plenty of people, a journey to Australian Experiences is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. It shouldn’t be. I suppose you’ll need at least half a dozen visits before you truly comprehend the amazing variety and distinct oddity of Oz.
The once-in-a-lifetime thing might be a pain, because you risk attempting to accomplish too much in one trip. If you’re packing in Sydney Harbour, The Great Ocean Road, the Great Barrier Reef, Kangaroo Island and Uluru you’ll wind up spending even more hours in an aircraft after your epic voyage from the UK (and internal flights are pricey in Australia). You’ll also miss several beautiful destinations that don’t get that drab “iconic” tag: Adelaide and beyond, Perth and the Coral coast, and wonderful, quirky Tasmania.
Now that tourism Down Under could be opening up again, these are 12 places to start. I’d choose no more than three from the list for one trip. And keep going back. Encountering and understanding Oz is the job of a lifetime.
1-Sydney and the northern beaches:
You’ve arrived in Australia: you’re standing under Harbour Bridge at nightfall while the last of that huge, bold Aussie sun shoots through the ironwork and sparkles off the scales of the Opera House. Whether you’re up high on a bridge walk or down below surrounded by couples taking their pre-wedding shots, you’re in one of the world’s great cityscapes. Sydney combines worldwide glam with local cool.
Do get to Bondi – the tourists are the ones without any clothes; locals have more respect for the aforementioned sun — and ogle the expensive villas on the northern beaches. But the further north or south you walk down the coast, the emptier the beaches and the more everyone prefers to keep it real (one of several beloved Aussie-isms you’d better learn). Trailfinders’ Sydney and Beyond tour covers Sydney & Bondi Beach, Port Stephens and the Blue Mountains.
2-Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula:
Put away any negative thoughts about the word “suburb” — the dozens that surround Melbourne’s tight little CBD (Central Business District) are all individual centres of urban chic. Regeneration of this Victorian city came early, while the Greek, Lebanese and Italian immigrants of the mid-20th century changed the food culture. Best nearby escape is Mornington, a place of daring winelands resorts and bright and breezy beach towns. Austravel’s 22-day Australian break includes a night on the Mornington Peninsula.
3-The Great Ocean Road:
Get the compulsory shots at the Twelve Apostles and with the fairy penguins on Phillips Island. But the nicest thing is driving into a fashionable beach town like Lorne or Robe after a long day on a sweltering road. Abercrombie and Kent has a seven-night Great Ocean Road self-drive tour.
4-Adelaide and ‘Australian Experiences in a nutshell:
Still a vast country town, Adelaide, but with an even livelier food and drink culture. The (very) nearby Adelaide Hills combine an alternative arts and dining experience with some very lovely real estate. Venture north to the Flinders and Lake Eyre, and within three or four days you can get Australia in a nutshell: winelands, Bush and Outback. Trailfinders offers a 14-night Wine, Kangaroos and Southern Sights vacation, including a luxurious RV.
he Red Centre of Australia is a harsh and stunning region dominated by the famed Uluru (Ayers Rock). This huge sandstone monolith carries significant spiritual importance for the Indigenous Anangu people and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Witnessing the changing colors of Uluru at sunrise or sunset is a magnificent experience, as the rock transitions from deep reds to brilliant oranges.
While in the Red Centre, don’t miss the chance to visit Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), Kings Canyon, and the immense expanses of the Outback. Guided excursions provide insights into the Aboriginal culture and the distinctive flora and fauna of the region.
5-Uluru and beyond:
You can no longer climb up the majestic red rock. But who needs to? Just standing at sunset with a glass of wine observing the changing tones of the world’s best-known inselberg should be enough. The premium Longitude 131 lodge compliments the scenery rather than detracting from it. Luxury Lodges of Australia offers Longitude 131 in its mini-breaks.
6-Perth and the Wild West coast:
Perth is more historic and intriguing than it’s frequently given credit for. Beyond, you get some pretty weird natural sights: Start at Rottnest Island, then head up the Coral Coast to the Pink Lake and the turquoise waters of Shark Bay and Geraldton. Audley Travel offers a 16-day trip of Fremantle, Perth and the Coral Coast.
The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most spectacular coastal drives, running over 240 kilometers along Victoria’s southwest coast. The road winds through attractive coastal communities, lush jungles, and stunning cliffs that overlook the Southern Ocean. Along the route, you’ll discover iconic locations such as the Twelve Apostles, a series of limestone stacks towering from the ocean, and the Loch Ard Gorge, a gorgeous inlet with a tragic history.
The Great Ocean Road is also a haven for nature aficionados, with the possibility to observe koalas, kangaroos, and seabirds in their native environments. Take your time on this trip, pausing regularly to soak in the spectacular sights.
7-Darwin and crocs land:
The weather doesn’t alter much in tropical Darwin between sticky season (summer) and-not-quite-so sticky season (winter). Take a seaplane and check out the crocs. Bamurru Plains must be the rustiest, dustiest luxury lodge in existence. Hayes and Jarvis’s Outback tour includes a six-day road journey around the Top End region’s national parks: Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield.
8-Brisbane to Byron:
Queensland’s capital has a lot more to detain the tourist than even five years ago, even if it remains in the shadow of the buzzy and glitzy Gold Coast. Venture further south to the pastoral serenity of the Tweed Valley and Bryon Bay – still hanging on to its hippy heritage, despite the money and tourists that have rushed in. Flight Centre’s Colours of Queensland tour combines the Gold Coast alongside more natural areas.
Kangaroo Island, located off the coast of South Australia, is a nature lover’s dream. This unspoiled island is home to a vast range of native wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, sea lions, and echidnas. Flinders Chase National Park is a highlight, affording the chance to visit the Remarkable Rocks, a series of weathered granite boulders situated on a cliff, and Admirals Arch, a natural rock bridge that’s home to a colony of fur seals.
Take a guided tour to learn about the island’s unique ecosystem and the conservation efforts to safeguard its wildlife. Kangaroo Island is also known for its artisanal food and wine, making it a wonderful trip for gourmands.
9-Arty Tasmania:
Not many would have imagined that Tasmania, previously best known for riesling, jails and extinct tigers, would become a cultural center. That’s partly to the often outlandish Mona art gallery in Hobart and its renegade proprietor. There is barely much at Cape Grim in the extreme northwest. But it happens to be where the world’s purest air has been measured: so take your lungs on a pilgrimage. Tasmanian Odyssey develops personalized itineraries including a 14-night self-drive holiday.
Winelands (plus a touch of whisky):
Australia didn’t originate winelands tourism, but it certainly does it better than anyone else. Head for the lesser-known areas — the Clare Valley and McLaren Vale in South Australia. Tasmania has some fantastic wine and picnic trips — and at Sullivan’s Cove, some of the world’s best whisky. Abercrombie and Kent offers a South Australia Winelands Food and Wine Lovers Trip.
Australia is recognized for its world-class wine regions, and no vacation to the nation is complete without trying its finest vintages. The Barossa Valley in South Australia is possibly the most famous, famed for its powerful Shiraz and gorgeous vineyards. Take a wine-tasting tour to visit some of the region’s greatest vineyards, where you can enjoy cellar door samples, gourmet meals, and gorgeous views of the countryside.
Other prominent wine districts include the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Hunter Valley in New South Wales. Each location offers a unique experience, from boutique vineyards to vast estates, making it a treat for oenophiles.
Australia is synonymous with surfing, and the country’s coastline is littered with world-class surf breaks. Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or a beginner, there’s a beach for you. Bondi Beach in Sydney is one of the most famous, with its unique crescent-shaped bay and active surf culture.
For more demanding waves, head to the Gold Coast in Queensland, where the beaches of Surfers Paradise, Snapper Rocks, and Burleigh Heads attract surfers from across the world. Western Australia’s Margaret River region is another top site, famed for its tremendous waves and lovely coastline scenery. If you’re new to surfing, consider taking a lesson from one of the many surf schools along the shore.
11-Food culture:
The green farmland inland in the eastern states has kept Australians very well fed over the years — with the result that the population is literally rising at quite a clip thanks to that rich dairy and red meat diet. But the New Australians from the old world altered Australian cuisine in the 1970s and 1980s — and it was transformed again as Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese food took off.
The result: possibly the most vibrant restaurant culture on the planet. Cox and Kings’ Culinary Delights of Australia is a ten-day excursion taking in the Barossa Valley, Sydney’s fish market and Margaret River.
12-Experiencing the Outback at Kakadu National Park:
Kakadu National Park, located in the Northern Territory, is a huge and ancient landscape that offers a genuine Outback experience. The park is home to an extraordinary array of ecosystems, from marshes and rivers to sandstone escarpments and monsoon forests. It’s also a place of significant cultural value, with thousands of years of Indigenous history documented in rock art sites and sacred places.
Take a guided tour to learn about the rich Aboriginal culture and the unusual wildlife that inhabits the park, including saltwater crocodiles, wallabies, and a vast range of bird species. A boat tour on the Yellow Water Billabong at sunrise or sunset is a highlight, allowing the chance to witness the park’s creatures in their native setting.
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