AUSTRALIA: THE GOLD LIST 2023-BEST DESTINATION TO TRAVEL

AUSTRALIA: THE GOLD LIST 2023-BEST DESTINATION TO TRAVEL

Luxury Travel Guide to Australia

Text by: Fabian Ooi / Photos Courtesy of Tourism Australia - 30 January 2024


Spacious rooms and exquisite cuisine are not enough to describe Australia’s premium experiences. Let’s discover the best of Australia with this luxury guide.

Larapinta Trail, West MacDonnell Ranges © Tourism Australia

Unforgettable Nature And Wildlife

Australia is bursting with incredible activities, but a trip here is also about the simple luxury of being among some of the world’s wildest, unspoiled nature and seeing wildlife, much of it unique to Australia, in the wild. 

Simpsons Gap, West MacDonnell Ranges © Tourism AustraliaMossman River © FNQ Nature Tours

Follow your passion for the outdoors on one of Australia’s Great Walks. You’ll marvel at the vibrant orange boulders on the Bay of Fires Signature Walk and the ancient, ethereal landscapes of the Larapinta Trail. But more than that, you’ll become a part of the place, finding a powerful connection not only with the land beneath you but those that walk alongside you.

Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo, Atherton Tablelands © FNQ Nature ToursSouthern Cassowary, Daintree National Park © FNQ Nature Tours

To immerse yourself in Australia’s wildlife, explore the many experiences on offer from Australian Wildlife Journeys, all characterised by expert guides and underpinned by strong conservation principles. You can swim next to whale sharks in the azure waters of Exmouth in Western Australia, or spot tree kangaroos and southern cassowaries with FNQ Tours in Tropical North Queensland. Embark on an expedition with Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris, where you’ll have the privilege of accessing some of Australia’s culturally significant sites and most cherished ecosystems, brimming with crocodiles, birds and buffalo.

Walkabout Cultural Adventures, QLD © Tourism Australia

Discover Ancient Cultures

Aboriginal cultures are both ancient and complex, dating back more than 50,000 years. Australia’s Aboriginal peoples are warm, welcoming and generous of spirit, inviting you to experience exquisite art, exclusive accommodation, ancient pilgrimages and unrivalled adventures. 

Cape Cultural Tours shares with you the Boodja (country) of the Wadandi people in Western Australia. The Margaret River region will come alive as your guide reveals the Noongar seasons and the never-ending connections with the rivers, seas, animals and plants. You’ll walk along the spectacular Cape to Cape Track, hearing the Aboriginal interpretation of the surrounding seascape. Arrange a private, customised tour for an even more immersive experience.

Hunting for bush tucker in the mangroves © Tourism and Events Queenslandwukalina Walk - Evenings at krakani lumi standing camp © Jillian Mundy & Tourism Australia

Aboriginal experiences are also accessible from some of Australia’s most beautiful accommodation, including Pretty Beach House and their welcome to country, Longitude 131 in the Red Centre and their connection with the desert art community or the stunning wilderness huts along the wukalina Walk. A stay at Silky Oaks Lodge, located in the lush green of the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, not only brings true tranquility but also the opportunity to explore the Kuku Yalanji people’s environment with Walkabout Cultural Adventures.

St Hugo Wines © Tourism Australia

Indulge In Exquisite Food And Drink

Australia’s food and drink offering is delicious and diverse, serving up some of the best wine, spirits and cuisine in the world. But a food journey here isn’t just about what’s on the plate; it’s about how you savour it, connecting with the makers and the produce of the place, and soaking up the scenic surrounds and sharing the experience with the ones you love. 

Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia take guests beyond the cellar door, offering exclusive experiences full of insight, history, hands-on connection and decadence. You can move between the countries best wine regions, taking part in private tastings, intimate degustations, insightful cooking classes, and more. Taste premium semillon matched with individually garnished oysters at Brokenwood in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley, take a journey through Western Australia’s Margaret River before embarking on a behind-the-scenes tour of Leeuwin Estate or indulge in a Prestige Experience, where you’ll be whisked away in a private helicopter over South Australia’s lush Barossa Valley before being dropped at St Hugo for a private tasting.  

Enjoy a Brokenwood Semillon with oysters and smoked salmon © BrokenwoodLEEUWIN ESTATE vineyard at dawn © Leeuwin Estate

St Hugo Wines © Tourism AustraliaBrae © Tourism Australia

Australia’s food scene is just as exciting, with restaurants focusing on the inventive, the unexpected and the ultra-local. Each dish is a tangible taste of the earthy soil, clean water and rich landscapes that help grow the country’s beautiful produce. Brae in regional Victoria is all about unhurried comforts, while Sydney’s Aria serves up spectacular seasonal dishes alongside harbour views. Melbourne’s Attica embraces Australia’s overlooked ingredients, creating a refined yet relaxed atmosphere where eating with your hands is encouraged.

Long Pavilion at qualia, Hamilton Island, QLD © Luxury Lodges of Australia

Luxurious Lodges Stay

Longitude 131, sited just outside the Northern Territory’s Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, is one of the most impactful examples of a profound sense of place. Its privileged location allows views of Uluru from each pavilion. Slide open the floor-to-ceiling windows of your luxury tent pavilion to stare out at Australia’s spiritual centre, with the amber hues of Uluru changing as the day brightens. Step out onto the private balcony or watch the sunset form the Dune Top bar, and let the feeling of the Australian outback fill you up.

Longitude 131, Yulara, NT © Baillie Lodges

Longitude 131, Yulara, NT © Baillie LodgesOrpheus Island, Great. Barrier Reef © Tourism Australia

Across the country, on the Great Barrier Reef’s Hamilton Island, you’ll find the impeccably-appointed qualia. The private pavilions frame a mesmerising view of the turquoise waters and layers of Whitsunday islands on the horizon. Guests of qualia have priority access to Australia’s only championship island golf course, Hamilton Island Golf Club, and can arrange private experiences like gourmet picnics on a remote beach or scenic helicopter flights over the jaw-dropping Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven Beach and nearby reef.

Orpheus Island Lodge, also in the Whitsundays between Cairns and Townsville, offers immaculate coastlines and a truly memorable escape, along with unforgettable dining, incredible underwater experiences and luxuriously relaxed rooms.

HeliFishing experiences, Darwin, Top End © Tourism Australia

Premium Adventure And Sport

With an abundance of over 4,000 species of fish, lightly fished waters and over 36,000 kilometres of sparsely populated coastline, Australia is one of the world’s best angler destinations.

HeliFishing experiences, Darwin, Top End © Tourism AustraliaNingaloo Fly Fishing, Exmouth, WA © Tourism Australia

One of the most spectacular fishing adventures available is heli-fishing in the Kimberley, one of Australia’s last true wilderness frontiers. With HeliSpirit, you’ll board a private helicopter to access remote waterways, your pilot bringing you to the very best billabongs and coastal flats. Venture away from the coast into the heartland of Tasmania to fly fish with Driftwater, toss a line in the glass-like waters of Ningaloo with Ningaloo Fly Fishing or pull in kingfish and salmon right in the iconic Sydney Harbour with Sydney Flyfishing. 

The Royal Melbourne Golf Course, Melbourne, VIC © The Royal Melbourne Golf Course

With seven of the top 100 golf courses in the world, golfers are spoilt for choice when it comes to world-class courses in Australia.

From the championship Sandbelt region of Melbourne to the country’s only championship golf course on its own island, Australia has some of the best courses in the world, as well as unique greens worth seeking out. Play a round at the country’s most well-known course, Royal Melbourne Golf Club, or take on the wild and remote coast of Tasmania at Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links. 

For more information:
Website: www.australia.com/en-my
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeeAustralia
Instagram: www.instagram.com/australia/

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