Island Empires & Ancient Mariners

The new Darwin cruise ship terminal at Fort Hill Wharf is adjacent to the convention centre, only one kilometre from Darwin’s CBD. Modern amenities, hotels and parking are there, plus a mini-market with beautiful local productions – Aboriginal art and crafts, diamonds and opals, and eateries, distinctive of the Top End. Darwin is a home port for the small luxury vessels Coral Princess and Coral Discoverer that explore the Kimberley coast to Broome. Read more about Darwin, Australia

Alor is the largest island in the Alor archipelago, located at the eastern-most end of the chain of islands that runs through southern Indonesia. The island is of volcanic origin with very rugged terrain, and the only town, Kalabahi, is located on the flat area facing the main harbour. The archipelago offers some of the best snorkelling and diving in Indonesia, but due to intriguing and often very strong currents it is best to snorkel or dive with someone who knows the area well. Read more about Alor Island, Indonesia

Ende is a port and capital of Ende Regency in the East Nusa Tenggara ("eastern southeastern islands”) province of Indonesia. Ende is located on the south coast of Flores Island, adjacent to Sumba and Timor islands, and has a population of 60,000. The island lies on a gigantic arc of volcanoes that curves 5000 km across the Indonesian archipelago, parallel to a tectonic fault line and earthquake zone. Read more about Ende (Flores), Indonesia

Read more about Tana Beru, Indonesia

Makassar (Ujung Pandang) is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is the largest city on Sulawesi Island (population 2,000,000), on the SW coast facing Makassar Strait. Historically famous for its free trade policy and of course the production of oil, it is perhaps now also very well known for Karebosi Link, the first ever underground shopping mall in Indonesia, as well as Trans Kala, the third largest indoor theme park in the world. Read more about Makassar, Indonesia