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7 nights on board

8 Days

PKG No.

UC_TEST_103

Departs in 2023

27 Jul

Available As

Cruise Only

Starting from (AUD)

A$7,999

*Per person twin share

Make an enquiry

Start your journey now

DAYS

HOURS

MINS

SEC

CRUISE ONLY

Overview

this is introduction

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Overview

Cruiseline: Avalon

L’Austral

Innovative design, sleek shape and profile, refined interior decoration, friendly, intimate atmosphere: French designers and decorators have managed to give this ship a unique style and veritable signature of its own. Combinations of fine materials, colours and tones harmoniously livened up with touches of bright colour, elegant lines, discreet and subtle refinement… everything has been designed to create a unique atmosphere onboard, a veritable personality: the chic style and naturally relaxing ambiance of a veritable private yacht.

Features:

All meals on board
the Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, Charles Heidsieck champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day. Certain premium alcoholic beverages on the menu are not included in the Open Bar,
free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day*,
activities and excursions offered during expedition cruises as specified in the itinerary
Spa and Wellness Centre
Swimming pool
Guest Lecturer
Fitness Room

Tonnage 10,944

Build date 2011

Crew 145

Capacity 264

Length 142m

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7 nights on board

8 Days

Departs in 2023

27 Jul

Starting from (AUD)

A$7,999

*Per person twin share

Make an enquiry

Start your journey now

Itinerary

Download full itinerary

Day 1 Papeete, Tahiti Island

Embark Aranui 5 this morning for a 12pm departure.

Day 2 Anaa, Tuamotu

A small atoll with less than 500 inhabitants, Anaa wrote its way into the history books as the birthplace of Tahiti’s royal family — the Pomare Dynasty. These days it’s best known for its luminous jade lagoon with green clouds above from the sun rays reflecting off the water and picturesque motus with no less than eleven little islands scattered around the atoll. Most of the population is involved in copra or fishing, leading to the island’s landmark sustainable fishing programme. Guests can explore the village of Tukuhora and try traditional javelin throwing and handicrafts. Look out for ‘feo’, giant fossilized blocks of coral which are characteristic of the atoll. The shallow clear lagoon is ideal for fly fishing, an optional activity offered in Anaa.

Day 3 Amanu, Tuatmotu

Located 900km east of Tahiti, Amanu is an idyllic atoll with palm-fringed crystal-clear lagoons and a charming island village. During a visit to Ikitake, guests can see local handicrafts and explore the village’s old lighthouse, church and the 19th century building with walls made of coral stones that doubles as the town hall and a shelter during cyclones. Under a century-old tree known as “tau”, a buffet of local specialties will be served and a group of local singers and musicians will perform.

Day 4 At Sea

Take advantage of this day at sea to relax by the boat’s pool, to participate in one of our conferences or activities organized by our guides.

Day 5 Aukena, Gambier

Aukena is home to pristine lagoons perfect for black pearl farming, idyllic beaches and the first church constructed out of stone in all of French Polynesia – Saint-Raphaël Church was built in 1839. Guests can visit a pearl farm, do some sightseeing, and enjoy a barbeque on a white sand beach.

Day 6 Pitcairn, Pitcairn Island

More than 200 years after the Bounty arrived, Aranui 5 will call at Pitcairn. The tale of the mutiny of His Majesty’s Armed Vessel Bounty is one of the best known in history. After the master’s Mate Fletcher Christian cast adrift Commander Lieutenant William Bligh in the ship’s boat, the mutineers sailed the Bounty back to Tahiti then onwards to the Austral Islands, eventually seeking refuge on an uninhabited island, secure from the outside world. Pitcairn. As part of their crew, they took with them six Polynesian men and twelve women, the beginnings of the current Pitcairn community. Upon their arrival on January 17, 1790, the crew found Pitcairn to be an inaccessible and uninhabited place with fertile and warm conditions. After removing their possessions and lugging everything up the aptly named Hill Of Difficulty, the Bounty was run ashore and set alight so that no trace of her would remain visible from the sea. A village was established on the lower plateau, situated above Bounty Bay, where the village of Adamstown still stands. Although he lived in this isolated sanctuary only a few years, Fletcher Christian is fondly remembered as the founder and first leader of modern-day Pitcairn.

Day 7 Pitcairn, Pitcairn Island

Home to just 50 people, Pitcairn is one of the most isolated islands in the world. During their visit, guests can immerse themselves in the living history and culture of the island, walking in the footsteps of the Bounty settlers from the landing at Bounty Bay to Adamstown; meeting the descendants of the mutineers at the curio market; visiting the grave of the last surviving mutineer John Adams; learning about an earlier Polynesian civilisation and viewing artefacts from the Bounty at the Museum.

Day 8 Mangareva, Gambier

Mangareva is the largest island in the Gambier and its main village, Rikitea, is the chief town of the archipelago. The island has a large lagoon with striking blue and green hues and is also famous for its Tahitian black pearls, which are cultivated in the pristine waters around the island. Once the cradle of Catholicism in Polynesia, a visit to the renovated St Michael’s Catholic Church, where the altar is inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl shell, is a must.

Day 9 At Sea

Take advantage of this day at sea to relax by the boat’s pool, to participate in one of our conferences or activities organized by our guides.

Day 10 Tuamotu

The Tuamotu Islands are made up of 76 coral atolls that are only a few meters above sea level. In Polynesian mythology, one version states that the god Tukerai, by shaking the sea, would have spun the string of 78 atolls of this archipelago spread over 800,000 km2 of ocean, for only 880 km2 of emerged land. In 1521, Magellan crossed the labyrinth of these islands at the water’s edge and came across Pukapuka, the first atoll in the Pacific that the Europeans discovered! It took nearly three centuries for the navigators to list the 78 atolls that make up the archipelago. For a long time, the archipelago was called Pa’umotu (“low islands”) and since the middle of the last century, the Tahitian name of Tuamotu has been used.

Day 11 Papeete

This is the end of our journey. It’s time to say Nānā! (Goodbye) to your travel companions, to the Polynesian staff and Aranui guides.

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7 nights on board

8 Days

Departs in 2023

27 Jul

Starting from (AUD)

A$7,999

*Per person twin share

Make an enquiry

Start your journey now

Aranui 5 – Pitcairn & Gambier – In the Footsteps of the Bounty Mutineers gallery

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7 nights on board

8 Days

Departs in 2023

27 Jul

Starting from (AUD)

A$7,999

*Per person twin share

Make an enquiry

Start your journey now

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Forgotten Islands of the South Pacific Activities

Guided Shore Excursions

Join the experts for guided shore excursions throughout the cruise. Where landings are not permitted, the expedition team will take you on a zodiac excursion around the coastlines where you can observe and learn about the ecology, wildlife and conservation efforts. On those islands where we can disembark, your expedition team will take you for guided walks where you will experience up-close encounters with the wildlife and discover the endemic flora and fauna.