Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is a large city on the Brisbane River. Clustered in its South Bank cultural precinct are the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, with noted interactive exhibitions. Another South Bank cultural institution is Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, among Australia’s major contemporary art museums. Looming over the city is Mt. Coot-tha, site of Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Jump on the coconut bandwagon because Santo is full of them (a major local export). Santo’s quay bustles with action, including traditional villages, local handicraft stalls, water music and dance ceremonies. Or explore remnants of buildings and shipwrecks from when American troops were stationed there in WWII. Its natural beauty includes the incredible blue holes, crystal clear rivers perfect for canoeing and a vast array of romantic beaches and freshwater lagoons the stuff postcards are made of.

It’s no mystery that Mystery Island is steeped in allure. Mystery Island came to be after it was headlined in a royal visit in 1974. Traditionally known as Inyeug (meaning: small island), the picture-perfect scenery of this unspoilt South Pacific paradise awaits on a majestic scale. The Island is uninhabited and the only people who visit are cruise passengers. So it’s all yours. And it’s the perfect size to explore the whole thing.

Carnival transports you to the heart of Noumea, in its vibrant capital city of New Caledonia. Renowned as the Paris of the Pacific, you can channel French-style savoir-faire. Aside from ordering delicious croissants (in perfect French of course), there’s plenty of other great stuff to keep you busy. All you gotta do is choose which is more your style. Are you more in the mood for a day at the beach? Or would you rather the hustle and bustle of the city? Perhaps a bit of both?

Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is a large city on the Brisbane River. Clustered in its South Bank cultural precinct are the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, with noted interactive exhibitions. Another South Bank cultural institution is Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, among Australia’s major contemporary art museums. Looming over the city is Mt. Coot-tha, site of Brisbane Botanic Gardens