Australia: the land of legendary experiences
Opulent train rides through the ochre-stained desert, luxurious hotels set among the Blue Mountains and spectacular light shows in the night sky – Australia has legendary experiences to suit all tastes.
If you’re planning to book an unforgettable Australian holiday in 2022, here are some of our top picks to inspire you.
South Australia
Fly over the Flinders Ranges
Emerging dramatically from the centre of the Flinders Ranges like a jagged crown, Wilpena Pound (known as Ikara to the Adnyamathanha traditional owners) is stunning from any angle. The best way to see this jewel of the outback is from above. Take a scenic flight and soar high over the blood red peaks and sheer gorges surrounding this natural wonder. From the air you’ll also enjoy views of the glittering salt lakes in the distance.
Stay at The Louise, Barossa Valley
Whether you’re lounging on the private terrace of a luxury suite, splashing in the infinity pool or dining at one of the two on-site restaurants, you’re never far from the vineyards surrounding this elegant retreat in the heart of wine country. The helpful staff can arrange exclusive access to local wineries as well as blissful nature escapes. When you’ve finished tasting for the day, there’s plenty of space to relax in your spacious suites with a giant spa tub and an outdoor shower.
Northern Territory
Experience a journey aboard The Ghan
Few journeys can capture the imagination like this legendary 3000km odyssey that travels from the broad plains surrounding Adelaide through the rugged outback and into the tropical splendour of the lush Top End.
This iconic train ride is as much about the journey as the destination, with stylish sleeper cabins, gorgeous art deco lounges, adventurous excursions and indulgent multi-course meals inspired by the regions you pass through.
See the sunset at Uluru
In the very heart of the nation, Uluru is a place of both sublime natural beauty and deep spiritual significance, and visiting this iconic monolith for the first time is akin to making a pilgrimage.
Watching the rock change colour throughout the day is mesmerising but it’s never more beautiful than when the surrounding spinifex whisper in the evening breeze and rays of setting sun make the pocked ochre surface glow bright red. There are many ways to see this captivating location, whether it’s from above in a helicopter or circumnavigating the rock on a Segway.
Explore Kakadu National Park
Natural grandeur and fascinating cultural narratives collide in this vast natural playground, where new discoveries await around every turn. See the history of the changing landscape reflected in ancient rock art galleries, cruise through wetlands looking for prehistoric crocs and see hundreds of species of brilliantly coloured birdlife fly overhead. Next, head to the safety of the Arnhem Land escarpment and cool off in the crystal-clear waters of a spectacular natural infinity pool.
Tasmania
Stay at Saffire Freycinet
You don’t need to leave your bed to enjoy magnificent views of The Hazards mountain range at this ultra-luxurious resort, but when you do, you’ll have access to an incredible suite of guest experiences. An all-inclusive stay includes tasting oysters just seconds after they’re plucked from the water, learning to see the land through the eyes of Tasmania’s traditional owners and watching a Tasmanian devil feeding frenzy. Don’t forget to indulge in your own feast of hyperlocal produce paired with Tasmania’s finest wines.
Witness Aurora Australis
Australia’s most spectacular light show takes place far from the major cities, in the skies above regional Tasmania. Time it right and you’ll be rewarded with an ethereal performance as wispy ribbons of green, red and purple light sway across the inky night skies in an ever-changing dance that’s impossible to predict – and all the more magical as a result.
Western Australia
Stay at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef
Solar-powered glamping tents nestled in the dunes of Cape Range National Park provide off-grid luxury, but the real drawcard of this eco-luxe seaside safari camp lies beneath the azure waters nearby.
Snorkel directly off the shore where resident turtles play beside colourful coral formations. Venture further out for the chance to glide alongside graceful manta rays, whale sharks and humpback whales – this is one of the few places in the world you can swim with all three.
Cruise the Kimberley
Reaching out from the northwest tip of Australia, the Kimberley is an ancient land of squat boab trees and towering gorges. From the land it reveals its secrets slowly but explore this untamed region from the water and you can feel the mist blown up from spectacular waterfalls that thunder directly into the sea. Set foot on uninhabited islands and marvel at the awesome Horizontal Falls where Australia’s largest tides rush through a narrow gap in the rocks, all without breaking a sweat.
Ride a camel at Cable Beach
The long Western Australian coast features plenty of marvellous spots to watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean, but few are as iconic as this 22km stretch of white sand near Broome. The setting sun transforms skeins of cloud into saffron threads and glowing crimson embers. Colourful camel trains slowly turn into silhouettes and the wet sand reflects their slow progress to create a dreamy, mirage-like double image.
New South Wales
Stay at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
Visitors to this secluded valley on the edge of the Blue Mountains stay in their own spacious villas with a private pool, but the abundant wildlife means they’re never completely alone.
The 2800-hectare nature reserve is a paradise for local wombats, roos and wallabies as well as free-roaming horses. The broad valley floor and rugged sandstone slopes are ripe for exploration on foot, horseback, mountain bike or 4WD. When you’re not relaxing in your private villa, you’ll want to explore this area.
Discover the beauty of Lord Howe Island
If you’re dreaming of an overseas holiday that doesn’t require a passport, this island paradise 600km off the New South Wales coast is for you. Only 400 visitors are allowed at any one time, which means there’s never more than a handful of people on the island’s beaches. Tackle one of the dive sites on the coral reef surrounding the island or hike through dense rainforest carpeting the steep volcanic slopes above – you probably won’t see another soul.
Go bushwalking in the Blue Mountains
Just an hour from Sydney, the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains have long been a source of inspiration for city dwellers seeking a dose of nature. It’s also an iconic hiking destination thanks to a maze of walking tracks that pass through sheer canyons and along sandstone cliffs. Along the way you’ll be treated to spectacular views of striking rock formations, graceful waterfalls and vast swathes of pristine bushland.
Victoria
Take a hot air balloon ride over the Yarra Valley
Though it sits on Melbourne’s doorstep, the Yarra Valley feels like another world thanks to mystical mist-shrouded gullies, rolling hillsides striped with vines, and rainforests filled with glistening moss-covered trees. The ultimate way to see it is from above, serenely floating overhead as the first rays of sun hit the magical landscape, before touching down in one of the picturesque vineyards for local bubbles and breakfast.
Stay at Lake House in Daylesford
One of the pioneers of Australia’s regional food movement, this award-winning restaurant places small local producers front and centre. Exquisitely prepared degustation dishes are as beautiful as the surroundings.
Stay at the opulent on-site hotel and explore the tranquil lake ringed by gums and birches at your leisure, learn the chef’s secrets at a cooking class or bathe in Daylesford’s restorative mineral-rich waters at the day spa.
Queensland
Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
One of the great natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef stretches more than 2000km along Queensland’s coast and houses an incredible 1500 species of fish.
Whether you’re planning a quick snorkel or a multi-day trip, there are thousands of spots where you can immerse yourself in this richly populated underwater world. Come face-to-face with colourful fish, turtles and rays as you swim through the giant coral gardens.
Walk under the canopy of the world’s oldest rainforest
Time seems to operate differently in the 180-million-year old Daintree Rainforest – home to one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Crocodiles, cassowaries and two thirds of Australia’s butterfly species roam this primeval landscape, and ferns flourish beneath a thick canopy. Explore this magnificent rainforest, which is possibly the closest you’ll ever come to visiting Jurassic Park.
Stay at Qualia, Hamilton Island
Understated glamour is the theme at this ultra-luxurious island resort favoured by the rich and famous. Breezy pavilions look out over white sandy beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Coral Sea.
You can explore the surrounding Whitsundays on a private cruise, take a diving trip or scenic flight, or simply soak up the sun as you sip cocktails by the infinity pool.