Welcome
Wild, wide and wonderful, Australia and New Zealand continually excite and inspire. It doesn’t matter how many mountains you’ve climbed or remote island shores you’ve visited, there’s always a different creation story to be told or gallery of ancient rock art to be revealed.
We offer our respect and gratitude to the First Nations Australians, Torres Strait Islander and Maori custodians who have nurtured the land and its cultures for so many millennia, and who are now some of our most trusted partners in introducing them to a curious world.
Welcome Traveller,
This is your first step. Waiting for you within these pages are endless possibilities. In one moment, you could be dazzled by Bruce Munro’s Field of Light, as 50,000 glass spheres slowly dim with the rising sun, only to reveal Uluru’s grandeur in the distance. Then next, where the outback meets the tropics in Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, jaunting from deep green pool to sandstone escarpment – your pathway to ancient Aboriginal rock art and enchanting Jawoyn stories will be revealed.
With AAT Kings, you’ll go behind the scenes with the makers, it’s what 100 years of expertise allows you to uncover. You won’t want to leave small towns like Penguin, after being hosted by a fifth-generation Tasmanian farmer, tasting Mt Gnomon Farm’s handcrafted produce from the heritage apple orchard. And, island life never tasted so sweet, as you meet Island Beehive’s owner and advocate protector of the Ligurian Bee heritage, who will dish up samples of Kangaroo Island honey (and honey ice cream). These are remarkable experiences that many unknowingly pass by – those unexpected moments which are the memories you treasure the most.
We are, and always have been pioneers leading the way and pushing boundaries. Together with our extraordinary Travel Directors on the road, we’re committed to worry-free and sustainable travel – making every single second of your journey remarkable.
Wherever you decide to roam, you’ll be in good hands.
Sincerely,
Ben Hall
AAT Kings Group | CEO
StartExploring
Click below to start exploring 
Cover Image:
Uluru Barbecue Dinner, Northern TerritoryAAT Kings invites you to an exclusive Aussie Barbecue dinner under the stars, so close to iconic Uluru, you can almost touch it.
Today, we're proud of
our history and of our people.
Some things never change...
100 + YEARS OF ADVENTURE - and many more to come
A century ago, the Australian outback was but a twinkle in most travellers' eyes. But thanks to visionaries like the Pike family and Bill King, the way we explore the Land Down Under was about to change in unimaginable ways. Over the coming decades, maps were unfolded, desert cruisers and coaches customised, and guides were trained. From humble beginnings, the company now known as AAT Kings was going places few had gone before, pioneering new paths across Australia and New Zealand and taking intrepid domestic and international travellers on a wild and wonderful ride.
No corner of the Antipodes was - or is - off-limits, from the remote reaches of the Kimberley and the spiritual heartland of the Northern Territory, to the untamed Milford Sound, bubbling thermal Rotorua and quiet shores of Tasmania. Not to mention in-depth journeys across Sydney and its surrounds, where this forward-thinking travel venture came to fruition all those years ago.
We've come a long way and clocked a few kilometres in the process. But some things will never change. Like our spirit for adventure. Our oh-so-knowledgable Travel Directors. The local characters we meet (and will never forget) along the way. The epic, goosebump-inducing stories we're told by First Nations guides. The life-changing experiences on offer - the kind that only 100 years of exploring affords.
Now, we're just jumping into more waterfalls, finding ourselves humbled by more sacred Indigenous sites, laying more footprints on deserted beaches and hiking through more tropical rainforests than ever before. And we've never been more passionate about our next discovery. Join us, and fall in love with Australia and New Zealand all over again.
"Keep doing what you're doing,
but try and do it better" - Bill King
Service and smiles from the start
-
1920s
AAT Kings can be traced back to George Page's modest transport service from Melbourne to Brighton
-
1930s
The Pike family introduced Sydney to Katoomba and Jenolan Caves which is still a part of our Day Tours business.
-
1960s
Bill King decided there was a real future with off-the-beaten-track journeys - Bill purchased two Land Rovers, an ex-army international ambulance and a Denning Bus and launched Bill King's Northern Safaris
-
1970s
Bill Designed and built his own 18 passenger vehicles and called them Desert Cruisers.
AAT Coachlines had commenced operations in the Northern Territory.
-
1980
AAT Coachlines purchased Bill King's Northern Safaris and operated as Bill King's Australian Adventure Tours.
-
1984
AAT Kings brand finally formed
-
1997
AAT Kings joined The Travel Corporation's Family of Brands.
-
1999
We began operations in New Zealand.
-
2010s
Small group and immersive Inspiring Journeys brand was born
-
2018
Down Under Tours joined the AAT Kings Group.
2019
SEIT Outback Australia joined the AAT Kings Group
Australia,
but not as you know it
At a time when exclusivity is the world’s greatest travel luxury, Australia ticks every box. It delivers every wide and wonderful landscape conceivable, from record-breaking canyons to soaring sacred monoliths; from tangles of rainforest to ribbons of reef. And in between await innumerable soulstirring stories to hear, characters to meet, adventures to enjoy, meals to savour, and spirits to accompany. We’ve spent the last century perfecting a Holy Grail of life-changing moments around the country – ones you likely never knew even existed, and that you won’t find in a guidebook or listed on any website. Our DNA has never changed – we are, and always have been pioneers committed to worry-free and sustainable travel, revealing Australia in a way that you never imagined possible.
Hutt Lagoon, Western Australia
Amazing Experiences
We were built on pioneering spirit, and to this day our trips include adventures that few others experience. We’re constantly looking for ways to make journeys extraordinary, whether it's an Uluru Sunrise Field of Light or a locals-only sunset barbecue. This is Australia, but not as you’ve ever seen it.
Diverse Travel Styles
What you want from your holiday is not necessarily the same as your neighbour. Sometimes, it’s about adventure. Often, it’s a good glass of wine and a remarkable view. Perhaps you want to see major sights, or choose your own path while we handle the main roads. Whatever your destination and route, we have an itinerary for you.
Conscious Travel
There are plenty of things we can all do while travelling to contribute to sustainable tourism practices. We’ve developed a series of tours with signature MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – to ensure travel has a positive impact on our planet, the communities we visit and the wildlife we encounter.
Worry-free Travel
Your wellbeing is our primary concern. In addition to elevated hygiene protocols, AAT Kings trips guarantee upgraded coach air-con filtration systems. We only work with partners we know and trust, and our Travel Directors ensure everything runs smoothly, with a support team on call.
Family Values
When you travel with AAT Kings, you’re not only part of our century-old heritage, but are welcomed into just as many years of experience in The Travel Corporation. Journey confidently knowing our family-owned parent company has welcomed millions of people around the world across its brands.
AmazingExperiences
Over the last century, we've explored almost every corner of this wide and wonderful country. Needless to say, we've met a few characters along the way. These encounters have turned into enduring friendships that allow us to get beneath the skin of the destinations we take you to, offering only-locals-know adventures and insights that most other travellers will never even know existed. We take you places, and our passionate insiders - whether vinters, farmers, astronomers, chefs, historians or indigenous artists - reveal their true beauty.
Fancy dinner under
a billion stars?
NT This exclusive barbecue dinner is so close to Uluru you could almost touch it, the only one of its kind set under the rock’s towering shadow. With sparkling wine in hand, watch a kaleidoscope of colour as the sun sets and you dine on favourites from the grill. Enjoy dessert in the desert while the night sky lights up with billions of stars and your specialist AAT Kings Guide shares insights into the Southern Hemisphere’s constellations.
Farm-to-table freshness
at Mt Gnomon, TAS
If visiting the cutest-sounding town on the planet is on your bucket list, ensure this is included on your itinerary. The Mt Gnomon Farm sits just outside Penguin in the north of the Tasmania, and is the site where fifth-generation farmer Guy Robertson and his family have perfected centuries-worth of skills in cider orchards and gardens. Your farm-to-fork Be My Guest lunch amid this lush setting is like Tassie in a fresh and flavourful mouthful.
Discover ancient culture
and creativity, NT
Aboriginal artist and Katherine local Manuel Pamkal has been painting since he was 15. Today, he has more awards under his belt than he cares to admit, and he’ll share his creative inspiration with you on his Top Didj Cultural Experience. You’ll learn techniques behind different Indigenous art styles, and hear about Manuel’s life growing up near the King River – his childhood stories are at once humbling, inspiring and hilarious.
Stop to smell (and taste)
the flowers, TAS
A century ago, a London perfumer paused to plant French lavender in Tasmania. Today, the site – Bridestowe Lavender Estate – is a fragrant welcome to the state’s north, replete with a charming café where you can
linger to sample oh-so-memorable lavender ice-cream, visit the lavender distillery or taste honey from the purest pollen in the world. This is a working farm, so regardless of when you visit, you’ll experience flower power in its full glory.
Dinner in a
Sanctuary, NT
If you’ve ever wondered how wide the world really is, you’ll gain some perspective at Earth Sanctuary in the middle of the Alice Springs outback. One of Australia’s first carbon-neutral tourism ventures, this family-managed wilderness preserve offers an exclusive Be My Guest barbecue dinner, while you chat with owner-brothers Tom and Dave about their sustainable lifestyle on the land – and the dazzling stars above. Their knowledge of the night sky will leave you speechless.
Connect your soul
and spirit, WA
Just north of Perth, Yanchep National Park is a lush bush reserve and wetland known for its resident population of western grey kangaroos and rich birdlife. You’ll discover this and more, from the perspective of an Indigenous Noongar Aboriginal local, on a Cultural Tour – a rare chance to meet with Derek Nannup and see, in a new light, the land his elders have called home for tens of thousands of years. Wild, wide and wonderful, this is Australia in a gripping snapshot.
independent & transparent satisfaction rating
Experience places that will fill you with wonder and let us take you beneath the surface to show you the enchanting beauty and soul of this sunburnt country we call Australia. From red sands as far as the eye can see, to awe-inspiring natural formations and quaint country towns, you’ll learn about the history of our ancient land, and be inspired by our Indigenous cultures and spellbinding stories. Our experts’ knowledge and passion for showcasing Australia is unrivalled, making our Guided Holidays a truly unforgettable experience. But we’ll let you see it for yourself and hear it in our guests’ own words.
Everything you could want and see at your fingertips.
You visit the Tasmania's highlights in a very comfortable manner. I feared 10 days with a lot of sitting in uncomfortable seats. These coach seats would be great in my living room. Our guide, Carolyn was incredibly knowledgeable. People, events, locations and where to shop and eat at good quality and prices.Jon VN
Can't wait to go touring again.
Was wonderful in every way. We intend travelling with AAT KINGS again next year when we go to New Zealand. Tour guide and drivers went out of their way to help in any way they could. Best holiday I have ever been on. Leanne Y
Diverse Travel Styles
No two travellers are ever the same. Which means that with AAT Kings, neither are any two trips. We understand that sometimes you want to switch off and enjoy the scenery, with your itinerary, accommodation and exclusive experiences all seamlessly sorted ‘behind the scenes’. Other journeys require the essentials covered and insider tips provided, but need built-in flexibility so you can go your own way. Whether you have a couple of weeks or a couple of hours, whether you want to leave everything to us or customise parts of your journey, AAT Kings offers a travel style for every kind of traveller. And regardless of the trip you choose, you’ll leave a minimal footprint, connect with culture and support the communities you visit.
►First Choice Guided Holidays
For explorers who want:- Exclusive experiences and adventures around Australia
- Everything taken care of by talented Travel Directors
There’s nothing quite like setting off to see Australia, knowing that each wild encounter, all your accommodation – and everything in between – has been taken care of by your Travel Director, guides and the team of supporting experts. All you need to do is enjoy the relaxed pace, make lasting connections and delve into the country’s culture. This is about going to wild places, with creature comforts.
EXPLORE ❯Best Buys Guided Holidays
For explorers who want:- A flexible holiday with some inclusions, and some independent travel
- All the essentials managed by in-the-know Travel Directors
Take a fully curated holiday, add in a good dose of flexibility, and you arrive at this travel style, designed for those who like travel fundamentals taken care of – the transportation, accommodation – but also like the option of exploring independently, with tips from knowledgeable Travel Directors to point you in the right direction if needed.
EXPLORE ❯Short Breaks
For explorers who want:- To see Australia, but don’t have weeks to spare
- A seamless travel experience to take in as much as possible in a short space
When you have a week or less to dive into thundering waterfalls, snorkel the world’s biggest reef or dine under a carpet of stars at Uluru, this travel style is for you. Your journey unites everything that’s great about AAT Kings – the cultural connections, insider knowledge, wondrous sights – and condenses it into a fully curated, blissfully efficient, bite-sized package.
EXPLORE ❯Day Tours
For explorers who:- Have a few hours and want life-changing experiences packed in
- Everything taken care of by talented Travel Directors
A century ago, AAT Kings became an Australian pioneer in day tripping, taking adventurous explorers where few others had gone before. We know this space well, and our Travel Directors have every connection to make your day of adventure – whether around the Blue Mountains or the Barossa – as meaningful as possible. Why spend a day watching TV, when you can forge a memory for a lifetime?
EXPLORE ❯
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® – This is our goal as a travel provider. We recognise our responsibility to ensure our impact on the planet we call home, the people we visit, and the rich wildlife we find there, is a positive one. Our work ensures that the impact of our business is positive in two ways; through our TreadRight Foundation, and our sustainability strategy, How We Tread Right. The three pillars of our support are:
AAT Kings Cares
►MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®Experiences are conscious travel experiences available on selected AAT Kings’ itineraries. They are chosen with great care based on the positive social or environmental impact they have on their communities and those who experience them. There are plenty of things we can all do while travelling to contribute to sustainable tourism practices. We’ve developed a series of tours that each include a signature MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, allowing our guests to see and understand firsthand the important work we support and its impact. Look for the symbol below to see how you can MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®.
Save the Tasmanian Devil
AAT Kings supports the work done at the University of Tasmania to develop a vaccine to ensure these creatures can thrive disease-free in the wild. See Tasmanian Devils feeding at night as an optional experience on Tasmanian Wonders.
To find out more visit aatkings.com/aat-kings-cares
Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Experience, Northern Territory
This Aboriginal owned and operated family business offers an authentic Aboriginal culture and nature based experience. Included on Northern Territory Explorer.
Seal Bay Conservation Park, South Australia
Visit the Park that directly protects and rehabilitates one of the country’s most important seal breeding colonies. Included on Tastes of Southern Australia.
Welcome to Country at Cataract Gorge, Tasmania
Witness a Welcome to Country, created specifically for AAT Kings, connecting you to the stories of the palawa Aboriginal People. Included on Perfect Tasmania.
Our TreadRight Foundation
TreadRight is a not-for-profit founded by AAT Kings and our sister brands under The Travel Corporation (TTC), to support sustainable tourism projects around the world. Through TreadRight, AAT Kings has helped fund more than 60 projects worldwide
To find out more
visit aatkings.com/aat-kings-cares
Worry-freeTravel
The travel landscape is forever changing, something we know only too well at AAT Kings
– after all, we’ve been crafting life-changing itineraries for more than a century. Now, more than ever, we’re committed to sparking your wanderlust, while ensuring your wellbeing. We’re by your side to take the hassle and worry out of your holiday, so you can enjoy the journey (and the company), then sleep soundly knowing we’re doing what it takes behind-the-scenes to ensure your safety and health.
Trained Travel Directors
Our Travel Directors not only hold a wealth of information about the destinations you visit, but also have their finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest protocols in hygiene, local etiquette and social distancing.
Always in the know
AAT Kings is an integral part of a much bigger family, The Travel Corporation, with a network of in-the-know advisors and travel professionals around the globe. We’re up-to-date when it comes to the latest health protocols, and are ready to apply internationally proven best practices if issues arise
A full team of support, 24/7
Our Travel Directors and Drivers rarely need backup, but they have it thanks to a full support team on call around the clock to ensure your journey is seamless and hassle-free, from the moment you sign up until the moment you return home.
Air conditioning
Relax and breathe – we’re filtering the air through our fleet of coaches using top-of-the-range air filtration systems to ensure impurities are not left lingering. Expect a full replacement of fresh air every couple of minutes, to protect your health and wellbeing
Stringent on-the-road protocols
We’ve always maintained high levels of hygiene on our coaches, but we've now elevated precautions to include enhanced deep cleaning and sanitisation for your safety. Our protocols meet international standards, and we’re continually monitoring the travel landscape for best practices.
Trusted partners,
exceptional standards
The people we work with around Australia and New Zealand care about our guests as much as we do. We’re extremely selective when it comes to our partners – whether restaurants, hotels, suppliers or venues – and we ensure upfront that we’re aligned in our commitment to health and hygiene.
We have worked closely with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to guide and cocreate their “New Normal Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey” global protocols. Find out more ❯
Family Values
At AAT Kings, we’re proud of our service and experience, revealing the wonders and characters of Australia and New Zealand to guests for more than 100 years. We’re even prouder to be part of a much bigger family, The Travel Corporation (TTC), which enjoys a global reach and a portfolio that includes some of the world’s most prestigious travel brands – from luxury hotels and boutique river cruises to independent holiday package companies and guided travel experiences. The collection is diverse, but we all share standards of excellence and common goals: to offer outstanding service and experiences, whichever corner of the planet our guests choose to roam.
Our Commitment
We want our guests to experience everything they expect on their holiday – but we’re committed to giving them a whole lot more. We consistently deliver unexpected moments of joy, so you return home with lasting memories, not just a stamp in your passport.
Our Passion
We’re passionate about the planet, and about sustainably revealing its many wonders to our guests through the highest levels of service, exceptional experiences, and hugely knowledgeable employees and Travel Directors.
Our Customers
You, our guests, are the reason we have been operating and innovating as a family brand for the past century. You return time and time again, and your loyalty and feedback help keep things fresh and fun while we keep discovering the world together.
Our Responsibility
Travel offers the power to have a positive impact not only on us, but also on the destinations and communities we visit. Which is why, through our non-profit TreadRight Foundation, we strive to create meaningful, lasting partnerships and projects that enhance and protect the people and places we visit. Learn how you can help at treadright.org/checklist.
Explore Australia
The vibrant colour and irresistible spirit of Australia can be found everywhere, across its vast plains and mountain ranges, beaches and islands. So many unforgettable moments await you – watch the sun turn golden across waterlily-filled Kakadu billabongs, immerse yourself in Queensland’s bath-warm waters amongst hundreds of tropical fish, or explore some of the world’s most pristine beaches in Tasmania’s Freycinet.
Australia holds the key to the most unique and remarkable holiday you’ve ever had.
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New
South Wales
Northern
Territory
Queensland
South
Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western
Australia
Uluru
Australia's most sacred Indigenous site, mighty Uluru stands pround, watching over the Red Centre, its history filled with myth and legend.
Nitmuluk
National Park
Be drawn to the spectacular sandstone country of Nitmiluk National Ptark and the majestic Katherine Gorge with spectacular cliffs that glow in the changing light.
Great
Barrier Reef
One of the seven natural wonders of the world, to experience the Great Barrier Reef is to explore an underwater paradise of colour and life.
Kangaroo
Island
An island paradise where sea lions roam free, the Remarkable Rocks lean precariously and the Admirals Arch boasts thousands of stalactites.
Freycinet
National Park
Marvel at Wineglass Bay, one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, in perfect formation, surrounded by ancient native bushland.
Broome
You’ll be captivated by its small town charm and relaxed coastal vibe, experience the colours and warmth of the landscape and find out why travellers have been exploring Broome for more than a century.
The Pinnacles
The lunar-like Pinnacles are thousands of limestone spires, rising eerily out of the desert sands of Nambung National Park.
Wave Rock
A magnificent prehistoric rock formation, you will marvel at its size and shape, eroded by the weather over millions and millions of years.
Outback Adventure
From$6790
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
At Earth Sanctuary, the Falzon family inspire sustainable travel through off-the-grid operations. Learn how you can follow suit over a Be My Guest dinner.
Local Connection
Gain new appreciation for the vastness of the Australian outback with those-in-the-know at the Royal Flying Doctor Service and School of the Air.
Cultural Immersion
From Uluru to Kakadu, nothing puts life in perspective quite like glimpsing 40,000-year-old rock art with an Aboriginal guide.
Sustainable Footprints
Sleep soundly at Wilpena Pound Resort knowing your stay contributes directly to the local Adnyamathanha people and regional conservation projects.
Wildlife and Nature
Ancient red rock cliffs encircle desert palms at Kings Canyon, the spectacular heart of Australia and a place that will make your pulse race.
Dining
14 Full Breakfasts
8 Dinners with Wine
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Be My Guest Dinner
1 Welcome to Adelaide
At once cultured yet cool, Adelaide attracts foodies, historians and art aficionados in equal measure. Multicultural restaurants abound, as do pretty sandstone churches. Explore them at your leisure, before meeting a local gourmand to tour the city’s legendary Central Market. This place has been selling cheese, green ant gin and artisan bread for 140-plus years. Hotel: Crowne Plaza Adelaide. DW
2 Adelaide - Flinders Ranges
One of Australia’s oldest wine regions, the Clare Valley is all rounded hills, rippling vines and native forest. It’s the postcard-perfect setting for historic Knappstein Enterprise Winery, producing sweet-scented rieslings and mineral-rich reds. The route north lands you at Hawker, the gateway to the Flinders Ranges. The best is yet to come, as you arrive at Wilpena Pound Resort in the shadows of a staggering natural amphitheatre. Hotel: Wilpena Pound Resort. B DW
3 Flinders Ranges - Port Augusta
The river red gums that envelop Hills Homestead will leave you lost for words; equally mesmerising is the display inside the property, revealing the hardships of early settlers. You get here on a leisurely walk along Wilpena Creek and continue to Wangarra Hill Lookout for views over the pound’s rippling peaks and sweeping curves. The drama is echoed as you climb to Pichi Richi Pass, then ease into Port Augusta, where stories of yesteryear await at Wadlata Outback Centre. Hotel: Majestic Oasis Apartments. B DW
4 Port Augusta - Coober Pedy
The main attraction in Woomera is a former rocket-testing site, today stocked with rockets and missiles tested over the past 60 years. Speaking of space, you’ll think you’ve landed on the moon as you travel through sun-baked country to Coober Pedy, known as ‘the opal capital of the world’. Things get deep as you travel underground to see how these gleaming gems are mined and visit the town’s head-scratching subterranean facilities. Hotel: Desert Cave Hotel. B DW
5 Coober Pedy - Uluru
Emerge from your cave and say goodbye to South Australia as you cross the border into the Northern Territory and arrive at Australia’s spiritual heart, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park – it has World Heritage status for a reason. Under the gaze of the world’s mightiest monolith, toast the end of the day with a glass of bubbles and a camera full of sunset photos, the countryside transforming from ochre and orange to bruised purples and maroon with every camera ‘click’ Hotel: Desert Gardens Hotel, 2 Nights . B
6 Uluru Sunrise & Kata Tjuta
Pre-dawn wake-up calls are worth it when you get to enjoy a Red Centre sunrise. Marvel at the majesty of ‘the Rock’ as you circumnavigate its 11-kilometre base or join a guided walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole. This landscape takes you back to the beginning of time, a sacred place among the Anangu people who decorated walls with rock art. More soul-salving landscapes await at Kata Tjuta, cool relief provided as you walk amid its domes to Walpa Gorge. B
7 Uluru - Kings Canyon
Another sunrise excursion awaits, with this morning’s optional tour to the Field of Light – a blanket of 50,000 glowing bulbs. Next chance to stretch your legs is at Kings Creek Station, the largest exporter of wild camels in Australia. All your senses will be activated at Kings Canyon, 440-million years in the making. It’s hard to gauge the immensity when you’re walking, until you reach a lookout that is… Hotel: Kings Canyon Resort. B DW
8 Kings Canyon - Alice Springs
Things are bigger in the NT outback, from the cattle stations the size of a European country to the MacDonnell Ranges, which stretch like a dinosaur spine toward Alice Springs. Aside from its plethora of Aboriginal galleries and art stores, Alice makes Australian history for her 1872 Telegraph Station, one of 12 along the Overland Telegraph Line that stretches 3,200 kilometres between Adelaide and Darwin. Glimpse it up close, then from afar as you ascend Anzac Hill for panoramic views. Hotel: Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs, 2 Nights . B
9 Alice Springs
Aboriginal culture is strong in Alice, as you’ll fast find on a tour revealing the history of the Arrernte people. The other thing that’s mighty is community spirit – it’s essential when there are so few people scattered over such a vast area of land. Enter the Royal Flying Doctor Service, its base a museum that goes behind the scenes of the life-saving health services delivered to people in remote realms. One of the benefits of being this far-flung is the lack of light pollution. And at Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre, this equates to epic stargazing. Your Be My Guest BBQ dinner here with the Falzon family is enlightening and uplifting – think stories of self-sufficient living, astronomy, and a tune on the didgeridoo. B BG
10 Alice Springs - Tennant Creek
1.3 million square kilometres – that’s the eye-watering distance the School of Air’s lessons are broadcast across daily. Watch a live session with kids who would otherwise have no access to education. It doesn’t matter how studious you are, you might just believe in aliens when you pass Wycliffe Well, the self-proclaimed ‘UFO capital’ of Australia. It’s the devil (well, his marbles) that awaits at Karlu Karlu, where precariously balanced boulders appear superglued together. The most prized rock found in this part of the world is, however, gold, which is why your base for the night, Tennant Creek, exists. Hotel: Bluestone Motor Inn. B DW
11 Tennant Creek - Katherine
Since the 1930s, the time-tested Daly Waters Historic Pub has been dishing up schnitzels, barramundi burgers and hearty steaks. The walls are lined with treasures that passers-by leave behind. What can you contribute? ‘Land of the Never Never’ awaits at Mataranka. Visit a replica of the Elsey Homestead, used in 1982 Aussie drama We of the Never Never. Or wander palm-lined walkways to take a dip in the region’s steamy thermal springs. Hotel: Contour Hotel Katherine. B DW
12 Katherine - Kakadu
The Jawoyn have called Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge home for millennia. You can feel their presence as you cruise the waterway, home to more than a few resident crocs. They’ll make another appearance in Kakadu, when you jump in yet another boat to explore Yellow Water Billabong. You don’t need binoculars to spot the sea eagles, brolgas and kingfishers that colour this part of the Top End; they’re everywhere you look. Hotel: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel. B DW
13 Kakadu - Darwin
Decisions, decisions: optional morning flight over Kakadu and Arnhem Land, or a sleep in. We vote for the former, to get some perspective before you venture toward Ubirr and its astounding ancient Aboriginal rock art. If it looks familiar, that’s because it played a starring role in, Crocodile Dundee. The night is yours in steamy Darwin, where the characters are as large as the shadows cast at sunset. First stop: the Mindil Beach Sunset Market for dinner with your feet in the sand. Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Darwin, 2 Nights. B
14 Litchfield National Park
Nature rules today, your explorations into Litchfield National Park revealing magnetic termite mounds standing two metres tall. And then there are the waterfalls: Florence, for its dreamy cascades among monsoon forest; and Wangi, where you can cool off in the crystal-clear waterhole before heading back to Darwin. See the NT capital in a new light when you venture out on a Darwin Harbour Cruise, your champagne glass full to toast your last evening on this epic adventure B FD
15 Farewell from Darwin
Time to bid adieu and head home to sort through all those photos. Perhaps even better – and longer lasting – are the memories; two weeks of wild outback adventures. B
Outback Safari
From$5455
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
Aside from being jam-packed with fish, Kakadu’s Yellow Water Billabong boasts dramatic scenery. Cruise with a local guide – they know where the crocs hang out.
Local Connection
Many Aussie kids live in such remote realms that they would have no access to education if it weren’t for the School of the Air. Watch a live class.
Cultural Immersion
Thirsty visitors have been leaving mementos on the walls of the Daly Waters Pub for 40+ years. Over a beer think about what you can contribute.
Sustainable Footprints
Sleep soundly at Ayers Rock Resort knowing your stay is helping the Mutitjulu Foundation fund projects in health and education for Uluru’s Aboriginal communities.
Wildlife and Nature
There’s nothing quite like cooling off under a waterfall, particularly when it drops from ridges shrouded in rainforest that drapes Litchfield National Park.
Dining
10 Full Breakfasts
6 Dinners with Wine
1 Welcome to Uluru
Today is one of colours. The ochre soil spiked with cycads as you come into land. The endless blue sky. The russet hues of Uluru… And that’s all before enchanting hour. Come sunset, the landscape changes with every click of your camera. If you can stop snapping, have a glass of bubbles and some nibbles with your fellow adventurers. Hotel: Desert Gardens Hotel, 2 Nights.
2 Uluru Sunrise - Kata Tjuta
If you’re looking for a reason to roll out of bed before dawn, make it an Uluru sunrise. We’re not saying it’s better, than the sunset. But rising with the birds certainly has benefits. Like being cool when you tour the base of the world’s biggest monolith. A circumnavigation is 11 kilometres, if you’re up for it. Or you can join a guided walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole, a sacred spot decorated with millennia-old Aboriginal rock paintings. Dive even deeper into First Nations traditions at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre. Then wander through Kata Tjuta and Walpa Gorge, with more bubbles to serenade the day’s end. B
3 Uluru - Kings Canyon
The only other reason to get up before dawn is to glimpse the Uluru Field of Light, a dazzling installation by British artist Bruce Munro that sees 50,000 stem-like globes blanket the Uluru soil. It’s optional – we won’t judge you for sleeping in, steeling yourself for today’s adventures. But if you’ve come this far, it would be a shame to opt for shut-eye over eye-popping. Speaking of which, did you know Australia has the largest population of wild camels in the world, and Kings Creek Station, your next stop, is the largest exporter of these doe-eyed creatures? From here, the land eases into Kings Canyon, part of the immense Watarrka National Park. Views over the Red Centre are perspective-resetting. Hotel: Kings Canyon Resort. B DW
4 Kings Canyon - Alice Springs
Cattle stations are the size of small nations in the NT outback, as you’ll discover on your journey toward Alice. The other ‘big’ thing in these parts is the MacDonnell Ranges, undulating across the red earth like a serpent’s spine. Back in 1872, Alice Springs was a hive of activity, as a Telegraph Station was built to connect Adelaide and Darwin as part of the Overland Telegraph Line. Sweat and tears went into the project, as you’ll discover browsing the grounds-cum-museum. If you thought you were getting out of a sunset, think again – panoramas from Anzac Hill steal the scene. Hotel: Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs, 2 Nights. B
5 Alice Springs
In remote parts of Australia, community is everything, whether to ensure stories of the Arrernte people are not forgotten, or to help those who, well, need help. The passionate Royal Flying Doctor Service health workers commute hundreds of kilometres to provide aid. Their stories are at once uplifting and inspiring. End the day on a high at Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre, where the Falzon family host a BBQ Be My Guest dinner under the stars. This is a lesson in off-the-grid, sustainable living. Let it inspire you to follow suit at home. B BG
6 Alice Springs - Tennant Creek
The whole of Peru covers 1.3 million square kilometres – the same size playing field that the School of the Air broadcasts daily classes to. Watch a live session with kids in some of Australia’s most remote reaches, providing them with educational tools otherwise unavailable. Not on the curriculum? Aliens, although you will learn all about them passing through Wycliffe Well, known as Australia’s ‘UFO capital’. Undeniably otherworldly are the precariously balanced boulders that characterize Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) and the landscapes surrounding gold-rich Tennant Creek. Hotel: Bluestone Motor Inn. B DW
7 Tennant Creek - Katherine
When you’re not working hard in the Australian outback, you’re having a lot of fun. Case in point the Daly Waters Historic Pub, where the food – schnitzels, burgers – comes second to the atmosphere. Follow the lead of those here before you and leave a memento to decorate the walls. If you were a fan of TV drama We of the Never Never, you’ll recognize your next destination: the (replica) Elsey Homestead in Mataranka. Explore, or soak in the palm-shrouded thermal springs. We know what we’re doing… Hotel: Contour Hotel Katherine. B DW
8 Katherine - Kakadu
Cruising around Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge this morning is a humbling experience. You can almost feel the giants yawning as they created this landscape on Jawoyn land, part of Nitmiluk National Park. A sprinkling of crocs, a flutter of rare birds. It takes your breath away. More wildlife lurks in Kakadu’s Yellow Water Billabong, which is a mecca for sea eagles, brolgas and little kingfishers. Hotel: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel. B DW
9 Kakadu - Darwin
The best way to grasp the immensity of Kakadu and Arnhem Land? From the air, should you wish to take an optional tour. You won’t regret it – perspective is always a good thing. Speaking of which, Ubirr’s Aboriginal rock art dates back an eye-watering 20,000+ years. If it looks familiar, that’s because it starred in classic Aussie flick, Crocodile Dundee. Get your Darwin bearings on a quick tour – we want to give you as much time as possible to enjoy a burger at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Darwin, 2 Nights. B
10 Litchfield National Park
Think of today as dessert: the sweet finale to a decadent degustation. Travel deep into Litchfield National Park, pocked with 100-year-old, two-metre-high magnetic termite mounds. We’re not sticking around though – Florence and Wangi falls await. Change into your swimming costume and take a dip in the gem-like waterholes. Darwin can get steamy, but you’ll have wind in your sails as you cruise the harbour at sunset, enjoying one last toast to the NT B FD
11 Farewell from Darwin
‘Ma Muk’ (‘See you later’), as the Arrernte people would say. This Dreamtime adventure is over for now, but we’re positive your memories will last forever B
Untamed Kimberley & West Coast
From$13130
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
Cruising the Kimberley’s Danggu (Geikie) Gorge is a humbling experience. Discover how it was formed and rely on your eagle-eyed guide to point out crocs.
Local Connection
Sandalwood is one of Kununurra’s agricultural assets. Meet the passionate people who work with it and learn about the processing journey.
Cultural Immersion
The only way to understand life on the land is to visit a working farm. The Katherine Outback Experience is not only eye-opening, but entertaining.
Sustainable Footprints
Sleep soundly knowing your stays at Karijini National Park’s Eco Tents and El Questro’s Emma Gorge Resort are not only stylish, but sustainable.
Wildlife and Nature
The Ningaloo Coast has World Heritage status for good reason – it cradles one of the most biodiverse marine sanctuaries in Australia.
Dining
20 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
16 Dinners
1 Welcome to Darwin
You’ll fall for the capital of the Northern Territory; its balmy tropical climes, fiery sunsets, laid-back locals and surprising attractions. Take in the sights on a tour, learning about the city’s architectural style as well as the events that have shaped it over the years. Did you know you can still witness damage from 1974’s Cyclone Tracy? Hotel: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront. DW
2 Darwin - Katherine
Your southern sojourn begins with yet more insights into the region’s historic events – this time the impact of WWII. Then nature takes over at Nitmiluk National Park on Jawoyn land, where you cruise through dramatic Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. There’s no time to catch your breath – you’re off to meet Tom Curtain on a working station, where he entertains through song and stories. Hotel: Paraway Motel. B DW
3 Katherine - Kununurra
Cross from the NT into WA, where Kununurra is dropped in the middle of nowhere. Just imagine what life was like for early pioneers, their stories revealed at the Durack Homestead Museum. Kununurra came to exist thanks to the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. The project not only helped water the countryside but created Lake Argyle. A sunset cruise here is something you won’t forget in a hurry. Hotel: Kununurra Country Club Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
4 Kununurra
Today is one of decisions: An optional early-morning flight over (or 4WD tour of) the beehive rock formations of the Bungle Bungles? Or a wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park, known as the ‘mini-Bungles’ for its resemblance. Regardless, enjoy sunset atop Kelly’s Knob. B
5 Kununurra - Emma Gorge
Go behind the scenes at Hoochery Distillery, a family-run distillery that not only makes lip-smacking rum, but also delicious rum cake – your morning tea sorted. From here you’re on the epic Gibb River Road to El Questro Wilderness Park, where an oasis of pandanus and palms envelops your safari-style accommodation. Hotel: Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities, 2 Nights. B DW
6 El Questro Wilderness Park
No alarm-clock necessary: nature wakes you here. The Kimberley’s sounds follow you across the mighty Pentecost River to freshwater Chamberlain Gorge, your boat dwarfed by its soaring escarpments while you cruise. Afternoon remedy? A splash in the pool, perhaps, or a dip in the waterhole within Emma Gorge. Take your pick. B DW
7 Emma Gorge - Halls Creek
While the Argyle Diamond Mine has stopped producing rare pink diamonds, you can still visit the immense site with an Aboriginal guide. Your destination for the night, Halls Creek – on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert – is small in population, but big in personality. Discover its long Aboriginal history and later European influences. Hotel: Kimberley Hotel. B DW L
8 Halls Creek - Fitzroy Crossing
Dive deep into First Nations culture at the Aboriginal art gallery in Fitzroy Crossing, a remote town and the gateway to Danggu (Geikie) Gorge. This remarkable part of the Kimberley was formed by the Fitzroy River carving the Napier Range. It’s a fertile home for creatures big and small, from freshwater crocs to fruit bats. Hotel: Fitzroy River Lodge. B DW L
9 Fitzroy Crossing - Broome
The reason Broome was born is because of pearls – the waters here grow some of the best oysters in the world, as you’ll discover on a city tour. Today, it’s just as well known for its sizzling Indian Ocean sunsets, best enjoyed from a vantage on the Cable Beach sand. Cheers to that. Hotel: Cable Beach Club Resort, 2 Nights. B
10 Broome Free Time
Having got your Broome bearings, today is yours to explore. Stay in town and shop for pearls, wander the coast on the lookout for dinosaur footprints, or venture further afield to glimpse some of the biggest tides in the world on an optional experience at Horizontal Falls. Fly over them, then cruise through them. B DW
11 Broome - Port Hedland
The eye-opening colours of the Pilbara are your backdrop today – rich red earth streaked with mineral deposits. It’s sparsely populated, but you will find people in Port Hedland. There are plenty of local characters to meet over dinner at your hotel, which gets busy when musicians jam. Hotel: The Esplanade Hotel Port Hedland. B DW
12 Port Hedland - Karijini National Park
A frontier like no other, Karijini National Park is where gorges seem to cleave off the edge of the Earth, waterfalls tumble from escarpments and remote turquoise rock pools shimmer like precious gems. You’re hundreds of kilometers from anywhere, so expect dazzling stargazing from your safari tent. Hotel: Karijini Eco Retreat, 2 Nights. B DW
13 Karijini National Park
Bring your stamina – today’s adventure takes you deep into the national park. It took billions of years to create the geological wonders you see: the red layered cliffs, the quiet gorges, the soaring gum trees and distinctive termite mounds. If you packed your swimsuit, cooling off under waterfalls comes highly recommended. B DW
14 Karijini National Park - Exmouth
There are a few (hundred) kilometers of Pilbara to cover between Karijini and Exmouth on the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast – the gateway to the marine creatures of Ningaloo Reef. This pocket of the state is also blessed with Cape Range National Park, where yet more immense gorges and waterfalls beckon. Hotel: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
15 Exmouth Free Time
Depending on the time of year, Ningaloo Reef is home to both whale sharks and humpback whales. You can opt to snorkel with both (ethically) or book an optional sunset cruise to see some breaching and blowing, sparkling wine in hand. The decision is yours. We wouldn’t blame you for simply strolling along the sand… B DW
16 Exmouth - Carnarvon
Don’t want to get your hair wet? You’re in luck. Today’s cruise in a glass-bottomed boat allows you to glimpse Ningaloo’s extraordinary marine life in comfort. Your guide will point out colourful corals, turtles and fish while you glide. From underwater to overhead, your next stop is the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. Did you know it played a role in the 1969 moon landing? Hotel: Best Western Hospitality Inn Carnarvon. B DW
17 Carnarvon - Monkey Mia
Prepare yourself for the ‘living fossils’ at Hamelin Pool, home to the most abundant colony of stromatolites in the world – they demonstrate what life was like 3,500-million years ago. The state’s World Heritage listed Shark Bay is also characterized by Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells. Hotel: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
18 Monkey Mia Free Time
If you didn’t fall in love with the gin-clear waters and powdery sand of Monkey Mia last night, you certainly will today. Meet the wild resident dolphins that turn up to the shore every morning, then spend the afternoon at leisure. Optional sunset cruise or scenic flight over the bay? B
19 Monkey Mia - Geraldton
Peregrine falcons are a common sight from Hawks Head Lookout in Kalbarri National Park. Who could blame them for wanting to live in this part of WA, particularly pretty during wildflower season. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to sailors lost during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial. Hotel: Mantra Geraldton. B
20 Geraldton - Perth
Did we leave the best till last? Nambung National Park’s Pinnacles are a staggering collection of natural limestone structures, jutting into the sky. It’s a spiritual place, as is Yanchep National Park, where your Aboriginal guide decodes native plants and tells Dreamtime stories of how the land was created. Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Perth. B FD
21 Farewell from Perth
It’s hard to believe this epic adventure has come to an end. Three weeks of incredible memories to take home with you. B
Wonders of the West Coast & Kimberley
From$13130
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
The Argyle Diamond Mine once produced 95% of the world’s rare pink diamonds. Visiting with an Aboriginal guide is eye-opening and educational.
Local Connection
We’ve known the family behind Hoochery Rum Distillery for eons. They’ll take you behind the scenes and show you how they make award-winning spirits.
Cultural Immersion
Your First Nations host in Yanchep National Park is on a mission to reveal the ancient history of this pocket of WA. Dreamtime stories, bush-tucker tastings and didgeridoo sessions await.
Sustainable Footprints
Every step you take, every move you make... will help protect the national parks you visit for future generations, whether on land or in the water.
Wildlife and Nature
Have you ever wondered what life was like 3,500 million years ago? At Hamelin Pool you’ll find out while witnessing the world’s most abundant colony of stromatolites.
Dining
19 Full Breakfasts
3 Lunches
15 Dinners with Wine
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Perth
The Western Australian capital is colourful in more ways than one. There are alleys lined with eye-popping street art and installations, and wildflowers and natives blanketing 400-hectare Kings Park, set on a pretty bend of the Swan River. Discover the sights, then meet your fellow adventurers. They’ll be best mates in no time. Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Perth. DW
2 Perth - Geraldton
Talk about starting on a high. First stop is Yanchep National Park, where your Aboriginal guide decodes native plants and tells Dreamtime stories of how the land was created. Just as scene-stealing are Nambung National Park’s Pinnacles, a staggering collection of natural limestone structures jutting into the sky. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to sailors lost during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial. Hotel: Mantra Geraldton. B
3 Geraldton - Monkey Mia
Prepare yourself for the ‘living fossils’ at Hamelin Pool, home to the most abundant colony of stromatolites in the world – they demonstrate what life was like 3,500-million years ago. The state’s World Heritage listed Shark Bay is also characterized by Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells. Hotel: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
4 Monkey Mia Free Time
If you didn’t fall in love with the gin-clear waters and powdery sand of Monkey Mia last night, you certainly will today. Meet the wild resident dolphins that turn up to the shore every morning, then spend the afternoon at leisure. Optional sunset cruise, perhaps? Or an optional scenic flight over the bay? B
5 Monkey Mia - Carnarvon
It’s an easy jaunt north to the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. Did you know it played a role in the 1969 moon landing, and was instrumental in the space race? Your visit here, with passionate guides, is interactive, so prepare to try on space suits and climb aboard a supercraft simulator. Hotel: Best Western Hospitality Inn Carnarvon. B DW
6 Carnarvon - Exmouth
Don’t want to get your hair wet? You’re in luck. Today’s cruise in a glass-bottomed boat allows you to glimpse the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast, and its extraordinary marine life, in comfort. Gliding around Coral Bay, your guide will point out colourful corals, turtles and angelic fish. Hotel: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
7 Exmouth Free Time
Depending on the time of year, Ningaloo Reef is home to both whale sharks and humpback whales. You can opt to snorkel with both (ethically) or book a sunset cruise to see some breaching and blowing, sparkling wine in hand. The decision is yours. We wouldn’t blame you for simply strolling along the sand… B DW
8 Exmouth - Karijini National Park
There are a few (hundred) kilometers of Pilbara to cover between Exmouth on the coast and inland Karijini National Park. A frontier like no other, this is where gorges seem to cleave off the edge of the Earth, waterfalls tumble from escarpments and remote turquoise rock pools shimmer like precious gems. You’re miles from anywhere, so expect dazzling stargazing from your safari tent. Hotel: Karijini Eco Retreat, 2 Nights. B DW
9 Karijini National Park
Bring your stamina – today’s adventure takes you deep into the national park. It took billions of years to create the geological wonders you see: the red layered cliffs, the quiet gorges, the soaring gum trees and distinctive termite mounds. If you packed your swimsuit, cooling off under waterfalls comes highly recommended. B DW
10 Karijini National Park - Port Hedland
The eye-opening colours of the Pilbara are your backdrop today – rich red earth streaked with mineral deposits. It’s sparsely populated, but you will find people in Port Hedland. There are plenty of local characters to meet over dinner at your hotel, which gets busy when musicians jam. Hotel: The Esplanade Hotel Port Hedland. B DW
11 Port Hedland - Broome
The reason Broome was born is because of pearls – the waters here grow some of the best oysters in the world, as you’ll discover wandering the boutique-lined street. Today, the city is just as well known for its sizzling Indian Ocean sunsets, best enjoyed from a vantage on the Cable Beach sand. Hotel: Cable Beach Club Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
12 Broome Free Time
Having got your Broome bearings, today is yours to explore. Stay in town and shop for pearls, wander the coast along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, or venture further afield to glimpse some of the biggest tides in the world on an optional experience at Horizontal Falls. Fly over them, then cruise through them. B
13 Broome - Fitzroy Crossing
Things are bigger in Broome, including the footprints. Some 125-million years ago dinosaurs left their mark along the coast. Glimpse their stomping ground before venturing toward Fitzroy Crossing, a remote town and the gateway to Danggu (Geikie) Gorge. This remarkable part of the Kimberley was formed by the Fitzroy River carving the Napier Range. It’s a fertile home for creatures big and small, from freshwater crocs to fruit bats. Hotel: Fitzroy River Lodge. B DW L
14 Fitzroy Crossing - Halls Creek
Dive deep into First Nations culture on a visit to an art gallery, a community venue supporting Aboriginal creatives in the Fitzroy Crossing region. Aboriginal culture is strong in the Great Sandy Desert as well, on the edge of which sits Halls Creek: small in population, but big in personality. Hotel: Kimberley Hotel. B DW L
15 Halls Creek - Emma Gorge
While the Argyle Diamond Mine has stopped producing rare pink diamonds, you can still visit the immense site with an Aboriginal guide. From here you’re on the epic Gibb River Road to El Questro Wilderness Park, where an oasis of pandanus and palms envelops your safari-style accommodation. Hotel: Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities, 2 Nights. B DW L
16 El Questro Wilderness Park
No alarm-clock necessary: nature wakes you here. The Kimberley’s sounds follow you across the mighty Pentecost River to freshwater Chamberlain Gorge, your boat dwarfed by its soaring escarpments while you cruise. Afternoon remedy? A splash in the pool, perhaps, or a dip in the waterhole within Emma Gorge. Take your pick. B DW
17 Emma Gorge - Kununurra
Kununurra appears to have been dropped in the middle of nowhere, born through the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. It now waters crops like sugarcane, turned into lip-smacking rum at Hoochery Distillery. Go behind the scenes and sit down to delicious rum cake – morning tea sorted. The irrigation project not only helped water the countryside, but created Lake Argyle. A sunset cruise here is something you won’t forget in a hurry. Hotel: Kununurra Country Club Resort, 2 Nights. B
18 Kununurra
Today is one of decisions: An optional early-morning flight over (or 4WD tour of) the beehive rock formations of the Bungle Bungles? Or a wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park, known as the ‘mini-Bungles’ for its rocky resemblance. Regardless, follow the lead of locals and enjoy sunset atop Kelly’s Knob. B DW
19 Kununurra - Katherine
Say goodbye to WA and hello to the NT, your introduction to the state the vast pastoral lands that characterize the outback here. Locals come with plenty of country swagger, as you’ll discover when you meet the horseman and award-winning musician Tom Curtain for an afternoon of knee-slappin’ songs and stories on a working station. Hotel: Paraway Motel. B DW
20 Katherine - Darwin
Nature rules at Nitmiluk National Park on Jawoyn land, where you cruise through dramatic Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. Your northern sojourn reveals the region’s historic events – the huge impact WWII had here is remembered in a war cemetery on the banks of the Adelaide River. More reminders of WWII await in Darwin, where a city tour showcases architectural style as well as the events that have shaped it over the years. Hotel: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront. B FD
21 Farewell from Darwin
It’s hard to believe this epic adventure has come to an end. Three weeks of incredible memories to take home with you.
Untamed Pilbara & West Coast
From$8055
Highlights
Local Connection
Carnarvon is small in population, but has a big history, as you’ll discover with a passionate volunteer at the Space & Technology Museum.
Insider Knowledge
Cruise alongside magical marine animals that call the largest fringing reef in the world, Ningaloo, home. Your local guide knows them well.
Cultural Immersion
Noongar man Derek Nannup is passionate about the place he calls home. You will be as well when visiting Yanchep National Park.
Sustainable Footprints
By visiting, and contributing National Park fees, you’re ensuring WA’s most precious and fragile wilderness areas are protected.
Wildlife and Nature
We’ll forgive you for not wanting to leave Karijini National Park, a magical place where waterfalls drop into turquoise rock pools. A salve for the soul.
Dining
12 Full Breakfasts
8 Dinners with Wine
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Broome
Enjoy an orientation tour of Broome with your Travel Director and hear stories of this famous pearling town. Cable Beach has some of the best sunsets in Western Australia so sit back and relax at a Welcome Reception watching the spectacular sunset over the Indian Ocean. Hotel: Cable Beach Club Resort, 2 nights.
2 Broome Free Time
You have a full day to explore this tropical hideaway. Consider an optional experience and take a scenic flight over and thrilling boat ride on the natural phenomenon that is Horizontal Falls (pre book as it sells out). In the turquoise water of Talbot Bay, the fast moving tidal current squeezes through two narrow gorges of the McLarty Range, pushing the water into rapid like formations which rush through the twin gaps at an astonishing rate, producing waterfalls turned on their side. Or you may like to stay behind and take a leisurely stroll along the 22 kilometres of pristine sand. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for dinner overlooking Cable Beach. DW B
3 Broome – Port Hedland
Head south to the famous Pilbara region, known for its rich cultural landscape, and vast mineral deposits. Port Hedland is a hub for major resource activity and is a powerhouse of the Australian economy. Its natural deep anchorage harbour sees the export of iron ore, salt, manganese, livestock, and natural gas from the nearby offshore gas fields. Hotel: The Esplanade Hotel Port Hedland. B DW
4 Port Hedland – Karijini National Park
Journey into the depths of the Pilbara to Karijini National Park in the Hamersley Ranges. The startling landscape of spectacular gorges, waterfalls and rock pools provides a striking contrast to the stark red landscape of the Pilbara. Explore Fortescue Falls at Dales Gorge and if you’re up to it, you can take a walk to one of the national park’s plunge pools. Your stay tonight is in safari-style eco tents. You can sit on your private deck and relax, watching the sun set, and fall asleep to the calming sounds of nature. Hotel: Karijini Eco Retreat, 2 nights. B DW
5 Karijini National Park
Today you’ll explore deep into Karijini National Park. The ancient geological formation, with its red layered cliffs that line the spectacular gorges, eroded over billions of years. There are picturesque gorges, refreshing waterfalls and emerald waterholes but there is also the beautiful gum trees and termite mounds. B DW
6 Karijini National Park – Exmouth
You’ll travel back to the spectacular waters of the west coast to North West Cape. Exmouth is situated on the boundary of Cape Range National Park and the Ningaloo Marine Park. Visit Vlamingh Head Lighthouse for stunning views over Lighthouse Bay and then enjoy a tour of the township with your Travel Director. Tonight, stay just metres from the water, overlooking Exmouth Gulf. Hotel: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, 2 nights. B DW
7 Exmouth Free time
After a leisurely breakfast, today is yours to do as you choose. Why not take an optional experience swim alongside the Whale Sharks in the pristine waters of the Ningaloo Reef (seasonal). Alternatively, you could take a stroll along the beach, or relax by the hotel pool overlooking the water. B DW
8 Exmouth – Carnarvon
In a shallow draft glass-bottom boat you’ll cruise over World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef at Coral Bay to see coral formations found in the lagoon gardens of the inner reef. Continue to Carnarvon, where you’ll visit the Space and Technology Museum. Hotel: Best Western Hospitality Inn Carnarvon. B DW
9 Carnarvon – Monkey Mia
Travel to Hamelin Pool to see the world’s best-known colony of stromatolites. Dating back to the beginning of life on earth, while they may not appear alive, these structures have helped scientists unravel the history of life on earth! Later visit fascinating Shell Beach, one of only two in the world, formed from billions of cockle shells up to ten metres deep. Continue to the crystal blue waters and sandy beaches of Monkey Mia. Hotel: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, 2 nights. B DW
10 Monkey Mia Free Time
Every morning, Monkey Mia’s wild dolphins swim along the shore feeding, and mingle with the people. After a leisurely breakfast overlooking the calm waters of the bay, watch the famous dolphins swim into shore (Note: As dolphins are wild their appearance cannot be guaranteed.) The rest of the day is free for you to explore or relax. You could consider an optional experience boat cruise to spot marine life or take to the air on a scenic flight over amazing Shark Bay. B
11 Monkey Mia – Geraldton
Venture into Kalbarri National Park and visit Hawks Head Lookout to view the spectacular scenery of Murchison River Gorge. During wildflower season, the National Park is abloom with many a variety of wildflower. On arrival in Geraldton, visit the evocative HMAS Sydney Memorial and have the chance to discover the seaside township. Hotel: Mantra Geraldton. B
12 Geraldton – Perth
Visit the Nambung National Park, home of the marvellous Pinnacles. Afterwards stop at the seaside hamlet of Lancelin at lunchtime. This afternoon visit Yanchep National Park where you’ll enjoy a fantastic Aboriginal Cultural Experience in a bush setting. Meet your Aboriginal guide, Derek Nannup, who’ll share with you their way of life and will treat you to the enchanting sounds of the didgeridoo. Continue to Perth and join your fellow travellers for a few laughs over a Farewell Dinner. Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Perth. B FD
13 Farewell from Perth
Say farewell to your fellow travellers when your holiday comes to an end after breakfast. B
Wonders of the Pilbara & West Coast
From$8055
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
The Carnarvon Space Museum enjoys a special place in Australian history. Passionate local guides reveal how it came to play a role in the 1969 moon landing.
Local Connection
Whale sharks, turtles, a ridiculous number of fish – Ningaloo Reef deserves its World Heritage status. Glimpse the underwater world on a Coral Bay glass-bottom boat tour.
Cultural Immersion
Playing the didgeridoo and hunting with spears is fun, but not as easy as it looks. Charismatic Derek Nannup introduces you to Noongar culture and Dreamtime history in Yanchep National Park.
Sustainable Footprints
Your national park fees protect the places you visit, ensuring this fragile part of the world – and the First Nations communities that call it home – will be around for future generations to enjoy.
Wildlife and Nature
Monkey Mia’s dolphins are wild – and wildly friendly. They surf the waves to shore every morning to greet rangers and onlookers.
Dining
11 Full Breakfasts
10 Dinners with Wine
1 Be My Guest Lunch
1 Welcome to Perth
Almost two weeks of adventures lie before you, the first a twirl around Perth. The Western Australian capital almost steals the street-art trophy from Melbourne, the city’s alleys and warehouses decorated with eye-popping murals and installations. It’s also remarkably green, with 400-hectare Kings Park and Botanic Garden sitting pretty in the CBD, on a lazy bend of the serpentine Swan River. Two thirds of the grounds are reserved for native plants. If you don’t know your fellow travellers by now, you will by the time dinner is over. Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Perth. DW
2 Perth - Geraldton
It’s time to go north, your journey taking you to Yanchep National Park. Here, Noongar man Derek Nannup’s Dreamtime stories tell the tale of how the land was created. His tours are hands-on, so expect to taste bush tucker and try playing the didgeridoo. Think the day couldn’t get any better? Within Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles create a moonscape that appears plucked from a sci-fi film, its staggering collection of natural limestone structures jutting into the sky. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to sailors lost off the WA coast during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial. Hotel: Mantra Geraldton. B
3 Geraldton - Monkey Mia
While stromatolites might sound like something belonging in a cave, these ‘living fossils’ grow in the water at Hamelin Pool. Rock-like in appearance, they’re actually alive, and reveal what life might have been like 3.5-billion years ago. Remarkably, this is the world’s most abundant colony of them. It’s just one of the natural allures of the state’s World Heritage listed Shark Bay, which is also characterized by Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells, and fabled Monkey Mia. Hotel: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
4 Monkey Mia Free Time
Sparkling turquoise water, powdery white sand, ochre dunes – Monkey Mia knows how to dial up the drama. And then there are the wild resident dolphins, which famously swim to shore every morning to splash about in the shallows and mingle with humans. It’s a hard act to follow. Perhaps choose an optional sunset cruise, or get some perspective of the bay on an optional scenic flight? Or both. The afternoon is yours. B
5 Monkey Mia - Carnarvon
Your next port of call is the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. Did you know it played a role in the 1969 moon landing? Just one of the fascinating facts you’ll learn from your passionate guide. The experience is interactive, so budding astronauts can opt to try on space suits and climb aboard a spacecraft simulator. Hotel: Best Western Hospitality Inn Carnarvon. B DW
6 Carnarvon - Exmouth
You don’t need to get your hair wet to experience the sheer wonderment of Ningaloo Reef. A Coral Bay glass-bottom boat cruise gets you within a whisker of turtles, colourful coral and an embarrassment of fish. You won’t know where to look, although your on-board naturalist will help guide your gaze. This is part of the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast, a popular hangout for larger-then-life migratory marine life including whale sharks and humpbacks. Before you settle into your plush Exmouth hotel, admire the curves of the coastline from Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. Hotel: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
7 Exmouth Free Time
Steel yourself for a few ‘pinch-me’ moments today. Opt to snorkel (with an ethical operator) over Ningaloo Reef. Time of year pending, you may have whale sharks and possibly humpback whales in your company. Nothing quite prepares you for the initial moment you glimpse these gentle giants up close. Or spend your day strolling the sand and cruising with dolphins at sunset. The choice is yours. B DW
8 Exmouth - Karijini National Park
It’s an epic commute across the Pilbara from Exmouth to inland Karijini. But it’s oh-so worth it. If you’ve ever wanted to fall in love at first sight, it’ll happen at Karijini National Park. This is nature writ large, a place of immense gorges and deep, dark chasms; waterfalls and gem-like rock pools. This red slice of the Hamersley Range is a magnet for nature lovers, not only for the earthly delights but also the creatures that call the cliffs home. You’re hundreds of kilometers from the nearest town, so expect dazzling stargazing from your safari tent. Hotel: Karijini Eco Retreat, 2 Nights. B DW
9 Karijini National Park
It took billions of years to create the geological wonders of Karijini: the striking red escarpments and the quiet gorges all enveloped by tall gums. You have a single day to explore, so bring your stamina and sense of adventure. You’re heading deep into the national park, discovering hidden nooks and waterholes just begging you to swim in them. Things get hot here – why not dive in? BG DW
10 Karijini National Park - Port Hedland
At first glimpse of the Pilbara, you may well think you’ve been transported to Mars. The soil couldn’t get any redder, the skies any wider, the rock formations any more dramatic, much of the countryside streaked with mineral deposits. People are few and far between until you reach the town of Port Hedland. There are plenty of local characters to meet over dinner at your hotel, which gets busy when musicians begin to play. Hotel: The Esplanade Hotel Port Hedland. B DW
11 Port Hedland - Broome
Skirting the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, your morning outlook is flat – almost as far as the eye can see, the sand eventually giving way to mountain ranges, and then multicultural Broome. This city delivers many surprises, from its eclectic restaurants to its long pearling history – the pristine waters produce some of the most prized pearl oysters in the world. The other standout attraction here happens at sunset. Follow locals to the sand on Cable Beach and salute the end of another spectacular day in WA. Hotel: Cable Beach Club Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
12 Broome Free Time
Which direction should you choose to venture today? Head north deep into the Kimberley on an optional experience where the Horizontal Falls reveals the power of nature. Get some perspective of the tides here on a scenic flight, then feel the force of the water on a heart-starting cruise across the rapids. Or veer off to a pearl farm to witness the precision that goes into growing and harvesting these gems. Or simply enjoy Broome’s tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, hunting for dinosaur footprints and browsing boutiques. B
13 Farewell from Broome
How do you pick a favourite adventure from the last 12 days? You don’t have to – let them all shine in equal measure in your memory. B
Tassie Getaway
From$3299
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
Hobart is one of Australia’s coolest little capitals. Your Tour Director knows all the best places to wine, dine and explore.
Local Connection
Whether meeting the growers at Bridestowe Lavender Estate or spotting wildlife on a Wineglass Bay nature cruise, in-the-know locals offer eye-opening insights.
Cultural Immersion
Port Arthur’s heritage shaped modern-day Australia. The best way to understand its significance? With a historian guiding you through the World Heritage Site.
Sustainable Footprints
Tassie has some of the country’s most important wilderness areas. Ensure it stays pristine by re-potting native plants and counting seeds at a not-for-profit nursery.
Wildlife and Nature
Wander a few steps from Launceston and you’re in the natural wonderland that is Cataract Gorge, where rivers carve a landscape of rolling green fields and ferns.
Dining
6 Full Breakfasts
1 Lunch
3 Dinners with Wine
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Launceston
Tasmania’s second-largest city, Launceston sits pretty on the banks of the Tamar River. Arrive early? Distractions are endless. We suggest jumping on a boat to cruise the waterway, gliding through the Tamar Valley and into Cataract Gorge. This rare natural phenomenon unites bushland with neat Victorian gardens, replete with ferns and exotic plants. Get a different perspective of the green cavern on the scenic chairlift, zipping you over the water to a lofty lookout. Consider yourself a bit of a gourmand? Some of Tassie’s top wineries are within easy reach. Sip your way around the Josef Chromy estate, Swinging Gate or Jansz before meeting the adventurous souls that will keep you company over the next week. Hotel: Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston. DW
2 Launceston - Bicheno
Arriving at Bridestowe Lavender Estate, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported straight to Provence. This bucolic patch of purple is a feast for all the senses. Wander neat rows of flowers engulfed by soothing aromas (did you know lavender is a great sleep aid?). Then taste the wares, whether in lavender ice-cream or honey made from the 500,000 very happy bees that live here. Moving moments await at Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees, an avenue of sculpted trees, carved in homage of fallen WWI soldiers. It’s a poignant reminder of just how privileged we are to have Tasmania’s scene-stealing landscapes to gaze over today. Be sure to head out tonight to catch a glimpse of the little penguins that call Bicheno home.
Hotel:
Diamond Island Beach Resort.
B
DW
3 Freycinet National Park & Wineglass Bay
Embarking on your Freycinet, you may think someone has taken the glasses off your nose and cleaned them for the first time. The towering Hazards Range that backdrops your base gleams pink in the morning sunshine. Fun fact: the prized granite here was used to build the foyer of New York’s Empire State Building. The brilliant blue ocean curves into coves dusted with golden sand. And dusty greens patchwork Cape Tourville’s virgin eucalypt forest, stretching as far as the eye can see. Amid it all is Wineglass Bay, a gem-like crescent with gin-clear water. Rest up – you’re taking this in over a lunchtime cruise. Hotel: Eastcoaster Tasmania. B DW L
4 Triabunna - Hobart
Freestone Point was once home to the world’s largest wood chip mill, built on the unceded lands of the Paredarerme people. It’s had a philosophy change, and is now intent on charting a sustainable path. Today’s onward journey takes you to Hobart, but before you arrive in the Tasmanian capital, you’re treated to a Welcome to Country by the Traditional Owners of Oyster Bay. If you thought this industrial setting is beyond repair, wait till you see the organic gardens – help horticulturalists propagate seeds that will be returned to the mill’s grounds. Richmond impresses in a different way – this historic town is like stepping back in time.
Hotel:
Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart ,
3 Nights.
B
5 Port Arthur
Isle of the Dead, Pirate’s Bay Lookout, Devil’s Kitchen… the attractions around Port Arthur Historic Site give away the region’s grim convict heritage. But don’t be put off by the colourful names; the rolling green countryside, rugged cliffs and dramatic rock formations make this one of the most postcard-perfect pockets of the state. Explore what remains of the World Heritage Site with a historian – they know all the secrets that took place behind these walls – then enjoy a different perspective from the water on a scenic cruise. Tonight is at your leisure. We can recommend any number of stellar restaurants and wine bars to while away the evening in. B
6 Hobart Free Time
Today is one of decisions. Do you fancy lingering in Hobart’s city centre, exploring gallery-lined streets and taking in glorious Georgian architecture, either at your leisure or with a guide? Or perhaps you’re inclined to explore the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery, occupying one of Australia's most historically significant sites and home to an eye-watering 800,000 objects ranging from fossils to fine art. Maybe you want to end your Tassie adventure the way it began, savouring the state’s end-of-the-Earth wilderness areas. Take on Mount Wellington, with its glorious alpine forest, or cruise to spot playful sea lions and ogle Australia’s highest sea cliffs around Bruny Island. The choice is yours. B FD
7 Farewell from Hobart
Epic landscapes, tasty food and wine, historic attractions – we’ve packed a lot into the last week. Today, digest all your adventures as we bid adieu. B
Wonders of the Kimberley
From$7145
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
Danggu (Geikie) Gorge knows how to dial up the natural drama, its 30-metre escarpments creating an enormous chasm. On a cruise, your ranger will point out lurking crocs.
Local Connection
Western Australian sunsets are epic, as you’ll discover when cruising down the Ord River from Lake Argyle. Some moments burn into your memory.
Cultural Immersion
Your Aboriginal guide through the Argyle Diamond Mine knows a thing or two about the rare pink gems once mined here. They’ll also enlighten you on just how sacred this land is.
Sustainable Footprints
Aboriginal Songlines are strong across Western Australia. Ensure they stay that way with a visit to an First Nations art gallery, and support creatives by picking up a piece or two.
Wildlife and Nature
Sometimes, it’s the small things in nature that wow the most. Like waking up with the sun and the birds in a glamping tent within El Questro Wilderness Park.
Dining
10 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
7 Dinners with Wine
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Broome
You’re about to spend the next 10 days with a group of similarly minded adventure-seekers who will likely become best friends before you even leave tonight’s dinner venue. Break the ice over a few cool drinks and a suitably dazzling Broome sunset. Hotel: Cable Beach Club Resort, 2 Nights. DW
2 Broome Free Time
Among the most multicultural cities in Australia, Broome became a base for fortune-seekers the world over during its ‘pearl rush’. The pristine waters here grow great oysters, and the resulting pearls are prized by lovers of all things that gleam. Your day here is one of decisions. Go to the source and opt to see how pearls are grown and harvested, or head north to feel the full force of nature on an optional scenic flight over (and heart-starting cruise through) the Horizontal Falls. We wouldn’t blame you for simply enjoying Broome’s tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, discovering colourful Chinatown then following locals to the sand, or a beachside bar, to salute the end of a spectacular day in WA. B
3 Broome - Fitzroy Crossing
Things are bigger in Broome, including the footprints. Preserved for 125 million years in the reef rock at Gantheaume Point are the imprints of long-extinct dinosaurs. Remarkably, the Broome coast has become one of the most significant paleontological sites in the world. Next stop – Fitzroy Crossing, the gateway to Danggu (Geikie) Gorge. Jump aboard a boat to discover how this part of the Kimberley was formed by the Fitzroy River carving the Napier Range, leaving behind a 30-metre-high chasm home to a plethora of wildlife. While cruising, keep watch for freshwater crocs, fruit bats and wallabies. Hotel: Fitzroy River Lodge. B DW
4 Fitzroy Crossing - Halls Creek
Begin your deep dive into First Nations culture at a Fitzroy Crossing art gallery, a thriving venue dedicated to works by Aboriginal creatives. Your connection to this culture continues as you travel toward the Great Sandy Desert, on the edge of which is Halls Gap. This place is small in population, but big in personality. Hotel: Kimberley Hotel. B DW L
5 Halls Creek - Emma Gorge
Until recently, the Argyle Diamond Mine was the world’s largest producer of rare, and dazzling, pink diamonds. While operations have ceased, you can still visit and go behind the scenes. Your First Nations guide will not only point out where the magic once happened, but also explain the Aboriginal significance of this land. The Gibb River Road is the stuff road trip legends are made of. You’ll see why, your route to El Questro Wilderness Park covering a few kilometres of the epic expanse. Now exhale – your safari-style tents for the night are surrounded by an oasis of pandanus and palms. Hotel: Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities, 2 Nights. B DW L
6 El Questro Wilderness Park
The best way to wake up? With the sun streaming through your tent, wildlife all around. The Kimberley’s sounds follow you across the mighty Pentecost River, a mecca for those who love a spot of barramundi fishing. Arriving at Chamberlain Gorge, an enormous fresh waterhole, your cruise chariot awaits. Jump aboard to feel very small indeed, your boat dwarfed by soaring 65-metre escarpments. When it’s time to cool down, take an afternoon dip, whether in the resort pool or at a waterhole within Emma Gorge. Take your pick. B DW
7 Emma Gorge - Kununurra
It’s not every day that you get to go behind the scenes of a rum distillery with the family that owns it. Discover how Kununurra’s Hoochery Distillery makes its lip-smacking, award-winning rums and whiskys. Try a tasting paddle to get your heart started, or sit down to a slice of rum cake – morning tea sorted. Kununurra is the middle of nowhere, and only exists because of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Before it was a twinkle on the map, farming pioneers came here to establish vast cattle stations. The life of one family is chronicled at the Durack Homestead Museum, which you’ll visit before enjoying yet another sunset, this time cruising the Ord River and Lake Argyle. Hotel: Kununurra Country Club Resort, 2 Nights. B
8 Kununurra Free Time
How active and adventurous do you want today to be? You can choose from a range of optional experiences. Rise early to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the beehive-like rock formations of the Bungle Bungles on a scenic flight or stay grounded on a 4WD tour through the national park. Otherwise lace up your walking shoes and wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park, known as the ‘mini-Bungles’ for its rocky resemblance. Whatever direction you go, be sure to join the locals atop Kelly’s Knob for views over the town as the sun sets. B DW
9 Kununurra - Katherine
Say goodbye to WA and hello to the NT, your introduction to the state the vast pastoral lands that characterise the outback here. Locals come with plenty of country swagger, as you’ll discover when you meet the horseman and award-winning musician Tom Curtain for an afternoon of knee-slappin’ fun on a working station. Tom is larger than life, and entertains crowds through songs and bush stories. The ultimate way to discover life on the land. Hotel: Paraway Motel. B DW
10 Katherine - Darwin
Nature reigns supreme at Nitmiluk National Park bordering Kakadu. This is Jawoyn land, and a place where you’ll feel your spirit soar. Particularly when you’re cruising through dramatic Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, your boat the only sound in this enormous chasm. As you ease north, reminders of the impact of WWII line the banks of the Adelaide River, where the headquarters of a military base once stood and a War Cemetery now remembers those who gave their lives. The balmy Darwin climate sets the pace for your final city tour: relaxed. Discover the city’s architecture and learn about the events that have shaped life, from Cyclone Tracy to WWII when the Northern Territory capital was bombed. Now it’s time to watch the day disappear and exchange email addresses with your new friends. Hotel: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront. B FD
11 Farewell from Darwin
Eleven days. Countless adventures. A bunch of new friends. And a renewed appreciation for the wild side of Australia. What a journey this has been. B
Untamed Kimberley
From$7145
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
Sunsets don’t get much better than those enjoyed cruising the Ord River and Lake Argyle outside Kununurra. Your local guide knows where all the crocs hide.
Local Connection
The owners of Hoochery Rum Distillery in Kununurra are WA pioneers. They'll show you how they make their award-winning spirits.
Cultural Immersion
Aboriginal Songlines are strong across Western Australia. Ensure they stay that way with a visit to a Kimberley Indigenous art gallery.
Sustainable Footprints
Every footstep you take into a national park ensure your visit treads lightly. Fees go toward protecting the environment, and the animals that call it home.
Wildlife and Nature
Nature humbles at Purnululu National Park in the Kimberley, where the striated domes of the Bungle Bungles pop from the desert like Jurassic beehives.
Dining
10 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
8 Dinners with Wine
1 Welcome to Darwin
The balmy Darwin climate sets the pace for your city tour: relaxed. Things don’t happen in a hurry here. Even the fiery sunsets seem to linger. You’ll catch one later, but first an orientation tour to meet locals, discover the city’s architecture and learn about the events that have shaped life, from Cyclone Tracy to WWII when the Northern Territory capital was bombed. Now it’s time to watch the day disappear and meet your fellow adventure seekers. Hotel: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront. DW
2 Darwin - Katherine
As you begin your travels south, yet more reminders of the impact of WWII line the banks of the Adelaide River, where the headquarters of a military base once stood. Then nature takes over at Nitmiluk National Park bordering Kakadu. This is Jawoyn land, and a place where you’ll feel your spirit soar. Particularly when you’re cruising through dramatic Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, your boat the only sound in this enormous chasm. There’s no time to catch your breath – you’re off to meet larger-than-life character Tom Curtain on a working station, where he entertains crowds through song and stories. Hotel: Paraway Motel. B DW
3 Katherine - Kununurra
Say goodbye to the NT and hello to WA, your introduction to the state the unexpected delights of Kununurra. It’s in the middle of nowhere, and only exists because of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Before it was a twinkle on the map, farming pioneers came here to establish vast cattle stations. The life of one family is chronicled at the Durack Homestead Museum, which you’ll visit before enjoying yet another sunset, this time cruising the Ord River and Lake Argyle. Some experiences burn into your memory. Hotel: Kununurra Country Club Resort, 2 Nights. B DW
4 Kununurra
How active and adventurous do you want today to be? Rise early to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the beehive-like rock formations of the Bungle Bungles on an optional scenic flight or stay grounded on a 4WD tour through the national park. Otherwise, lace up your walking shoes and wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park, known as the ‘mini-Bungles’ for its rocky resemblance. Whatever direction you go, be sure to join the locals atop Kelly’s Knob for views over the town. B
5 Kununurra - Emma Gorge
It’s not every day that you get to go behind the scenes of a rum distillery with the family that owns it. Discover how Hoochery Distillery makes its lip-smacking, award-winning rums and whiskeys. Try a tasting paddle to get your heart started or sit down to a slice of rum cake – morning tea sorted. The Gibb River Road is the stuff road trip legends are made of. You’ll see why, your route to El Questro Wilderness Park covering a few kilometers of the epic expanse. Now exhale – your safari-style tents for the night are surrounded by an oasis of pandanus and palms. Hotel: Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities, 2 Nights. B DW
6 El Questro Wilderness Park
The best way to wake up? With the sun streaming through your tent, wildlife all around. The Kimberley’s sounds follow you across the mighty Pentecost River, a mecca for those who love a spot of barramundi fishing. Arriving at Chamberlain Gorge, an enormous fresh waterhole, your cruise chariot awaits. Jump aboard to feel very small indeed, your boat dwarfed by soaring 65-metre escarpments. When it’s time to cool down, take an afternoon dip, whether in the resort pool or at a waterhole within Emma Gorge. Take your pick. B DW
7 Emma Gorge - Halls Creek
Until recently, the Argyle Diamond Mine was the world’s largest producer of rare, and dazzling, pink diamonds. While operations have ceased, you can still visit and go behind the scenes. Your Aboriginal guide will not only point out where the magic once happened, but also explain the significance of this land. Equally important to Aboriginal communities is the Great Sandy Desert, which Halls Gap perches on the edge of. This place is small in population, but big in personality Hotel: Kimberley Hotel. B DW L
8 Halls Creek - Fitzroy Crossing
The remote town of Fitzroy Crossing acts as the gateway to Danggu (Geikie) Gorge. But before you cruise the waterway, continue your deep dive into First Nations culture at the Aboriginal art gallery here. Then embark your boat to discover how this remarkable part of the Kimberley was formed by the Fitzroy River carving the Napier Range, leaving behind a dramatic chasm, home to a plethora of wildlife. Keep watch for freshwater crocs, fruit bats and wallabies. Hotel: Fitzroy River Lodge. B DW L
9 Fitzroy Crossing - Broome
Among the most multicultural cities in Australia, Broome became a base for fortune-seekers the world over during its ‘pearl rush’. The pristine waters here grow great oysters, and the resulting pearls are prized by lovers of all things that gleam. A city tour will give you your bearings. Then it’s time to settle in for Broome’s other attraction: its sunsets. Follow locals to the sand or find a perch in a beachside bar to salute the end of another spectacular day in WA. Hotel: Cable Beach Club Resort, 2 Nights. B
10 Broome Free Time
A day of decisions. Head north to feel the full force of nature on an optional scenic flight over (or heart-starting cruise through) the magical Horizontal Falls. You can also enlist to do both. Or simply enjoy Broome’s tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, hunting for dinosaur footprints and browsing the pearl boutiques in town. It’s hard to resist a purchase; even harder when you go straight to the source at a pearl farm, to see how they’re harvested. DW B
11 Farewell from Broome
Eleven days, countless memories, a bunch of new friends… you’ll leave Broome with your travel wanderlust ignited. B
Perfect Tasmania
From$6130
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
A cider in Penguin – no, it’s not the name of a novel, but instead your Be My Guest lunch experience at Mt Gnomon Farm in this oh-so-charming north-coast town.
Local Connection
Whether you’re cruising the Gordon River and Wineglass Bay, or going behind the scenes at wineries and whisky distilleries, in-the-know locals will keep you company.
Cultural Immersion
Cataract Gorge is a special, and spiritual, place – and it’s remarkably close to Launceston’s CBD. Explore at your leisure.
Sustainable Footprints
Tasmania is as pretty as it is pristine. Help keep it that way for future generations, potting native plants and counting seeds at a not-for-profit nursery.
Wildlife and Nature
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is the kind of place that makes you put life into perspective. How can nature be this humbling?
Dining
12 Full Breakfasts
3 Lunches
7 Dinners with Wine
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Be My Guest Lunch
1 Welcome to Hobart
You don’t have to venture far from your hotel to find inspiration in Hobart, whether you’re exploring the harbour or easing into one of the city’s applauded galleries and wine bars. Save room for dinner, enjoyed in the company of your fellow adventure-seekers. Hotel: Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart , 2 Nights. DW
2 Hobart
From alpaca throws to woodwork, Salamanca Market unites Tassie talent. Grab a coffee and roll and navigate stalls, wedged alongside the precinct’s historic sandstone warehouses. Your afternoon excursions delve deep into many of the things that make Hobart great: the Botanical Gardens, historic Battery Point and the Cascade Brewery. End the day on a literal high at Mt. Nelson Lookout, offering dizzying views over the city. B
3 Hobart - Strahan
Waterfalls, lakes and ancient moonscapes – today is a journey of contrasts. Not to mention soul revival. Exhale amid the forest enveloping Russell Falls in Mt. Field National Park. Forget your worries at Lake St. Clair, the deepest of its kind in Australia. Sigh as you skirt the World Heritage-protected Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Then revel in the serenity of Strahan. You’re overlooking Macquarie Harbour, seven times the size of Sydney Harbour. Hotel: Strahan Village. B DW
4 Strahan - Cradle Mountain
No day that involves a cruise is a bad day. Even better if it’s the deep, dark waters of the Gordon River. Soak up the silence of this untouched wilderness area en route to Sarah Island, Tassie’s oldest convict settlement; today, haunting ruins have been reclaimed by nature. Your commute toward immense Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park visits Rosebery – tagline: “welcome to the rainforest, don’t complain about the rain” – and tiny Tullah, population 165. Hotel: Cradle Mountain Hotel, 2 Nights. B DW L
5 Cradle Mountain
At the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Cradle Mountain is all moss-covered ancient rainforests and deep river gorges, snow-tipped peaks, wild alpine moorlands and glacial lakes – case in point Dove Lake, where you’ll likely spot Bennett’s wallabies, echidnas and pademelons. Pause at Waldheim Chalet, once the home of Gustav and Kate Weindorfer, the duo pivotal in the park’s formation. B DW
6 Cradle Mountain - Launceston
A pioneer in delicious Aussie distillations, Hellyers Road Distillery produces some of the tastiest whiskeys you’ll come across. Breakfast sorted. Continue your palate expansion at Mount Gnomon Farm, in the hills overlooking the petite town of Penguin. Farmer Guy Robertson is as passionate about his orchard as he is the cider he makes. Sip your way through a Be My Guest lunch. Continue to quirky Sheffield, the ‘Town of Murals’ and continue through the Meander Valley to Launceston. Hotel: Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston, 2 Nights. B BG
7 Launceston
Prepare for goosebumps – Cataract Gorge is humbling. Even more remarkable is the fact that this enormous cavern is just a few minutes’ walk from the heart of Launceston. Explore at your leisure. By the time you reach Josef Chromy Wines, you’ll have worked up a thirst. We’ve got you covered. This afternoon is yours: an optional cruise along the Tamar River, perhaps? B DW L
8 Launceston - Bicheno
You’ll smell Bridestowe Estate well before you arrive – this lavender farm welcomes with soothing aromas, and addictive flavours in the form of lavender ice-cream. Moving moments await at Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees, a series of 25 trees carved with sculptures as an homage to fallen WWI soldiers. It’s a poignant reminder just how lucky we are to have Tasmania’s scene-stealing landscapes to gaze over. Be sure to head out tonight to catch a glimpse of the little penguins that call Bicheno home. Hotel: Diamond Island Beach Resort. B DW
9 Freycinet National Park & Wineglass Bay
There’s a reason why this part of East Coast Tasmania takes home top honours for its beaches – they were made for postcards. The brilliant blue ocean follows you through Cape Tourville’s tangle of emerald eucalypt forest, and golden beaches stretch as far as the eye can see. Perhaps the only sight more dazzling is the flawless crescent of powdery sand that you’ll glimpse on your Wineglass Bay cruise, the boat bobbing into a cove backdropped by the mesmerising dusty-pink Hazards Range of mountains. Who knew tours to Tasmania could be this colourful? Hotel: Eastcoaster Tasmania. B DW L
10 Triabunna - Hobart
Freestone Point was once home to the world’s largest wood chip mill, built on the unceded lands of the Paredarerme people. It’s had a philosophy change, and is now intent on charting a sustainable path. As if your Welcome to Country’ at Oyster Bay wasn’t humbling enough, you’ll then have the chance to visit beehives and worm, assisting horticulturists propagating seeds to regenerate the area. The GPS is now set for the historic township of Richmond; explore the convict-built goal and bridge or browsing the quaint boutique shops in town. This evening is at your leisure in Hobart. Hotel: Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart , 3 Nights. B
11 Port Arthur
While the World Heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site has a grim convict history, you wouldn’t know it today – the countryside is all rolling green fields and ocean views. Only the place names give its heritage away: cruise around the Isle of the Dead, glimpse rugged sea cliffs from Pirate’s Bay Lookout, and veer past Tasman’s Arch, Devil’s Kitchen and the Blowhole. Tonight is at your leisure – we can recommend any number of stellar restaurants. B
12 Hobart Free Time
There’s something about Tasmania’s capital that encourages life in the slow lane. You’ll quickly fall into step today, yours to spend as you will. Perhaps add on a Bruny Island cruise to spot playful sea lions and ogle Australia’s highest sea cliffs? Or enjoy a bird’s-eye view on a scenic flight down to the great Southwest? Or get your cultural fix with a visit to the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery. B FD
13 Farewell from Hobart
If you can still count all the delicious things you have eaten and drunk, and all the epic things you have seen and done, two weeks down the track, we commend you. Now’s the time to re-live them with friends and family back at home. B
Tassie's Parks & Nature
From$3490
Highlights
Local Connection
Bring your elastic-waisted pants: cheese, wine, whisky and cider all await. The best bit? You get to go behind the scenes with the makers.
Insider Knowledge
Farmer Guy Robertson knows a thing or two about growing heritage apples. Taste the fruit of his labour in lip-smacking ciders, enjoyed over a Be My Guest lunch.
Cultural Immersion
Listen to local street performers as you taste delicious homegrown produce at Tassie’s iconic Salamanca Market.
Sustainable Footprints
Your visit contributes to National Parks and Wildlife, protecting Tasmania’s wilderness including the Franklin-Gordon Rivers.
Wildlife and Nature
Carved by ice during glaciations over the last two million years, Lake St Clair is the deepest of its kind in Australia. Added bonus – it’s surrounded by World Heritage listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
Dining
6 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
4 Dinners with Wine
1 Be My Guest Lunch
1 Welcome to Hobart
The Tasmanian capital packs a lot of punch into such a small perimeter, from restaurants that garner global praise to moody wine bars, eye-opening galleries, waterside walks and character-filled historic precincts. Explore at your leisure before meeting the adventurous souls who will keep you company over the next week. Hotel: Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart , 2 Nights. DW
2 Hobart
Three hundred – that’s the number of stalls you’ll navigate this morning at Hobart’s mighty Salamanca Market. Get your heart started sampling gin and whisky, or order a coffee and bulging burger and pick up made-in-Tasmania arts and crafts. The precinct, amid historic sandstone buildings, is almost as pretty as the produce. This afternoon you’ll see what makes Hobart tick, from the leafy Botanical Gardens to historic Battery Point and Cascade Brewery. It all fits neatly together when you get some perspective from the lofty Mt. Nelson Lookout, gazing over the River Derwent, all the way to Bruny Island in the south. B
3 Hobart- Strahan
the lakes cooler, the colours brighter, the waterfalls larger… as you’ll discover when the mist envelops you at tiered Russell Falls. This is part of Mt. Field National Park, the state’s most diverse nature reserve. Speaking of breaking records, Lake St. Clair is the deepest of its kind in Australia, carved by ice during glaciations over the last two million years. Pausing here puts life into perspective. Skirt the World Heritage listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, characterised by soaring Huon pines, before arriving in Strahan. Small in population but big in personality, the town overlooks the immense Macquarie Harbour. Did you know it’s seven times the size of Sydney Harbour? Hotel: Strahan Village. B DW
4 Strahan - Cradle Mountain
Today’s watery welcome is the deep, dark Gordon River, its expanse coloured by tannins from button grass. Soak up the silence of this untouched wilderness area on a cruise out to Sarah Island, a former penal settlement – Tassie’s oldest – where convicts laboured under harsh conditions felling pines for boat-building. The haunting ruins that remain have been reclaimed by the rainforest, telling a chilling story of life on the land. As do mining towns Rosebery and Tullah, enveloped by dense forest and volcanic mountains. This is your backdrop en route to immense Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, a mecca for some of Australia’s most elusive wildlife: keep watch for Tasmanian devils and platypuses. Hotel: Cradle Mountain Hotel, 2 Nights. B DW L
5 Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain has not always been pristine – it owes much of its protected status to early settlers Gustav and Kate Weindorfer, who were pivotal in championing the conservation of the area. Their efforts are remembered at Waldheim Chalet, their former home, set among myrtles and King Billy pines that gradually give way to moss-covered ancient rainforests and deep river gorges, snow-tipped peaks and wild alpine moorlands. This is the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, carved by glacial waterways like Dove Lake. You can see why Bennetts wallabies, echidnas, wombats and pademelons live here – you, too, will find it hard to tear yourself away. If you’re a night person, consider enlisting to spot Tassie’s nocturnal animals, whether at a devil sanctuary or in the wild. B DW
6 Cradle Mountain - Launceston
Bring your appetite – today you’ll try some of the state’s standout produce. First stop is Hellyers Road Whisky Distillery. Tasmanian tipples – whether whisky or gin – take home global awards for good reason. Steel yourself for the ciders fermented at Mount Gnomon Farm, in the hills overlooking the petite town of Penguin. If there’s an Australian destination with a cuter name, we’re yet to find it. Here, passionate farmer Guy Robertson will pour brews made from apples grown in his heritage orchard, before you sit down to a farm-to-table Be My Guest lunch. Then you’re on your way to quirky Sheffield, the ‘Town of Murals’, before travelling through the Meander Valley to Launceston. Hotel: Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston. B BG
7 Launceston
Your final day of Tasmania touring ends on a high in Cataract Gorge, a rare natural phenomenon on the outskirts of Launceston. There’s bushland on one side, and a Victorian garden replete with ferns and exotic plants on the other. Get a different perspective of the green cavern on the scenic chairlift, zipping you over the water to a lofty lookout. You can’t leave Tassie without sipping a few of its cool-climate wines, perhaps a pinot noir or flute of sparkling enjoyed overlooking the manicured grounds of the Josef Chromy Estate. Be sure to wander the grounds before you sample the range, then settle in with your favourite drop enjoyed over lunch. This afternoon is yours: if you’re not heading home yet, we recommend extending your adventure with an optional cruise along the Tamar River. A fitting end to a week of wonderment.
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Tastes of Southern Australia
From$4295
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
Australian Parliament House and the War Memorial offer insights into the Australian capital best revealed with an in-the-know local by your side.
Local Connection
Ever wanted to know what life on a 400-hectare sheep farm is like? Meet Craig Starr and his family at Gold Creek Station for a tale or two, and a BBQ.
Cultural Immersion
Walk with an Aboriginal Guide through Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens as you learn some of its history from a First Nation’s perspective.
Sustainable Footprints
By visiting Kangaroo Island’s Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, you not only gain insights into South Australian animals, but also have the chance to support them.
Wildlife and Nature
Across the Great Ocean Road’s 240 kilometres you’ll discover all manner of natural drama, from limestone stacks to World Heritage listed rainforest and untouched coastal coves.
Dining
10 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
4 Dinners with Wine
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Be My Guest Lunch
1 Sydney - Canberra
As hard as it is to say goodbye to Sydney, it’s just as easy to say hello to the Southern Highlands. South of the ‘Harbour City’, the bucolic countryside of Berrima awaits – fun fact: this is the oldest Georgian village in Australia. Further on, you’re welcomed to Gold Creek Station by sheep farmer Craig Starr for a Be My Guest BBQ lunch and tales about life on the land. Onward to the country's cool little capital, home to Parliament House, where you’ll go behind the political scenes, as well as the Australian War Memorial. Hearing the Last Post is a moving experience Hotel: Crowne Plaza Canberra. BG DW
2 Canberra - Wangaratta
Get some Canberra perspective from the summit of Mt. Ainslie. You won’t be able to see the Murray River, but you’ll soon cross it en route to Beechworth, Victoria’s best-preserved gold rush town. We’ll give you the Beechworth lowdown, then set you on your way to explore character-filled antiques stores, galleries and museums at your leisure. There are plenty of charming places to refuel, as well, before Wangaratta’s cathedrals beckon. Hotel: Quality Hotel Wangaratta. B
3 Wangaratta - Melbourne
Meandering south toward historic Glenrowan, you’re well and truly in Ned Kelly country – this is where the infamous bushranger and his gang were finally captured in 1880. We’ll tell you all the tales, then a few more about Melbourne, the home of Aussie rules football, some of the country’s best arts institutions, and a swag of stellar restaurants, cafés and bars. Once you have your bearings, explore as you will. We can help with evening restaurant reservations. Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne, 2 Nights. B
4 Melbourne Free Time
You’re on your own today. Well, not really, because your Travel Director is at your service to help arrange optional sightseeing experiences. After you’ve enjoyed a strong coffee in one of Melbourne’s atmospheric laneways, that is. Adrenaline junkie? Linger in the city, gaining bird’s-eye views from the Eureka Skydeck. Animal lover? Venture to Phillip Island to see hundreds of little penguins pad along the sand. Want to get back to nature? Chug through the lush Dandenong Ranges on the Puffing Billy Steam Train, followed by a sip or two of wine in the Yarra Valley. The choice is yours. B
5 Melbourne - Warrnambool
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most epic journeys, a dramatic 240-kilometre union of limestone stacks (Twelve Apostles, we’re looking at you), World Heritage listed rainforest, untouched coastal coves and sleepy towns, like Lorne and Apollo Bay. It’s hard to know where to point your camera. We recommend having it poised to snap shots of the Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge rock formations. It doesn’t get any better than this. Hotel: Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs. B DW
6 Warrnambool - Naracoorte
Emus, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas… oh my! These are just some of the animals you’ll likely spot visiting Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve – housed in a dormant volcanic crater – with an Aboriginal guide. Remarkably, this pocket of paradise was once wasteland, transformed by volunteers. More volcanic history awaits across the South Australian border in Mt. Gambier, home to the crater-filling Blue Lake. Because it’s very blue. And it’s a lake. By now you’ll be pretty thirsty, so it’s a good thing the Coonawarra wine region is around the corner. After a few sips, you may find yourself getting deep – literally. Naracoorte’s Alexandra Cave is a maze of delicate needle-like stalactites and massive twisting columns. Hotel: William MacIntosh Motor Lodge, Naracoote. B DW
7 Naracoorte - Kangaroo Island
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a natural adventure playground, all rolling hills, rugged clifftops and sandy beaches. Seaside Victor Harbor turns on the charms – there are steam locomotives – before your ferry blasts its horn. All aboard for Kangaroo Island. A well-deserved tasting of craft beer awaits at a boutique brewery, the only one on the island. How does a Golden Ale sound? We won’t judge you for sneaking in a nap en route to Kingscote, South Australia’s oldest European settlement. Hotel: Aurora Ozone Hotel, Executive Rooms, 2 Nights. B DW
8 Kangaroo Island
If you like alliterations, you’ll love today’s attractions: first stops are Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, home to an immense colony of raucous fur seals. AAT Kings-sponsored Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was badly damaged by the 2019 bushfires; your visit reveals the part fire plays within this delicate ecosystem, and how koalas and other wildlife adapt to their environment. More wildlife greets you at Seal Bay Conservation Park, where enormous sea lions barrel down the sand to the water. This is one of the most significant breeding colonies in the country. B L
9 Kangaroo Island - Adelaide
You’ve arrived in the South Australian capital, known for its well-preserved churches and well-admired cuisine. Did you know that Adelaide boasts more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia? After a cultural walking tour through the city’s Botanic Gardens with an Aboriginal Guide, and an Adelaide city tour, the afternoon is yours to see just how many you can sample – we have a few recommendations, including a visit to the epic Central Market, where you can try green ant gin with cheese, among so many other delicacies. Hotel: Crowne Plaza Adelaide, 2 Nights. B
10 Adelaide Hills and the Barossa
Pull on your elastic-waisted pants – today is one of indulgences through the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa, dotted with atmospheric towns like Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. A Barossa and Hahndorf tour reveals the bountiful food and wine this pocket of the state is known for. And you’ll enjoy a tasting from small batch wine makers from across the valley as well as discovering local flavours over lunch at Lambert Estate enveloped by vines. B FD L
11 Farewell from Adelaide
By day 11, you will have a suitcase full of gin, wine and cheese; a camera full of dreamy images; and more memories than you can count. B
Great Ocean Road and Kangaroo Island Escape
From$3120
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
Australian Parliament House and the War Memorial offer insights into the Australian capital, best revealed with an in-the-know local by your side.
Local Connection
Ever wanted to know what life on a 400-hectare sheep farm is like? Meet Craig Starr and his family at Gold Creek Station for a tale or two, and a BBQ.
Cultural Immersion
Gain a deeper understanding of the indigenous plants that grow in the area along with their traditional uses at Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens
Sustainable Footprints
By visiting Kangaroo Island’s Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, you not only gain insights into South Australian animals, but also have the chance to support them.
Wildlife and Nature
The underworld beckons at Naracoorte’s Alexandra Cave, a maze of delicate needle-like stalactites and massive twisting columns.
Dining
6 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
1 Be My Guest Lunch
3 Dinners with Wine
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Melbourne - Warrnambool
Want an adventure that starts with a bang? This is it. You’re on your way to the Great Ocean Road, a snaking coastal route that is one of the world’s most epic journeys. Across a dramatic 240 kilometers you’ll take in limestone stacks like the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge. Then traverse through World Heritage listed rainforest, skirting untouched coastal coves, and pausing in sleepy towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay, where bare feet and boardshorts are the dress code. Hotel: Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs. B DW
2 Warrnambool - Naracoorte
The south’s volcanic history bubbles to the surface at Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, an immense natural wonder spanning a dormant volcanic crater. You’ll learn about the area’s flora and fauna – think emus, kangaroos, koalas and echidnas – with an Aboriginal guide. More volcanic history awaits across the South Australian border in Mt. Gambier, home to the crater-filling Blue Lake. Bring your sunglasses, because the lake’s name doesn’t do it justice – the intensity of the hue is blinding. By now you’ll be pretty thirsty, so it’s a good thing the Coonawarra wine region is around the corner. Fancy a world-class cab sav, shiraz or merlot? You’ve come to the right place. Your final adventure is deep, in every sense of the word. Naracoorte’s Alexandra Cave is a maze of delicate needle-like stalactites and massive twisting columns. Hotel: William MacIntosh Motor Lodge, Naracoote. B DW
3 Naracoorte - Kangaroo Island
Nature rules large again today as you weave along the Fleurieu Peninsula to Victor Harbor. After rolling hills, sandy beaches and rugged cliffs, you’re greeted with the charms of this seaside town – the gateway to Kangaroo Island. All aboard the ferry for your journey toward this ‘mini Galapagos’. Kangaroo Island deserves its moniker, as you’ll discover tomorrow. But today, all you have to do is ease into the island with a tasting of craft beers at Kangaroo Island’s only brewery. How does a Limestone Road Pale Ale sound? Hotel: Aurora Ozone Hotel, Executive Rooms, 2 Nights. B DW
4 Kangaroo Island
First stop today truly deserves its name: the orange-lichen-clad Remarkable Rocks command your attention over the blazing blue of the Southern Ocean. Then there’s Admirals Arch, home to an immense colony of raucous fur seals and a very photogenic lighthouse. Like much of the island, AAT Kings-sponsored Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was badly damaged by the 2019 bushfires. On your visit, you’ll discover the role that fire plays within this delicate ecosystem, and how koalas and other wildlife adapt to their environment. More wildlife greets you at Seal Bay Conservation Park. Move aside: enormous sea lions regularly barrel down the sand toward the water. L B
5 Kangaroo Island - Adelaide
You’ve arrived in the South Australian capital, known for its well-preserved churches and well-admired cuisine. Did you know that Adelaide boasts more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia? After a cultural walking tour through the city’s Botanic Gardens with an Aboriginal Guide, and an Adelaide city tour, the afternoon is yours to see just how many you can sample – we have a few recommendations, including a visit to the epic Central Market, where you can try green ant gin with cheese, among so many other delicacies.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza Adelaide,
2 Nights.
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6 Adelaide Hills and the Barossa
Pull on your elastic-waisted pants – today is one of indulgences through the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa, dotted with atmospheric towns like Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. A Barossa and Hahndorf tour reveals the bountiful food and wine this pocket of the state is known for. And you’ll enjoy a tasting from small batch wine makers from across the valley as well as discovering local flavours over lunch at Lambert Estate enveloped by vines.
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7 Farewell from Adelaide
A week in this part of the world really isn’t enough. We hope we’ve inspired you to come back for another taste. B
Southern Capitals - City Meets Bush
From$2095
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
The Australian capital holds some of the country’s greatest stories, whether of politics at Parliament House (your guide knows the secrets) or history at the humbling War Memorial.
Local Connection
Crisp air, blue skies, the melody of sheep… there’s nothing like being on a 400-hectare working farm. Meet Craig Starr and his family for a BBQ and a yarn or two.
Cultural Immersion
Gold rush towns always come with stories about infamous bush rangers and love scandals. Hear them when you arrive in historic Beechworth.
Wildlife and Nature
More than 32,000 little penguins live around Phillip Island, and some 4,000 of them pitter patter from the sea to their sandy burrows every evening. Say goodnight.
Dining
4 Full Breakfasts
1 Dinner with Wine
1 Be My Guest Lunch
1 Sydney - Canberra
It’s hard to believe that just 1.5 hours from Sydney lies a patch of countryside that could have been transplanted straight from the English Cotswolds. Think atmospheric villages amid rolling hills of grape vines – the Southern Highlands is the closest wine region to Australia’s largest city, after all. And then there are the grand gardens and emerald farms, one of which you’ll visit to meet Craig Starr and his family. Their 400-hectare Gold Creek Station farm is your backdrop for a Be My Guest BBQ lunch and tales about life on the land. This is your entrée to the country's cool little capital of Canberra, home to Parliament House, where you’ll go behind the political scenes, as well as the Australian War Memorial. Hearing the Last Post is a moving experience. Hotel: Crowne Plaza Canberra. BG DW
2 Canberra - Wangaratta
Thanks to architect Walter Burley Griffin, Canberra is an urban planner’s delight – the city is that well laid out, as you’ll discover when you head to the summit of Mt. Ainslie for panoramic views. You won’t yet be able to see the Murray River, but you’ll soon cross it en route to Beechworth. From Australia’s longest river to Victoria’s best-preserved gold rush town, Beechworth saw an influx of fortune-seekers during the 1850s. Your Travel Director will give you the Beechworth lowdown, then set you on your way to explore character-filled antiques stores, galleries, leafy parks and gardens, and museums at your leisure. There are plenty of charming cafés and restaurants to refuel in as well, before Wangaratta’s cathedrals beckon. Hotel: Quality Hotel Wangaratta. B
3 Wangaratta - Melbourne
Meandering south toward historic Glenrowan, you’re well and truly in Ned Kelly country – this is where the infamous bushranger and his gang were finally captured in 1880. The story is remembered on pretty much every city corner, whether in enormous statues or at the museum. We’ll tell you all the tales – some of them true, many of them heresy. All of them entertaining. Then we’ll tell you a bit more about Melbourne, like how it’s the home of Aussie rules football, covets some of the country’s best arts institutions, and has a swag of stellar restaurants, cafés and bars. Small wonder it’s known as Australia’s cultural, culinary and sporting capital. Once you have your bearings after a city tour, head off to explore. Forget your map – one of the joys of being in Melbourne is getting lost. Discovering a hidden jazz bar. Stumbling upon a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Finding a gallery that catches your eye. Enjoy. Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne, 2 Nights. B
4 Melbourne Free Time
You could spend weeks exploring Melbourne and its surrounds and not tire of the attractions. But you just have today, so make the most of it. We wouldn’t hold it against you if all you want to do is jump on a tram and ride the rails to the city’s character-filled neighbourhoods. But if you want to explore further afield, we’ve got you covered on an optional experience. For a bird’s-eye view of the bay, sign up to scale the Eureka Skydeck, offering dizzying vistas in every direction. Animal lover? Venture to Phillip Island to see hundreds of little penguins pad along the sand en route to their burrows. Want to get back to nature? Chug through the lush Dandenong Ranges on the Puffing Billy Steam Train, followed by a sip or two of wine in the Yarra Valley. The choice is yours. B
5 Farewell from Melbourne
Wait, how did you just pack so much action into a working week? Cities, countryside, farms, wineries, islands… this Sydney to Melbourne trip has been quite the adventure. B
Northern Territory Explorer
From$4810
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
Darwin life goes at a leisurely pace. Fall into step and explore the steamy NT capital in the only way the locals know how – slow.
Time For You
World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park is wide, wild and wonderful. And packed with wildlife. Choose your own adventure.
Iconic Sites
Have your camera poised: we’re taking you from the wilds of Kakadu to the escarpments of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge and epic landscapes of Uluru.
Sustainable Travel
Supporting Aboriginal-owned and -operated businesses helps ensure the world’s oldest culture thrives into the future.
Natural Wonders
Sunrise over Uluru has this incredible ability to make you forget everything else around you and just focus on the now.
Dining
10 Full Breakfasts
4 Dinners
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Darwin
Get to know the steamy NT capital at your own pace – you’ll fast find that the characters here are almost as colourful as the sunsets. You’ll enjoy the latter over drinks and nibbles with your Travel Director and fellow adventure-seekers. A tasty entrée to your 11-day odyssey. Hotel: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront, 2 Nights.
2 Darwin
Today is about getting your bearings on a Darwin tour revealing the events that have shaped the city over the decades, from wars to natural disasters. You’ll be a Darwin expert after visiting attractions like East Point Military Reserve and the Darwin Museum. The afternoon is at your leisure. If you’re at a loss for ideas, we can point you in the direction of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Tourist Facility, perhaps, or the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, loaded with 200+ stalls offering everything from food to footwear. Grab a bite – everything from Japanese to Greek cuisine is available – and watch the day end with your feet in the sand. B
3 Darwin - Kakadu
Aboriginal culture is strong in this part of Australia, and its kept alive by Traditional Landowners on this morning’s tour. Dive deep into Aboriginal heritage on a family-owned experience highlighting art, music and bush tucker. Your next deep dive is into the heart of Kakadu, a World Heritage listed national park that is one of Australia’s most important living ecosystems. Hotel: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, 2 Nights. B D
4 Kakadu National Park
Kakadu is vast, spanning almost 20,000 square kilometers. The best way to gain appreciation for just how immense it really is from the air on an optional (but highly recommended) morning flight. Now that you have your bearings, take to the land to discover ancient Aboriginal rock art and cruise the wildlife-packed Yellow Water Billabong to search for enormous saltwater crocs – your eagle-eyed guide knows where to look. End your day on a high, watching the sun set over floodplains. B
5 Kakadu - Katherine
From one glorious national park to another… today’s backdrop is the end-of-Earth escarpments of Nitmiluk National Park, carved by rivers millions of years ago. Cruising through Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge is a humbling experience even before you know the region’s history. Small wonder freshwater crocs and all manner of birds call the cavern home. Hotel: Contour Hotel Katherine. B D
6 Katherine - Tennant Creek
If the Elsey Homestead looks familiar, that’s because it starred in the 1982 Aussie drama We of the Never Never. Today it’s better known for its Mataranka thermal hot springs. Pop on your swimsuit and have a soothing soak, the magical setting surrounded by palms. The only thing more refreshing is a cold beverage at the Daly Waters Pub, self-declared as Australia’s ‘original outback pub’. You can imagine the kind of swagger the locals bring. Visitors are encouraged to leave their mark as well; a memento, perhaps, or autograph on the walls. Hotel: Bluestone Motor Inn. B D
7 Tennant Creek - Alice Springs
The Stuart Highway is long (2,700 kilometers), very straight and very flat. Which makes the appearance of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) on the horizon all the more dramatic. These massive granite boulders pock the countryside. But they’re not just a pretty sight – they’re a sacred place for the Aboriginal community, created by the fossilized eggs of the Rainbow Serpent. Get the lay of the land atop Alice Springs’ Anzac Hill. From this vantage, the East and West MacDonnell Ranges appear to stretch to the horizon. Hotel: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, 2 Nights. B
8 Alice Springs
Sleep in, take to the skies in a hot-air balloon as the desert awakens, explore the West Macs on a guided tour… this morning is yours to spend as you choose. Save some energy for this afternoon’s visit to the historic Telegraph Station – the reason the town was formed – and School of the Air, to gain an insight into outback and remote learning B
9 Alice Springs - Uluru
From the moment you wake up until the last of day disappears, spiritual Aboriginal culture is all around. Get set to be in awe over Dreamtime stories about the creation of Uluru, the world’s largest monolith. It’s particularly pretty at sunset when the fading rays change the desert’s colour with every sip of your sparkling wine. Hotel: Outback Hotel & Lodge, 2 Nights. B
10 Uluru
There aren’t many things worth getting up in the dark for. Sunrise over Uluru is one. It’s a magical time of day, the shifting light casting the countryside aglow. Exploring the base of ‘the Rock’, you’ll begin to understand why this part of the country is so special to the Anangu people. Go at your own pace this afternoon. We wouldn’t blame you for taking a dip in the resort pool. But if you want to see the monolith in another different light, opt to chopper around it, in a helicopter or on the back of a Harley. Either way, you’ll have plenty of stories to tell over your Farewell Dinner B FD
11 Farewell from Uluru
Another reason to rise early: to catch the (optional) Field of Light art installation that blankets the desert floor. Your spirit will glow just as brightly as you bid farewell to the NT. B
Top End Highlights
From$2440
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
You’ll want to linger in Katherine and Darwin, the steamy capital of the Top End. It’s a good thing you’ve got free time to explore at your leisure.
Time For You
Find your own adventure amid the mesmerizing landscapes of Kakadu, a World Heritage listed national park with more wildlife than your camera can capture.
Iconic Sites
If you love the great outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. Discover the wilds of Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, as well as Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge.
Sustainable Travel
With every visit to a Top End national park, you’re helping to protect some of Australia’s most fragile wilderness areas.
Natural Wonders
Litchfield National Park is shaped by water, from its lakes and rivers to its waterfalls and waterholes. And there’s nothing quite as invigorating as taking a dip.
Dining
5 Full Breakfasts
1 Dinner
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Darwin
Darwin is the kind of place that excites all your senses. It’s always steamy, which means you have a constant glow. The aroma of tropical fruits wafts from markets. The horizons are wide and sunsets blazing. And the locals… Well, they’re as colourful as your outlook. You’ll meet some of them on a city tour taking in sights and attractions that tell stories of the NT capital’s unexpected history. As the day begins to disappear, follow the lead of locals to the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Your Travel Director will give you the lowdown, highlighting the eclectic range of cuisine on offer – expect everything from Greek to Japanese. What a tasty start to your getaway. Hotel: Travelodge Darwin Resort.
2 Darwin - Katherine
The ancient landscapes of Litchfield National Park are shaped by water, as you’ll fast discover when exploring this immense protected wilderness. There are lakes and rivers, waterfalls and waterholes. Get set to visit Florence Falls, then take a dip in the gin-clear pool of Wangi Falls, this dreamy setting enveloped by monsoon forest. The landscape is also shaped by termites. The national park is pocked with enormous termite mounds, which are architectural feats complete with tunnels and nursery chambers. Small creatures with a big vision. Hotel: Contour Hotel Katherine, 2 Nights. B D
3 Nitmuluk (Katherine) Gorge
Katherine is a little bit tropical, a little bit outback, and a whole lot gorgeous. The region’s main attraction is its gaping Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, which carves the countryside in spectacular form. Sit back on your boat and enjoy a cruise through this ancient landscape, home to the Jawoyn people for millennia. You’ll learn about First Nations culture with an Jawoyn guide, and will tempt your tastebuds with some bush tucker. Support the community by picking up paintings by Jawoyn artists.
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4 Katherine - Kakadu
Today is your chance to reset your body’s natural rhythms with a morning dip in Edith Falls – because days are better when you begin them with your head under water. This series of cascades in Nitmiluk National Park will set your pulse racing. Before venturing deep into Kakadu, you’re poised for refreshments – we recommend a mango smoothie – in the film-set-like town of Pine Creek, where buildings date back to the heady gold rush days. This afternoon, there’s nothing between you and nature, the dramatic escarpments, waterholes and abundant wildlife of Kakadu looming large. Speaking of large, there are saltwater crocs to spot while you drift away on a Yellow Water Billabong cruise. Your local guide will share the secrets of these ancient waterways before taking you on a guided walk to view ancient Aboriginal rock art at Nourlangie. Hotel: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, 2 Nights. B
5 Kakadu National Park
Australia is home to some of the oldest art in the world, and much of it decorates rock walls at Ubirr – this jaw-dropping site protects Aboriginal rock paintings and carvings dating back more than 20,000 years. If you thought that was impressive, wait till you see the view over Kakadu from the top of the escarpment. If you want even more perspective, sign up for an optional scenic flight over the national park, revealing just how wide, wild and wonderful this part of the world really is. B FD
6 Farewell from Darwin
Departing Kakadu, this is your last chance to spot enormous ‘salties’ lurking in river crossings you pass by. You won’t see them at Fogg Dam, but what you will witness is a cacophony of birds. This really is a twitchers paradise. A fitting (and slightly noisy) end to this epic wilderness journey. B
Western Wonderland
From$5920
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
From its beaches to its history, Albany is the kind of town you could lose yourself in. And you have a day to do just that. Ask us for tips.
Time For You
Make sure you have your phone ready for selfies with quokkas on Rottnest Island – their smile is infectious, as is the landscape of sandy coves and gin-clear water.
Iconic Sites
From dramatic geological formations (we’re looking at you Wave Rock) to blindingly blue water (Lucky Bay) and record-breaking attractions (Busselton Jetty), we’ve got you sorted.
Sustainable Travel
Australia is home to the oldest living culture in the world. It’s brought into full focus exploring Yanchep National Park with a traditional landowner.
Natural Wonders
The colours of Monkey Mia sear into your memory, the turquoise ocean here home to a famously friendly pod of resident dolphins.
Dining
14 Full Breakfasts
1 Lunch
8 Dinners
1 Dinner with Wine
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Perth
Perth may be the West Australian capital, but it’s home to a remarkable amount of green space. Follow your Tour Director to inner-city Kings Park to witness more than 3,000 floral species in the Botanic Gardens, overlooking the Swan River, not to mention art installations and the Anzac Memorial. It’s a relaxed entrée to the next two weeks of action and adventure.
Hotel:
Holiday Inn West Perth.
DW
2 Perth - Wave Rock
Wave Rock deserves its name – the cliff resembles an enormous surf wave about to crash into the bush. Stretching 110 metres, the rainbow-hued granite swell was formed more than three million years ago. It’s a short walk from another imaginatively named rock formation: Hippo’s Yawn. You can actually climb through the hippo’s ‘neck’ to grab a happy snap. Wave Rock locals are a friendly bunch, and they’re truly passionate about the place they call home. But don’t take our word for it. Meet Sheenagh, who will proudly show you around her farm and discuss life on the land. Which can be harsh, but also extremely healing, in a way unique to the wide open spaces of the Aussie outback. You even get to feed her cattle and glimpse her collection of vintage cars. Hotel: Wave Rock Motel, Hyden. B D
3 Wave Rock - Kalgoorlie
Get your bearings on a Kalgoorlie town tour, including vistas over the staggering ‘Super Pit’ open-cut gold mine. Today’s outings continue to gleam as you visit Hannans North Mine – the history here is overwhelming – Kalgoorlie’s ‘Golden Mile’. Nothing quite puts things into perspective like standing next to enormous U-Haul trucks and loaders. Hotel: Rydges Kalgoorlie. B D
4 Kalgoorlie - Esperance
More than 31,000 hectares of sweeping heathlands, rugged coastal peaks and white sandy beaches… it’s no wonder Cape Le Grand National Park is regularly voted among the most alluring of its kind in Australia. Just when you thought WA couldn’t get any prettier, you arrive at Thistle Cove – sun, sand, sea and sculpted rock formations that ‘whistle’ with the sounds of the wind and waves – and Lucky Bay, a postcard-worthy cove where kangaroos sunbake on the sand. Hotel: Comfort Inn Bay of Isles. B D
5 Esperance - Albany
Today’s journey takes you through some of the most bountiful wilderness areas in the state. First the Fitzgerald River National Park, a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, then the Stirling Range National Park, blanketed with a staggering range of wildflowers – more than 1,500 different species, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Get some perspective from the Bluff Knoll Lookout, one of WA’s highest peaks. Hotel: The Dog Rock Motel, 2 Nights. B D
6 Albany Free Time
Nature, history, food and wine… there’s not much that Albany can’t do. The hardest thing you have to do today is decide which direction you want to travel. Perhaps opt for a tour that relives the town’s heritage as the last port of call for ANZAC troopships departing Australia in WWI. Maybe explore Torndirrup National Park, where steep cliffs give way to dramatic rock formations and whales are a common sight during migration. Or get a taste for the region on a culinary excursion. The choice is yours. B
7 Albany - Margaret River
Suspended 40 metres above the forest floor, the Tree Top Walk gives you a bird’s-eye view of the soaring tingle trees that stand large through the Valley of the Giants. More lofty attractions await at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, the tallest of its kind in Australia, set at the tip of a peninsula where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Standing here, the wind in your hair, you’ll feel like you’re on the edge of the Earth. Being amid nature makes you thirsty. It’s a good thing the Margaret River wine region is on the horizon. Hotel: Stay Margaret River, 2 Nights. B D
8 Margaret River
The Margaret River’s 200 vineyards produce 25 per cent of Australia’s premium wines. And then there are the gourmet purveyors in between… you’re in for a tasty day. Vasse Virgin makes olive oil that’s sweet enough to drink. We recommend you savour it with bread, however, while learning how it’s made and browsing other products it’s used in – like delicately scented soaps. Lunch is leisurely, at a vineyard with plenty of time to sip and savour local drops. If you still have room for dinner, ask us for recommendations B L
9 Margaret River - Fremantle
The Margaret River is one of the only wine regions in the world where grapes are grown just metres from the sand. The coastal backdrop follows you all the way to Busselton, home to the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Tip your cap to those who built this 1.8-kilometre structure out into Geographe Bay. The afternoon is all yours in Freo. Hot tip: The city’s markets feature 150 stalls under one roof. Hotel: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle - by Rydges, 2 Nights. B D
10 Fremantle Free Time
Sometimes, the most memorable travel days are those where you lose yourself wandering the foreshore, lingering over lunch or a cool ale. We highly recommend you spend this day of leisure doing just that (Freo’s Little Creatures Brewery is legendary). Of course, having a local show you around also has its benefits, with a walking tour revealing those hidden haunts most visitors pass right on by. If you’re catching the ferry to Rottnest Island, make sure you have your phone ready to capture selfies with the island’s smiley quokkas, not to mention the blindingly turquoise water. B
11 Fremantle - Geraldton
Yanchep National Park is staggeringly beautiful. It’s also incredibly spiritual, as you’ll discover on an Aboriginal cultural experience revealing First Nations history through Dreamtime stories and didgeridoo sessions. It’s a hands-on experience – don’t worry if you can’t make the didg hum; there are traditional tools to play with and bush tucker to sample. We’ve left some of the best to last: entering Nambung National Park you’re greeted by a moonscape spiked with the Pinnacles, a series of head-scratching limestone formations. This afternoon, Geraldton’s moving HMAS Sydney Memorial beckons.
Hotel:
Mantra Geraldton.
B
12 Geraldton - Monkey Mia
The colours of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shark Bay are so vivid, you’ll think they’re painted on, a patchwork of blues fading into powdery sand so white you’ll need your sunglasses. This is what awaits in Monkey Mia, where the day is all yours. We wouldn’t blame you wandering barefoot along the beach, ordering sundowners as the day disappears in a blaze of glory. Other than a cruise to spot all sea creatures great and small, perhaps the best way to gain perspective of the vast coastline is on a scenic flight over Shark Bay Marine Park. Hotel: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort. B D
13 Monkey Mia - Kalbarri
Bring your stamina – today’s adventures begin early. But if there’s anything worth getting out of bed for, it’s Monkey Mia’s wild dolphins, which swim close to shore to greet visitors every morning. Keep your sunnies handy at Shell Beach, a powder-white cove formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells up to 10 metres deep, and Hamelin Pool, the world’s best-known colony of stromatolites. Believe it or not, these rock-like formations are alive. True story. Arriving at Kalbarri National Park you’ll take in the Murchison River Gorge from the Kalbarri Skywalk. If you’re here during wildflower season, expect acacia, banksia and caladenia in full bloom. Hotel: Kalbarri Edge Resort. B D
14 Kalbarri - Perth
Just when you thought WA couldn’t get any more colourful, Hutt Lagoon appears on the horizon – just one of the state’s bubblegum pink lakes. Arriving in Perth you have one final dinner to swap contact details with your new friends and reminisce about the last two weeks. Where to begin? Hotel: Holiday Inn West Perth. B FD
15 Farewell from Perth
Fourteen days of wild adventures on your tour from Perth – it’s hard to pick a WA highlight. That’s what your journey home is for B
South Western Escape
From$4430
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
Quite possibly Australia’s happiest critters, quokkas await on Rottnest Island. It’s just a short ferry ride from Freo to this haven, should you wish to venture out.
Time For You
You could spend days blissing out on Albany’s beaches. When it’s time to dust off the sand, ask us for tips on attractions and experiences.
Iconic Sites
From the powdery coves of Esperance to the vine-laced groves of the Margaret River region, we’ve got the colours of Australia covered.
Sustainable Travel
Taking in the forest from the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk is not only spectacular, but it’s contributing to the sustainability of the pocket of WA.
Natural Wonders
Surf’s up at Wave Rock, a 110-metre granite swell resembling a wave about to crash to shore. If you think that’s impressive, just wait till you hear it’s three million years old.
Dining
11 Full Breakfasts
1 Lunch
6 Dinners
1 Dinner with Wine
1 Welcome to Perth
Western Australia’s capital and largest city, Perth is remarkably green. The snaking Swan River cuts through town, its banks lined with leafy promenades – not to mention glorious Kings Park, a floral wonderland home to more than 3,000 plant species in the Botanic Gardens. Enjoy a stroll with your Travel Director to ease into your WA adventure. Hotel: Holiday Inn West Perth. DW
2 Perth - Wave Rock
Say hello to Wave Rock, a 110-metre, rainbow-hued granite swell formed more than three million years ago. It’s in the ballpark of another imaginatively named rock formation: Hippo’s Yawn. You can actually climb through the hippo’s ‘neck’ to grab a happy snap. Fun fact: the visitor centre here has the world’s largest collection of toy soldiers. Wave Rock local Sheenagh knows a thing or two about life on the land. She’s passionate about her farm, and proudly shows off the outback while you explore the wide open spaces that characterise the WA countryside. You even get to feed her cattle and glimpse her collection of vintage cars – who knew folks in this part of the world were such avid collectors? Hotel: Wave Rock Motel, Hyden. B D
3 Wave Rock - Kalgoorlie
Today is deep – quite literally. Your journey through classic WA outback lands you in Kalgoorlie – get your bearings on a town tour, pausing to take in vistas over the staggering ‘Super Pit’ open-cut gold mine. Put life into perspective standing next to monstrous loaders and haul trucks at Hannans North Mine. It’s a shimmering opportunity to experience gold rush history and discover the Golden Mile. Hotel: Rydges Kalgoorlie. B D
4 Kalgoorlie - Esperance
Nature humbles at Cape Le Grand National Park, a staggering 31,000 hectares of sweeping heathlands, rugged coastal peaks and powdery beaches. It’s so pretty that kangaroos come here for a little sunbaking on the sand – at Lucky Bay, you’ll see Australia’s national emblem dozing beside the water. And then there’s Thistle Cove, replete with sun, sand, sea and sculpted rock formations that ‘whistle’ with the sounds of the wind and waves. Hotel: Comfort Inn Bay of Isles. B D
5 Esperance - Albany
Bring your stamina for a day of unparalleled wilderness encounters. Well, until tomorrow, and the next day. Fitzgerald River National Park is one of the most ecologically important pockets of WA, home to 20 per cent of the state’s flora. Small wonder it’s a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Journey on through the Stirling Range National Park, blanketed with more than 1,500 species of wildflowers, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Get some perspective from the Bluff Knoll Lookout, one of WA’s highest peaks. Hotel: The Dog Rock Motel, 2 Nights. B D
6 Albany
Albany turns on pretty much every charm, whether you’re ready for more nature, are a history buff, or feel like it’s time for food and wine. You have a day at leisure to go in whichever direction you please. Perhaps opt for a tour that relives the town’s heritage as the last port of call for ANZAC troopships departing Australia in WWI. Maybe explore Torndirrup National Park, where steep cliffs give way to dramatic rock formations and whales are a common sight during migration. Or get a taste for the region on a culinary excursion. B
7 Albany - Margaret River
Think big when you visit the Valley of the Giants, where the Tree Top Walk gives you a bird’s-eye view of the soaring tingle trees that stand large all around; you’re suspended 40 metres above the forest floor. More lofty attractions await at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, the tallest of its kind in Australia, set at the tip of a peninsula where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Being amid nature makes you thirsty. It’s a good thing the Margaret River wine region is on the horizon. Hotel: Stay Margaret River, 2 Nights. B D
8 Margaret River
There aren’t many places in the world where grape vines grow metres from the sand – the Margaret River region is one. Here, 200 vineyards sit beside talented makers, bakers and purveyors. All you need to know is that today is one of indulgences, beginning at Vasse Virgin to savour olive oil that’s good enough to drink. But maybe try it on bread instead. Lunch is leisurely, at a vineyard with plenty of time to sip and savour local drops. If you still have room for dinner, ask us for recommendations. B L
9 Margaret River - Fremantle
You’ve seen the bucolic vine-laced countryside; now experience the region’s coast as you journey north to Busselton. Yet another record-breaking attraction awaits (we’ve lost count): the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Tip your cap to those who built this 1.8-kilometre structure out into Geographe Bay. The afternoon is all yours in Freo. Hot tip: The city’s markets feature 150 stalls under one roof. Hotel: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle - by Rydges, 2 Nights. B D
10 Fremantle Free Time
Freo sits at the mouth of the Swan River, its port the gateway to all manner of watery expeditions. One that will surely make you smile is the ferry ride to Rottnest Island, where Australia’s happiest (and friendliest) critters await. Bring your swimsuit to cool off between cycling expeditions. If you’re ready for some downtime, follow the lead of locals to Little Creatures Brewery for an icy ale. Or explore the town in the company of an in-the-know local. Today is yours to create, but we always have a few ideas in our little black book. B
11 Farewell from Fremantle
Eleven days. Too many beaches to count. Wildlife galore. A few wine bottles and a few thousand memories… this trip is one for the record books. B
The Wildflower Wanderer
From$2910
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
From a jaw-dropping Skywalk to striated seaside cliffs, estuary beaches, wild pelicans and national parkland, you’ll need a day at leisure to explore Kalbarri.
Time For You
Walking barefoot along beaches is not only good for your soul, but also your health – science proves it. Get a dose of wellness wandering Geraldton’s sandy coves.
Iconic Sites
Get set for colour: botanicals in King’s Park, wildflowers in national parks, pink Hutt Lagoon and the bleached limestone towers of The Pinnacles.
Sustainable Travel
Heritage Lynton Station was a convict depot way back in 1853. Your visit helps preserve the buildings and landscapes that remember this slice of history.
Natural Wonders
Eye-popping is one way to describe Hutt Lagoon, a high-salinity waterway that changes hue from bubble-gum pink to crimson red.
Dining
6 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
2 Dinners
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Perth
Arrive early into Perth? The West Australian capital has some of Australia’s most happening lifestyle precincts, many filled with eye-popping street art, others with the kind of cafés you might expect to find on the streets of New York. Explore at your leisure before meeting fellow flower lovers for canapés as the sun sets over the mighty Swan River. Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Perth. DW
2 Perth - Kalbarri
Settle in for a few hours of hypnotic coastal scenery as you make your way north to Kalbarri. All the wave gazing is thirsty work. Thankfully, family-owned Illegal Tender Rum Co. has a few quenching distillations prepared for your arrival. Go behind the scenes to glimpse how this distinctive sugar-cane-based spirit is made, sampling award-winning spiced rum (among others) while you wander. Lunch is served on the distillery’s deck overlooking dreamy fields, with each bite like Western Australia in a mouthful. Hotel: Kalbarri Edge Resort, 2 Nights. B D L
3 Kalbarri National Park
Some 400 million years ago, the Murchison River carved its way through Kalbarri National Park, leaving behind echo-inspiring gorges of red-and-white banded sandstone as well as soaring coastal cliffs. It’s quite the sight, and best taken in from a height. Enter the Kalbarri Skywalk, a precipitous projection 25 metres beyond the gorge rim and a dizzying 100 metres above the river. A different perspective is offered from the Hawk’s Head Lookout and Nature’s Window, the latter a natural rock arch that frames the gorge far below. The real reason you’re here, however, is for the wildflowers – more than 12,000 species carpet this part of the state, 60 per cent of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Some are hard to find, so tread lightly. B
4 Kalbarri - Geraldton
Step back in time – all the way to 1853 – when you arrive at Lynton Station, a former convict depot and homestead composed of a collection of historic limestone buildings. Just as eye-opening is Hutt Lagoon, an enormous lake that is sometimes bubblegum pink, sometimes lilac, and occasionally even red. The high salinity here determines its hue. Your last stop is the moving HMAS Sydney Memorial, high on the hill overlooking Geraldton; it pays homage to the ship’s crew who were lost when it went down off the WA coast. Hotel: The Gerald Apartment Hotel, 2 Nights. B
5 Geraldton
Geraldton is the gateway to a bedazzlement of wildflowers – picking where to go can be daunting. We have a little black book of hotspots, like Mullewa, which straddles both geological and climatic transition zones. Translation: it’s a floral wonderland. Expect waves of everlastings and flowering shrubs along roadsides and in surrounding nature reserves, and have your camera poised to snap the star attraction: the wreath flower. Your Tour Director knows where to look. B
6 Geraldton - Perth
Arriving at Nambung National Park, you may think you’ve been transported to the moon, so surreal is the desert landscape of limestone pillars that surrounds. Welcome to The Pinnacles, jutting out from shifting yellow sands and standing up to five metres tall. You’re walking amid history: these structures were created millions of years ago as seashells were broken down into sand and then eroded by water and wind. Hotel: Crowne Plaza, Perth. B FD
7 Farewell from Perth
You’ve seen blooms around the state. But one final glimpse remains in Perth’s lush Kings Park. It’s remarkable to think that this inner-city patch of green is home to the Western Australian Botanic Gardens, replete with more than 3,000 species of the state’s unique flora. What a powerful end to a flower-filled journey. B
Monkey Mia Dolphins & West Coast
From$2090
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
You need time to appreciate the beauty of Monkey Mia, on land and in the water. Choose to cruise in the company of dolphins at sunset or discover Aboriginal culture after dark.
Time For You
Shark Bay deserves its UNESCO World Heritage listing. You’ll discover why as you watch the day disappear, the only sound the occasional splash of dolphins.
Iconic Sites
Come for Monkey Mia’s resident population of wild dolphins; linger for the rugged landscapes of Kalbarri and Nambung national parks.
Sustainable Travel
Aboriginal culture is strong and spiritual in Yanchep National Park. Discover how the land has sustained First Nations communities for millennia.
Natural Wonders
You’ll be lost for words exploring the lunar-like landscape surrounding The Pinnacles, a surreal union of limestone formations jutting into the sky.
Dining
4 Full Breakfasts
2 Dinners
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Fremantle - Geraldton
Get set for a good dose of coastal drama today as you journey north from Freo all the way to Geraldton. But before you get there, pause in Yanchep National Park, a union of bush and wetlands that is as spectacular as it is sacred. The best way to understand its significance to First Nations communities is in the company of an Aboriginal guide. There are Dreamtime stories and didgeridoo playing, and hands-on learning with bush tucker and traditional tools. Just try not to leave more informed than when you arrived. Two national parks in one day – your next stop is Nambung. We’ll forgive you for thinking you’ve been transported to the set of a sci-fi movie when you arrive at this moonscape, studded with limestone pillars stretching five metres into the sky. Welcome to The Pinnacles. Arriving in Geraldton, more moving moments await at the evocative HMAS Sydney Memorial. Hotel: Mantra Geraldton.
2 Geraldton - Monkey Mia
Shark Bay is one of the planet’s greatest wilderness areas – if you don’t believe us, chat to UNESCO about the World Heritage listing they gave this pocket of WA. A window in time and a wildlife refuge, it’s all powdery white coves and gin-clear waters that naturally attract a plethora of wildlife. This afternoon, take in the bounty at your own pace, perhaps on a cruise to spot sea creatures great and small, or from the air, where your bird’s-eye view reveals just how wide and wonderful the coast really is. Come dusk, be sure to find an oceanside perch and a cold beverage. Cheers to the end of another amazing day in WA. Hotel: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort. B D
3 Monkey Mia - Kalbarri
If you need a reason to be up with the birds, make the dolphins of Monkey Mia it. These wild bottlenoses swim to shore every morning to greet visitors before heading off to surf the waves. It’s a hard act to follow. But then again, so is Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells that pile up to 10 metres deep. Hamelin Pool is home to the world’s largest colony of stromatolites. They appear rock-like, but are actually living, and they date back to the beginning of life on Earth. Talk about putting things into perspective. We hope you brought your stamina – there’s more to come. Kalbarri National Park was carved by the Murchison River millions of years ago. The gorge that remains is particularly pretty during wildflower season, when acacia, banksia and caladenia are in dazzling bloom. Hotel: Kalbarri Edge Resort. B D
4 Kalbarri - Perth
If you thought you’d seen it all, wait until Hutt Lagoon appears on the horizon. One of Western Australia’s eye-popping pink lakes, this body of highly salty water changes hue at different times of the year – sometimes it’s bubblegum, often it’s lilac, occasionally it’s red. It’s always incredible. What a blazing way to end your WA stay. But wait, you still have a Farewell Dinner and drinks with your new friends. Don’t forget to exchange email addresses. Hotel: Holiday Inn West Perth. B FD
5 Farewell from Perth
Short and sweet, we hope your journey inspired extended West Australian wanderlust. B
Tasmanian Wonders
From$3715
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
Discover Tasmania’s wild side spotting devils after dark, searching for wombats or following in the footsteps of little penguins. Or just chill out with a glass of wine.
Time For You
Forward-thinking galleries, cafes, restaurants and parks await in Hobart and Launceston. Explore them at your own pace.
Iconic Sites
From untamed wilderness areas like Cradle Mountain and Freycinet National Park to the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur, Tassie is not short on attractions.
Sustainable Travel
Your entry fees into the state’s national parks assist with the conservation of these pristine natural environments.
Natural Wonders
Cruise the Gordon River amid World Heritage-listed wilderness, the banks clad with ancient forest, including a 2,000-year-old pine.
Dining
9 Full Breakfasts
1 Lunch
5 Dinners
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Hobart
The Tasmanian capital of Hobart may be small in size, but it’s big in attractions, as you’ll discover on a walking tour around the city. Step back in time at Battery Point, settled as a defensive outpost in the 19th century. Then explore the cobbled streets of Salamanca Place, the site of epic weekend markets. Gaze over boats at Constitution Dock – this is where yachts finish when competing in the annual Sydney to Hobart race. Put your destination into perspective from the summit of Mt. Nelson, offering endless vistas over Australia’s southernmost city.
Hotel:
Best Western Hobart.
D
2 Hobart - Strahan
Western Tasmania is like nature writ large, a place where the wilderness rules and people are few and far between. Visiting Mount Field National Park is a humbling experience, not only for the fact it’s part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, but also because it’s home to some of the tallest eucalypts and flowering plants on Earth. Wander amid these giants to reach Russell Falls – take a deep breath; you’re officially on holiday. Records continue to be broken at Lake St. Clair, the deepest freshwater Lake in Australia, before you arrive in Strahan, gateway to World Heritage-listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
Hotel:
Strahan Village.
B
D
3 Strahan - Cradle Mountain
The Gordon River is your playground today, the dark waters here given their colour by amber button-grass tannins. The only thing breaking the mirror-like surface is your chariot as you cruise to Sarah Island, a former penal colony where convicts would fell Huon pines for boat building. Thankfully, they didn’t get to the 2,000-year-old pine that still stands proud at Heritage Landing. Glide past Hells Gates, the treacherous entrance to the harbour, before motoring on to Cradle Mountain. This wilderness area offers one of the best chances of spotting Tasmanian devils in their natural habitat. Opt to head out after dark to spot these elusive creatures. Hotel: Cradle Mountain Hotel. B D L
4 Cradle Mountain - Smithton
Today has multiple highs – quite literally. The first is 1,545-metre Cradle Mountain, your backdrop as you wander to Dove Lake. You don’t need to look too hard to spot Bennett’s wallabies, echidnas, and pademelons. The second high is ‘The Nut’, a dramatic 152-metre plateau created by the remains of an ancient volcanic plug. It guards over Stanley, a tiny village with swagger to spare. You could spend days exploring the town’s remarkably well-preserved heritage buildings. But more adventures await around the corner. Hotel: Tall Timbers. B D
5 Smithton - Launceston
If there’s a town with a cuter name than Penguin, we’re yet to find it. Locals embrace its appeal – there are penguin sculptures at every turn, including one measuring 10 metres high. Your journey along the northwest coast also passes through Burnie, Ulverstone and Sheffield, the latter delivering a surprise collection of 60 murals telling the area’s history. All this exploring builds an appetite. Refuel at Ashgrove Tasmanian Farm, where happy cows contribute to award-winning cheeses – everything from cheddar and red Leicester to creamy Tasmanian blue. Hotel: Best Western Plus Launceston, 2 Nights. B
6 Launceston
There are few places in the world where you can leave the city behind and within minutes be amid an immense wilderness are. Launceston is one. Blink and you’re at Cataract Gorge, a yawning chasm carved by ancient rivers. This rare natural phenomenon unites bushland with neat Victorian gardens, replete with ferns and exotic plants. Get a different perspective of the green cavern on the scenic chairlift, zipping you over the water to a lofty lookout. We wouldn’t blame you for lingering here, perhaps cruising the river to venture deeper into the gorge. Or sample more of Tassie’s finest fare on a Tamar Valley winery tour. This afternoon, the choice is yours. B
7 Launceston - Bicheno
You’ll smell Bridestowe before you see it, this enormous lavender farm perfuming the Tasmanian countryside. The flowers grown here aren’t just used in fragrances – they’re also infused into ice-cream, teas and jams. It’s a tasty entrée to the Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees, sculpted into World War One soldiers. Little penguins come out to play in Bicheno; sign up to spot them after dark as they waddle to shore from the water. Hotel: Beachfront at Bicheno. B D
8 Bicheno - Hobart
The colours at Freycinet National Park are so vivid you’ll think someone has taken the glasses off your nose and cleaned them for the first time: The patchwork of ocean blues that lap Coles and Wineglass bays. The powdery white of sand. The intense green of the forest. There’s a reason why the peninsula stars on postcards. The other place on postcards is Richmond, its grand 1820s Georgian buildings today home to bijou boutiques, galleries and cafes that appear to be lost in time. Hotel: Best Western Hobart, 2 Nights. B
9 Port Arthur
The Isle of the Dead, Devil’s Kitchen, Blowhole… the attractions at and around Port Arthur nod to the region’s notoriously grim history. This is the best-preserved convict site in Australia, and among the most significant convict-era destinations worldwide. The stories these walls could tell. B FD
10 Farewell from Hobart
It took early explorers months to circumnavigate Tasmania. You’ve completed your Tasmania tour in just 10 days. What a wild ride. B
Tassie's Wilderness Icons
From$2365
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
Do as much (spot wombats and Tassie devils after dark) or as little (sip wine by the fire) as you like. This is your holiday, after all.
Time For You
The view from the top of Stanley’s ‘The Nut’ is impressive. But if you don’t fancy a hike, then explore the atmospheric town at your own pace.
Iconic Sites
From Cataract Gorge to the Gordon River, Cradle Mountain to ‘The Nut’, Tasmania is not short on natural attractions.
Sustainable Travel
Your entry fees into the state’s national parks assist with the conservation of these pristine natural environments.
Natural Wonders
World Heritage-listed wilderness is your playground in Mount Field National Park, a soul-stirring union of soaring eucalypts and thundering waterfalls.
Dining
5 Full Breakfasts
1 Lunch
4 Dinners
1 Welcome to Hobart
At the mouth of the River Derwent, Australia’s southernmost city embraces its history, but has one eye firmly planted on the future. You only need to visit Salamanca Place to see how forward-thinking purveyors and curators have transformed heritage spaces into restaurants, cafés and galleries. Step back in time once again at Battery Point, settled as a defensive outpost in the 19th century, and Constitution Dock – this is where yachts finish when competing in the annual Sydney to Hobart race. Put your destination into perspective from the summit of Mt. Nelson, offering a dreamy outlook over the Tassie capital. Hotel: Best Western Hobart. D
2 Hobart - Strahan
Not many people live in the West of Tasmania – even less visit. This is not for want of appeal. Mount Field National Park dials up the drama from the moment you arrive, delivering World Heritage listed wilderness in the form of soaring eucalypts (some of the tallest on Earth) and thundering waterfalls. Russell Falls will take your breath away in more ways than one. And just when you think nature couldn’t get any more humbling, you arrive at Lake St. Clair, the deepest freshwater lake in Australia. It’s one of numerous waterways breaking your path to Strahan, gateway to World Heritage listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Hotel: Strahan Village. B D
3 Strahan - Cradle Mountain
The inky waters of the Gordon River – given its colour by amber button-grass tannins – are as eery as they are beautiful, the mirror-like surface only broken by your chariot out to Sarah Island. It’s hard to reconcile the beauty of this part of the state with its grim history as a penal colony; a place where convicts would fell Huon pines for boat building. Thankfully, they didn’t get to the 2,000-year-old pine that still stands proud at Heritage Landing. Early settlers didn’t mince their words when they called the treacherous entrance to the river’s harbour Hells Gates. You’ll understand why when you drift past. Cradle Mountain awaits to the north. If you’re content by the fire with a glass of wine – stay there. Otherwise, follow your guide into the night to spot Tassie devils. Hotel: Cradle Mountain Hotel. B D L
4 Cradle Mountain - Smithton
When the first thing you see is 1,545-metre Cradle Mountain, you know you’re in for a good day. This is your backdrop as you wander to Dove Lake, a natural magnet for Bennetts wallabies, echidnas, and pademelons. Just when you thought the west coast couldn’t get any more dramatic, ‘The Nut’ appears on the horizon. This 152-metre bluff created by the remains of an ancient volcanic plug guards over Stanley, an atmospheric fishing village with remarkably well-preserved heritage buildings. Browse boutiques at your leisure, or lace up your walking shoes – The Nut summit awaits. Hotel: Tall Timbers. B D
5 Smithton - Launceston
While you may not see any shy, nocturnal penguins on your visit to the town of Penguin, you will find dozens of statues commemorating just how cute these creatures are. Be sure to snap a picture in front of the 10-metre-high installation. You’ll also want to have your camera ready arriving in Sheffield, home to a surprise collection of 60 murals telling the area’s history. All this exploring builds an appetite. Refuel at Ashgrove Tasmanian Farm, where happy cows contribute to award-winning cheeses – everything from cheddar and red Leicester to creamy Tasmanian blue. Hotel: Best Western Plus Launceston. B
6 Farewell from Launceston
There are few places in the world where you can leave the city behind and within minutes be amid an immense wilderness are. Launceston is one. Blink and you’re at Cataract Gorge, a yawning chasm carved by ancient rivers. This rare natural phenomenon unites bushland with neat Victorian gardens, replete with ferns and exotic plants. Get a different perspective of the green cavern on the scenic chairlift, zipping you over the water to a lofty lookout. Now for a orientation of the city. You won’t want your time here to come to an end; it’s a good thing you have afternoon options. Perhaps sign up to cruise the river that carves the gorge, linger in Launceston’s pretty streets, or get a taste for the region on a Tamar Valley wine tour. How you end your Tasmanian tour is completely up to you. B
Tassie's East Coast Highlights
From$1915
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
You won’t be the only one yelping with excitement when you spot Bicheno’s little penguins march up the sand from the ocean. We recommend you sign up to see them – the choice is yours.
Time For You
Get an early flight into Launceston to explore Cataract Gorge at your own pace. How many cities in the world have this natural wonderment on their doorstep?
Iconic Sites
From untamed wilderness areas like Cradle Mountain and Freycinet National Park to the World Heritage listed Port Arthur, Tassie is not short on attractions.
Sustainable Travel
Your entry fees into the state’s national parks assist with the conservation of these pristine natural environments.
Natural Wonders
Cruising around the Southern Ocean off the coast of Port Arthur gives you a front-row seat to dramatic geological sites including the Isle of the Dead, Devil’s Kitchen and the Blowhole.
Dining
4 Full Breakfasts
1 Dinner
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Launceston
You don’t have to arrive early into Launceston, but we highly recommend you do. Time on your side? Walk the short distance to Cataract Gorge, home to the longest single-span chairlift in the world. It’s quite the ride, taking you up high into this intensely beautiful, and spiritual, place. Otherwise, meet your Travel Director and fellow Tassie companions for a drink in the evening.
Hotel:
Best Western Plus Launceston.
2 Launceston - Bicheno
Bridestowe is an assault on all your senses – in the best possible way. There’s the piercing purple of the lavender grown here, backdropped by horizon-wide blue sky. Then the musky aroma of the flowers, which has an instant calming effect. And the taste, beyond anything you ever imagined – try lavender in ice-cream, jams and teas, and thank us later. It’s a tasty entrée to the Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees, sculpted into World War One soldiers. Come dusk in Bicheno, sign up to spot tuxedoed little penguins waddle to shore from the water. Hotel: Beachfront at Bicheno. B D
3 Bicheno - Hobart
Nothing quite prepares you for the drama of Freycinet National Park – the colours here seem more vivid, the air crisper, the water cleaner, the skies wider. A patchwork of ocean blues lap Coles and Wineglass bays, framed by powdery white sand and silvery eucalypts. There’s a reason why this place stars on postcards. The other destination that deserves notoriety is Richmond, its grand 1820s Georgian buildings today home to bijou boutiques, galleries and cafes that appear to be lost in time. Hotel: Best Western Hobart, 2 Nights. B
4 Port Arthur
Port Arthur’s rather grim convict past is reflected in the names of attractions around it: Isle of the Dead, Devil’s Kitchen, the Blowhole… But believe us, they’re all spectacularly pretty. As is the Port Arthur Historic Site, its immaculately maintained buildings scattered over green pastures that fade into the Southern Ocean. This is the best-preserved convict site in Australia, and among the most significant convict-era destinations worldwide. The stories these walls could tell.
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5 Farewell from Hobart
Short and sweet and packed with highlights – this Tasmania tour is sure to inspire future travels. B
Capital Blooms
From$1005
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
Pause to smell the flowers at Floriade, an immense wonderland of bulbs and blooms you’ll want to explore at a leisurely pace.
Time For You
Pop in to Bowral’s antique stores, find a cosy café, wander through parks and gardens… the choice is yours.
Iconic Sites
From Floriade and Parliament House to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra’s attractions don’t disappoint.
Natural Wonders
Canberra is one of Australia’s greenest cities, from its alternative energy ethos to its ample parks that welcome visitors at every turn. Let nature rule.
Dining
2 Full Breakfasts
1 Lunch
1 Dinner
1 Sydney - Canberra
Leave Sydney’s skyscrapers behind and venture into the bucolic countryside of the Southern Highlands, all heritage villages, vineyards and manicured gardens. The allures all unite in Berrima, the best-preserved Georgian town in Australia – look no further than its convict-era sandstone gaol. Despite its gloomy history, the building awfully pretty to look at. All this touring is hungry work – thankfully, a barbecue lunch awaits on the grounds of working cattle and sheep farm Gold Creek Station, where you’ll learn about life on the land from someone who works it every day. Speaking of working hard for the money, 10,000 people spent years constructing Parliament House, the architecturally eye-catching seat of the nation’s government. Your guide will take you behind the scenes and reveal all the secrets… Finally, a visit to the Australian War Memorial. Just try to not be moved by the piper’s lament. Polish yourself up for dinner after-hours at Floriade where you’ll meet the talented vintners from Pialligo Estate. Hotel: Crowne Plaza Canberra, 2 Nights. L D
2 Canberra & Floriade
There are more than a million bulbs on display annually Floriade, an explosion of colour that transforms the banks of Lake Burley Griffin – as well as some of Canberra’s suburbs. The month-long affair – the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere – was designed to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary and Canberra’s 75th birthday. But it has become a regular on the city’s event calendar. You’ll see why. Browse immaculate flower beds in various patterns and themes, then enjoy entertainment, market stalls and a lively spring vibe. B
3 Canberra - Bowral - Return Sydney
Yet more flowers await in the Southern Highlands, where Bowral’s Corbett Gardens play host to 75,000 tulips. The aptly named Tulip Time fete here will inspire you to buy some bulbs to plant back at home – it’s that eye-catching. Thirsty? High tea awaits in the Southern Highlands town of Mittagong B
East Coast Islands and Rainforest
From$5305
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
Choose your own adventure on the Gold Coast, where surf and sand meet rainforest hinterland. Hike, swim, refuel, repeat.
Iconic Sites
How many people get to say they visited three World Heritage Sites on a single holiday? You can: K’gari (Fraser Island), the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics of Queensland.
Time For You
It’s easy to drift away in the Whitsundays. And you get to do just that, whether on a catamaran, with a snorkel strapped on or from the air.
Natural Wonders
Some of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest envelops Cairns, this verdant tangle of ferns and palms a natural magnet for native wildlife.
Dining
11 Full Breakfasts
3 Lunches
2 Dinners
1 Sydney - Coffs Harbour
As much as you’ll want to linger in Sydney, Coffs Harbour is calling. On the mid-North Coast of New South Wales, this pocket of paradise has some of the state’s most impressive beaches, not to mention the glorious national parkland that surrounds. Follow the breeze (and lead of locals) to the beach for a dazzling end of day, before meeting your fellow adventure-seekers Hotel: BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort. D
2 Coffs Harbour - Gold Coast
Australia’s most easterly point is the stuff that postcards were made for, as you’ll discover when you reach the Cape Byron Lighthouse, standing proud over the Pacific Ocean. Dolphins are a common sight year round, and they’re joined by whales during migration. For lunch, we can point you in the direction of a tasty Byron Bay fish-and-chip shop – order a haul to eat with your feet in the sand. Which you’re going to see plenty of at your next destination. Hotel: Novotel Surfers Paradise, 2 Nights. B
3 Gold Coast
Your base in Surfers Paradise is the heart of the Gold Coast, a city that really does sparkle. Today you might choose to explore beaches (there are too many to count), lingering in light-filled cafés and restaurants. Or enlist to see another side of the ‘Goldie’ in the Mt. Tamborine hinterland – a hub for creatives and foodies. The city also breaks records for its extensive network of canals, which you might opt to explore on a leisurely cruise. B
4 Gold Coast - K'gari (Fraser Island)
Follow the waves north to Hervey Bay, the gateway to World Heritage Listed K’gari (Fraser Island). The ferry ride across the strait is a highlight, particularly during whale migration when these gentle giants come to the calm, protected waters to calve. Landing on K’gari, expect to see a lot of sand. This is, after all, the world’s largest sand island, and the only place in the world where rainforest grows from the sand. Hotel: Kingfisher Bay Resort, 2 Nights. B
5 K'gari (Fraser Island)
The island also has a really long sand highway, which you’ll get to zip along on a 4WD tour across 75 Mile Beach, all the way up the east coast to the Pinnacles Coloured Sands, calm Eli Creek and the Maheno shipwreck, which offers quite the photo opportunity. Just when you thought the island couldn’t get any prettier, Lake McKenzie appears on the horizon, this dazzling patch of blue formed only with rainwater. It’s a hard act to follow, but the ancient rainforest at Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek lives up to the challenge with its huge satiny, scribbly gum and kauri trees. B L
6 K'gari (Fraser Island) - Rockhampton
Back on the mainland you’re in Queensland’s cattle country. Case in point Langmorn Station, where the Creed family will welcome you with afternoon tea and a tour of the immense (and historic) cattle property – the original family homestead was built in 1873. The Creeds will regale you with stories about life on the land. The theme continues as you cross the Tropic of Capricorn to arrive in Rockhampton, the beef capital of Australia. See if it deserves its title sampling some of the town’s restaurants. Ask us for tips. Hotel: Quality Hotel Regent, Rockhampton. B
7 Rockhampton - Airlie Beach
Another town with an impressive title is Sarina, Australia’s sugar capital. If you’ve ever wanted to know how sugar cane is processed and distilled, you’ll find the guided tour at the Sarina Sugar Shed a sweet addition to the itinerary. And yes, you get to sample the wares. Continue, on a high, to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays. Life moves at a leisurely pace here. Fall into step and take things slow tonight. Hotel: Mantra Club Croc, 2 Nights . B L
8 The Whitsunday Islands Free Time
The Whitsunday Islands need little introduction, the 74 tropical drops of land a beguiling union of powdery beaches and rainforest, all ringed by the Coral Sea. There are endless ways to explore this part of the Great Barrier Reef – today, we’re letting you choose. Perhaps rise early for an optional helicopter ride over Heart Reef. Or catch a catamaran to Whitehaven Beach, with sand so high in silica it squeaks underfoot. B
9 Airlie Beach - Cairns
After all the excitement of yesterday, today it’s time to relax and enjoy the scenery – more sugar cane fields and rolling green paddocks, all framed by the ocean and rainforest-clad mountains. Stretch your legs en route to Cairns and soak up this steamy part of the state.
Hotel:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns,
3 Nights.
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10 Cairns
The Cairns Esplanade is a hive of activity in the morning, with active locals out before the humidity of the day sets in. Keep pace, before cooling off in the Atherton Tablelands, a high tropical plateau of rainforest, including the heritage-listed Curtain Fig Tree. And waterfalls, like Millaa Millaa Falls, where enormous iridescent Ulysses butterflies like to dance. Explore Kuranda before getting some perspective on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, high above the canopy of the Barron Gorge National Park. B
11 The Great Barrier Reef
Just when you thought your outlook couldn’t get any better, you’re zipping over the Great Barrier Reef on a high-speed catamaran. Snorkel with six of the world’s sea turtles bobbing over fans of coral, as well as so many fish you won’t know where to look. If you prefer to keep your head above water, the marine world can also be glimpsed from an underwater observatory and glass-bottom boat. B D L
12 Farewell from Cairns
A ridiculous number of beaches, world-record breaking rainforest, dreamy islands and even dreamier ocean… it’s going to be hard to say goodbye to this backdrop. Not to mention your fellow travellers. B
Queensland Spirit: Heart of the Outback
From$4230
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
You’ll feel positively sprightly going behind the scenes at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, discovering the region’s prehistoric giants.
Local Connection
Roma’s Explorer's Inn comes with plenty of country swagger. And standout cuisine hero-ing local produce. Dig in!
Cultural Immersion
Working stations in this part of the world are as big as they are remote. In short, the ideal places to learn about life in the Queensland outback. Oh the stories farmers will tell
Sustainable Footprints
Sleep soundly under the canvas of your glamping tent at Mitchell Grass Retreat, knowing you’re treading lightly on the land at this eco-resort.
Wildlife and Nature
The Queensland outback is mesmerising, its vast, empty stretches of road creating a hypnotic backdrop to your adventure through the state.
Dining
6 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
1 Dinner
4 Dinners with Wine
1 Brisbane - Roma
It doesn’t take long for the towers of Brisbane to give way to bucolic countryside, fading from rainforest to the vivid hues of the outback. Small in population but big in personality, Chinchilla is the first chance to stretch your legs. The ‘Big Watermelon’ hints to the fact this is the melon capital of Australia. Grab a slice, or a heartier bite to eat, at the historic Club Hotel (fun fact: it’s the only hotel in town that hasn’t burnt down) before you journey on to ravishing Roma. The horizons here extend for days, only matched in expanse by the smiles of locals – expect plenty of country hospitality. Toast the end of the day over a glass of wine and regional fare at your Welcome Reception. Hotel: Roma Explorers Inn. DW
2 Roma - Quilpie
The further west you travel in Queensland, the slower the outback lifestyle. As evidenced in Charleville, which is a slice of natural paradise for the endangered bilbies and wetland birds. The locals will happily reveal the best places to spot wildlife, ideally over a cold beer and a pub meal at heritage listed Hotel Corones. The stories that get told here… The countryside onward to Quilpie is mesmerising – long stretches of road and vast expanses of nothing can be humbling. And welcoming, as you’ll discover when Mark and Sandra throw open the doors of Ray Station. The family has owned this estate since 1874 and designed the rooms you’ll bed down in – set in restored shearers’ quarters. But before then, there’s a campfire dinner and tunes on the tin piano to be enjoyed. Hotel: Ray Station, 2 Nights. B DW
3 Quilpie
There’s something about being in the country that whets your appetite. Wake, and look forward to a delicious breakfast prepared by your hosts. You won’t go hungry here – they’re also thinking about what to cook you for lunch and dinner. It’s this kind of generosity that flows naturally into eye-opening, and entertaining, stories about the property, including previous caretakers, and how they tended the land. You can even discover more about their fascinating history: at the family cemetery. Head out on a tour, fossick for boulder opal, and revel in the vastness of Quilpie B DW L
4 Quilpie - Longreach
If you’re looking for the centre of Queensland, Longreach is pretty much it. After waving goodbye to station life, you’re bound for this patch of outback perfection, all red dirt and spinifex and blazing sunsets. There are detours aplenty in this country town, like visiting the Qantas Founders Museum, which pays homage to the fact this is the spiritual heart of Australia’s national airline. If the idea of glimpsing 100+ years of aviation history gets your pulse racing, then the vast swathes of nature that surround your glamping tent for the night will slow it down. Switch off, relax and enjoy your eco-friendly cocoon, replete with creature comforts including air-conditioning, ensuites and dreamy beds. There’s also a kitchenette, so you can enjoy a BBQ on your private deck. Or venture out for more country flavour at an optional experience outback dinner and show. Hotel: Mitchell Grass Retreat, 2 Nights. B
5 Longreach & Winton
For a petite town, there’s an impressive number of things to do in Winton. The biggest attraction of all are the dinosaurs that once roamed here, leaving behind the country’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils. Follow in their (large) footsteps at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, part museum, part working laboratory, where you’ll go behind the scenes. Winton’s other claim to fame is the fact Banjo Patterson wrote ‘Waltzing Matilda’ here in 1903. He’s not the only creative drawn to town. Graeme Leak created a fence that can be played as an instrument (aka the Musical Fence), and Arno Grotjahn erected a quirky art wall studded with every household object imaginable. The unexpected stories continue at Camden Park Station, a 7,300-hectare sheep and cattle station where fifth-generation farmer ‘Outback Dan’ will tell you about life on the land… including the visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. They didn’t have a three-course dinner awaiting them in historic shearing shed; you do. B DW
6 Longreach - Brisbane
Australia has its fair share of epic outback train tours that let you witness the wild beauty of a region while travelling the historic routes taken by past generations. Among them is Spirit of the Outback, your chariot back to Brisbane on the last leg of your adventure. Exclusive access to the train’s Shearers Rest Lounge means you can enjoy a glass of bubbles while remote towns and vast stretches of bush zip by outside, the click-clack or the rails a meditative soundtrack. Dinnertime in Tuckerbox Restaurant celebrates Queensland’s culinary bounty. And then your plush cabin awaits. Sweet dreams. Hotel: Spirit of the Outback, Private Cabin. B D L
7 Depart Brisbane
Wake up to vistas of the Queensland outback and savour the scene over coffee and your final breakfast in the train’s dining carriage. As the Brisbane River and the city’s gleaming towers come into view, you know your adventure is about to end. But what joy it has sparked for future outback tours. B
Outback Explorer: Uluru to Adelaide
From$1665
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
Go on a walking tour of Woomera to discover the many rockets on display, or spend your time in the museum learning all about the interesting history.
Time For You
Uluru is one of those places you could spend a lot of time at. And we recommend you do. Arrive early in the Red Centre to soak up the spirituality.
Iconic Sites
Things get deep in Cooper Pedy, that legendary Aussie town that lies largely under the ground. Visit churches, schools and homes all marbled with opals.
Sustainable Travel
Sleep soundly knowing that wherever you wander with AAT Kings, you’re contributing to the protection of the destinations and communities you visit.
Natural Wonders
Salt lakes and South Australia go hand in hand. Prepare for your white-out at Lake Hart, a vast pearly plain made all the more dramatic by the pindan soil that surrounds.
Dining
3 Full Breakfasts
2 Dinners
1 Dinner with Wine
1 Uluru - Coober Pedy
There’s something starkly beautiful about the Australian outback. The pindan soil, silvery gums, horizon-busting skies, vast swathes of sun-baked nothingness. This is your backdrop as you cross from the Northern Territory into South Australia, ready to get deep at your destination. Coober Pedy, known as ‘the opal capital of the world’, is all lunar landscapes at the surface, and psychedelic colours underground. Locals not only mine rainbow-hued opals in a vast network of subterranean tunnels, but also live here, go to church here and send their kids to school here. You’ll get to stay at a hotel built into a rocky hillside right in the heart of this quirky town. Hotel: Desert Cave Hotel. D
2 Coober Pedy - Port Augusta
It’s hard to imagine landscapes more dramatic than those you’ve experienced so far. But nature ups the ante at Lake Hart, a vast saltpan that sparked a community in the 1930s. Today, it’s all but deserted, adding to the ethereal atmosphere. The vastness of the South Australian outback was no doubt one of the reasons why it was chosen to become the world’s largest military land base. Believe it or not, Woomera has been a testing base for atomic bombs, ballistic missiles and satellite boosters. Mull over that en route to SA’s natural harbour of Port Augusta. Hotel: Majestic Oasis Apartments. B D
3 Port Augusta - Adelaide
The Wadlata Outback Centre was created to decode some of the countryside you’ve been traversing over the past two days. Come face-to-face with giant ripper lizards, journey back in time to when dinosaurs roamed this land, and meet some of the people who first owned, explored and settled the region – as well as some of those who live here today. There are fossils and more opals, and interactive exhibits; have you ever tried Morse code? All this outback is thirsty work. Thankfully the Clare Valley is on the horizon. Gather in the cellar door at historic Knappstein Wines to find out just why their riesling takes home so many awards. Their other drops are pretty tasty, too. Hotel: Crowne Plaza Adelaide. B DW
4 Farewelll from Adelaide
While your AAT Kings journey comes to an end, we seriously hope you have plans to linger in (and around) the South Australian capital. From its wineries to its epic Central Market, there’s a reason why this part of the state attracts some of Australia’s most innovative bakers, makers, growers, producers and vintners. Dig in! B
South Australian Outback Adventure
From$4485
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
South Australia dazzles, whether from the sky on a flight over Lake Eyre, or from below the ground ogling opals in Coober Pedy. Do either – or both.
Time For You
The South Australia countryside is humbling, as you’ll discover when you leave the world behind and hike the Flinders Ranges or gaze at the heavens on an astronomy tour.
Iconic Sites
Tick off ‘only-in-Australia’ locales: the world’s oldest vines in the Barossa, a subterranean community in Coober Pedy, Australia’s largest inland sometimes-lake.
Sustainable Travel
When you check into Indigenous-owned Wilpena Pound Resort, your room rate contributes to a sustainable economic future for the Adnyamathanha people.
Natural Wonders
The landscapes of the Flinders Ranges are ancient, and reveal history through endemic flora and fauna as well as some of the most dramatic geological landscapes imaginable.
Dining
7 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
4 Dinners
1 Welcome to Adelaide
The South Australian capital often flies under the radar – locals like it that way, happy to keep their buzzing dining precincts, glorious gardens and on-your-doorstep wineries to themselves. But the secret is well and truly out, and over the course of the afternoon you’ll discover just how diverse Adelaide really is. Touring the city you’ll cover every interest base: sports (Adelaide Oval), horticulture (the Botanic Garden), culture (the Art Gallery of South Australia) and food (Adelaide Central Market). Make a note to book a table at the Meat & Wine Co tonight – a premium steak restaurant with a unique Afro-centric twist. The city offers plenty of other eateries in which to while away your evening. Hotel: Adabco Boutique Hotel.
2 Adelaide - Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
You don’t have to travel far from Adelaide to be surrounded by vines. In fact, just 1.5 hours north lies the Clare Valley, and therein one of Australia’s most awarded wineries. Knappstein Enterprise Winery’s roots reach back to 1878, which yields extremely tasty drops, as you’ll discover at the cellar door before lunch in the Clare Valley’s atmospheric central town. It’s the best way to ease into the wide-open, otherworldly spaces of the Flinders Ranges – your commute is a short journey by coach, but it transports you to seemingly Martian landscapes, some 800 million years in the making and home to the Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years. The Indigenous community owns and manages your base for the night, Wilpena Pound Resort, and they’ll welcome you to Country with spirit and soul. Hotel: Wilpena Pound Resort. B D
3 Wilpena Pound - Arkaroola
The cliffs and craters and ravishing red rocks of the Flinders Ranges shine brightly in the morning sun, your outlook particularly pretty from Wangara Lookout. From this vantage, you’ll enjoy expansive views over the natural amphitheatre that is Wilpena Pound. It’s an awe-inspiring way to start the day, before your journey carves north through dramatic Bunyeroo and Brachina Gorges. Keep your eyes peeled for endangered yellow-footed rock wallabies – only 2,250 remain in Australia, and most call this part of the country home. You’ll begin to understand why they favour the South Australian outback when you arrive in Arkaroola, characterised by ancient granite mountains and golden spinifex covered hillsides and providing a vantage over Lake Frome and the desert beyond. But the real stars here are those overhead, as you’ll discover on an astronomy tour that brings the dazzling night sky into full focus. Prepare to be humbled – in the best possible way. Hotel: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. B D
4 Arkaroola - Marree
What was happening in Arkaroola 1.6 billion years ago? Your guide will help decode the region’s mind-boggling geological history as you navigate the steep slopes and hair-raising ascents of the Ridgetop Track. Plants here are found nowhere else on the planet, and gorges are so vast that they seem to cleave off the edge of the earth. A patina follows your journey northwest to the Ochre Cliffs outside Lyndhurst, where an artist’s smudge of fiery hues paints the countryside all the way to the horizon. It’s as sacred as it is spectacular, with the Indigenous community having utilised the rich clay soil in ceremonies for centuries. You can see why this part of Australia was attractive to the 1800s settlers of nearby Farina – but you’ll also learn why they departed, leaving an eerie ghost town on the outskirts of Marree, where you’ll lay your swimming head for the night. Hotel: Marree Hotel. B D L
5 Marree - Coober Pedy
Much of the South Australian outback exists because of the old Ghan Railway, click-clacking from Adelaide to Darwin. Plenty of history will be revealed on your morning’s journey down the line’s westward bend, perhaps only outshone by the natural drama of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. Australia’s largest inland lake is – most of the time – a shimmering saltpan covering hundreds of square kilometres, yet is occasionally transformed by desert downpours into a thriving oasis. You’ll have the chance to glimpse it from the air, your bird’s-eye view unfolding beneath you like a work of art. Speaking of art – your included scenic flight will also pass over the Anna Creek Painted Hills, a rocky outcrop that literally pops out of the flat desert, creating silhouettes resembling cartoon characters. Touch down to explore the otherworldly countryside before jetting on to your destination for the next two nights, Coober Pedy, brimming with compelling quirks and subterranean adventures. Hotel: Desert Cave Hotel, 2 Nights. B
6 Coober Pedy
The self-proclaimed ‘opal capital of the world’, Coober Pedy’s many attractions lie primarily below the earth’s surface. Due to the aboveground heat (temperatures can soar) many locals choose to take up a subterranean residence as well. Once you’ve explored this fascinating community – including fossicking for opals in surrounding mines – look further afield to Aboriginal owned Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, where you’ll travel along a stretch of the ancient Dog Fence: a barrier spanning 5,300 kilometres across three states. As mind-boggling as the construction is, it pales in comparison to the setting’s moonscape of fossilised shells and cracked grey clay. It has provided the ideal setting for Hollywood blockbusters like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The only thing more surreal than the natural landscape is the constructed one this afternoon at Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Club, where the fairways are dirt and sand. That’s one for the record books. Pick up a club to thump balls around the oil-soaked putting green. B D
7 Coober Pedy - Port Augusta
It’s hard to imagine landscapes more dramatic than those you’ll have experienced so far. But the bar is officially raised by those at Lake Hart, another vast saltpan that sparked a community in the 1930s. Today, it’s all but deserted, the isolation reminding you that Mother Nature always rules. The vastness of the South Australian outback here was no doubt one of the reasons why it – specifically Woomera – was chosen to become the world’s largest military land base. Established by the British in 1947, the countryside here has been a testing base for atomic bombs, ballistic missiles and satellite boosters. It’s a piece of Australian history few know of, but that you will leave appreciating, as you head toward your evening’s repose in the natural harbour of Port Augusta. Hotel: Majestic Oasis Apartments. B
8 Port Augusta - Depart Adelaide
The Barossa needs no introduction – your journey today will take in one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, and local makers know a thing or two about creating memorable vintages. Lambert Estate reveals some of the finest regional drops, your lunchtime tipples complemented by glorious views over the vines. Cheers to that! You’ll arrive in plenty of time for your Adelaide flight, your heart, mind and spirit filled with the natural and human wonders of a region that exudes superlatives. B L
Remarkable Adelaide to Kangaroo Island
From$2090
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
The Kangaroo Island Brewery is an essential stop for thirsty travellers. Beer not your thing? The establishment makes a mean cider.
Time For You
Arrive early into Adelaide to discover why this southern city is developing a reputation as Australia’s foodie capital – pop into the Central Market for inspiration.
Iconic Sites
From the Remarkable Rocks to Admirals Arch and Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island’s natural drama is only outshone by its abundance of wildlife.
Sustainable Travel
Visits to Seal Bay Conservation Park and Flinders Chase National Park help protect these fragile ecosystems – and the animals that call them home.
Natural Wonders
Flinders Chase National Park offers an embarrassment of floral and faunal encounters, from voluptuous rock formations to jagged sea cliffs and tall stands of eucalypts.
Dining
4 Full Breakfasts
1 Lunch
1 Dinner
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Welcome to Adelaide
The ‘City of Churches’ is, it turns out, also the honorary ‘City of Food’. You only need to wander around the Adelaide Central Market to discover a smorgasbord of local produce. If you have the time to explore slightly further afield, it’s a short drive to the orchards, vineyards and cheesemongers of the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa. Plenty of tasty reasons to arrive early in the South Australian capital.
Hotel:
HotelMotel Adelaide.
2 Adelaide - Kangaroo Island
The pretty-as-a-picture Fleurieu Peninsula is the gateway to all manner of wild and wonderful destinations. Not in the least Kangaroo Island, accessed via the Cape Jervis ferry, cruising south over the Great Australian Bight bound for Penneshaw. Bubbling with excitement to arrive on KI? So is Mike, your host at Kangaroo Island Brewery. This is no ordinary brew-house – Mike makes all his beers using rainwater he collects from the roof of his shed. Try a paddle of his liquid gold, or sip wine and cider while chatting with your affable host. Hotel: Aurora Ozone Hotel, Executive Rooms, 2 Nights. B D
3 Kangaroo Island
Today mingles wilderness, wildlife and wonderful food in equal measure. Your outlook begins on a high at the Remarkable Rocks. Formed some 500 million years ago, the precariously balanced, rust-hued granite boulders cut a dramatic form against the inky blue of the Southern Ocean and silvery shrubs that cover the countryside. Your outlook is just as wild at Admirals Arch, a natural rock formation within Flinders Chase National Park, and a popular hangout for cacophonous New Zealand fur seals. The colony loll about on just about every surface you can see. They’re petite compared to the creatures found at Seal Bay, where playful seals tumble down the sand to splash about in the water – metres from where you stand. And onto that food and drink. After a two-course lunch at Vivonne Bay Bistro, Peter at Island Beehive will dish up samples of the honey (and delish honey ice-cream) he makes here using Ligurian bees. They’re found on KI, and nowhere else in Australia. Meanwhile, the owners of Islander Estate Vineyard will pour you a glass or two and talk through the production of their wines. B L
4 Kangaroo Island - Adelaide
One of the reason bees are so happy on Kangaroo Island is because they have an immense floral bounty to buzz over at Emu Bay Lavender Farm. Maria and Tony have been tending the land for two decades, and today grow 10 varieties of this fragrant flower. They turn it into all kinds of products, from soaps and beauty products to ice-cream, jam and scones. Dig in. Before you leave the island, follow your nose to Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery. If Australia was an aroma, this would be it. Pick up essential oils, body creams, sweets honey and soaps, and taste their cider. Then bliss out knowing that anything you eat or use not only tastes great and smells, but also has therapeutic properties. Back in Adelaide, take in the sights before joining your fellow foodies for a Farewell Dinner. Hotel: HotelMotel Adelaide. B FD
5 Farewell from Adelaide
Bags a few kilos heavier thanks to all that honey, lavender and eucalyptus, it’s time to bid farewell to Adelaide and Australia’s second-largest (but perhaps most beguiling) island. B
South Australian Eyre Peninsula Escape
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
Kick back in Coffin Bay with a glass of wine and the sound of a didgeridoo. Or lace up your hiking shoes to explore the bush.
Time For You
There are plenty of ways to explore Elliston. Ask us for tips – we may point you in the direction of the cliff-top walking paths.
Iconic Sites
The end-of-the-Earth sea cliffs of the Great Australian Bight frame a marine environment that humbles. Explore by land and sea and get set for goosebumps.
Sustainable Travel
Sleep soundly knowing your visit to Coffin Bay National Park helps ensure this patch of paradise remains pristine for future generations.
Natural Wonders
You’ll be dwarfed by the immense Yanerbie Sand Dunes on the Eyre Peninsula, their ripples formed by winds that blow off the Southern Ocean.
Dining
6 Full Breakfasts
2 Lunches
3 Dinners
1 Farewell Dinner
1 Adelaide - Port Augusta
Often the best way to get a taste for a region is through its food and wine. And we’re determined to help you do just that from day dot of this tour. Just 90 minutes after departing Adelaide you’re in the heart of the Clare Valley, one of South Australia’s premier wine regions. And one of its premier wineries beckons. Gather in the cellar door at Knappstein Wines, whose riesling (among other drops) will make you weak at the knees. The petite town of Port Augusta is your base tonight, its broad harbour reaching out to the Spencer Gulf. Hotel: Majestic Oasis Apartments. D
2 Port Augusta - Streaky Bay
The town of Kimba may be small in population, but it’s big in attractions. Look no further than the eight-metre-tall Big Galah, guarding over the Eyre Peninsula. The other larger-than-life drawcard is Kimba’s silos, which forward-thinking artists have decorated with eye-popping murals. Talking about colourful countryside, wait until you see the pink ripples that Pildappa Rock casts. This immense granite outcrop was formed 1.5 billion years ago, its wave-like shape swooping over a swathe of pindan soil. Hotel: Streaky Bay Hotel & Motel, 2 Nights. B D
3 Streaky Bay
You could spend weeks exploring Streaky Bay and surrounds, tucked into an inlet on the Eyre Peninsula. But you have a day, so bring your stamina. First up: the Westal Way Loop Coastal Scenic Drive, linking attractions like the Yanerbie Sand Dunes (enormous, rippled dunes tumbling to the Southern Ocean); Point Westall (with its ‘whistling’ rocks and blowholes); Head of the Bight Lookout (for supreme whale spotting); and High Cliff Hideaway Bay. More lookouts await at Hally’s Beach, where the water is so turquoise you’ll think it has been painted on. And Cape Bauer, at the very end of the peninsula. Worked up an appetite? Get set for a seasonal seafood feast of epic proportions, enjoyed while you cruise the coast around Streaky Bay B L
4 Streaky Bay - Port Lincoln
This part of the South Australian coast is pristine – the kind of place fur seals like to hang out. Marvel at these endangered creatures in Point Labatt Conservation Park, the only place on the mainland where seal pups can be seen learning to swim, play and rest on the beach. Nature continues to reign supreme at Murphy’s Haystacks, a series of ancient pillars and boulders that appear to pop from the Earth, and Talia Caves – honeycombed granite rocks framing the beach. Think of this as a geologist’s Nirvana. Stretch your legs along a section of the Elliston Coastal Trail at Little Bay, offering a windswept snapshot of some of the Eyre Peninsula’s most dramatic scenery.
Hotel:
The Port Lincoln Hotel,
2 Nights.
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5 Port Lincoln & Coffin Bay
Get your Port Lincoln bearings on a guided tour before we set the GPS for Coffin Bay. This part of the peninsula is what postcards were made for. Case in point, Almonta Beach, its gin-clear waters regularly hosting pods of dolphins that surf the waves. These nutrient-rich waters are also a natural habitat for another marine creature: oysters. Tour an oyster farm, slurp a couple of freshly shucked molluscs, then sit down to an indulgent seafood platter. Your next deep dive will be into Aboriginal culture on a Wild Yarnbala tour, covering off-grid, organic orchards and gardens and giving you the opportunity to taste bush tucker while being serenaded by a didgeridoo. B L
6 Port Lincoln - Adelaide
Today’s your day to compare silo art: Kimba vs Tumby Bay, the latter painted by artist Martin Ron. Arriving at the Lucky Bay Jetty, jump aboard the Spencer Gulf Searoad to cruise across the gulf to Wallaroo. And just when you thought your week in South Australia couldn’t get any more colourful, you arrive at Bumbunga Pink Lake. This eye-popping waterway changes colour from pastel to bubble-gum to lipstick, depending on the salinity. Join your Travel Director tonight for a Farewell Dinner. Hotel: HotelMotel Adelaide. B FD
7 Farewell from Adelaide
Short and sweet, we hope your journey inspired extended South Australian tours from Adelaide in the future. B
Gulf Savannah Wanderer
From$3527
Highlights
Time For You
The Historic Village Herberton is like a movie set. Explore more than 50 restored period buildings at your leisure, and re-live the romance of yesteryear.
Iconic Sites
One of Australia’s great rail journeys, the Savannahlander traverses the Wet Tropics region of the Kuranda Range. The 1960’s ‘silver bullet’ cuts a striking form en route to Forsayth.
Sustainable Travel
Plastic, what? We’re on a mission to reduce waste and leave no trace, with reusable crockery, utensils and cups all the rage when you dine outdoors.
Natural Wonders
Feel your spirit soar gazing at the striated sandstone cliffs of Cobbold Gorge, an ancient geological landform carved by rivers more than 10,000 years ago.
Dining
8 Full Breakfasts
9 Lunches
8 Dinners
1 Cairns - Malanda
Your Tropical North Queensland journey begins on a high – quite literally – as you depart Cairns along the Kuranda Range road, weaving upwards into the rainforest-shrouded Atherton Tableland. One of the key features of these dramatic highlands is Lake Barrine, its mirror-like expanse set in an ancient volcanic maar. As pretty as the waterway is, the stars of the show are the soaring ‘twin kauri pines’, these giants of the forest thought to be more than 1,000 years old and one of the earliest known species of rainforest tree. Talking of stepping back in time, Historic Village Herberton is a recreated tin mining town replete with shops, a pub, grocer, school and garage. There are more than 50 restored period buildings making this outdoor museum, all decked out with antiques and memorabilia. And you can visit them at your leisure – be sure to order a coffee in the Bakerville Tearooms. Hotel: Malanda Lodge Motel. L D
2 Malanda - Georgetown
If you’re looking for a reason to get up early this morning, make it a journey toward Mount Surprise. All aboard the 1960s Savannahlander train as it tracks towards Einasleigh in the Wet Tropics area of the Kuranda Range. You linger here with sufficient time to enjoy a cold one at the pub or visit Copperfield Gorge – remnants of an ancient lava flow that spewed from a now extinct volcano thousands of years ago – before the ‘silver bullet’ chugs on toward Forsayth, continuing northwest toward the sleepy village of Georgetown.
Hotel:
Latara Motel.
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3 Karumba
The aquatic jewel of the Gulf Savannah, Croydon’s Lake Belmore is the region’s largest body of water, stocked with a mind-boggling variety of fish. Stretch your legs here before reaching Normanton, a delightfully quirky town with old-world charm to spare. Have your camera poised to snap shots of the legendary ‘Purple Pub’, historic Burns Philp General Store and a replica of Krys, the (late) 8.63-metre crocodile. More fish await at Karumba, at the mouth of the Norman River on the Gulf of Carpentaria. This pocket of tropical paradise is also a twitchers delight, as you’ll discover on a fiery sunset cruise. Hotel: Karumba Lodge, 2 Nights. B D L
4 Karumba
Spanning 310,000 square kilometres, the Gulf of Carpentaria is a rare modern example of a shallow sea on top of a continent – a feature much commoner at earlier times of the Earth’s geologic history. It’s a unique marine ecosystem that fosters all manner of fish, including barra, as you’ll learn at the Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre & Hatchery. The interactive and interpretive centre provides the history, stories, lifecycle and habits of these fish, and is the only place in the world to breed and hatch them. Feeling thirsty? Let’s head to Point Sunset for happy hour. B D L
5 Karumba - Normanton
The Queensland outback is beautiful. But 160+ years ago it was also harsh. Explorers Burke and Wills came through this part of the world while surveying the gulf. Campsite 119 was their most northerly post during their 1861 expedition. They didn’t make it to Mutton Hole Wetlands Regional Park, but you will, with time for croc- and bird-watching in this part of the largest continuous wetland in northern Queensland. Hotel: Gulfland Motel. B D L
6 Normanton - Cobbold Gorge
When the journey matters just as much as the destination, jump aboard the historic Gulflander RM93 train at Normanton’s handsome Victorian-era railway station. Your adventure through the savannah landscape crosses the Norman River to Critters Camp and on to Black Bull Siding before arriving in the old gold mining town of Croydon. As locals like to say, the train “travels from nowhere to nowhere”. But it sure is fun. Call in again at Georgetown and Forsayth en route to Cobbold Gorge. Hotel: Cobbold Gorge Cabins, 2 Nights. B D L
7 Cobbold Gorge
way. This ancient geological landform is distinguished by its narrow, striated sandstone formations and humbling 10-metre cliffs. Waterways carved the gorge some 10,000 years ago, channelling through 135-million-year-old sandstone. Cruising here, the only sounds you’ll hear are the wind, wildlife and quiet hum of your boat. B D L
8 Cobbold Gorge - Undara
The outdoor antics of yesterday were likely draining. Sleep in – we’re in no rush today. Forsayth for lunch, then campfire entertainment before retiring to your accommodation in faithfully restored antique railway carriages. Hotel: Undara Lava Lodge. B D L
9 Undara - Farewell from Cairns
The Undara Lava Tubes were created 190,000 years ago when a staggering 23 cubic kilometers of lava flowed into a river bed and kept flowing for 160 kilometres, making it the world’s longest lava flow from a single volcano. The result today? Huge caves, some over 21-metres wide and 10-metres high, have formed along the tubes; they’re never dark because they are gaping holes which can be entered by visitors accompanied by guides. It’s like falling down the proverbial rabbit hole, so surreal is this underground world. It’s a hard act to follow, but the heritage Curtain Fig Tree in the Atherton region puts up a good fight. Time to say see-you-later to the Savannah. Make no mistake – this siren is one that will continually call you back B L
Cape York Frontier – Cairns to Cape York
From$3527
Highlights
Flexible Holidays
If you can’t get enough of wildlife, sign up for an Eco Cruise from Weipa, the largest town on the Cape York Peninsula.
Time For You
You’ll want to linger at Fruit Bat Falls, a splash about in the waterhole here one of the best ways to cool down and wash off the dust of the day.
Iconic Sites
At the very tip of Australia, Cape York is the largest un-spoilt wilderness area in the country. Few people get to see this magical part of the world.
Sustainable Travel
Sleep soundly knowing your national park fees are helping protect fragile and untouched pockets of wilderness.
Natural Wonders
Visiting Quinkan Country, sacred Aboriginal land, is a spiritual experience. The rock art here dates back tens of thousands of years, revealing Dreamtime stories.
Dining
6 Full Breakfasts
5 Lunches
6 Dinners
1 Cairns - Cooktown
Your adventure toward the very top of Australia doesn’t waste any time, immersing you in World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland rainforest just moments after departing Cairns. Cross the Daintree River by cable ferry, and you’re well on your way to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets another World Heritage Site: the Great Barrier Reef. But you’re not here to dive into the water – your journey involves going off-road along the rugged, 4WD Bloomfield Track. Steel yourself for this epic ride, which crosses the Bloomfield River near the Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal. Exploring this outback is thirsty work – quench your thirst at the legendary Lion’s Den Hotel. More legends (and myths) await at Black Mountain, sometimes dubbed the Bermuda Triangle of Australia. We’ll make sure you arrive safely in historic Cooktown. Hotel: Sovereign Resort Hotel. L DW
2 Cooktown - Musgrave
Nature rules today, your expedition through Lakeland taking you to Quinkan Country – home to one of Australia best-preserved rock-art sites – near Laura. In Queensland, there’s only one expanse of wilderness bigger than Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, and that’s the Simpson Desert. Rinyirru is big in more ways than one, from its enormous waterlily-covered billabongs to its unfathomable number of birds, it’s a fitting entrée to this northern wilderness frontier. Hotel: Musgrave Roadhouse. B D L
3 Musgrave - Weipa
The historic gold town of Coen may be small in size, but it’s got plenty of country swagger – and lots of cold beer, which is essential in these steamy parts of Australia. More mining (this time bauxite) was the reason the tiny town of Weipa was formed. Today, visitors come here for the blazing sunsets over the Gulf of Carpentaria. Hotel: Albatross Bay Resort. B D L
4 Weipa - Bramwell
Before you roll out of bed this morning, decide how you want to spend your pre-lunch hours. Perhaps on an optional Weipa Wildlife & Eco Cruise around the harbour and up the Embley River to Hay Point, revealing Indigenous culture and the abundance of animals that call this part of the Cape home. Or dig deep on a bauxite mine tour. How these rocks (the world’s main source of aluminum) are pulled from the ground is head-scratching. As is the size of Bramwell Station, Australia’s northernmost cattle station and your base for the night. Hotel: Bramwell Cattle Station. B D
5 Bramwell - Seisia
Your early start today, along the Old Telegraph Track, is worth it when you arrive at Fruit Bat Falls for lunch. Dive in, splash about, cool off, unwind. You’ll be happy to hear the waterhole you’re swimming about in is croc free… There’s not much now between you and Cape York; cross the Jardine River and you’re there. Seisia is the departure point for ferries to Thursday Island and fishing charters. It’s also the gateway to tomorrow’s adventures. Hotel: Seisia Holiday Village, 2 Nights. B D L
6 Cape York
Not many people can say they’ve stood at the very top of mainland Australia, just a few hundred kilometers of water separating you from Papua New Guinea. Closer to home is Somerset, a long-abandoned settlement of the larger-than-life Australian pioneer Frank Jardine, who came here in 1864. This was the first European settlement on the Cape York Peninsula; all that remains today are bits of masonry, rusted cannons and a handful of tombstones, including that of Jardine and his wife. Lunch is served on palm fringed Anchorage Beach overlooking the Albany Passage. If there are prettier places to soak up the serenity, we’re yet to find them. B D L
7 Thursday Island - Farewell from Cairns
Rich in Aboriginal culture, history and natural beauty, Thursday Island is the capital of the Torres Strait Islands. Time might stand still here, but you won’t – you’re on a guided tour before heading to Horn Island to board your aircraft, flying over the Great Barrier Reef back to Cairns. Wait, how did this week pass so quickly? B
The immersive, vast beauty of Australia and New Zealand awaits.
You’ll witness the many hues of an outback sunset blend into ochre natural wonders, hear ancient languages spoken and see stories written in the sand.
Indulge in native flavours and relax in dwellings nestled within the heart of your destination.
This is where your journey begins.
Meet our vibrant makers and creators, and the local storytellers whose passion it is to share with you the very best of these unique lands. Delight the senses with exclusive culinary experiences and allow your expert guide to show you the iconic sights that promise moments of awe and wonder.
Your journey will be expertly curated with no detail forgotten, ensuring your adventure is seamless, stress free and timed to perfection. With more than 100 years’ experience in showcasing these mesmerising locations, we’ve collected a wealth of unmatched knowledge and passion that allows us to create an unforgettable travel experience for you.
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