Charter Chatter

-- In April 2011, the replica of James Cook's HM Bark Endeavour will undertake an historic circumnavigation of Australia. The voyage will commence in Sydney and trace James Cook's original voyage 240 years ago when he became the first to chart the east coast of Australia in 1770. From Queensland Endeavour will sail across the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Top End to Darwin, before sailing into the Indian Ocean and along the Western Australian coast to Fremantle. Endeavour will then cross the Great Australian Bight taking in South Australia and continuing around Tasmania, before crossing Bass Strait to Victoria and returning home to Sydney by May 2012. Paying crew sleep in either a hammock berth or a supernumerary cabin, and will be trained in all aspects of 18th century sailing. ANMM.gov.au.

-- Coral Princess Cruises is offering a 20 per cent discount on selected ten night journeys exploring the Kimberley coastline, departing during October 2010, and singles can cruise at twin share prices. Between Darwin and Broome rivers carve their way through ancient eroded mountains that were once the height of the Himalayas. Excursions ashore visit rock art galleries where Bradshaw (Gwion) paintings - the world’s oldest known art - record a human history stretching back 50,000 years.

-- Queensland’s Season of Sailing is offering a range of stay and sail packages, day cruise options, and charter boat holidays which are available leading up to, and during, Magnetic Island Race Week on 3-7 September, and through to the summer months. Choose from a spectator boat to watch the racing, sailing around Magnetic Island on a 62 foot tall ship, staying overnight on a luxury yacht or skippering your own yacht and discover the Palms Group of islands.

-- Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays has been named the Number One Eco Friendly Beach in the world by CNN.com. Tourism Whitsundays submitted Whitehaven Beach for consideration for this honour and traffic to TourismWhitSundays.com.au has sky rocketed.

-- Humpback whales are currently making an almighty splash in waters from Esperance to Broome. Western Australia has one of the longest whale-watching seasons in the world, running from June to early December and covering the length of the State’s coastline. Visit WesternAustralia.com for further information.

-- The Great Escape Charter Company is celebrating ten years of Kimberley adventures, and to mark the end of this special year they have released an offer of a complimentary helicopter voucher for all new reservations on the remaining 2010 August and September cruises.

-- North Star Cruises has announced a new cash-back incentive to travel on the adventure-cruise ship True North. The offer applies to selected Kimberley Wilderness Cruises, all 2010 Coral Atoll Cruises, and all 2010 Solomon Sojourns. Savings of up to $4,999 are possible.

-- Sailing conditions in the Whitsundays are near perfect in winter with daytime temperatures averaging 27 degrees Celsius and the water around 24 degrees. Live the dream and become part of the racing crew on a maxi yacht, experience a tall ship adventure, skipper your own vessel or cruise in luxury under sail or motor.

-- Sales opened for the historic circumnavigation of Australia by Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and within 15 minutes 450 staterooms had been booked, creating a record day for cruise sales in Australia. The 151,400-tonne cruise ship will set sail in February 2012 and will call in to Sydney, Fremantle, Adelaide, the Whitsundays, Cairns (Yorkey's Knob), Darwin, Melbourne, Brisbane and Bali. 

Photograph: HM Bark Endeavour replica