Asia Pacific Voyages - September 2008 to April 2010 - (Page 46) Key Ports of Call s c e n ic cruising & sAmpLe sHore excursi o n s Holland America Line has purposely designed our itineraries to allow guests maximum time in each port. To make the most of it, we have also sought out shore excursions that showcase the city or region at its best. And as true mariners at heart, we are proud to place an emphasis on spectacular scenic cruising, offering some of the world’s most spectacular sights from the decks of our ships. Booking shore excursions online You can view excursion information, as well as book your favorite shore activities in advance, at www.hollandamerica.com, where online reservations are processed prior to requests made on board. Aleutian Islands (scenic cruising) Smoking volcanoes and lush green tundras provide a striking backdrop for the myriad wildlife that inhabit this remote archipelago, including Steller sea lions, humpback whales, bald eagles, tufted and horned puffins. Apia, Upolu, Samoa Bora-Bora, Society Islands, French Polynesia Cairns, Australia Here is James Michener’s Bali Hai, ringed with a shimmering blue lagoon. Wrap on a pareo, pay respects to the stone altar of Fa’anui Marae and abandon yourself to an idyllic motu for sunbathing and snorkeling. Sample shore excursions: Snorkeling Safari; Lagoonarium Experience; BoraBora Island Discovery. Brisbane, Australia Tropical wonders don’t get any bigger. Explore the world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef, and board the Kuranda Rail for a trip through a spectacular rain forest. Sample shore excursions: Discovering the Great Barrier Reef; The Kuranda Experience. Christchurch, New Zealand Find island bliss, as did Robert Louis Stevenson, in the old ways of Samoa. Experience a traditional kava ceremony, relax in a thatched-roof fale on the beach. Sample shore excursions: Saleapaga Beach; Apia Highlights & the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. Auckland, New Zealand Set around a sparkling harbor, Auckland enjoys a passion for outdoor sports (yacht racing) as well as outstanding food, wine and shopping. Sample shore excursions: Waitoma Glow Worm Caves & Pioneer Show; A Taste of Auckland: Wine, Liqueurs and Beer. Bay of Islands, New Zealand Once a harsh penal settlement, Brisbane is now Queensland’s dynamic capital city. A blend of steel and glass defines the skyline while botanic gardens and a café-lined promenade mesmerize at eye level. Sample shore excursions: Rain Forest Adventure; Brisbane Sights & Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Burnie, Tasmania, Australia Deeply British, where locals drift lazily (punt) on the Avon River and relax over Devonshire tea. Nearby: the fertile Canterbury Plains and rugged highcountry sheep stations. Sample shore excursions: Warbirds & Wine; TranzAlpine Express Train; Off the Beaten Track: High Country Explorer. Da Nang, Vietnam Cruise among 150 idyllic, rural island landscapes, including Waitangi, with its richly carved Maori marae (meeting house) and landmark treaty history. Sample shore excursions: Maori Culture & Paihia Highlights; Hokianga Harbour & Kauri Forest. On “Tiny Tassie,” as the Aussies affectionately call Tasmania, find flora and fauna unique to the island: the infamous Tasmanian devil, Huon pine trees more than 2,000 years old. Sample shore excursions: Tassie Wildlife; Cradle Mountain National Park; Dore Lake. Busan (Pusan), South Korea Infamous landing site for the U.S. Marines in 1965, today Da Nang is your portal to the caves and grottoes of the Marble Mountains, China Beach and Hue, the ancient, gracious capital. Sample shore excursions: Hoi An Highlights; Artisans of Da Nang. Dalian, People’s Republic of China A remarkable blend of ancient and modern: bustling fish markets and meditative tea ceremonies, highrise office buildings and ornate Shilla temples. Sample shore excursions: Gyeongju: A Museum without Walls; Panoramic Busan & Show. A key northern port, Dalian is small by Chinese standards, numbering only about five million people, but it’s big on beaches, seafood and exquisite glassware. Sample shore excursions: Dalian Modern Museum; Dalian Sights & Culture. 46 e-brochures available online http://www.hollandamerica.com
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