Hokkaido tour suits nature lovers
See wonders of Great Lakes area
THE thunderous noise, raw power and natural beauty of Niagara Falls are definite highlights of a cruise on the Great Lakes of Canada and the US, but how do cruise ships continue their journey from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie or vice versa, when the great Niagara Falls deny a safe way through?
The solution – the Welland Canal.
Built in 1829, the Welland Canal has been the way ships have bypassed Niagara Falls for nearly 200 years. The manmade marvel has been improved since it was built. The fourth and current iteration of the canal was finished in 1932 and connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie through a complex system of eight locks, which allow ships to traverse the Niagara escarpment.
Cruising through the Welland Canal is not only essential to a Great Lakes cruise, but it is an entertaining journey as guests pass through each lock.
One of Cruise Traveller’s small-ship partners, Victory Cruise Lines, has released a cruise program to the Great Lakes, where guests can enjoy the natural wonders of Niagara Falls and the great North American lakes, as well as Welland Canal.
Experience the natural and man-made wonders of the Great Lakes with eight cruise itineraries in 2020, sailing aboard one of Victory Cruise Lines’ two, 202-passenger ships, Victory I and Victory II, and taking in Niagara Falls, the scenic St Lawrence Seaway, Welland Canal and the Atlantic Coast.
Visit www.cruisetraveller.com.au/ great-lakes-grand-discovery.
JAPAN’S vast northern island of Hokkaido offers more than 83,000 sq km of scenic wonders. Sparsely populated, Hokkaido is the best location for seeing birds, deer, red fox and other wildlife in summer and autumn.
In 2020 Toursgallery will conduct four fully escorted small-group tours that take people off the beaten track, allowing them to experience some of the most picturesque natural habitats in Japan.
Hokkaido Nature Tours in June and October will include the wild Shakotan Peninsula, rarely visited by foreign tourists. Be prepared to see brown bear catching wild salmon, Hokkaido squirrels in the trees and families of sika deer roaming the forest tracks. Whitetailed eagles, red fox and green woodpeckers are commonly spotted, making Hokkaido a prime spot for photographers.
The famous Japanese redcrowned cranes can be seen in the Ramsar-protected Kushiro Marsh and Notsuke Peninsula.
Escorted by Mayumi Gray, guests gain access to locations not frequented by independent travellers.
A comfortable 23-seat private executive coach is provided by Toursgallery, even though the group is limited to only 10 guests.
Accommodation is in the best available hotel rooms in each area, and all breakfasts and banquet dinners are included, as are all entry fees.
This 16-day Hokkaido Nature Tour operates from Tokyo in June and October and is $9850 per person twin share.
Visit www.toursgallery.com for more details.