Charter Chatter

- Lady Elliot Charters’ 44ft flybridge cruiser is available for half-day seafood cruises and full-day or overnight fishing charters. The six-hour seafood experience cruises off the coast from Bargara to Elliott Heads, anchoring for guests to enjoy a fresh seafood lunch, accompanied by beer, wine and bubbly. The full-day fishing charter heads out to local reefs and fishing grounds and caters for up to eight people, while the overnight charter takes in Fraser Gutters, Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands and surrounding reefs, and caters for a maximum of six.

- The 2010 Sydney New Year's Eve harbourside celebrations signal the start of a new decade. The theme this year is Make your Mark. The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, invites you to reflect on the decade that has gone and the lasting impressions left by your actions and to reflect on ways you can make a mark by contributing to a better future. Charter vessels offering a range of cruises have places available for the evening on the harbour or book a boat exclusively for you and your friends. www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/NYE

- Captain Cook Cruises has extended its 'Find My Fiji' sale, which is offering up to 47 per cent off brochure prices on all three-, four- and seven-night Fiji cruises from now until 31 March 2011 with travel valid until 31 March 2011.

- North Star Cruises' Southern Safari cruise departs on January 10 for eight nights on the inshore waters between Adelaide and the Eyre Peninsular. The cruise visits McLaren's finest wineries and famed Kangaroo Island. Guests can cage dive with great white sharks, explore beautiful Coffin Bay and get amongst the action at a 'tuna rodeo'.

- Christmas lunch cruises are available on Sydney Harbour onboard the MV Sydney 2000 with two menus to choose from, the deluxe Sky Deck menu and the Club Deck menu. The vessel departs 12 noon on Christmas Day, Saturday 25 December, from No.6 Jetty Circular Quay and returns at 2.45pm.

- Australia's largest luxury private yacht, Southern Cloud returns to Sydney for the summer charter season, after a successful six months on the Great Barrier Reef. The fully refurbished 130ft sailing charter yacht comfortably sleeps 12 in luxurious surroundings with electric en-suite facilities for all seven bedrooms, full internet access, climate control, modern entertainment, laundry and six crew.

- Quality tourism experiences with ECO, Respecting Our Culture (ROC) and Climate Action certification have dominated the winners at State and Territory Tourism Awards held around Australia over the past month. These winners are now finalists in the Australian Tourism Awards in February 2011 and include Fantasea Cruises in Queensland, Adventure Bay Charters in South Australia, Bruny Island Cruises in Tasmania and Pearl Sea Coastal Cruises and Ningaloo Reef Dreaming in Western Australia.

- Sarina Bratton, Founder and Managing Director of Orion Expedition Cruises, recently returned from a scouting expedition to Borneo in preparation for the inaugural visit in 2011 by Orion II. One such expedition was venturing in local boats up the Kinabatangan River, one of the oldest jungle eco-systems remaining on earth and one of two places on the planet where you can see ten species of primate.

Dec 31 -- New Year’s Eve. Spectacular pyrotechnics are fired off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, barges, and city skyscrapers at 9.00pm and midnight. Charter vessels participate in a themed parade following the 9.00pm fireworks. A special area is set aside for charter vessels in the Harbour. www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/

Jan 26 -- Australia Day. Events on Sydney Harbour include a Ferrython, Awesome Forces displays, best dressed vessels competition, tall ships race, 174th Australia Day Regatta, Sydney Ports Jazz on the Water Concert. For details see www.australiaday.com.au

Photograph: Lady Elliot Charters