auckland on a second cruise.  I haven't been to Australia, but have been doing some research, so thought I'd add my two cents. If you like big ticket places (big cities, proximity to big attractions outside the cities) the first 5 or so days on the Bali to Sydney cruise might be a little "light" for you unless you like beach days, water sports, and smallish places to visit.  I usually find something to do just about anywhere, and often end up loving the smaller places.  However, if you don't, you may be a bit disappointed by the Bali to Sydney cruise.  There doesn't appear to be a whole lot to do in Exmouth, and Geraldton (expecting both to be very hot but dry), and Albany appears to be a little "light" as well.  But that's not to say they aren't worth visiting,  and with the heat of Western Australia many people won't want to do a full day of touring anyway.  There are also a good number of sea days. Some people love those; I don't.  But Australia's a big country/continent, so I suppose all cruises to and around there include lots of sea days.  And perhaps some tendering is required too. 

 

On the Bali to Sydney cruise, Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne are the "big" ports, plus of course Sydney.  I'm looking forward to Melbourne a lot.  Phillip Island is mostly about seeing penguins come from the sea to nest at night.  It sounds quite touristy but fun.  I don't think Oceania has an excursion for that, so I've rented a car and we'll drive down to see them.  I've noticed there are some non-ship excursions to see them available as well, although it sounds like pre-booking is definitely desirable. I suppose it might be possible to get to see the Great Barrier Reef, but if so, it's not on my radar, probably mostly due to cost.  Burnie, Tasmania interests me a lot, but apparently getting there can be a little rough, and even occasionally ships can't make it.  

 

I don't know what the other itinerary offers, so just take my info with a grain of salt, as I haven't been to or even researched Cairns, Brisbane, Whitsunday, etc.  The cruise after Bali to Sydney in December goes to a few places in Australia and then over to New Zealand.

 

I see you're interested in Bali, as I was.  We're going early, hiring a driver (inexpensive), and seeing a little more than the southern area near the port.  I'm really excited about that.  It's probably going to be a little wet, though....  

 

I'm looking forward to Christmas and New Year's on the ship.  Last year we cruised after Christmas and over New Year's and found it quite fun. It was on another (similar) line but the decorations (ship and port cities) and special holiday spirit made cruising a bit magical. 

Edited July 26, 2019 by IWantToLiveOverTheSea

[possum52]

8 hours ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

Phillip Island is mostly about seeing penguins come from the sea to nest at night.  It sounds quite touristy but fun.  I don't think Oceania has an excursion for that, so I've rented a car and we'll drive down to see them. 

Looking at the Oceania Regatta cruise from Bali to Sydney 17th December 2020, I see that a Penguin Parade excursion is offered at Phillip Island. Is this your cruise? 

 

This is the tour description - 

Enjoy fantastic views of this beautiful island and the local wildlife residents, the world’s smallest penguins in their natural habitat, as the sun sets in the horizon.

Few things are cuter than watching hundreds of little blue penguins come out of the water, cross the golden sand and return home after a hard day looking for food in Australia’s Bass Strait. Phillip Island is home to an estimated 32,000 breeding pairs, the largest colony in Victoria and over 4,000 have burrows around Summerland Beach.

Sit back and relax as you travel around to the island’s most southwestern point in anticipation of this wondrous experience. Sometimes called blue, fairy or little penguins, the world’s smallest penguins measure just 13-inches high and weigh only two to three pounds. Like all penguins they cannot fly, but their paddle-like flippers are excellent for dashing at speeds of over three miles per hour through the water. Each day the little penguins leave their burrows about an hour before sunrise and swim up to 62 miles before returning at dusk. Affectionately known as the Penguin Parade, the spectacle of watching these cute creatures waddle across the sand has been entrancing visitors since 1920.

Arriving at Summerland Beach you’ll tour the Visitor Center where you’ll have ample free time to learn about the island's wildlife through a series of interactive and educational displays. Next, guides will escort you down the Penguin Parade boardwalks, through the penguin colony, to the beach or to the tiered viewing stands. Look for the penguin burrows where some penguins will rest during the day or where other penguins return to at sunset. Then, as the sun slowly sets, a hush falls over the crowds as hundreds of little penguins waddle up the beach to the safety of their homes in the sand dunes.

At the end of your adventure you'll return to the pier charmed by this unforgettable experience.

 

Please note: This tour includes nearly 3-hours of walking/standing on mostly flat surfaces and boardwalks, with some steps at the viewing platforms. Tour is available to wheelchair guests who have a collapsible wheelchair and are able to make their own way on and off transportation. Guests must be self-sufficient or if assistance is required, they should travel with a companion who can provide this. To thoroughly enjoy this bucket list adventure be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, weather appropriate clothing and a jacket, since the ocean breezes can be chilly late in the day. In order to protect the penguins, photography is not permitted.

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

Possum, that's interesting.  We're going on the Dec. 21, 2019 cruise from Bali on Regatta.  It gets to Phillip Island Jan. 3, 2020.  It's kind of unusual that Oceania has posted something for the Dec. 17, 2020 cruise visit, but not our cruise.  But I'll look again.  When I looked a couple weeks ago, there weren't any excursions listed for the Island on the day we're there. 

 

Thanks.

[possum52]

1 hour ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

Possum, that's interesting.  We're going on the Dec. 21, 2019 cruise from Bali on Regatta.  It gets to Phillip Island Jan. 3, 2020.  It's kind of unusual that Oceania has posted something for the Dec. 17, 2020 cruise visit, but not our cruise.  But I'll look again.  When I looked a couple weeks ago, there weren't any excursions listed for the Island on the day we're there. 

 

Thanks.

It seems unusual to not have any excursions for Phillip Island on your cruise. 

 

How long are you in Melbourne for? If two days, did you intend to drive to Phillip Island on the day you arrive? I haven't been to the Penguin Parade in January, but asked my son who takes his family regularly about times.  The penguins will start to come in at sunset - about 8.45 pm. It will take 45 mins to an hour for them all to come up the beach. It will take you about two hours to return to the ship if not longer. 

 

Leigh

[possum52]

Just looked at the Oceania website for your cruise and the Penguin Parade excursion is certainly listed.

 

Leigh

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

1 hour ago, possum52 said:

Just looked at the Oceania website for your cruise and the Penguin Parade excursion is certainly listed.

 

Leigh

It's listed where the public looks to find excursions that are likely to be offered on any cruise going to Phillip Island.   However, when I sign in and go to my actual cruise planner or whatever it's called, there are no excursions listed at all for Phillip Island on Jan. 4 under the Excursions tab.  I don't know if that's because they haven't firmed anything up yet (with price and time) or what.  For every other location we visit, there are excursions listed, with time(s) and price.  But it's OK, since we like doing things on our own.  Since it's peak travel time, I went ahead and rented a car for the day.  I also paid for penguin tickets.  I usually don't pre-pay for anything on a cruise, but the tickets were just the regular tickets, nothing upgraded, and so not horribly expensive. The upgraded options were already sold out a month ago when I booked, so I figured I should buy something before I go and not worry about the money.

 

We are scheduled to be in Melbourne Jan. 2, then visit Burnie Jan. 3 (hopefully, as I hear that occasionally ships don't make it) and then PI Jan. 4 from 9 AM to 11 PM.  I think I looked at the Port of Melbourne website a while back to confirm that they indeed had us down as being in PI, not Melbourne on Jan. 4, so I assume that's where we're going.  I sure hope so, as I'm really liking what I'm reading about the island, and I often like the lesser-known, smaller places as much as or more than the better-known places.   

 

So in early January, it should be dark around 8:45?  I was wondering just when we would need to get to the Penguin Parade location, and about how long it might take, going and coming. Google says it's only a half hour drive, but I'm not sure that will be the case on a busy day like Jan. 4, a Saturday.  I'm hoping we won't have to leave the parade early, but if so, doing that will be better than not getting back to the ship on time!

 

The cruise after that goes to Melbourne for almost 2 full days, so I will be seeing a lot of Melbourne, I think!

[possum52]

Just to clarify - you are visiting Phillip Island on Saturday January 4th which is when you are hiring a car and visiting the Penguin Parade? Do you know where the tenders will dock - Cowes or Rhyll? It is about 16 km from Rhyll to the Penguin Parade and 12 km from Cowes which depending on the traffic could take anywhere from 20 minutes to 30 minutes to travel. For the 4th of January the Penguin Parade website says to be there by 8 pm. 

 

I would think it extremely unlikely that the Penguin Parade would not be offered on your cruise as it is THE tourist attraction on the Island. Perhaps contact Oceania to check on the excursions to be offered.  

 

Your visit will be at a very time of the holiday season on Phillip Island and being a Saturday it will be extra busy with day trippers so any travel time could be longer than expected.

 

Leigh