From the publisher

FOR THOSE YACHT owners and captains who venture beyond their immediate horizon to voyage far beyond the norm, The Great Southern Route will guide you from either of the two (dare I say, crowded) cruising grounds of the Caribbean and Mediterranean all the way to the Antipodes.

Suez and Panama, the two great canals, are the eastern and western gateways to the extensive cruising grounds covered in The Great Southern Route.

This latest edition includes cruising advice on some 80 stepping-stone destinations so that undertaking such an exciting voyage is no more than a hop, skip and a jump as you cruise from destination to destination. 

To begin, we set our sights toward the setting sun on our great voyage of exploration, starting with the spectacular Northwest Passage, down the Pacific west coast of the Americas to the Panama Canal.

We cruise to the tip of Chile and, for the most adventurous of private yachts, beyond to the frozen wonderland of Antarctica.

We then turn our bows west, setting course for the great expanse of the island-dotted Pacific Ocean en route to the great southern land of Australia.

Next, the enticing countries of Asia and beyond, then across the Indian Ocean to Africa, the Middle East and Suez.

Along the voyage, port to port, you can chart your own course and speed, visiting some of the most extraordinary destinations imaginable. It’s not only the tropical warmth that will have you spellbound but the hearts and smiles of the island peoples of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, ever gracious in their welcome.

We hope this guide will open your eyes to a whole new world of unexplored cruising opportunities, helping you to see the world from an entirely different perspective.

I would like to thank our many contributors, starting with Captain Mike Gregory, Fleet Captain for M/Ys Dragonfly, Butterfly and Firefly. His fleet’s captains, and another 30-plus captains throughout the region, have put in many hours to share firsthand advice on what to expect when contemplating a cruise to some of the most isolated corners of the world.

A huge amount of gratitude also goes to our Foundation Partners Tourism Australia, Pantaenius Yacht Insurance and Tourism Fiji, along with many advertisers, without whose considerable support, the fourth edition would not have been possible.

We wish you a safe journey to the most exciting cruising grounds in the world and encourage you to escape the familiar, set a new course beyond the everyday, and seek out new destinations and experiences – the decision will change the way you see the world around you forever.

Hillary Buckman

Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief
Ocean Media Pty Ltd