New Delhi, May 16 -- Six years ago, fresh from a Tasmanian adventure, I sang its praises at our Sunday family lunch of dhansak and kebabs-a Parsi tradition. My then four-year-old niece, seemingly preoccupied with her meal, was actually soaking in my talk about spectacular locales, wide skies and soul-stirring seafood.

"Tasmania stands apart and not just geographically. It ranks amongst the world's prettiest places," I had proclaimed. And she never forgot.

So when a family road trip to Australia was being planned in 2024, she voted for "the part that stands apart" to be included.

And that's how the five of us-my sister, her husband, my now 10-year-old niece, my 80-year-old mum and I-find ourselves standing at the rail of the Spirit of T...