Indian Ocean Arc - 5316B

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

Phillip Island is approximately 140 km SE of Melbourne, joined to the mainland by bridge, and is the home of the world famous Penguin Parade that can be viewed each evening at dusk when the fairy penguins stroll up the beach to their burrows. There's a great range of activities to enjoy that include surfing, snorkelling, and swimming in summer, kayaking, jet skiing, aqua biking and yachting. Add to this: bush walking on the many tracks and enjoying the many parks; bird watching; pelican feeding; and don’t miss out of visiting some of the wineries. But Phillip Island is synonymous with the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix held annually in October. Read more about Phillip Island, Australia

For those with a little more time to spend in Melbourne, there are many easy day trips to enjoy beyond the city limits by guided tour or with a hire car. Not even an hour from Melbourne, you’ll find Australia’s best-preserved steam train Puffing Billy - the historic railway puffs through the leafy Dandenong Ranges. The Mornington Peninsula offers first-rate wineries, local cuisine, and both bay and ocean beaches. To get up close with native fauna, a trip to Healesville Sanctuary will give you a fix - the beautiful, bushland-set sanctuary gives you the chance to cosy up with koalas, kangaroos and wombats as well as lesser-known Australian animals. Read more about Melbourne, Australia

For those with a little more time to spend in Melbourne, there are many easy day trips to enjoy beyond the city limits by guided tour or with a hire car. Not even an hour from Melbourne, you’ll find Australia’s best-preserved steam train Puffing Billy - the historic railway puffs through the leafy Dandenong Ranges. The Mornington Peninsula offers first-rate wineries, local cuisine, and both bay and ocean beaches. To get up close with native fauna, a trip to Healesville Sanctuary will give you a fix - the beautiful, bushland-set sanctuary gives you the chance to cosy up with koalas, kangaroos and wombats as well as lesser-known Australian animals. Read more about Melbourne, Australia

The Port Adelaide Passenger Terminal is 22 km from Adelaide city centre. Access is via a vehicle drop-off zone, or a 200 m walk to Outer Harbour railway station. Park cars nearby, but note there is no long-term parking. Adelaide is an architecturally-planned city, set beside the River Torrens between the Adelaide Hills and Gulf St Vincent. Read more about Adelaide, Australia

Cruise ships anchor off the town of Penneshaw and tender to the jetty. Kangaroo Island, named by Matthew Flinders in 1802, is Australia's third largest island. Situated 112 km SW of Adelaide, it is a pristine untamed wilderness where the koalas aren't being cuddled, they're relaxing at home in native trees. The seals aren't performing, they're lazing beside you on the beach. Read more about Kangaroo Island, Australia

Albany is situated on the south coast of Western Australia's tourist region. It faces the Southern Ocean and is on the shores of King George Sound and Princess Royal Harbour. Being the site of the first European settlement, much of their legacy remains today with around 50 colonial buildings standing proudly as museums, galleries and restaurants. Visitors can take in almost two centuries of history on a 30-minute walk following the Amity Trail. Read more about Albany, Australia

Located 180 km south of Perth, Bunbury is one of the oldest settlements and the third largest city in Western Australia. It is situated at Leschenault Bay in the heart of the prosperous SW Region. The port of Bunbury services the farming, mining and timber industries of the State’s south west. Major exports from the commercial port include alumina, silica, woodchips and spodumene mineral (for lithium batteries). Read more about Bunbury, Australia

Another 'must', is a visit to the delightful Fremantle Markets, a precinct providing local arts, crafts, jewellery, specialty foods, and dining halls. The area also hosts buskers and other street performers. Fremantle offers seven-day shopping, a fantastic array of food, and the welcoming Cappuccino Strip, all of which adds up to fun and entertainment for all ages. It is truly an elegant and energetic city! Read more about Fremantle, Australia

Broome, situated on a peninsula in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, is known as the ‘pearl of the north’ due to its being the home of the South Sea pearls, among the largest commercially harvested cultured pearls in the world. In the 1800s Broome attracted pearl divers from Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines, resulting in the delightful multicultural town it is today. Visitors can witness first-hand how Broome pearls are cultured on a cruise to a local pearl farm, and hear the romantic stories of the original pearl luggers. Visit the amazing pearl showrooms of Chinatown. Read more about Broome, Australia

Bali is an Indonesian island at the western-most of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. It is one of Indonesia’s 33 provinces, with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island. Bali is home to the most of Indonesia's Hindu minority, and also the largest tourist destination in the Archipelago. Activities on offer include white water rafting, jungle trekking, river kayaking, mountain cycling and scuba diving. Read more about Denpasar (Bali), Indonesia

Bali is an Indonesian island at the western-most of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. It is one of Indonesia’s 33 provinces, with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island. Bali is home to the most of Indonesia's Hindu minority, and also the largest tourist destination in the Archipelago. Activities on offer include white water rafting, jungle trekking, river kayaking, mountain cycling and scuba diving. Read more about Denpasar (Bali), Indonesia

Surabaya is Indonesia’s second largest city and the capital of East Java. It is located on the NE coast of Java, sheltered by the island of Madura in the Java Sea. This is “the city of heroes”, whereby during a battle between Indonesian nationalists and British/Dutch forces in 1945 Indonesia galvanised its claims to independence. The city’s 800-year recorded history includes sultanates, Dutch East India Company trading, and Japanese occupation. Read more about Surabaya, Indonesia

Semarang, on the N coast of Java, is the capital of the Province of Central Java and one of the largest cities in Indonesia. Northern Semarang has a lot of old Dutch colonial buildings, especially in the area called The Old City. Here is found the fascinating Dutch fortress that is pentagonal in shape, and nearby the Lawang Sewu building, once a company head office for the Dutch East Indies, with an old locomotive, to name but a few of about 50 old buildings that recall the history of colonialism. Benowo waterfall is located near Mount Ungaran, Read more about Semarang, Indonesia

Nadi, known as the 'gateway to Fiji', is the third largest centre in Fiji, on the island of Viti Levu. The local economy is based on sugar cane production and tourism. Nadi lives up to its reputation of 'the most often visited Fijian city' thanks to its international airport in the middle of town. Many head straight to Denaurau Island, just a matter of minutes away across a short bridge, that whisks you from the Third World into the First World, with its shopping complex at Port Denaurau. Read more about Nadi, Fiji

Mahe is the largest and most important island of the Seychelles archipelago. While this spectacular island is only 27 km long it is dominated by a mountain range with its tallest peak Morne Seychellois, at 930 m in height, being central to a wonderful national park. There are also some delightful marine national parks off the island. The capital city of Victoria is small enough that it does not take too long to walk around, and this is the best way to see the city and to get a feel of the place and its people, who are often called the ‘friendliest people in the world’. Read more about Mahe Island, Seychelles

Praslin is the second largest island of the Seychelles, lying 44 km NE of Mahe. Once used as a hideaway by pirates and Arab merchants, it is now known as a tourist destination as it is home to beautiful turquoise water and white sand beaches such as Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette. There are also several very rare birds such as the endemic Seychelles Bulbub and the Seychelles Black Parrot, as well as being the only place on earth that is home to the unique Coco de Mer, a fruit from an extraordinary palm tree. Read more about Praslin, Seychelles

Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya, with a population of almost one million. A regional cultural and economic hub, Mombasa has a prominent port, and is an important regional tourism centre. The fantastic long white sands of Nyali beach offers numerous water sports. Viewing the six primate species found in the area is also very popular with visitors. Read more about Mombasa, Kenya

Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya, with a population of almost one million. A regional cultural and economic hub, Mombasa has a prominent port, and is an important regional tourism centre. The fantastic long white sands of Nyali beach offers numerous water sports. Viewing the six primate species found in the area is also very popular with visitors. Read more about Mombasa, Kenya

Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya, with a population of almost one million. A regional cultural and economic hub, Mombasa has a prominent port, and is an important regional tourism centre. The fantastic long white sands of Nyali beach offers numerous water sports. Viewing the six primate species found in the area is also very popular with visitors. Read more about Mombasa, Kenya

The capital of Zanzibar (which can refer to the island Unguja, as well as the whole Archipelago) is Zanzibar City. Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of the United Republic of Tanzania. Zanzibar Archipelago is on the Swahili Coast of the Indian Ocean. Since the time of the ancient Assyrians, Zanzibar has traded with countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Read more about Zanzibar, Tanzania, United Republic of

Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and is its busiest port. Its subtropical climate and extensive beaches provide excellent opportunities for sun-worshippers, surfers and swimmers. The Golden Mile, a wide stretch of golden sands, is artificially separated by various piers. A promenade stretches along the Durban waterfront that is home to numerous restaurants, pubs, hotels, shops and the world class uShaka Marine World aquarium is worth exploring. Read more about Durban, South Africa

Port Elizabeth - or PE as it is fondly known - is South Africa's fifth largest city and is located on the Indian Ocean coast half-way between Cape Town and Durban. Also known as the Friendly City and the Windy City, it tends to live up to both names. The long stretches of white beach and its historical significance make PE a vibrant city, with shopping, flea markets, great restaurants and other entertainment on offer. It has always been a family destination, so there are activities for both young and old. Read more about Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town was the first European settlement in South Africa, and today is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Pristine beaches, sheltered bays and secluded coves encircle the majestic might of Table Mountain, a World Heritage Site and home to some 8,500 species of flowers. Be sure to get to the top of the mountain by taking the Table Mountain Cableway and absorb the fascinating views. Robben Island and the District Six Museum are must-visits for anyone interested in South Africa's period of apartheid, which came to an end in 1990. Read more about Cape Town, South Africa

Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town was the first European settlement in South Africa, and today is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Pristine beaches, sheltered bays and secluded coves encircle the majestic might of Table Mountain, a World Heritage Site and home to some 8,500 species of flowers. Be sure to get to the top of the mountain by taking the Table Mountain Cableway and absorb the fascinating views. Robben Island and the District Six Museum are must-visits for anyone interested in South Africa's period of apartheid, which came to an end in 1990. Read more about Cape Town, South Africa