In a country the size of a continent Australia holidays boast all the ingredients for an unforgettable trip. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first or fifth time, you’ll find once-in-a-lifetime experiences at every turn, whether it’s traversing the cliffs of wild Tasmania or soaking up the drama at Sydney’s Opera House, a symbol of national pride. Cue awesome UNESCO World Heritage wilderness areas inhabited by wildlife that has evolved in isolation for over 50 million years; the spellbinding Great Barrier Reef and the immense desert Outback in particular provide an outdoor playground like few others. Uluru, the Aboriginal sacred site, offers life-altering perspectives with ancient rock paintings and dwarfing red rock formations while you’ll also find dreamy white-sand beaches and cosmopolitan cities. As far as hospitality goes, Australia knows no limits, with rolling vineyards growing superlative wines, and an overwhelming choice of foodie escapes such as Margaret River, lauded for its hedonistic gourmet restaurants. And then there are the cities, with Sydney forever retaining the title for best urban beaches and laidback lifestyle, while Melbourne is a fun and cultural hub with a distinctly European flavour.

Australia holiday ideas

A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started

Why visit Australia with Original Travel ?

Our team of specialists love Australia so much that they keep going back for more. There’s always something new to discover from the sixth largest country in the world, and with so much to take in, our expertise and team of in-country Concierges are well equipped to create the perfect trip for any preference, in any season. We work closely with Aboriginal guides and operators to provide immersive and authentic cultural experiences from Darwin to Melbourne. With properties ranging from rustic outback shacks all the way up to luxury lodges, we can find the perfect spots for you to rest your head on your Australia holiday.

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Travel to Australia by Region

Queensland & The Great Barrier Reef

Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef holidays are perfect for travellers wanting to enjoy the best that nature has to offer. Queenslanders will tell you that their state is the best of Australia all rolled into one, and this is a sublime state with so much to offer, whether you want to get active on hikes inland, try your hand at surfing, or road trip along the stunning coast line with stops for island hopping. While Brisbane is the state’s cultural hub, with amazing food, wine and galleries, Cairns - further up north - is one of the top spots for anybody visiting Australia as it’s the jumping off point for the Great Barrier Reef. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has 3,000 reefs and 600 islands and an underwater world that’s top of the list for many divers.

South Australia

South Australia holidays are the ultimate way to break free from the frenzy of Australia’s east coast, with its otherworldly landscapes, adrenaline fuelled festivals and first-rate food, as well as fine wine, of course. It is brimming with diversity, from the rust-red Southern Outback to multicultural Adelaide and the wildlife wonder of Kangaroo Island. On the mainland there is the wild coast of the Southern Ocean and the Great Australian Bight, as well as the rugged beauty of the Flinders & Gawler Ranges which cover 80% of the state and yet are home to just 1% of its population. Whether you want to explore the big sky and wild landscapes of the coast, hop aboard a river cruise or stumble from cellar door to cellar door trying some of the region’s finest wines, our South Australia holidays have something for everyone.

Sydney

City, beach, countryside; culture, food, relaxation - Sydney holidays have it all. Sydney city centre - called the CBD (Central Business District) - is a hive of activity. From the designer shops to elegant bars and gourmet restaurants that line the streets, to the beauty of the Circular Quay area where you can look out at the striking Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Sydney’s glamour is everywhere. Head just a little east out of the city, however, and you’ll find yourself on one of the most amazing coastlines in the world. All of this with almost-guaranteed good weather for eight months of the year, and you’re on to a winner.

Tasmania

Tasmania was the last part of the Australian continent to separate from the great southern landmass of Gondwana 45 million years ago. This, together with 10,000 years of isolation from mainland Australia, has resulted in Tasmania's environment becoming significantly different to the rest of the country, with granite peaks, Tasmanian wildlife, heath-covered mountains and beautiful lakes. For a truly original experience, we think you should seriously consider either tacking on a Tasmania holiday to a longer Australia trip, or taking your time and just exploring Tasmania.

Uluru and the Northern Territory

Uluru and Northern Territories holidays are the ideal way to see another side to Australia. At the heart of this continent-sized country is the 'Red Centre', a dry, sparsely vegetated and even more sparsely populated region of the country. The landscape is starkly beautiful and renowned for its chameleon-like quality as it changes colour many times between dawn and dusk. At the centre of this ancient landscape is the extraordinary natural wonder of Uluru (formerly known as Ayer's Rock). To the west, the equally impressive Kata Tjuta is a spectacular collection of 36 weathered red domes separated by narrow valleys. Original Travel can arrange your Uluru and Northern Territories holiday itinerary to include exploration of this desert scenery and the dynamic ecology that exists in this harsh and barren environment, or to discover the cultural relationship between the aboriginals and the surrounding land - their medicines, music, customs, legends and art that have adapted to suit this arid environment. Then head to the so-called 'Top End' of Australia, the Northern Territory, home to huge quantities of wildlife and impressive bird life across thousands of square miles of national parks - including the magnificent Kakadu National Park - criss-crossed by waterways, spectacular gorges and valleys. In Kakadu's neighbouring Arnhem Land there is also a labyrinth of caves and rock overhangs with rock paintings that date back an estimated 50,000 years. We can organise a guided tour through the Northern Territory to discover the ancient Aboriginal heritage of the area with Sab Lord, the best local guide. This is Australia at its finest and both the Northern Territory and Uluru are well worth including on your holiday itinerary.

Victoria

On Victoria holidays you can enjoy Melbourne's cultural scene, take to the Great Ocean Road on a road trip and follow bushwalking trails. State capital Melbourne, as well as being a cultural hub offering a year round programme of festivals, major art exhibitions and theatrical events, is also particularly cosmopolitan, providing a great contrast to other Australian cities. Wider Victoria features spectacular coastal drives, some of the richest pastoral land in Australia and magnificent bushwalking country.

Western Australia

Western Australia holidays will delight anybody who loves to be outdoors in nature. This huge state is mostly arid Outback, but along the coast you’ll find oases such as Perth, Margaret River and Broome, among others. Spend your holidays wandering along beaches and past thundering waterfalls with no one else for miles and miles. For a getaway overflowing with glorious nature and pinch-me moments aplenty, this is the place. The state's capital Perth is an easy-going place with a chilled out café culture, and for wine lovers the south-west famously boasts world class wineries. In the far north-west, the Kimberley is an ancient landform of rugged ranges with deep, spectacular gorges and pristine sandy beaches that fringe the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, and for great marine life, Ningaloo Reef will not disappoint.

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Australia Testimonials

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"We wanted to say a massive thank you for your help and hard work in putting together your part of our Australia adventure. We had such a wonderful time and Orpheus was the highlight - we loved it. All the arrangements worked brilliantly and it couldn't have been more perfect. Your recommendation was spot on."
Alexander - Birmingham
Published on 1st April 2019
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Our Australia
specialists

Australia may feel a world away, but crafting tailor-made itineraries comes second nature to our team of specialists. From safaris led by Aboriginal people in Kakadu National Park to Cape Tribulation tours with a Kuku Yalanji guide, we know how to bring Australia’s indigenous culture to the forefront of your experience. Our dedicated Concierges are on hand to take your trip Down Under to the next level, and their advice on last-minute changes and local knowledge is just a WhatsApp away. No matter the season, leave planning a getaway to this year-round destination in our hands.

Who is Australia best for?

With cool cities, gorgeous beaches and innumerable culinary hotspots, Australia holidays are ideal for honeymooners. Sail off to the Whitsunday islands and find a romantic paradise, where you can explore tropical rainforests, enjoy beach picnics and cruise to secret swimming coves. The country is also ideal for families - the whole gang will be blown away exotic wildlife and stunning scenery. In Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, take a cable car ride to see wombats, koalas and gorillas up close. Journey further afield to Kangaroo Island - the whole island is a protected sanctuary for wildlife such as the tammar wallabies, southern brown bandicoots, brushtail possums and short-beaked echidnas. Australia’s intriguing and spectacular landscapes make for exciting outdoor adventures whether it’s camping under the stars with direct views of Ayers Rock, or helicopter safaris over the enormous crater-like Wilpena Pound. Divers will be champing at the bit to get stuck into the Great Barrier Reef. The World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef is also well worth a trip, between March and July you can snorkel with whale sharks.


What can you find in Australia that you won’t find elsewhere?

Rich Aboriginal heritage in the ochre-coloured plains surrounding Uluru. Here you’ll find traces of Australia’s indigenous people - 50,000 year-old rock art and wild territories, that are still utilised by Aboriginal families today. Discover immense natural beauty from Tasmania’s rugged wilderness to Queensland’s dreamy white-sand islands that largely remain unspoiled. Visit some of the most iconic beaches in the world such as the world-famous sands of Bondi and laidback Manly - popular with families. Great surf, sand and restaurants make Sydney a highlight for most Australian holidays. And there’s good reason to visit Western Australia, which is home to the up-and-coming city of Perth and vineyards as far as the eye can see.


What are the best ways to discover Australia?

If you have time, consider exploring Australia’s vast landscapes on a road trip. Before you go, we’ll give you maps, tips and our little black book so that you can pause, linger and explore as you please armed with the best intel. Perhaps you’ll choose an eco-lodge, glamping or a swish hotel with all the bells and whistles. Sweep through the country to experience the highlights - an ideal trip for first timers would cover Sydney, Kangaroo Island, Ayers Rock and the Great Barrier Reef. If you are an absolute foodie yet love to surf to shed the previous night's shrimp barbecue (sorry- couldn't resist), then maybe we'd suggest the cosmopolitan highlights of Melbourne combined with a jaunt on Australia's Western coast for, let's face it, first class surfing. And if you have more time, why not ponder a trip to New Zealand? Just leave the logistics to us.


Queensland

Australia has seven states, all as different as the next. Queensland boasts pristine beaches, tropical rainforests, the stunning Whitsunday islands and the diving Mecca that is the Great Barrier Reef. Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Cairns are the three main towns/cities in Queensland, and each to their own they have very individual characters, whilst retaining the laid back personality of Queensland.


New South Wales

New South Wales is where you'd find that popular city some call Sydney, as well as the beautiful Blue Mountains, wineries, tablelands and miles of undulating bushland. The beaches in this area of Australia are wild and not to be missed. A particular favourite of travellers and luxury holiday makers alike is Byron Bay, a surfer's retreat with a slow pace of life and quirky little cafes and restaurants.


South Australia

South Australia is home to the Southern outback, ocean, the city of Adelaide, and the wildlife wonder of Kangaroo Island. This area of Australia is great for wildlife, wine and walking.


Tasmania

Tasmania is a land of rugged wilderness; the fjords, bays, magnificent beaches and dramatic sea cliffs make this one of the best places to visit while on a luxury holiday in Australia.


Victoria

Victoria is a popular state for those wanting to sample Melbourne's cosmopolitan scene, with year round festivals, fine dining, arts events and so on. Victoria also has magnificent bushwalking trails and scenic coastal drives along the Great Ocean Road.


Northern Territory

Northern Territory is at the very heart of Australia and home to the iconic Ayers Rock, or Uluru. But there's more to the Northern Territory than just the rusty plains of the 'Red Centre' and the chameleon-like quality of Uluru (it changes colour many times between dawn and dusk); the lush green floodplains of the Kakadu National Park are calling from its northern reaches.


Western Australia

Lastly we have Western Australia, the largest state in Australia occupying the entire western third of the country. As expected with such a huge state, there is a huge diversity of landscapes, from the urban (state capital Perth), to the coastal (brilliant beaches and world class diving on Ningaloo reef), vineyards as far as the eye can see near to Margaret River, and the rugged Kimberley region, home to creeks, caverns and some of the world's oldest rock paintings.

Best places to go in Australia



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