After nearly two years closed to tourists, it’s great to hear that Australia will finally be opening up its borders on 21st February, so we can once again enjoy visiting one of the most remote and fascinating countries in the world. Endowed with a myriad of natural wonders from tropical rainforests to the red deserts of the Outback, plenty of wildlife, dazzling beaches and cosmopolitan cities, it’s easy to see why this captivating country is such a complete travel destination.
Australia has evolved rapidly in the last 20 years and there are many ways in which you can get under its skin. On all my client trips, I work closely with my fabulous partner on the ground in Australia, Amanda, and together we create itineraries that work absolutely seamlessly, taking in the country’s many highlights at just the right pace and weaving in unique experiences to make unforgettable travel memories.
Australia however, is a complex continent, due to how far away it is, how big it is, weather patterns etc. and clients often raise a number of issues when thinking about a trip there. But these are all addressable and here’s why you should definitely think about Australia for your next amazing trip.
Australia is so far away
I am afraid it is and yes, it will take the best part of a day to get there. But this gives you the opportunity for a stopover. Singapore Airlines offers, what I think, is one of the best Business Class services and operates a direct flight from Manchester to Singapore. The city is so diverse; exotic and yet super safe! Head out on a guided cycling tour, soak up the culture in Little India and Chinatown and visit the cloud forest at the Gardens by the Bay with its gigantic trees. Equally you could stop off for a few days in Hong Kong or Bangkok or have a night or two in one of the Middle Eastern hubs.
I only have two weeks for my holiday
We are experts in making the most of your time and in just 14 days we can include a number of highlights (planned around your personal interests), as well as allow time for beach relaxation. I am working on a 2022 trip for a client who wants to travel over the Easter school holidays, and with the age of the group ranging from 13 to 70, the pace of the trip is really important.
Starting in Brisbane, they will whizz around Australia Zoo with our knowledgeable guide and his trusty golf buggy, seeing everything and enjoying private encounters with koalas and lemurs (the children’s choice). Without our guide and his wheels, my clients would see and experience only a fraction of what the zoo has to offer in the one day they have available.
Next is the easy-going town of Byron Bay, known for its excellent surf beaches, quirky cafés and delicious restaurants. But getting there will not require self-driving which, with jet lag, would be hard work….this is a holiday after all! So my clients will be escorted by our guide who will make the trip super exciting with waterfall swims, forest walks and snorkelling with turtles. Once in Byron Bay, days will be filled with surfing, horse riding, kayaking with dolphins, discovering the hinterland and enjoying Byron’s laid-back lifestyle.
Then it’s on to the Great Barrier Reef and Hayman Island, which is just one of 74 stunning islands in the Whitsunday group. Our planned stay includes thrills for all: a jet ski tour of the island, a private boat charter for snorkelling on the reef and learning to scuba dive. In addition, we’ve made sure there is time soak up the stunning location - we’ve booked the spa treatments and arranged some beachside fine dining too.
The journey comes to an end in Sydney where my lucky clients will stay at the fantastic Park Hyatt Hotel, with panoramic views of the Opera House and the sparkling Harbour waters. They will get to understand the world’s oldest living culture, first-hand through the eyes of a local Aboriginal man, take to the coast in a super-fast boat, have lunch at the exclusive beachside suburb of Watson’s Bay and get a true feel for the famous Australian surf and swim culture strolling from beautiful Bronte to Bondi Beach.
This is truly a jammed packed itinerary covering four destinations in just two weeks, and yet we have allowed plenty of time at leisure to relax and take in each location.
We can only travel in July and August, but isn’t that winter in Australia?
Australia is a huge country and year-round there are destinations that offer warm sunny days and blue skies. July and August are perfect for the northern half of the continent including the Great Barrier Reef and beyond, up through the ancient Daintree Rainforest and into the wilderness of Cape York.
It is also the perfect time for Top End Safaris. Hosted by passionate local guides, head out to discover the escarpment country and billabongs of Kakadu and Arnhem Land, still home to traditional living Aboriginal people. On the nearby floodplains of the Mary River Delta explore Australia’s version of Botswana’s Okavango Delta and one of the country’s leading safari lodges, Bamurru Plains. Wake to the thud of bouncing wallabies and a cacophony of birds, get up close to giant crocodiles, speed across the floodplains in a jetboat, then pause in the paperbark forest for your morning coffee - this truly is a magical world.
For those that genuinely want to get off the beaten track, there’s the Kimberley coast - an ancient landform of rugged ranges with deep, spectacular gorges and pristine sandy beaches that fringe the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Mighty river systems produce thundering waterfalls and pockets of lush rainforest. Scarcely populated, rich in Aboriginal art and sacred sites, the region is one of Australia’s great natural wonders and most of it is accessible only by boat. For those that love to holiday afloat, the Kimberley coast guarantees adventure, luxury and wilderness on an unmatched scale.
Whilst for the ultimate in barefoot luxury there’s Sal Salis, a true eco-camp nestled literally between the outback and the reef, sandwiched between Cape Range National Park and the Ningaloo Reef, where it is fair to say you will have the coastline to yourself. The highlight here is the chance to swim with the largest fish in the sea, the whale shark (March to July) and humpback whales (August to October).
Then for those that really do know Australia….
Let us suggest destinations new to you. Perhaps Margaret River, Amanda’s favourite wine region for its diversity and fabulous restaurants. Or hit the road on a self-drive trip of Tasmania with its breath-taking national parks and huge variety of wildlife including the endemic Tasmanian Devil. Maybe pop into Port Lincoln and share the local’s free-wheeling lifestyle - Lincoln’s all about food foraging, wildlife and quirky characters. Or discover gorgeous and stunning Lord Howe Island off the coast of Sydney, perfect between September and March.
Alternatively let us design a trip that focuses on your personal passions and interests, be it art and design, wildlife and walking, food and wine or extreme adventure. Australia has come of age and Amanda and I would love to reveal to you its treasure trove of experiences.
With many travellers having rolled over their trips for the last two years, things will no doubt book up fast for this year. However, arranging a trip to Australia takes time so, if the above has whetted your appetite, let’s start planning and, in a year or so, you will be on your way. With Amanda and me on hand, we’ll ensure your travels are authentic, memorable and full of highlights - whether it’s your first trip Down Under or just the next of many. So please do get in touch and let’s get the ball rolling.
{Images courtesy of Sarah Wood, Archie Sartracom, Paul Bester, Rhiannon Taylor and Dan Avila}