Surrounded by more than 30,000km of coastline, its perimeter dotted with thousands of beautiful islands. A continent traversed by hundreds of rivers and inland waterways. Hardly surprising therefore that Australia boasts scores of spectacular cruising options.

Whether it’s a luxury wilderness cruise along the rugged Kimberley coast or a paddlewheeler winding its way along the mighty Murray River. Whether it’s a whale watching cruise off Fraser Island or jetboating on Tasmania’s Gordon River. Sailing with dolphins in the Whitsundays or cruising with crocs through Kakadu’s wetlands. From an afternoon coffee cruise on Sydney Harbour to a full day snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, or a fortnight touring the spectacular Top End in style; no visitor should miss this unique perspective of Australia.

Help hoist the sails, take the helm and grind the winches or just sit back and relax on a luxury yacht. Spend the afternoon learning to sail on Sydney’s sparkling waterways or a week in the hands of a very capable crew cruising the idyllic island studded Whitsundays.

Alternatively, a collection of multi-day luxury cruises showcases remote places of otherwise inaccessible beauty:

Fish for prize Marlin, watch rare turtles waddle remote sands, snorkel with brightly coloured fish by day or dive the reef by night. Enjoy a chilled champagne in the spa or simply relax in a deckchair in the sun as you cruise from one spectacular Great Barrier Reef location to the next.

Watch for whales (in season), swim with turtles, comb endless white sands, climb forested volcanic peaks to spectacular lookouts and sip sunset cocktails as you cruise through the protected waters and pristine islands of the idyllic Whitsunday archipelago.

Visit ancient aboriginal rock art, hook yourself a barramundi, marvel at the breathtaking Horizontal Falls and ‘heli picnic’ beside spectacular gorges as you cruise the secluded waterways and breathtaking splendours of Australia’s wild and remote Kimberley Coast.

There is no parallel for the unforgettable experiences these journeys afford and no compromising of comforts on board. Luxury appointed vessels are more like floating hotels boasting a range of comforts which may include gourmet dining, heated spas, helipads and marble clad bathrooms; comfortable king-size beds and unbeatable waterfront views.

Note: No official qualifications or licences are required to charter a yacht in the Whitsundays, however most companies will insist that at least one member of your party has substantial sailing experience. Alternatively most also offer the option of taking a skipper onboard for some or all of your charter.