World Cruise: Pearls Of The South Pacific - 5210

Los Angeles, also called LA, or the City of Angels, is situated in southern California, and as the home base of Hollywood is the Entertainment Capital of the world. There is so much to do in this famous city, such as visit LA's most popular beach Santa Monica that offers ocean activities, shopping, street performers and more, or simply investigate the fantastic shopping venues. Helicopter tours are now becoming extremely popular, as one gets to see beaches, movie star homes, the Hollywood sign, downtown, and all of the attractions through the eyes of an expert. Read more about Los Angeles, USA

Mediterranean-flavoured Catalina Island is a world removed from the bustle of LA, and has been a popular getaway since chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley Jr purchased the place in 1919. It is part of the Channel Islands, a chain of semi-submerged mountains off the coast of Southern California with a unique ecosystem. Most of the island’s interior of sun-baked hillsides, valleys and canyons is owned by the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy, which ensures that it will never become overly developed. A bus tour of the area is most popular. Read more about Santa Catalina, USA

Hilo is the largest settlement on The Big Island of Hawaii, the southernmost of the Hawaiian islands, in Polynesia. It overlooks Hilo Bay, at the base of active Mauna Loa (4169m) and dormant Mauna Kea (4207m) volcanoes. Hilo is an impressively beautiful town overlooking beaches, caves, rivers, and waterfalls within its limits. On the peak of Mauna Kea are some of the world’s best ground-based astronomical observatories. Read more about Hilo, USA

The birthplace of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the Unites States, Honolulu is the cultural, industrial, commercial, and governmental centre of Hawaii, with Waikiki Beach the epicentre of the tourist industry. It is a thriving world-class city, with nearly one million people in its metropolitan area. Oahu is the most popular of the Hawaiian Islands, and as the city is packed with sights, activities, and tourist attractions, it is easy to understand why there is so much to do in this southernmost major U.S. city. Read more about Honolulu, USA

The birthplace of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the Unites States, Honolulu is the cultural, industrial, commercial, and governmental centre of Hawaii, with Waikiki Beach the epicentre of the tourist industry. It is a thriving world-class city, with nearly one million people in its metropolitan area. Oahu is the most popular of the Hawaiian Islands, and as the city is packed with sights, activities, and tourist attractions, it is easy to understand why there is so much to do in this southernmost major U.S. city. Read more about Honolulu, USA

Nawiliwili is a large beach park and port on the SE of the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. One of the wettest spots on Earth, with an annual average rainfall of over 11 meters, it is located on the east side of Mount Wai'ale'ale. The high annual rainfall has eroded deep valleys in the central mountains resulting in canyons with many scenic waterfalls. Sport fishing is excellent in the harbour while great snorkel and dive opportunities are also available. Read more about Nawiliwili, USA

Fanning Atoll (Gilbertese: Tabuaeran) is one of the Line Islands of the Central Pacific Ocean, and part of the Republic of Kiribati (formerly Gilbert Islands). It lies in the world's farthest forward time zone, UTC+14:00 (at 200.63 deg.E). The time of day is the same as in the U.S. state of Hawai?i, but the date is one day ahead. Read more about Fanning Atoll, Kiribati

Pago Pago Bay (pronounced "Pango Pango") on the island of Tutuila is the capital of American Samoa, a chain of seven South Pacific isles about 4,000 km south of Hawaii. Due to a massive seaward wall of a volcano collapsing aeons ago and opening to the sea, the harbor is hemmed in by towering mountains. Mt. Matafao (653m) and Mt. Read more about Pago Pago, American Samoa

Apia (pop. 37,000), city and capital of Samoa, is located on the northern shore of Upolu Island in the South Pacific Ocean. Samoa (Western Samoa to 1997) consists of two main islands and four smaller islands. (American Samoa lies 72 km to the ESE.) Apia is on the second largest island. Read more about Apia, Samoa

Vava'u, and the other 40 odd islands that make up this stunningly beautiful group, is situated in the north of the Kingdom of the Tongan archipelago in the South Pacific. Despite now being easily accessible, it still remains off the beaten track of mass tourism. Neiafu, the tiny capital on Vava'u, is perched above the Port of Refuge Harbour, a delightful natural harbour regarded by many as one of the most beautiful in the world. With its year-round tropical climate, being remote and truly unspoiled, the result is crystal clear waters with visibility exceeding 30 m. Read more about Vava'u, Tonga

Nuku'alofa Town is the capital of Tonga, sitting on a narrow isthmus facing the Pacific Ocean to the north, and the Fanga'uta Lagoon to the south. With a population of just 30,000 it is a quiet, sprawling and functional town with buses and internet cafes. It provides a window to a picturesque nation, where tradition and religion are paramount in everyday life. The most visited attraction is the Royal Palace in the heart of town. Read more about Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Russell - aka Kororareka - is situated in the Bay of Islands, at the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. As a safe anchorage and seaport, it was the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand. It is also famous for being responsible for the signing of the historically important Treaty of Waitangi, generally considered the founding document of New Zealand as a nation, on 6 February 1840. In the early 1800s Maoris and European ship traded there, and Kororareka served as a vital resupply port for whaling and sealing operations. Read more about Russell, New Zealand

The city centre of Auckland is perfect for shopping, discovering New Zealand arts, culture and challenging your adventure side. Wander through The New Zealand Maritime Museum or Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki. Sky Tower is a must-do, where you can experience 360 degree views on the SkyWalk or go for it and attempt the SkyJump! View Auckland’s most iconic volcano! Read more about Auckland, New Zealand

The city centre of Auckland is perfect for shopping, discovering New Zealand arts, culture and challenging your adventure side. Wander through The New Zealand Maritime Museum or Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki. Sky Tower is a must-do, where you can experience 360 degree views on the SkyWalk or go for it and attempt the SkyJump! View Auckland’s most iconic volcano! Read more about Auckland, New Zealand

Rotorua (Tauranga) is a centre of tourism and a place of extraordinary natural beauty. It is a smallish city on the shores of a lake of the same name, in the crater of an ancient volcano in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The entire area is thermally active, and the smell of sulphur, a 'rotten eggs’ smell that is never far, results in the nicknames 'Sulphur City' and 'Rottenrua'. The surrounding geothermal wonderland including 16 beautiful lakes and the lush green of the abundant native flora, soon causes one to get used to the odour. Read more about Rotorua (Tauranga), New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand's capital city, is situated on the SW tip of the North Island, and is set on the edge of a stunning harbour surrounded by rolling hills. As the political centre of New Zealand, it houses Parliamentary buildings as well as the bulk of foreign diplomatic missions. However, it is also renowned for its cafe-culture, as there are more cafes per capita than in New York City, and they rival the world’s top culinary destinations for flavour and variety. The city’s world-class film industry attracts many visitors who are taken by expert tour operators to locations of several famous movies (e.g. Read more about Wellington, New Zealand

The picturesque seaside town of Picton near the NE corner of New Zealand's South Island is the South Island base for the ferry service that links the main islands of New Zealand. It’s also the gateway to the marine, forest and island attractions of the Marlborough Sounds. It offers a relaxed setting with beautiful beaches, easy bush walks and an outstanding climate. The town itself has an attractive seafront dotted with cafés, restaurants and various galleries. Read more about Picton, New Zealand

New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Twenty-seven kilometres to the south is the conical snow-capped dormant volcano Mt. Egmont/Mt. Taranaki (2518m). Read more about New Plymouth, New Zealand

Getting around Sydney is easy and accessible. You can jump on a train from Sydney airport to Circular Quay in approx.18 minutes, ride the hop on hop off bus around the city that offers multiple stops including Sydney Tower, Botanic Gardens, Australian Powerhouse and Maritime Museums, Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge or the Bondi bus. If travelling on the water is more your style, catch a ferry to visit Sydney’s amusement park, Luna Park, visit the buzzing Manly Beach wharf which is linked to the Corso mall or cruise west of the city to join a Haunted History, Crooked Character or Convict Precinct tour at UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, Cockatoo Island. The best times to visit Sydney are September through November and from March to May as they offer the most comfortable temperatures, around mid 20°C. Read more about Sydney, Australia

Getting around Sydney is easy and accessible. You can jump on a train from Sydney airport to Circular Quay in approx.18 minutes, ride the hop on hop off bus around the city that offers multiple stops including Sydney Tower, Botanic Gardens, Australian Powerhouse and Maritime Museums, Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge or the Bondi bus. If travelling on the water is more your style, catch a ferry to visit Sydney’s amusement park, Luna Park, visit the buzzing Manly Beach wharf which is linked to the Corso mall or cruise west of the city to join a Haunted History, Crooked Character or Convict Precinct tour at UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, Cockatoo Island. The best times to visit Sydney are September through November and from March to May as they offer the most comfortable temperatures, around mid 20°C. Read more about Sydney, Australia