Australia is famous for being ‘far away’! But yachts were built to travel and yachts were meant for adventure. What Australia should be famous for is the myriad of amazing cruising experiences for those yacht owners looking to broaden their horizons and who dare to venture away from the traditional. Would you dare to go the distance?
More and more yachts over 24 metres (80 feet) are beginning to discover the world’s best kept secret and many have ventured South to enjoy the various cruising destinations around this beautiful island country. 
The trend has started and owners and captains are quickly realizing that everything they need to create the perfect journey is right here in one destination ‘Down Under’. Not only has it the perfect climate and fascinating cruising grounds but the marine industry is booming and Australiais raising the bar in maintenance and refit standards.
Distance might seem like an obstacle but half the fun can also be in the journey. Fort Lauderdale to Brisbane is 7975 nautical miles heading 255.9 degrees west-south west. Once past the Panama Canal yachts have entered one of the world’s most interesting and exotic oceans – the Pacific Ocean. With its warm temperatures, breathtaking beaches and relaxed island lifestyle it is a traveler's paradise. Also known as, the Pacific Ocean region has a plethora of small islands, each with its own distinct culture, 20,000 of them in fact. Some of the more exotic and remote islands in this area are Easter Island, Galapagos Islands, Mariana Islands, Marquesas Islands, Rarotonga, Society Island, St John, Tahiti, Truk Island, Tuamoto Island, Tubuai Island and Western Samoa. The trip Down Under can include New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, or even to the Solomon Islands.
For those yachts preferring to arrive directly in, Dockwise Yacht Transport now offers two trips Down Under per year. One in December from Fort Lauderdale via Golfito, Costa Rica to arrive in Brisbane in January 2006 and one, again via Golfito, Coast Rica, in June 2006. For more information check the schedule on http://www.yacht-transport.com/.
Dockwise arrives in Brisbane – Australia’s most livable city. Yachts can then dock directly at Rivergate Marina and Shipyard, the newest state of the art and first integrated marina and shipyard in Australia. Rivergate Marina and Shipyard is indicative of the rapidly growing success of the marine industry in Australia and especially Queensland. With world-class refit and repair services and a marina that offers the most inclusive array of services for super yachts in Australia, Rivergate is the new ‘first port of call’ for super yachts heading down under.
No matter what season, yachts can enjoy cruising all year round in warm weather due to Australia’s sheer size. In the Australian winter (Northern hemisphere summer) the Kimberley and north-west Australia offer exotic, adventurous cruising, then across to the east coast they can experience the amazing wonder of the world that is the Great Barrier Reef and the 74 pristine islands that form the Whitsundays.
As the summer approaches, vessels can head south through to Australia’s tourism playground, the Gold Coast. 
Australia’s corporate capital Sydney offers arguably the most beautiful harbor in the world while further south Melbourne is known as the event capital of Australia featuring amongst its popular events the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. Across Bass Strait is Tasmania, an island of wilderness cruising. For more details on cruising itineraries for Australia, please visit http://www.superyachtbase.com/pages/cruising_it.html.
It’s not just the exceptional cruising that makes Australia the logical super yacht destination. What of Australia’s world class wines? Australia is the fourth largest exporter of wine in the world now. In 2003-04 exports topped $2.4 billion. Why not experience some of the world’s best wines first hand, straight from the vineyard. And what of Australia’s reputation as producing some of the world’s finest chefs? Australian’s are renowned for their innovativeness and this quality has ensured that they top the list in both wine making circles and in the culinary arts, world wide.
Australian cuisine eagerly embraces new international flavors. The food scene has exploded across the country in the last few decades; inventive, daring and built on European foundations that incorporate traditional Australian and Asian influences. But the most distinctive feature of Australian cuisine is that the cooking is based on a respect for the great Australian products arising from the country's vast rich soil and endless shorelines.
Dairy products are outstanding, thanks to lush, fertile pastures. The butter is simply ‘better’. And in the realm of cheeses, you'll find Australian versions of French brie and camembert and Italian gorgonzola and mozzarella. There's no better way to get the true taste of Australia than to travel to the country and sample the local products in their place of origin.
There is no doubt that Australia can offer every conceivable activity that you and your guests might wish to partake in; fishing diving, surfing, cycling, hiking, or maybe its relaxing on exotic islands, sunbathing and sipping cocktails. World class shopping too will ensure that everyone will look their best for dining along some of the world’s most glamorous harbors.
Australia – it’s the place to be and the place to be seen! You can go the distance.
