Unique Australian experiences: 7 reasons to visit in 2023
A trip Down Under with Audley is an adventure in the truest sense of the word. The pull and excitement of Australia is legendary, with epic landscapes and an inimitable lifestyle lying in wait.
Experience the travel classics
Few countries on Earth are home to as many iconic travel experiences as Australia. This is a country of enormous variety and truly staggering beauty, a place where white-sand beaches stretch along record-breaking reefs, where the red plains of the Outback furl out to the horizon, and where wildlife-rich rainforests share the map with cosmopolitan cities.
Certain highlights, however, are unmissable, and on Audley’s Sydney, Uluru & Great Barrier Reef tour you’ll be immersed in three of the most spectacular parts of the country. Sydney is a place apart – a beach-lined harbour city brimming with arts, sport and culture – and after exploring its sights you’ll witness the rugged drama of the Red Centre, where the sandstone monolith of UIuru looms over the land. Queensland’s world-famous Great Barrier Reef comes next, and you’ll also have the chance to unwind in the quintessential Aussie surrounds of the Atherton Tablelands.
For an adventure with sustainability at its core, meanwhile, the Coast, Outback & Reef the Eco-Friendly Way itinerary takes in a whole host of world-class sights and attractions, including the majestic peaks of the Flinders Ranges and the Blue Mountains, the urban thrills of three state capitals, and a journey on the celebrated Indian Pacific train. No less enticing is the 16-day By the Beach tour, which takes in – among other things – the famous sands of Sydney, the coastal drama of Jervis Bay and the wineries of the Hunter Valley, as well as time in the laid-back hangout of Byron Bay.
Go wild
Australia’s travel icons aren’t restricted to its cities and landforms. The country also plays home to an utterly extraordinary array of wildlife: kangaroos graze on the foreshores, koalas doze in the trees, cassowaries roam the rainforests and giant whale sharks swim offshore. Animal-lovers will find treats wherever they go, from the wombats and echidnas of the woodlands and the dingoes and eagles of the Outback to the cornucopia of animals on the ‘Australian Galapagos’ of Kangaroo Island. A wildlife-themed trip to the country will hold any number of memorable encounters – how many places, after all, can claim to be home to penguins, parrotfish, platypuses and prehistoric crocodiles?
Western Australia is famed for its fauna, and on Audley’s Western Australia’s Ultimate Wildlife Journey you’ll see first-hand why the state has such a colossal reputation. Beginning in vibrant Perth, you’ll head out to Rottnest Island to see the rare – and adorable – marsupials known as quokkas, before travelling further north to swim with whale sharks or humpback whales on Ningaloo Reef. Long days follow in the Margaret River region, where you can combine wildlife-spotting with wine-tasting, coastal walking and top-notch gastronomy.
And if you’re travelling Down Under with the kids? The Australia Family Tour: Sydney, National Parks and Great Barrier Reef tour has been designed to wow all ages, with trips to the Blue Mountains, Lamington National Park, the Sunshine Coast and Hamilton Island, all of which are not only incredible places to forge memories, but also hold all manner of furred, feathered and finned inhabitants.
Urban adventures
Sydney
One of the great world cities, beautiful Sydney is home to iconic sights such as the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach – as well as a dizzying array of museums, restaurants and cultural attractions.
Melbourne
Travellers love Melbourne. The arty capital of Victoria is a universe of its own, with lively laneways, fascinating period architecture, and a calendar packed with large-scale festivals and sporting events.
Adelaide
From its iconic test cricket ground to its mouth-watering Central Market, the festival city of Adelaide is an absorbing place to spend time – you’ll experience its charms, along with those of Sydney and Melbourne, on Audley’s Southeast Discovered tour.
Darwin
The tropical capital of the Northern Territory has a layered history and a relaxed, palm-tree vibe, with the riches of Kakadu National Park not far away.
Perth
Over in Western Australia, Perth has evolved into one of the most trend-setting urban centres in the country, complete with glorious scenery, modern cultural venues and world-class restaurants.
Hobart
The capital of Tasmania is a jewel hiding in plain sight, rewarding visitors to the island with warm hospitality, superb food and – in MONA – one of the world’s most unique art galleries.
Canberra
The national capital is overlooked by many, but those who do come calling can immerse themselves in Australian history – and a surprisingly hip cultural scene.
Cairns
As the gateway to Far North Queensland and the Barrier Reef, sunny Cairns is well stocked with memorable places to stay, eat and unwind.
Meet the locals
Australia is an ancient land. Aboriginal people have lived here for tens of thousands of years, forging the most profound of connections with the country around them. To learn more about their beliefs, values and traditions – and to spend time hearing first-hand about the way of life they cherish and the challenges they’ve overcome – is to gain a deeper understanding of this vast, magical destination. Being able to see Australia through the eyes of the locals is a gift.
Almost every part of the national map has its own age-old Aboriginal heritage, putting into context the relatively brief period of time which has passed since the first European settlers arrived. On Audley’s locally guided Aboriginal Australia tour, you’ll focus on some of the most important sites of all, beginning in the tropics of the Top End with time in Darwin and the remarkable, UNESCO-listed Kakadu National Park, known for its millennia-old rock art, sweeping landscapes and timeless stories.
The spiritual magnetism of Uluru, situated almost at the exact heart of the country, comes next, along with a trip to the immense landforms of Kata Tjuta, which stands close by across the Outback. At both sites, you’ll soak up just how special and symbolic this part of the country has been for countless generations. From here you’ll travel via historical Alice Springs to handsome Adelaide, enjoying the varied attractions of the South Australian capital and perhaps visiting the Migration Museum, to get a fuller sense of Australia’s evolution.
Refuel on fresh food
Australia’s status as one of the planet’s top food and wine destinations is now beyond question. Recent decades have seen its gastronomic offering reach ever new heights, with an emphasis on authenticity, inventiveness, freshness and local produce. Gourmet restaurants, farmers’ markets and artisan cafes are now found right across the country, with a plethora of award-winning vineyards, craft breweries and distilleries adding to the overall appeal.
Wine tasting
Is there anywhere quite like Australia for a wine-tasting break? The climate, the landscapes and the wineries themselves (which now frequently offer high-end restaurants as well) combine to resistance-slaying effect. Regions such as the Hunter Valley, incorporated into Audley’s Luxury Around Sydney tour, and the Margaret River, which features in the Southwest Uncovered itinerary, are prime examples.
Seafood
From shucked oysters and wild barramundi to plump prawns and king crab, Australia offers a huge choice of fresh seafood – best enjoyed over a long sunset and chilled bottle of white wine – something you’ll learn no matter which part of the coast you visit.
Quality produce
Quality ingredients are everywhere you turn in Australia, from wood-fired bread and locally pressed olive oils to premium chocolates and freshly picked fruit and veg. It makes market-browsing and café-hopping a joy, with Audley’s Southeast Uncovered tour a particularly good option for foodies.
Foraging to fine dining
The sheer variety of Australia’s food experiences is a huge draw for many. These range from foraging with local experts for bush tucker to five-star meals at acclaimed fine dining restaurants.
Get the blood pumping
Surfing
Australia and surfing go together like sunglasses and shorts. The country has some of the most famous surf spots in the world, from Sydney’s Bondi Beach – where even beginners can take lessons – to Victoria’s Bells Beach. Whether you’re catching waves or just watching from the shore, it’s an inextricable part of the culture.
Snorkelling
The best way to get a feel for Australia’s much-vaunted marine life is to strap on a snorkel and mask and see it for yourself. Watching turtles, rays and clownfish on the Great Barrier Reef isn’t easily forgotten – and the same holds true for encountering whale sharks in Western Australia.
Diving
The Australian coast is packed with rewarding scuba-diving sites, whether you’re an experienced diver or learning the basics. Every state has its own top dive spots – expect everything from coral reefs and tropical islands to underwater caves and sunken shipwrecks. Courses and equipment hire are both easy to come by.
Hiking
Spectacular long-distance trails are par for the course here, and you’ll experience two of them on Audley’s Australia’s Great Walks Tasmania and Western Australia tour: a four-day hike through Tasmania’s wonderful Maria Island National Park, and the stunning Cape-to-Cape Track through the Margaret River region. Unforgettable.
Biking
Hop in the saddle and experience Australia at your own pace. You’ll find a brilliant selection of bike-friendly city lanes and coastal trails, while those who want to head into the great beyond have options of their own. Hire outlets are generally common at all the most popular visitor destinations.
Surprises
Australia’s mammoth dimensions mean it holds a lifetime’s worth of different travel experiences. The country is more than 30 times the size of the UK – it’s worth dwelling on that statistic for a moment – and plays home to an astonishing breadth of natural and cultural attractions.
Many of Audley’s tours take you well away from the biggest sights to showcase exactly what makes Australia such a diverse place to visit. On the Classic Tasmania Self-Drive itinerary, you’ll explore the vibrant towns and widescreen landscapes that define the island state. Treats in store include market-browsing in Hobart, cruising along the Gordon River, spotting endemic wildlife in Cradle Mountain National Park, and marvelling at the peaks and beaches of Freycinet National Park.
Elsewhere, on the Western Australia’s Coral Coast tour, you’ll take in the sensational coastline that stretches north of Perth – complete with historic towns, world-class marine life and deserted sands – while the 15-day Outback Life tour combines a coast-to-coast rail journey on The Ghan with visits to Arnhem Land and the Bamurru Plains, places few visitors ever see.
Special mention also has to go to the Cruising the Kimberley onboard the True North holiday, which includes a seven-night expedition cruise through the wilds of the Kimberley, as well as time in Perth, Broome, and the gorges and escarpments of the El Questro homestead. As if this weren’t enough, a scenic flight over the beehive domes of the Bungle Bungles provides a fitting finale.
Make it happen
Audley can make your dreams of visiting Australia a reality. Aside from diving into Australia’s unfathomable richness of landscapes — spanning desert to rainforest to mountains to reefs — you can take your pick from a compendium of activities curated by Audley’s specialists. You might find yourself taking surf lessons from professionals, or snorkelling alongside whale sharks under the guidance of marine biologists. You could take a seaplane to a Michelin-starred restaurant on the edge of a national park, and be led straight to the cellar doors of the best boutique estates of Australia’s (many) winelands.
You might even take a small-ship expedition cruise of the serrated Kimberley coast, a region so remote that parts still remain uncharted.
Audley’s specialists will help you connect with Australia’s Aboriginal and Indigenous people, who remain the guardians of the oldest continuous culture on the planet. It’s chosen experiences that are authentic, respectful, and responsible — whether you’re exploring rock-art galleries with your Kuku Yalanji guide in Queensland, or learning about traditional Koori bushtucker in New South Wales.
Built with Shorthand
