When you think of Australia a few things spring to mind. Sun, surf, sand, crowded beaches, untouched desert plains—more sun.
It’s a country of extraordinary flora, distinct ecosystems, and intriguing wildlife—the echidnas, the platypus’s, the rare spangled kookaburras. It’s no wonder the nation has become so enticing to those itching to explore.
But what if you want more than what you see on the postcards? What if you want to go where fewer wanderers have gone before? How do you experience Australia in a way you hadn’t even thought was possible?
To save you cross-referencing a tabletop littered with generic brochures, or falling into a rabbit warren of Google search results—or trying to find inspiration by watching David Attenborough’s Natural Wonders of Australia on repeat, though that’s not such a bad thing—we’ve done the homework for you.
Here are five unique ways to experience the beauty of Australia, because sometimes it’s not just about what you see, but rather, how you see it.
All aboard The Indian Pacific
There’s something undeniably charming about train travel. The thought of stationmasters calling ‘all aboard’, the anticipation that builds before departure; the little curtains in the windows. With Great Southern Rail’s Indian Pacific, this reverie becomes a reality. Travelling from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, or vice versa, this 4352-kilometer rail journey exposes those aboard to the colourful contrasts of our great southern land. Encompassing the beauty of the Blue Mountains to the exquisite expanse of the Nullabor, the odyssey also includes off-train excursions featuring Broken Hill and Adelaide, or Barossa Valley and Kalgoorlie—depending on which route you choose to take.
With food and beverage covered by your All-Inclusive fare, the Indian Pacific allows you to properly indulge in the journey’s mouthwatering gourmet meals, prepared by professional chefs using an array of fresh local fare. Interspersed with daytrips including a coffee cruise along Sydney Harbor, and a jaunt to Adelaide’s bustling Central Market—offering wine and produce from the famed Barossa Valley—the Indian Pacific is your opportunity to soak up the Australian landscape, old-school style.
Traipse the Three Capes Walk
Get in touch with your inner nomad by taking a walk to truly remember. A stunning 46-kilometer stretch of cliff-hugging wilderness in Australia’s southeast, the Three Capes Walk begins and ends at the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania. But this is no ordinary hike.
Adventurers are transported to the Three Cape’s start line via a purpose-built Pennicott Wilderness Journeys’ boat, before setting out on the meticulously crafted track. The trek’s four days and three nights are broken into manageable, bite-sized pieces, with each overnight stop equipped with gas cooktops, comfy mattresses and generous dining tables.
With every step you take, a new experience awaits, as you scale mosaic stone steps, cross over timber boardwalks, and pause for reflection in the creative story seats imaginatively interspersed along the way.
Sightsee slow and steady on a Camel Trek
Because riding a camel across the horizon should be on everybody’s list of things to do, Camel Treks Australia offer a variety of outback adventures that are truly one-of-a-kind. Day tours include visits to Mayo’s Gorge and afternoon tea, while longer treks offer riders a true taste of the Flinders Ranges.
A photographer’s delight, all trekking grounds are a paradise of native animals, birdlife, and rugged ranges, encompassing the iconic Elder Range, Mern Merna Range, and Arkaba Gorge.
With each landscape journeyed upon differing from one day to the next, camel treks expose travellers to the Australian outback in its richest, most untouched form. Walk and ride slowly by day, sleep soundly beneath the stars by night, and leave with memories you’ll hold onto for a lifetime.
Take to the skies on the Western Wedge Wildflower Safari
Sightsee amongst the clouds with Air Adventure Australia, on the Western Wedge Wild Flower Safari. Carefully scheduled to coincide with many specific ecological events, this nationwide tour is journeyed via the skies, on a comfortable Outback Jet. Beginning with a scenic flight along the sheer cliffs of the Great Australian Bight, and ending in Melbourne, this outback odyssey includes a stay at Sal Salis retreat at Ningaloo Reef, an immersion in Kalbarri’s wildflower spectacular, a luxurious stay at Cape Lodge in Margaret River, and a trip to Cape le Grand National Park, home to some of our nation’s most breathtaking beaches.
But that’s just the very start. The fourteen-day journey also encompasses a private tour of Kangaroo Island’s diverse flora and fauna, as well as spectacular scenic flights over the Abrolhos Islands and Zuytdorp Cliffs.
Including all private chartered flights, accommodation, meals, wine, and tours (led by local expert guides), this is truly a journey like no other. A chance to see Australia from (literally) every angle, from the coast, from the core, and most unforgettably, from the clouds.
Conquer the Karijini Adventure
If you’ve always been fascinated by the natural wonders of the world, this earthly expedition is for you. An all-access pass to Mother Nature’s ultimate adventure park, this five-day tour exposes you to the quirks and curiosities of Karijini National Park. Beginning with a picnic lunch at Dales Gorge, and an afternoon dip in Fern Pool, the journey allows for moments of both ecstasy and ease.
For those keen to get in touch with their wild side, day three offers a guided tour of Weano Gorge, where thrill seekers can jump down waterfalls, before climbing the sheer walls at ‘The Centre of the Earth’.
Culminating with a drive to Hamersley Gorge, where you’re free to climb the ravine to its awaiting heart-shaped natural spa, the Karijini Adventure is a reminder of the organic opulence of the Australian landscape.
