27th January 2025

Australia Day

Our friends down under-celebrated Australia Day yesterday! A country that can sometimes feel like an enigma, its immense scale, can have prospective visitors scratching their heads: where do we start? Well, fear not; Princess Cruises has it all planned out.

Fire up the 'barbie

A national day held annually on January 26th, Australians observe the anniversary of British ships arriving to establish the first European settlement in 1788. Venues nationwide hold Aussie-themed events, present awards, and welcome new Australian citizens. It’s also the perfect opportunity to host friends and family and fire up the barbie.

Record-breaking

Regatta First held in 1837, the Australia Day Regatta is the world's oldest continuously run annual sailing event. Open to every kind of vessel, ocean racers, radio-controlled yachts and historic skiffs all take their spot in a race set against the iconic backdrop of Sydney Harbour – quite a sight if you happen to be in town for it.

Sydney Celebrations

Speaking of Sydney, this iconic city knows how to put on a party. From full-blown music concerts and firework displays to Royal Air Force flypasts and Aboriginal artwork illuminations on the Opera House, events run from dusk until dawn. A crowd favourite is the Ferrython, where thousands of spectators watch as four of the city’s famous ferries race across the waves.

See More of Australia with Princess Cruises

Attractions that are a kangaroo hop from the cruise port

Home to world-class attractions, ancient lands and diverse ecosystems, it’s little wonder Australia claims the top spot on most traveller’s wish lists. Princess offer a whole host of hassle-free ways to hit up the most popular sights, including stops at major cities like Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns (considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef).

Super wildlife excursions

Kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, wombats, duck-billed platypus’… Australia is renowned for its incredible wildlife. Many of the cutest critters live in forests and grassy plains, just a short distance from major cities, making it very probable that you’ll be able to spot some during your time ashore. Suppose you don’t like leaving these things up to chance? In that case, Princess offers plenty of excursions, including trips to animal sanctuaries, iconic zoos, glass-bottom boat tours and national park visits with expert guides (to name a few).

Visit spots to make your jaw drop

Roughly 32 times bigger than the UK, the list of things to see and do is almost as grand as the continent. Clocking up no less than 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, take your pick from the Greater Blue Mountains, Gondwana Rainforests, the Great Barrier Reef, and more. Uluru Rock (Ayers Rock) is arguably Australia’s most emblematic landmark. Standing 348m above sea level and made of red sandstone, it takes 3-4 hours to walk around its 10km base!

Bonza onboard experiences

Featuring culinary experiences with delicious dishes created exclusively for Princess, you’ll also find the beverage menu includes popular regional beer, wine and whisky selections. Feature films with a local Australian or New Zealand twist – such as the Lord of the Rings – are played at the Movies Under the Stars® outdoor theatre. Plus, you can experience traditional Māori culture on board as you learn the legend of the haka.

Want to explore Australia with Princess cruises? See all their sailings here.