Holland America Line: Westerdam

Sydney

Soak up Sydney’s gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty. Kayak under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave at the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee. Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington. As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festivals and 24-7 fun.

Five Sydney Experiences Not to Miss:

1. Explore the historic Rocks

Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history in the harbourside quarter where it all began. Just five minutes from Circular Quay, you can hear stories of hangings and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge. In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you’ll find historic workman’s cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney’s oldest pubs. See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.

2. Hit the world-famous harbour

Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak. Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands. Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney’s first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise. Watch the harbour glitter from the green parklands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge. Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watsons Bay at South Head. Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay, on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.

3. Visit Manly on the ferry

Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour. Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower. Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail or kayak from Manly Wharf round the harbour. Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach. Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.

4. Enjoy café culture and top shopping in Paddington

Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra. Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets. Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford St or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores. Crawl between the lively, historic pubs. They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or a race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled trackside finery.

5. Walk from Bondi to Coogee

Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee. Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant above. See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand. From mid-October to November, the stretch from here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte. Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon’s Bay. See the graves of poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs. Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.

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Noumea, New Caledonia's capital, is a city of French culture often referred to as St-Tropez of the Pacific. Noumea is a pretty city with sidewalk cafes and little bistros resembling a French provincial town. Arriving in Noumea creates a feeling of being in a France while native Kanak people dress in colorful ankle-length dresses and fish the reef with spears for the evening’s meal. Not far off the coast, the longest barrier reef in the world shelters 350 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish. It looks its best from November through January when the Poincianas, or flame trees, turn red. Sights to see include Place des Cocotiers, St. Joseph's Cathedral, Aquarium, and Botanical Garden and Zoo.

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Located on the southern part of the Vanuatu archipelago this beautiful island is a relaxing uninhabited location for those wanting to get away from it all. The clear blue waters are calm and perfect for swimming. Visitors also have the opportunity to snorkel or dive around the coral reef that is teeming with colorful marine life.

Port Vila is located around a magnificent natural harbour offering stunning views of Iririki and Ifira islands. It is Vanuatu's international gateway and remains the only town on the island. Vila is a pretty town. Clean and uncluttered, the waterfront area is so unpolluted, visitors are stunned to look down from the seawall and see live corals and tropical fish. It's also fast becoming known as the gourmet capital of the South Pacific. Though there is little night life in Vila except at the Resort Hotels, there is a nightclub (Flamingo), a friendly casino (at Le Meridien Resort), a movie theatre (French only) and some restaurants which often feature local or imported musicians. Best of all, Vila is a safe and hassle free environment. Stroll along the waterfront or darkened back streets late at night, and passing locals are likely to wish you a soft "Good night", or perhaps strike up a friendly conversation.

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Lautoka is sited in the western side of Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji, and approximately 250 km from Suva, the capital. The city is surrounded with the blue Pacific Ocean on the western side and green gold sugar cane together with pine trees on the other sides. This side of the island is more diverse. One of the prime shopping areas nearby is the town of Nadi.

Suva is the pulsing heart of the South Pacific and Fiji's main port. This waterfront district provides the hub for much of Suva’s activiy with high-rise office buildings, colonial buildings with second-story verandas, parks and government buildings. Many main points of interest are located on Victoria Parade and its extension, tree-shaded Queen Elizabeth Drive. Visit Thurston Gardens, Suva’s botanical park lush. The Fiji Museum reflects 3,000 years of Fijian history. Government House is on a hillside surrounded by landscaped grounds. The monthly Changing of the Guard is executed with almost as much pomp and ceremony as at London’s Buckingham Palace. Tholo-I-Suva Forest Park offers miles of trails through beautiful mahogany forest. There are waterfalls, natural swimming pools and thatched pavilions with tables. At picturesque Suva Cemetery you will find Fijian graves wrapped in colorful sulus and tapa cloth. The Pacific Harbor Resort on Coral Coast boasts an 18-hole championship course. Watersports include fishing, diving, and snorkeling.

Dravuni Island, Fiji is a tropical island paradise. On the island is a small tribe of villagers who open their hearts and homes to visitors. Not a bustling port, Dravuni is a perfect place to relax and enjoy what nature has to offer. Hike up the grassy slopes of Dravuni’s highest peak for a spectacular view of the sea and surrounding islands. Have a lazy day on one of their many beautiful beaches or take a snorkel or dive around one of the last healthy reefs in the Pacific.

Often referred to as Fiji’s Hidden Paradise, Savusavu appears to be much the same as it was 30 years ago. Founded before the Deed of Cession, Savusavu was originally established as a center for sailing ships trading in sandalwood, beche-de-mer and copra. Savusavu continues to be a copra town with a processing mill in Balaga Bay at the very bottom of Savusavu Bay. Between the creek and main street is the Copra Shed which was built in 1917 by the Savusavu Planter’s Co-operative Association and later taken over by Morris Hedstrom as a trading store. The renovated Copra Shed still exists today as the main facility for the Copra Shed Marina.

Travel across the International Dateline and step forward or backward in time one day.

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Pago Pago, the town and capital of American Samoa, is on the Southern shore of Tutuila island. Pago Pago has an excellent, landlocked harbor.

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Cruise across the Equator from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere.

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This famous area of the Big Island is on the western side along the coast North Kona and South Kona. Kailua-Kona is the name of the main town along the coast, with Kona added to distinguish it from other Kailuas. This tourist-oriented seaside village is at the base of 8,271 foot Mt Kaulalai. The main drag is Alii Dr, over a mile of oceanfront shops and restaurants. The newer Waterfront Row complex is at the southern end of the tourist strip. It is a shopping and dining complex. There is a seawall along the waterfront that is popular with fishermen and locals who weave hats and mats for tourists. There is the Kailua Pier where marlin are weighed in tournaments. Most big game fish are landed at Honokohau Harbor.

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British culture and island informality collide in Victoria. This sophisticated seaside city is full of historic sites, parks and gardens. Take a walking tour - many of which begin at Parliament Buildings at Victoria's Inner Harbor. Combined with majestic Empress Hotel, these monumental buildings give the city a regal European feel. See equally impressive modern structures, such as Royal British Columbia History Museum, or replicas of large, native Northwest Indian houses at Thunderbird Park. Unique attractions include Undersea Gardens, Miniature World, Maritime Museum, Chinatown and Royal London Wax Museum. A memorable places to visit is world-famous Butchart Gardens, with 5,000 fauna varieties. The dazzling gardens on Saanich Inlet are beautiful at night, when hundreds of lights sparkle along winding paths. Additional gardens in Victoria include Crystal Garden and the gardens surrounding Government House and near Craigdarroch Castle, a towering Victorian mansion complete with a tower and turrets. Tour this city in a horse-drawn carriage.

Seattle is situated on Puget Sound, surrounded by the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. The city skyline is impressive with shimmering glass high-rises and 100-year-old buildings standing side by side. This beautiful port city came into its own after gold was discovered in the Klondike and 100,000 people passed through the Northwest in 1897 and 1898 on their quest for wealth in Alaska Visit the Klondike Gold Rush Museum or the Space Needle by day and enjoy a vibrant jazz nightlife in turn-of-the-century Pioneer Square where the city first took root.