15 Night Cruise sailing from Perth to Melbourne aboard Azamara Quest.

There’s nothing like being on the other side of the world for the holidays. This remarkable voyage begins in Perth, Australia, and sails from Western to Southern Australia to Sydney for New Year’s Eve. Five sea-crossing days include a feast and celebration on Christmas. But the celebration continues. After all, you’re on the Azamara Quest®, with six cocktail lounges, a wine cellar, and a casino (with a bar). Merry merry!

From Perth, sail to Albany, where you can visit the poignant National Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Centre celebrating Albany’s role in the Gallipoli landing in 1914. Arrive in South Australia and soak up Adelaide’s colonial elegance in the spacious green parks that are everywhere. Or take your pick of world-class wineries in the nearby Barossa and Clare valleys.

The stunning city of Sydney will bring your 2018 to a close. From a perfect vantage point on the Sydney Harbour, this New Year’s Eve starts early with an air show, followed by the magical Harbour of Light parade. At midnight, the famous fireworks explode over the bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Millions of people will be watching on television and online. You, on the other hand, will be right in the middle of it all. Happy New Year!

Your voyage concludes in Melbourne, where celebrating is equally encouraged. It’s hard not to on this voyage, mate.

Highlights of this cruise:

Perth
Perth, once an Australian backwater, is now at the vanguard of cool, with cutting-edge art, miles of stunning beaches, and a culture that’s both relaxed and impatient for the future.

Situated beside the Swan River, Perth is a magical place to explore. Start in Kings Park on Mount Eliza for the best views and an enchanting treetop walk. To indulge in some retail therapy, visit the high-end fashion boutiques of King Street. Art lovers will want to get acquainted with the center of Perth's art scene—the Art Gallery of Western Australia which features the best collection of Aboriginal art in the country.

You can’t miss the historic port of Fremantle with its prison & shipwreck galleries. And just north of Perth lies Swan Valley, Western Australia's oldest wine region. Handpick a bottle or two from one of the state-of-the-art boutique wineries.

In the evening, do as Prince Charles has done and have a beach barbie on Cottelsloe Beach with a Pink Ruby Swizzle. Then watch the sun sizzle as it sinks into the waters of the Indian Ocean.

Adelaide
Adelaide, to some, is the civilized part of Australia. Pretty and leafy, with spacious green parklands, history buffs can download several walking tours around Victoria Square. Foodies will relish the vibrant culinary scene here. And everyone will be fascinated with the Aboriginal Culture Gallery at the South Australian Museum with an amazing collection of boomerangs, grouped according to purpose - hunting, fighting, ceremony.

Wander through the glass houses in The Botanic Gardens and see everything from endangered plants to noisy pitta birds to water lilies that only open at night. Or visit the Cleland Wildlife Park where you can hold a koala (cute) or a snake (scary).

Tour Adelaide Hills where you’ll explore the enchanting village of Hahndorf and stop in one of several excellent wineries. Or visit “the prettiest cricket stadium in the world,” the Adelaide Oval, with a collection from Sir Donald George Bradman, the world’s greatest batsman. And you thought Aussies only played footy.

Sydney
Sydney is located on the south-east coast of Australia. It is the largest and most populated city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. The city is built on hills surrounding Sydney Harbour where the Sydney Harbour bridge and the Sydney Opera House are located. The region features many bays, rivers, inlets and beaches including the famous Bondi Beach. Within the city are many picturesque parks including Hyde Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The most well-known attractions include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Other attractions include Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park, some 40 beaches and Sydney Tower. The Rocks precinct includes the first colonial village of Sydney and some great shops, cafes and galleries are located here. Sydney also has several popular museums, such as the Australian Museum (natural history and anthropology), the Powerhouse Museum (science, technology and design), the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Hobart
The first thing you notice when you step ashore in Hobart, Tasmania is the crystal clear fresh air. And with the abundance of national parks, forests, lakes, beaches, waterfalls, and mountains found in this tiny island state, it’s easy to see why.

The capital and most populous city in Tasmania, Hobart is filled with old world charm. Stroll along the historic waterfront—famous for its Georgian architecture—and take in the sights. Make your way to Salamanca Place filled with rows of sandstone buildings. Be sure to check out the market, if you happen to arrive on a Saturday. The buildings are filled with bars and restaurants, shops and boutiques, and galleries and craft shops—the perfect place to pick up a souvenir for your friends and family back home handmade by one of Hobart’s many local artisans.

Head just outside of the city to Mount Wellington, which serves as a picture perfect backdrop to the city, and do a little hiking. Or, to explore further, take a day trip to discover the vast beauty of Bruny Island, drive along the East Coast Escape to Freycinet National Park, or learn more about Tasmania’s past as a penal colony at Port Arthur Historic Site.

Melbourne
Melbourne has the honor of being “the world’s most livable city” not to mention “Australia’s cultural capital”, a UNESCO City of Literature, the hub of the country’s film and television industry, and the unquestioned sporting capital of Australia. But don’t mistake Melbourne for a relentless overachiever, it’s got a laid-back and easy vibe that will leave you wanting more.

The best way to experience what makes Melbourne so special is to hit the streets and explore. Your first stop should be to fuel up with a cup of jo. Coffee culture is taken very seriously here, and there are all kinds of quaint cafés to be found on the charming city streets. Then, wander to take in the restored 19th-century architecture—including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition building—much of which was built following the Victorian gold rush.

Visit the seaside suburb of St. Kilda for such renowned attractions as Luna Park, Fitzroy Street, and St. Kilda Beach, the city’s most famous beach. Stroll through Melbourne’s interconnected arcades and laneways, filled with vibrant street art, boutiques, restaurants and cafés, or enjoy a leisurely walk through the heart of the city center at the Royal Botanic Gardens.