Circumnavigation of Australia, clockwise or anti-clockwise?

[phoenixx]

Does anyone know if it is better to do the Australia circumnavigation clockwise or anti-clockwise and the reasons? 

I read something about this years ago and thought I'd saved it but didn't.

It seems some cruises do clockwise and some anti.

Google brings up nothing related to this on a cruise ship.

TIA for any help

[CruiserBruce]

We did clockwise...no noted issues. Can't think of any problems, other than when you might gain or lose time. But that seems balanced by the fact its a circumnavigation, and the time changes are going to happen no matter what.

[phoenixx]

33 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

We did clockwise...no noted issues. Can't think of any problems, other than when you might gain or lose time. But that seems balanced by the fact its a circumnavigation, and the time changes are going to happen no matter what.

Thanks for your response Bruce. I seem to remember that I read ages ago that you get smoother seas in one direction but can't find the info or remember it!

[iflyrc5]

When we did it in 2016 on a HAL ship we went counter clockwise.  All was good.

 

[erewhon]

We have twice done the Australian Circumnavigation cruise, both times anticlockwise, on  board the Volendam and the Maasdam  Both were very good cruises.

[phoenixx]

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

We did clockwise...no noted issues. Can't think of any problems, other than when you might gain or lose time. But that seems balanced by the fact its a circumnavigation, and the time changes are going to happen no matter what.

What time of year did you do yours? Thanks

[CurlerRob]

1 hour ago, phoenixx said:

Thanks for your response Bruce. I seem to remember that I read ages ago that you get smoother seas in one direction but can't find the info or remember it!

 

Weather is so unpredictable that I'm not sure direction would matter too much regarding seas. However, the anti-clockwise route will have the prevailing westerly winds on your stern as you transit the southern part of Oz.

 

You're still well north of the southern ocean (and it's violence) but having the prevailing winds on the stern will tend to provide a smoother, albeit more "roller coaster" ride if it brews up.

 

Our trip was anti-clockwise, with generally good weather, so I don't have a definitive opinion to share. Enjoy it either way - it's a great trip! 🍺🥌

[CruiserBruce]

54 minutes ago, phoenixx said:

What time of year did you do yours? Thanks

August.

[Kiwifan56]

We did anticlockwise on the Noordam last year leaving early November. The seas were really calm until we left Perth when the weather cut up a bit. 
 

Our cruise was 35 days and we really enjoyed it even if we missed a couple of ports due to strong winds. 
 

Hopefully you can get a cruise that will suit you. 

[bcummin]

December / January was good for our clockwise EXC ms Maasdam cruise.

Barbara

 

[Heidi13]

13 hours ago, phoenixx said:

Does anyone know if it is better to do the Australia circumnavigation clockwise or anti-clockwise and the reasons? 

I read something about this years ago and thought I'd saved it but didn't.

It seems some cruises do clockwise and some anti.

Google brings up nothing related to this on a cruise ship.

TIA for any help

 

Having steamed around Australia both directions a few times, I'll suggest it is personal preference, with the 3 key differences being the predominant winds, temperatures and the itinerary to be more intensive at the beginning or end of the cruise. Assuming a R/T from Sydney.

 

Crossing the Great Australian Bight you are in the roaring 40's, with predominantly W'ly winds, so anti-clockwise you would have these winds astern (following winds), with less apparent wind over the deck. A clockwise sailing will have the winds ahead, so more apparent wind over the deck. The ship's movement is completely different with head or following seas, more pounding with large heads seas, whereas with following seas the movement can be uncomfortable as the wind grabs the stern. On the East Coast you can also experience SW Trade Winds, which will be following seas going counter-clockwise and head seas going clockwise.

 

Temperatures may depend on the time of year and whether you want to experience the worst heat/humidity early or later. If it is a late summer (s/hemisphere) to avoid some of the heat, you could do a clockwise, as it delays the transit through the tropical waters. If it was Spring/ early Summer, a counter-clockwise sailing will get through the tropics before the height of summer.

 

Going up the East Coast can be more port intensive until Darwin, whereas crossing the Great Australian Bight can have more sea days.

 

Personally, I prefer departing Sydney and heading North for a counter-clockwise sailing.

[VMax1700]

9 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

departing Sydney and heading North for a counter-clockwise sailing

same direction as water flows down the drain in that area?

[Heidi13]

7 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

same direction as water flows down the drain in that area?

 

Due to the Coriolis effect of the earth's rotation, in theory, yes. In practice it's a myth!! 

[VMax1700]

1 hour ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Due to the Coriolis effect of the earth's rotation, in theory, yes. In practice it's a myth!! 

Don't let the science ruin my 'one liner!' 🤣

[whogo]

All else being equal, choose the clockwise option. What kind of nut would deliberately go anti-clockwise? (I'm looking at you, NASCAR and horse racing.)

[phoenixxx]

7 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Having steamed around Australia both directions a few times, I'll suggest it is personal preference, with the 3 key differences being the predominant winds, temperatures and the itinerary to be more intensive at the beginning or end of the cruise. Assuming a R/T from Sydney.

 

Crossing the Great Australian Bight you are in the roaring 40's, with predominantly W'ly winds, so anti-clockwise you would have these winds astern (following winds), with less apparent wind over the deck. A clockwise sailing will have the winds ahead, so more apparent wind over the deck. The ship's movement is completely different with head or following seas, more pounding with large heads seas, whereas with following seas the movement can be uncomfortable as the wind grabs the stern. On the East Coast you can also experience SW Trade Winds, which will be following seas going counter-clockwise and head seas going clockwise.

 

Temperatures may depend on the time of year and whether you want to experience the worst heat/humidity early or later. If it is a late summer (s/hemisphere) to avoid some of the heat, you could do a clockwise, as it delays the transit through the tropical waters. If it was Spring/ early Summer, a counter-clockwise sailing will get through the tropics before the height of summer.

 

Going up the East Coast can be more port intensive until Darwin, whereas crossing the Great Australian Bight can have more sea days.

 

Personally, I prefer departing Sydney and heading North for a counter-clockwise sailing.

Looking at clockwise Sydney to Brisbane end of October 

[phoenixxx]

3 hours ago, whogo said:

All else being equal, choose the clockwise option. What kind of nut would deliberately go anti-clockwise? (I'm looking at you, NASCAR and horse racing.)

Why would you choose clockwise?

[Destiny0315]

Remember that you may have to define clockwise and counter clockwise to some members here.😃

 

[Sailnsurf]

2 hours ago, phoenixxx said:

2 hours ago, phoenixxx said:

Looking at clockwise Sydney to Brisbane end of October 

 

 

Sydney to Brisbane would be anti-clockwise. Anti-clockwise is the common route.

 

I generally only follow HAL but for a time was considering Cunard and cannot re-call ever seeing  clock-wise circumnavigation on offer but perhaps I just did not notice.

[phoenixxx]

53 minutes ago, Sailnsurf said:

 

Sydney to Brisbane would be anti-clockwise. Anti-clockwise is the common route.

 

I generally only follow HAL but for a time was considering Cunard and cannot re-call ever seeing  clock-wise circumnavigation on offer but perhaps I just did not notice.

It's Princess, theirs all seem to be clockwise.

[Heidi13]

2 hours ago, Sailnsurf said:

 

Sydney to Brisbane would be anti-clockwise. Anti-clockwise is the common route.

 

I generally only follow HAL but for a time was considering Cunard and cannot re-call ever seeing  clock-wise circumnavigation on offer but perhaps I just did not notice.

 

The OP is discussing circumnavigation of Australia.

 

A direct voyage from Sydney to Brisbane is predominantly Northbound courses, but a circumnavigation of Australia, with embarkation in  Sydney and disembarking in Brisbane is a clockwise routing.