Port call · AUSTRALIA SHORE EXCURSIONS

The 15 Best Australia Shore Excursions

37 tours  ·  from $33 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend with the same itinerary: 15 australia shore excursions worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before the gangway goes down.

Sydney Shore Excursion: Sydney Opera House Walking Tour - The foyers reveal the Opera House’s working side
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Sydney Shore Excursion: Sydney Opera House Walking Tour

1.Sydney Shore Excursion: Sydney Opera House Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 160 reviews · from $34Our pick

Spend one hour inside the Sydney Opera House with a guide such as Esteban, Sheila, Judy, or Steve. See two performance spaces, elegant foyers, custom birch chairs, vaulted ceilings, and areas normally closed to the public. Headsets keep every story clear. Add lunch or dinner at Opera Bar or House Canteen.

“You don’t really get to see everything. There are multiple theaters in the opera house and I think we saw two - one small and one large. You can’t take pictures inside if people are working or if there is copyright scenery so you should be aware of that. The tour guide was fantastic and had lots of good stories and history.”

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Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Scenic Trail Tour - Seal Bay and the Australian sea lions
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Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Scenic Trail Tour

2.Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Scenic Trail Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 110 reviews · from $164

Spend 7 to 8 hours exploring Kangaroo Island from Penneshaw with a local guide such as Pete, Joel, Nikki, or Cheryl. Visit wild sea lions at Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks, and Admirals Arch, with lunch, park fees, bottled water, and cruise-port transport included. Expect long drives and confirm the pickup point before arrival.

“Great day exploring with Joel. He was prompt, polite, and friendly. Just enough commentary while traveling. Lunch was good and correspondence prior to the tour was great, very responsive.”

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Shore Excursion: Hobart Highlights Day Tour - Salamanca Market on Saturdays
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Shore Excursion: Hobart Highlights Day Tour

3.Shore Excursion: Hobart Highlights Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 107 reviews · from $107

Spend 5 to 7 hours seeing Hobart’s best sights with a local driver-guide. Ride to kunanyi, visit historic Richmond, stop at Wicked Cheese, and feed kangaroos at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Salamanca Market is included on Saturdays. Pickup and return from the cruise terminal make this a useful choice for a short port visit.

“A great way to see Hobart with only one day to do it. The driver was very friendly, and a fountain of knowledge about Tasmania.”

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Airlie Beach: Cedar Creek Express (cruise ship friendly) - What makes Cedar Creek Falls worth the drive
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Airlie Beach: Cedar Creek Express (cruise ship friendly)

4.Airlie Beach: Cedar Creek Express (cruise ship friendly)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 104 reviews · from $63Top rated

Travel from the Airlie Beach Lagoon to Cedar Creek Falls in an air-conditioned bus, with guides such as Dan, Jenny, D, and DTo sharing local stories along the way. You get about 90 minutes at the creek for swimming and exploring, plus snacks, water refills, and a pool noodle. Bring water shoes, a towel, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

“Lovely waterfalls but unless you swim around for over an hour nothing else to do. Nice place for our picnic lunch”

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Penneshaw: Shore Excursion Kangaroo Island Scenic Tour - Meeting your guide at Penneshaw
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Penneshaw: Shore Excursion Kangaroo Island Scenic Tour

5.Penneshaw: Shore Excursion Kangaroo Island Scenic Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 103 reviews · 7 hours · from $162

Spend seven hours crossing Kangaroo Island with a local guide such as Pete, Nikki, or Lutz. Visit Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, and Pennington Bay. The small air-conditioned bus includes lunch, water, park fees, and cruise-terminal pickup, but expect long drives and a full day on the road.

“This tour was an excellent way to experience the incredible beauty of Flinders Chase and Seal Bay. Our guide, Paul, from Just Cruisin 4WD Tours was helping out but we landed an excellent, friendly and knowledgeable guide for our excursion. He made the experience extra special!! Flinders is a long drive but magical...well worth the time and money to explore this beautiful place!!!”

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Shore Excursion: Hobart Wanderer - Hobart streets and stories before the mountain
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Shore Excursion-Hobart Wanderer

6.Shore Excursion-Hobart Wanderer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · from $114

This 5 to 6-hour Hobart shore excursion links Mount Wellington, historic Richmond, and Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Guides such as Paul, Brett, Gary, Jared, and Peter share local stories while driving a maximum of 20 people from the cruise terminal. Expect flexible timing, kangaroo encounters, Tasmanian devils, and a scallop pie stop at your own cost.

“Had Excellent experience thanks to our tour guide Paul. He shared with us his passion about Tasmania in genera and wild life there. Beautiful views from a top of Wellington mountain. Lots of Kangaroos and other animals in wild life sanctuary:)”

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Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Tasting Tour - For Cruise Ship Passengers Only - Clifford’s Honey Farm and the story of Ligurian bees
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Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Tasting Tour – For Cruise Ship Passengers Only

7.Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Tasting Tour – For Cruise Ship Passengers Only

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 74 reviews · from $164

Spend about seven hours exploring Kangaroo Island from Penneshaw, with tastings at Clifford’s Honey Farm, Emu Ridge Eucalyptus, Emu Bay Lavender, Bay of Shoals Winery, and Kangaroo Island Spirits. Guide names vary, with Caitlyn, Nikki, Lutz, Joel, Kylie, and Gary praised for their local insight. Lunch is on your own.

“The tour guide/driver was engaging, funny and very knowledgeable on KI and many other topics. His easy going approach is supported by his wealth of varied experiences, really impressive. I have been to KI a number of times, but learnt and saw much more than before.”

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The Airlie Sightseeing Bus – (Cruise-Ship Friendly) - Cedar Creek Falls and the dry-season catch
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The Airlie Sightseeing Bus – (Cruise-Ship Friendly)

8.The Airlie Sightseeing Bus – (Cruise-Ship Friendly)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · from $96

Spend about four hours touring Airlie Beach and the surrounding Whitsunday area in a small, air-conditioned bus. Guides such as Jenny, Cara, D, and Dee combine local stories with flexible sightseeing. You’ll visit Whitsunday Gold Coffee Plantation, Cedar Creek Falls, and George’s Diner, with hotel or port pickup included.

“D, our driver was very friendly and knowledgeable. He shared so much interesting information with us and took us to some lovely places. Highly recommend”

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Darwin Shore Excursion: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour - Boarding at Fort Hill Wharf and the city centre
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Darwin Shore Excursion: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

9.Darwin Shore Excursion: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 61 reviews · from $35

Build your own Darwin sightseeing day on a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus pass. Board near Fort Hill Wharf or at the Top End Visitor Information Centre, listen to recorded commentary, and hop off at 11 stops including the Waterfront, Crocosaurus Cove, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Cullen Bay, and the Military Museum. Expect hot weather, changing bus intervals, and a self-managed return to your ship.

“Great value for money. Commentary was great. The drivers were courtesy and helpful Would do this tour again”

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Shore Excursion - Cradle Mountain Shuttle Bus from Burnie - Leaving Burnie Port and reaching the park
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Shore Excursion – Cradle Mountain Shuttle Bus from Burnie

10.Shore Excursion – Cradle Mountain Shuttle Bus from Burnie

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 47 reviews · from $157

Travel from Burnie Port to Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park in an air-conditioned minivan with a local guide. You’ll spend time around Dove Lake, choose from walking tracks, and may spot wombats, wallabies, pademelons, or echidnas. Guides such as Peter, Shannon, Richard, Jeremy, Mark, and Dani have led departures, depending on the date.

“Well organised trip out of Burnie with stopover in Sheffield on the way up to Cradle Mountain. Our guides Shannon and Richard took us on a track that made great use of the time we had. Saw a few wombats, pademelons and an echidna in a beautiful unique landscape.”

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Sydney Shore Excursion: The Original Guided Walking Tour of The Rocks - What you see during the 90-minute walk
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Sydney Shore Excursion: The Original Guided Walking Tour of The Rocks

11.Sydney Shore Excursion: The Original Guided Walking Tour of The Rocks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · from $32Best value

Walk through Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood with a trained local guide such as Paul, Sally, or Helen. Over 90 minutes, you’ll explore small alleys, convict-built buildings, worn sandstone paths, and heritage sites while learning how early British Sydney developed. The route covers about 2 kilometres and includes views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

“Helen gave a very informative and enjoyable narration of the history of the Rocks. I wouldn't have known some of the unique spots and out of view places we visited were even there. Highly recommend to both visitors and residents of Sydney.”

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Wings Wildlife Park Shuttle, Burnie Shore Excursion - The ride from Burnie into Tasmania’s countryside
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Wings Wildlife Park Shuttle, Burnie Shore Excursion

12.Wings Wildlife Park Shuttle, Burnie Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · from $89

Ride inland from Burnie with a guide and driver, then spend about two hours exploring Wings Wildlife Park on your own. Feed kangaroos, see Tasmanian devils, and look for koala encounters at extra cost. The return route passes Penguin and follows the Leven River before bringing you back to the meeting point.

“The tour should have had 2 hours at the wild life park but the driver only allowed us 1 hour and 20 minutes. Other than that it was an excellent tour.”

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Cairns Shore Excursion: Cairns City Sights & Surrounds Tour - Start with Cairns Museum and the city’s story
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Cairns Shore Excursion: Cairns City Sights & Surrounds Tour

13.Cairns Shore Excursion: Cairns City Sights & Surrounds Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · from $78

Spend about five and a half hours exploring Cairns with a local guide such as Chris, Eric, or Matt. Visit the Cairns Museum, St Monica’s Cathedral, Flecker Botanical Gardens, Palm Cove, and Barron Gorge National Park when access allows. Air-conditioned transport, port transfers, and Devonshire tea are included.

“CHRIS did a great job We wished we had more time Make it a full day. drop the cruise ship people first at the end of the trip. We ran pretty close to all aboard”

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From Penneshaw: Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Tasting Tour - Meeting your guide at Penneshaw
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From Penneshaw: Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Tasting Tour

14.From Penneshaw: Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · 7 hours · from $162

From Penneshaw, explore Kangaroo Island’s food and drink makers with an English-speaking guide. Taste Ligurian honey, eucalyptus oil products, lavender scones, wine, gin, and vodka, with stops at Pennington Bay and Kingscote. Guides such as Caitlin and Joel have been praised for their friendly, lively approach. Lunch is not included.

“Bit hard to do a review when ship cancelled the port. No refund so be careful booking. Have claimed on insurance but will still be out of pocket. They offered a credit if we ever go back to kangaroo island which is highly unlikely as we live far away. If I had booked a tour through the ship they would have given a full refund.”

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Hobart Shore Excursion: Hobart Attractions Bus - Mount Nelson Signal Station gives you the big picture
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Hobart Shore Excursion: Hobart Attractions Bus

15.Hobart Shore Excursion: Hobart Attractions Bus

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $57

Ride a comfortable coach through Hobart with a guide who explains the city’s past and key sights. You’ll pause for 15 minutes at Mount Nelson Signal Station, pass Battery Point, Cascade Brewery, the Penitentiary Chapel, and the Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens, then return to the meeting point.

“This tour was a very informative history lesson about the beginnings of Tasmania (Van Diemans Land). I was travelling with my two youngest grandchildren aged 7 & 9 and my nine year old grandaughter could certainly empathise with the yRead more”

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New in Australia Shore Excursions

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★ 3.0Barossa Valley and Hahndorf Tour- Cruise Ship PickupsFrom $1542 reviews
★ 5.0Sapphire Coast: 7h Shore Excursion with Aussie Morning TeaFrom $1485 reviews
★ 4.0Hobart: Mt Field National Park & Wildlife Shore ExcursionFrom $1306 reviews
★ 5.0Cruise Ship – Wine Shore Excursion – HobartFrom $1555 reviews
★ 4.7Cairns Shore Excursion: Crocodile & Wildlife Park TourFrom $883 reviews
★ 5.0Bonorong & Richmond: Shore Excursion (Private Tour)4 reviews

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