Top Australia & the Pacific On the Water - page 9

Experience Cape Tribulation on a half-day snorkeling adventure. After a convenient pickup at your hotel, board a sturdy ocean safari vessel and head for the cape. Throw on your gear and dive in, watching for sea turtles, eagle rays, giant clams, brilliant coral, starfish, and tropical fish as you swim along the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. Marvel at the Daintree Rainforest—a UNESCO World Heritage site—from the water.

Enjoy a guided kayaking tour from Adelaide that gives you the chance to see the Port River dolphins up close. Receive a kayaking lesson from the expert guide, then set out for the Garden Island Ships’ Graveyard Maritime Heritage Trail and the dolphin sanctuary. Travel in a small group with a maximum of 14 people, winding through mangrove-lined waterways to see native wildlife and scuttled ships. Learn about the region from the informative guide on this family-friendly tour.

Inject some thrills into your sightseeing as you whip down Central Otago’s Clutha River at high speeds on a thrilling jet boating experience. Race around Lake Wanaka and down the winding river, through rapids and tunnels, tight channels and tighter corners, on this compact and comprehensive journey that’ll get you back to shore in time for your afternoon or evening plans.

If you’ve always wanted to learn to surf, the Sunshine Coast is a beautiful place to do it. Experience the thrill of catching your first wave at one of Australia’s most legendary surf spots during a surfing class in Noosa Heads. With all equipment provided and personal attention from a professional surf instructor, you’ll be taking to the waves in no time. Small groups keep the lesson personal.

Discover the heart of Fiji on this tour that includes a jet boat ride on the Sigatoka River and a visit to a local village. Venture deep into the island's interior during the jet boat ride on the Sigatoka River, then stop for a kava ceremony, walking tour, and lunch at a local village. Includes all activities, transportation, and hotel pickup and drop-off in Sigatoka.

Take in the scenery of Lake Taupo during this half-day kayaking tour from Taupo. After a brief paddling lesson, set out in your kayak from Jerusalem Bay. Follow your guide along the shoreline of New Zealand’s largest lake to rock cliffs where you can see Maori carvings. Stop at a scenic spot for snacks and an optional swim on a tour that is suitable for all levels of experience.

Spot humpback whales swimming and playing in their natural environment on this half-day Hervey Bay catamaran cruise. Observe the majestic sea creatures using the boat’s underwater viewing windows or listen to the whales sing using the onboard hydrophones. Learn all about the gentle giants from your expert guide, then tuck into morning or afternoon tea as you watch the whales from the deck.

Experience Sydney Harbour in a unique way: during a 30-minute wild ride on 'Thunder', a jet boat capable of slides, twists, wave riding, and fishtails. Enjoy some sightseeing between tricks with views of Luna Park, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Opera House, Rose Bay and other famous Harbour landmarks.

Explore the Kaikoura coast on a hands-free kayak tour with an experienced guide. Use your feet to pedal your boat, so your hands are free to snap photos of New Zealand fur seals and the scenic shoreline. Choose between a sunset tour and a special seal-spotting one, where you’ll paddle to places with high chances of spotting the curious creatures. Get some exercise while having fun and admiring the views.

Airlie Beach is a popular basecamp for visiting the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef, but there are plenty of opportunities for adventure activities without leaving town. This jet boat ride will get your adrenaline soaring, as you zoom past the glitzy marina; perform daring turns, drifts and power stops; and enjoy magnificent views of the Whitsundays as you cruise around Pioneer Bay.

Spot Akaroa Harbour’s rare Hector’s dolphins on a catamaran wildlife cruise that includes fresh-baked cookies and a drink. The 2-hull catamaran offers more stability and deck space than a single-hull boat, ensuring a comfortable spot as you scan for fur seals, white-flippered penguins, and other wildlife. Dolphin-spotting dogs are on board. Equipped with dog life-vests and a keen ear, they’ll help make your dolphin encounter an unforgettable experience.

Get out on the Bora Bora Lagoon with this combo Jet Ski and snorkeling tour that includes a shark and stingray boat safari. Avoid booking activities separately and instead opt for a convenient package. Select a single or double Jet Ski and zip around the Polynesian paradise in the morning with an experienced guide. After lunch, head to a shallow lagoon for a snorkeling eco-adventure at the reef with sharks and stingrays.

Discover the natural beauty and fresh seafood of the Marlborough Sounds on an afternoon cruise from Picton. Travel by luxury catamaran through the sheltered waters of Queen Charlotte Sound. Taste fresh, locally farmed salmon and Greenshell mussels on board, pairing them with a glass of local wine if you like (own expense). Learn about marine farming in the sounds, and admire the views of otherwise hard-to-reach places.

Combine a relaxing sunset cruise on an outrigger canoe on Bora Bora's lagoon with a romantic dinner at a top-notch restaurant during this evening experience. Sip a glass of included sparkling wine while watching the sun sink below the tropical horizon, then sit down at one of the island's best restaurants for an intimate dinner overlooking the lagoon. Restricted to over-18s only.

Come and discover our beautiful Moorea lagoon in an eco-friendly and unique way in Polynesia. The E-Board is an exceptional craft with excellent stability and a different view of the seabed and the surrounding landscape. With your Qualified Guide, you will have the opportunity to snorkel during breaks and discover the wildlife of the lagoon.

Step into a powerful jet boat and cruise along the mighty Upper Waiau River from Te Anau on this roughly 2-hour adventure into the heart of Fiordland National Park. Feel the wind rush past you and enjoy unobstructed views of this ancient forested landscape as you head to Lake Manapouri. Enjoy stunts along the way that you could never do in a car or tour bus.

The wide, blue Clutha River is flanked by glacial terraces and stunning New Zealand bush. Speed down the river on this jet boat trip through Upper Clutha Valley, take photos of the towering Southern Alps, and thrill at the river’s long winding stretches and switchback corners. This exciting 1-hour 15-minute excursion shows you parts of New Zealand’s South Island you can’t get to any other way.

Discover the underwater treasures of the Great Barrier Reef on this full-day catamaran cruise to Michaelmas Cay from Cairns. Snorkel straight from the white sandy beaches to swim among coral gardens and encounter tropical marine life. Go deeper with an optional introductory scuba dive, or admire the reef on a semi-submarine boat tour. Chat with marine biologists about migratory seabirds nesting on the protected cay, and enjoy a buffet lunch featuring fresh seafood.

Explore the idyllic landscapes of Mount Aspiring National Park, where filming for The Lord of the Rings movies took place, both by land and water, on this action-packed half-day tour from Wanaka. Zip along the pristine waters of the Matukituki River on a jet boat, then get even closer to nature on a guided wilderness walk past forests, waterfalls, and glacier-fed streams.

Join a morning or afternoon excursion to Manly to snorkel in the calm waters of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. Just a short hop from Sydney, see diverse marine life on a guided snorkeling tour from Shelly Beach. After a swim test, your guide leads your small group into the water from the beach, so you can snorkel with confidence. Also stroll along the headland for great Northern Beaches views.

Join a Doubtful Sound cruise from Queenstown and discover this isolated gem deep within the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park. Travel by coach to Manapouri, take a ferry across Lake Manapouri and cross over Wilmot Pass, then down to Doubtful Sound to board your catamaran. Look out for dolphins, fur seals, and penguins amid a dramatic landscape of soaring forest-covered peaks and crystal-clear waters.

If visiting the ancient coral cay of Green Island for the day wasn’t great enough, add a seawalker helmet dive to your package. Take a super-fast catamaran from Cairns to the island and choose between the use of snorkeling gear or a glass-bottom boat ride (included). Add more fun to the day by donning a glass helmet and taking a guided walk on the seabed, surrounded by coral and tropical fish while keeping your head dry.

Reaching Moreton Island's clear waters and shipwrecks means a boat trip from Brisbane, easier to book as one package than pieced together. Take an all-inclusive day tour that handles the journey, then snorkel the Tangalooma Wrecks with a guide. Relax on the beach and break for a buffet lunch, watching for turtles, dolphins, and dugongs, which are often spotted in these waters.

Let an expert show you the underwater wonders of Bora Bora’s famed lagoon—without getting your hair wet. Book this small-group tour and you’ll zip around the sea floor aboard an underwater scooter. A panoramic dome on the aqua-bike allows you to stay dry and breathe naturally as an electric motor propels you forward. At a depth of 9.8 feet (3 meters), you’ll see a variety of colorful corals and tropical fish.