"Australia's capital of the north is a uniquely tropical city, and a historically isolated outpost of this vast, diverse country. Reaching up towards the equator, a full 2,000 miles from Sydney and Melbourne, the city was named in honour of Charles Darwin by the British settlers who established a frontier outpost here. With a unique history, beautiful islands nearby, and a palette of sizzling Pacific flavours, colourful Darwin is an enchanting and exotic Australian destination. Crocodiles patrol the jungled waterways and tropical rainforests around Australia's gateway to the Top End. Explore via airboat to look down on the veiny waterways of the mist-laced Kakadu National Park. The sounds of chattering birdlife and the gentle splash of fountains and waterfalls will fill your ears in George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. Soak it all in, before kicking back and relaxing with a picnic and a crackling barbecue. The sunshine and famous tropical pink sunsets mean many visitors naturally gravitate to the city's soft sands to relax at spots like pretty Mindil Beach, as evening approaches. The adjoining market is filled with souvenirs and crafts stands and is the perfect great place to enjoy some fiery Asian flavours. Stroll the stalls, grab some food, and crack open an ice-frosted beer as the sunset show begins. It may be remote, but Darwin found itself on the front line during the Pacific War, as the Japanese air force unloaded their bombs onto the city in 1942. This relaxed unassuming city has a deeply resilient backbone, however, and you can explore the museums to learn more of the war's impact on Darwin, as well as the devastating effects of one of Australia's worst natural disasters, Cyclone Tracy in 1973."

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Pulau Nai or Nai Island belongs to the Moluccas archipelago, the so-called “Spice Islands”. It is a mere dot in the eastern limits of the Banda Sea, yet brimming with the key elements of paradise: sun, coconut palms and white sands. The abundant coconut palms provide the raw ingredient for one of the primitive local industries, the drying of coconut kernels to produce copra, from which coconut oil is later extracted. The other main industry on the island also makes use of the natural bounty. Agar seaweed is sprouted on long ropes anchored in the sea and then harvested and dried. Birders will enjoy listening for and spotting some of the local birdlife like the Kancilan Pulau (Island Whistler) and the Kehicap Kai (White-tailed Monarch). Maybe they will even confirm the presence of the Papuan Pitta, attired imperial-like with splendid blues and reds. The waters around Pulau Nai also offer their own idyllic experience. Snorkelling will allow you to cross the divide into the world of tropical coral ecosystems. Look for the different coral formations like brain, staghorn, fire and plate corals, as well as a range of fish that associate with these surreal coral gardens. If you cannot tell the difference between a wrasse and a damselfish, or a parrotfish and a surgeonfish, then rest assured your Expedition staff will be there to help you, allowing you to just enjoy the magical experience as you float along almost effortlessly.

On the southern coast of West Papua, Indonesia lies the small Aiduma Island, an oceanic paradise and a destination for divers and snorklers. The coast off of Aiduma Island is home to diverse and lovely soft coral forest. Below the surface of Aiduma’s aquamarine waters live technicolor coral reefs that are home to a beautiful array of reef fish, including schools of large blue-ring angelfish, clownfish, striped angelfish and lionfish. Above the surface, lucky visitors may see dolphins leaping as they travel the crystal seas, while birds overhead or roost in the trees. In 2008, the Kaimana Regency declared a 6000 square kilometer (over 2,300 square mile) Marine Protected Area around the waters of Triton Bay. Conservation International maintains an office in Kaimana and a field station out in Triton Bay where visiting scientists can do their work studying the staggering marine biodiversity of the reserve. It is truly second to none, and the area offers everything from the tiniest pygmy seahorses, to large and graceful whale sharks. Triton Bay is known for its beautiful soft coral gardens as well as nesting green turtles, and a population of coastal Bryde’s whales.

The Den Weg Islands are known for their ancient rock art, drawn on canyons, which are visible only by boat. The drawings were made using naturally red materials, resembling human blood. The locals call them ‘blood paintings’, and consider the very sacred. Some of the paintings depict human skeletons, which reference the ancient custom of placing the bodies of their ancestors in the rock cliffs and caves.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Almost totally covered in coconut palm trees, Pulau Miossu is the western and smaller of the two Su Islands. Located at the eastern entrance of the Dampier Strait and within sight of West Papua’s north coast, the Su Islands were used for a short time by Allied Forces at the end of WW II to have P-38 fighter planes stationed there. Today, little remains from those days and even the former airfield is covered by vegetation. Pulau Miossu has just a few houses and is occasionally visited to harvest coconut and to enjoy the white sandy beaches and the rich underwater world.

The Auri Islands lie within the Cenderawasih Bay (Indonesian for Bird of Paradise Bay), is a large bay on the northern coast of West Papua, New Guinea, Indonesia. When this area was part of the Dutch East Indies the bay was called Geelvink Bay, after a Dutch ship. Cenderawasih Bay is dotted with hundreds of small islands and atoll’s that are home to some of the most pristine hard coral reefs in Indonesia with one of the highest concentrations of endemic fishes in the Pacific Ocean. The western part of the bay was declared a marine national park in 2002. It encompasses 30 square miles, making it the largest in Southeast Asia. There are many different styles of reefs found here, including fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls, patch reefs, and shallow water reef mounds. The fringing reefs are the most abundant and are the last of the few remaining pristine reefs in the world. Extensive surveys documented 995 species of fish and over 500 types of coral, about 10 times greater than in the entire Caribbean. The bay is also well known for aggregations of the world’s largest fish – the whale shark. #N/A

Kwatisore Bay is a 2 km wide bay located west of Kwatisore Peninsula at the southwestern end of the wide Cenderawasih (bird of paradise) Bay. An area of 1,453,500 hectares, a great part of the bay, has been declared a national park. Within the national park is Indonesia’s largest marine national park. Some dive companies claim that Cenderawasih Bay is the whale shark capital of the world, and the area near Kwatisore Bay is one of the few places in the world where encounters can almost be guaranteed. The whale sharks seem to be permanent residents of the protected marine park and as the locals believe whale sharks are under the protection of spirits and will bring good luck, not only has fishing them been traditionally prohibited, the fishermen actively encourage their presence by feeding them small amounts of their catch. Therefor the best places and time to look for the whale sharks –and to swim or dive with them- are the local fishing pontoons during the early morning hours.

To say that Pulau Biak was unspoiled would be an understatement. Located in the Cendrawasih Bay of Papua (Irian Jaja), west of Papua New Guinea, Biak Island itself is the biggest island in the Biak-Numfor archipelago. The archipelago proper is made up of 67 islands, each more stunning than the last. One of PNG’s biggest offshore islands, people here are relaxed and friendly and open to the many opportunities that foreign visitors can offer. Those wishing for full immersion should try anything cooked by Barapen (warm rocks). Delicious! Unsurprisingly for a remote island in the Bismark Sea, waters here are a diver’s paradise. Not only are they clear and teeming with marine life, but the sunken M/V Pacific Gas is home to a coral reef, lionfish, ghost pipefish, schooling jacks, snapper, sweetlips and batfish. However, if diving, snorkelling, kayaking and general beach life is not your bag, Pulau Biak does offer other opportunities. The island’s’ colourful past as a sanctuary for Japanese soldiers during WWII means that those wishing to explore more onshore will enjoy a trip to the Biak cave museum, a Karst cave used by Japanese soldiers as a hiding place and for storage. Bird lovers will also enjoy exploring the island's large and lovely bird park, which is home to Cendrawasihs (Papua Birds of Paradise) and the endemic species of Kasuaris and Mambruk.

Only about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Indonesian border, Vanimo is the capital of the Sandaun (or Sundown) Province. It is one of only two towns in this remote region of Papua New Guinea. Although the Sepik River originates in the province, it bypasses Vanimo far to the south. The Sandaun Province is relatively undeveloped, but Vanimo has lovely beaches and some picturesque villages in the vicinity. The interior is covered in rainforest and logging is an important activity putting to use Vanimo’s port and protected bay.

Ali Island is one of the four islands located close to Aitape, off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The eastern shore of Ali Island has a beautiful white sandy beach and offers swimming and snorkeling. The five villages on the island connect via well-maintained trails that lead to the school and Catholic church closer to the northern end of the island. The indigenous populations of this island are welcoming to guests and yet maintain their unique way of living and dressing, with colorful ceremonial headdresses, arm bands and grass skirts. A village walk will take visitors past the clean local homes and gardens, to the Catholic church with its interesting paintings of the via crucis. Chat with the islanders or relax on the beach.

Kopar is a small village of no more than 200 inhabitants at the mouth of the Sepik River. The inhabitants make a living through subsistence hunting and gathering and go out in traditional canoes to look for suitable sago palms to produce their staple food. Since the Sepik meanders through swampy areas, the locals have cut narrow channels through the swamps to be able to connect more easily with their neighbours. The area surrounding Kopar will offer sights of flood plain birds, parrots and the odd kite, a large bird of prey.

Banana-shaped Tuam is an uplifted coral atoll covered in palm trees. The only village is located on the lower eastern side of the island. Highly exposed to the trade winds, the islanders have set up protective walls made out of palm-branches giving the village the look of a fortified castle from a distance. A trail marked by white sand leads from the landing site to the settlement area of neatly organized wooden huts and houses with pandanus-thatched roofs. The forest reveals different gardens set up in the higher regions of the island. The island also has a spectacular reef and snorkelling next to the drop-off can reveal many colorful reef fish.

A traditional village experience awaits travellers to Wagifa Island. Few overseas visitors reach this island so the excitement of locals in their canoes and on shore is infectious. Wagifa is a small island tucked close to the larger Goodenough Island and is part of the D'Entrecasteaux Group. This island group is volcanic in origin with eroded peaks, especially on larger land masses. The people of the village live a mainly traditional lifestyle, obtaining food locally. Many traditions are maintained including music, dance and singing. As well as their traditional language they learn Pidgin English to communicate with other groups. Canoes of hollowed out trees, often stabilised with outriggers, are essential to all villagers. Watch the skill of the paddlers young and old as they paddle to greet us. Fish are caught from canoes, but for long trips locals use fibreglass boats, called banana boats after their shape. There are two major food sources—seafood and cassava. These can be traded for other food at the market on Goodenough Island. Cassava is also called yuca or manioc elsewhere, and the starch extracted from it is known as tapioca. Originally from Brazil, cassava tubers are now a major carbohydrate of the tropics worldwide. It is easy to grow, survives dry conditions and produces well in a small area. The traditional carbohydrate foods of Papua New Guinea are sweet potatoes, yams and taros. These taste better than cassava but grow less easily on Wagifa Island. Cassava is not good ‘guest food’.

Fergusson is one of the three biggest and mountainous islands in the Milne Bay Province, and part of the D’Entrecasteaux Islands. On Fergusson’s south side are the famous Dei Dei geysers — natural hot springs that periodically erupt with vapour steam next to mud pools and a warm stream. The hot springs are still used by locals to cook food in palm frond and pandanus leaf baskets placed into the boiling hot water. Birds in the area include Eclectus Parrots, Yellow-bellied Sunbirds and the endemic Curl-crested Manucode – a bird-of-paradise.

Dobu is a small island in the D’Entrecasteaux Group next to Fergusson Island and Normanby Island. The island was formerly feared because of black magic and the local “witch” doctors cursing the healthy or treating the sick. An anthropological study was done by Reo Fortune in the 1930s which resulted in the book “The Island of Sorcerers”. The island is also part of the famous Kula ring. Participants in the exchange system pride themselves with mwali and soulava (armbands and necklaces) that are given and received still today and it is interesting to see how the traditional objects have been adorned with modern paraphernalia. A stroll through the main village on the northwestern tip will show the school and church and trails leading along the shore passing traditionally thatched houses and gardens.

Samarai is a tiny island south of Papua New Guinea’s southeastern peninsula dwarfed by neighbouring islands. Once a famous trading port and the second-largest settlement in the Territory of Papua (the Australian-administered southern part of what today is Papua New Guinea), Samarai used to be Milne Bay Province’s capital until 1968 when administrators were moved to mainland and the town of Alotau. The relocation was necessary as the 29-hectare (72-acre) island was simply overcrowded. With only about 450 residents remaining today, it still is one of the most densely settled islands in Papua New Guinea.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Warmly welcoming you to the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a treasure trove of rich tropical beauty and incredible sea life. Swathes of rainforest spread out to the north, where you can soar over the canopy in a cable car, before looking down over narrow channels of water plummeting down gorges and crocodile-filled waterways. The diverse lands of the Atherton Tableland lie to the west, but it's the crystal-clear waters - and life-filled reefs - of Cairns' remarkable underwater world that draws universal adulation. Priding itself as the Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, explore Cairns' constellation of colour, as you dive into the world's largest and most spectacular underwater universe. Cairns is huddled in amongst abundant swathes of rainforests, which give way to glorious crescents of golden beach. Kuranda - with its scenic railway and heritage market stalls - waits to be discovered, cloaked within the depths of the rainforest. Learn of the indigenous people of North Queensland during cultural performances, and hear the throaty reverberations of digeridoos, as you hear eternal stories handed down through time, from generation to generation. Back in Cairns, there's always time for a coffee or a beer, or a feast on fresh oysters with glasses of Cairns' white wines – boldly flavoured with mango and banana notes.

The excursions are provided as a sample of what may be offered on this voyage and are subject to change.