KEY OPTIONS: SAILING/CRUISING
Day trips
Sydney Harbour Cruises: a cruise combined with city sightseeing tour priced from around £30 per person with operators such as Kuoni, although regular ferries ply the harbour for those on a budget.
Great Barrier Reef excursions: from Cairns by catamaran, motor launch and sailing boat from £52 per person with Jetabout including reef viewing.
Swan River scenic cruise: from Perth to Fremantle from £13 per person with Jetabout or combined with a city tour from £29 with Jetset. Widely featured by all major wholesalers.
Reef Endeavour: 73-metre ship with 75 cabins cruising either north or south from Cairns with island stops. Prices from £441 each for three nights’ twin share with Travel 2.
Norwegian Star: seven 13-day cruises between Sydney, Cairns and Darwin owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and to be included in the new NCL Worldwide Cruising programme. Prices to be confirmed.
Longer duration
Yacht charters: main bases of Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island, Queensland. Some availability from Sydney and Pittwater.
Bareboat charter: client crews the sailing boat after basic instruction. Four-berth yacht from £895 a week per vessel with Sunsail.
Flotilla sailing: client sails boat with support of back-up crew. Prices as bareboat rates plus from £90 a day for a skipper and £65 a day for cook/hostess. Bookable through major wholesalers or specialists such as Sunsail.