All foreign-flagged cruise ships have been banned from Australia’s waters since March 2020. But come April 17, that could change, rebooting a huge chunk of the local tourism economy.
I d love to be heading off to admire crocs and Aboriginal rock art in Kakadu in a couple of months. Same goes for cruising the Kimberley coast, bracketed by a few days in Broome and Darwin. Ditto Lord Howe Island in October when the red-tailed tropicbirds are breeding along the cliffs. Governments of all stripes are egging me on and subsidising my travels by way of half-price airfares – but I just can t afford it.
Don t get me wrong, I can do cheap. There s plenty to love about Australia that doesn t involve a deep dive into the piggy bank. A hike in the Blue Mountains with the earth spiralling away at my feet and waterfalls spurting from the escarpment above costs next to nothing. Victoria s Black Spur Drive with a spot of wine tasting in the Yarra Valley – fantastic! I have a covert fascination for cheap motels which is regrettably not shared by my partner but Australia s iconic experiences - the ones that are going to stick in your memory forever – are scaldingly expensive.