Why Australia is the ultimate holiday destination – and how to plan the perfect trip

Australia is a land of mystery. When the explorer Matthew Flinders stumbled on the place in 1814, he called it Terra Australis Incognita, meaning “Unknown South Land”, and 200 years later this massive island continent remains a source of wonder.
Many of the familiar icons of Australia, such as the Sydney Opera House and the Melbourne Cricket Ground, are man-made, but its indigenous soul, dating back 60,000 years, is a constant elusive presence.
Once known as the Land of the Long Weekend, Australians have a special talent for enjoying themselves, especially when it involves jumping on a surfboard, watching a game of Aussie Rules, drinking a cold beer or smashing an English Test bowler for six.
They may be fiercely competitive on the sports field, but Australians are remarkably hospitable if you meet them on the beach, camping in the bush or at the front bar of an outback pub. They appreciate that you’ve travelled a long way to be here; just don’t mention the Ashes.
Perhaps it’s the abundance of fresh air and sunshine, but most first-time visitors to Australia experience a strange transformation in themselves after a few days Down Under. Maybe it’s the thrill of seeing that huge dome of blue sky every morning, the delight of hearing your first kookaburra or the joy of watching a mob of kangaroos hopping across a paddock (or down a country road). This place is good for the soul.
Away from the capital cities, Australia is amazingly unpopulated. You might drive for hours on a backroad without seeing another vehicle or walk onto a beach where yours are the only footprints. And nothing quite compares to the brilliant night sky at Uluru.
This is a landscape that continually inspires wonder and joy – whether you are climbing an ancient karri tree in Western Australia, riding a surfboard on Bondi beach, or watching a whale and its calf cavorting in the chilly waters of Tasmania. 
Australian cities, once seen as poor imitations of their European or North American counterparts, are another source of delight. The dining scenes in Sydney and Melbourne are the envy of the world, while Brisbane, Hobart, Perth and Adelaide are now vibrant, outward-looking and cosmopolitan. Australia’s great wine regions, such as Margaret River, McLaren Vale and the Hunter Valley, are helping to transform rural Australia. These regions now support artisan cheesemakers, craft breweries and farmers’ markets, something that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
Here we reveal how to book the perfect trip of a lifetime to Australia, whether you want to tick off its biggest names or explore the outback.

East

The epic journey from Sydney to the Gold Coast, via Byron Bay, is the best-known road trip in Australia. Whether you are driving a beaten-up campervan or a swish new rental the Pacific Coast is a dazzling introduction to Australia – from the cosmopolitan delights of Sydney to the rough-hewn charm of country New South Wales.
Driving 845km (525 miles) is only pleasurable if you take your time. Allow at least nine days to complete the trip; this will permit stopovers in the honeytraps of Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay, plus side excursions to the Hunter Valley and Barrington Tops. Some travellers will want to linger in Byron Bay, a shrine of wellness and inner peace for the mega-rich. 
Long sections of the route are now dual carriageway, so the drive is far less tedious than it once was but there are still big stretches of nothingness. Your reward is some of the country’s finest coastal scenery, with the opportunity to go snorkelling, surfing, swimming and kayaking along the way. There’s plenty of native fauna too. Walk with cuddly marsupials at the famous Koala Hospital outside Port Macquarie or encounter 300 species of butterflies at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House. Blessed with a warm, semi-tropical climate and a strong farming heritage this part of NSW is also celebrated for its fine produce – everything from prawns to grass-fed beef – so expect to eat well. 
With its pristine beaches, vibrant towns and outdoor adventures, the journey north should suit just about every type of traveller. The most challenging part will be escaping the Sydney traffic.
Those with deep pockets and a love of wine should spend a few days exploring the Hunter Valley, three hours’ drive north of Sydney. Base yourself at the elegant Spicers Guesthouse in Pokolbin. Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia offers a number of bespoke experiences, including guided winery tours and gourmet picnics among the vines. Budget travellers who want to leave the bitumen can find some amazing private campsites, many on remote farms, across by joining Hipcamp.
The Pacific Coast can be enjoyed throughout the year but attracts big crowds during the long summer holiday (December to March) and over the mid-year break in July. Accommodation is in short supply, so book ahead even if you are staying in a caravan park or backpacker hostel.

West

Despite covering one-third of Australia’s landmass, Western Australia remains an enigma. While fresh-tasting wines from the Swan Valley and Margaret River enjoy global fame, first-time visitors find Western Australia hard to categorise. Stretching from the Timor Sea to the Great Australian Bight, this huge lump of real estate offers everything from majestic karri forests to red sand deserts, rollicking mining towns to ritzy shopping malls. Perth, the most isolated capital city on the planet, is groomed, glowing and affluent, while outback towns like Broome, Kalgoorlie and Esperance still offer plenty of the knockabout, frontier grit. 
Given the sheer size of WA, it’s best to approach the place by individual preference. Travellers who want sun, sea and surf (plus a smattering of colonial architecture and some culinary delights) will be happy to spend most of their time in Perth and Fremantle, with perhaps a day trip to Rottnest Island. 
Those who want to interact with the dolphins at Monkey Mia or swim with the whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef will head north, where the Outback meets the Indian Ocean. But you could turn left at Fremantle and follow the road to the state’s south-west – an intoxicating mix of wilderness, manicured farmland, towering trees, quirky settlements and surf beaches. 
This fertile region produces some of Australia’s best seasonal fruit, olives, seafood, organic meat, farmhouse cheeses and, of course, estate wines. From Margaret River follow the coast south to Denmark, Mt Barker and Albany to complete your tour of the south-west. Next stop, Esperance. 
The Tailor organises bespoke trips to Ningaloo Reef staying at Sal Salis , a luxury safari lodge overlooking the ocean. Alternatively, explore the varied delights of Margaret River, holidaying at the award-winning Cape Lodge country estate, and enjoying exclusive access to the region’s best wineries and finest vintages. If you enjoy the open road, consider hiring an Apollo campervan  in Perth and seeing the south-west (or north) at your own pace. The fleet includes stylish campervans or 4WDs for those Outback trails.  
The south-west of Western Australia is at its finest during the spring (September to November) and summer (December to February) months. Winters here can be cold and blustery. The arid inland regions are unpleasant in summer, but delightful in winter. Wildflowers bloom between June and October, with Perth’s parks at their best in September.

South

If you like food, coffee, comedy, theatre, fashion and street life then Melbourne will be your kind of city. So complete is this urban cornucopia that it’s easy to ignore the rest of Victoria. City types who cannot be more than 10 feet away from an espresso machine will think they’ve died and gone to heaven – Melbourne’s celebrated coffee culture, spawned in its laneways – has now spread across the whole state. 
Melbourne was once – for a few months – the federal capital of Australia, and many locals believe it still is. And while the city may lack Sydney’s harbour views, its manicured parklands, European-style boulevards, galleries and museums more than compensate. What’s more, Melbourne is a useful hopping-off point for some of Victoria’s great scenic gems, including the Wilsons Promontory, the Otway Ranges, Mornington Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road. 
The wildlife sanctuary of Phillip Island, famous for its little penguins, is only two hours from the city. Likewise, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges are just 35km from Flinders Street Station; the former is one of Australia’s best cool climate wine regions, while the forest-clad ranges are a magnet for hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoor types. 
To explore Victoria’s colourful European history, however, it’s worth hiring a car and driving west to the Goldfields towns of Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine. It was this region that spawned the Eureka Stockade legend and harboured Ned Kelly, Australia’s most notorious bushranger. Fans of the gunman can follow the 650km (403 mile) Ned Kelly Touring Route, stopping off at Benalla, Beechworth, Mansfield and Glenrowan where Kelly was captured in 1880. On the return leg to Melbourne visit Victoria’s spa country and enjoy a mineral bath at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa.  
The Lake House in Daylesford is Australia’s most celebrated country retreat, offering a range of up-market studios and suites, a day spa and a much-loved restaurant. The perfect base for exploring Victoria’s spa country and, beyond, the historic goldfields region. Those on a more modest travel budget should check out the special deals from Visit Victoria. These include discounts on hotel rooms, wine tours, gin tastings, hire cars and meals
Due to its southern location Victoria is generally cooler than the rest of mainland Australia, although summers (December to February) can be blisteringly hot. Accommodation is heavily booked around major sporting events and during local school holidays. Autumn and spring are the ideal.

Central

Australians call the Red Centre their ‘big backyard’. This is not hyperbole. The sheer scale of central Australia is bewitching – as is the night sky. 
Alongside Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru (Ayers Rock) is part of Australia’s holy trinity and will appeal to anyone with an adventurous spirit. Unless you are on an extended road trip, it makes sense to fly into Yulara (Ayers Rock Airport); there are direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a self-contained travel destination, a chance to immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture – a belief system stretching back 60,000 years. Yulara is a curious mix of wilderness, ancient wisdom and tourism hoopla. But nothing quite compares with that first glimpse of the rock rising imperiously from an ocean of red sand. The support act, Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) is equally beguiling – like a giant sculpture park. 
The distance from Yulara to Darwin is a 1,963km (1,219 miles) trek. Download a touring guide from the official Northern Territory Tourism website. This contains essential safety information, maps, highlights, tours and suggested itineraries. The Alice Springs to Darwin (Explorers Way) route retraces the footsteps of 19th-century explorer John McDouall Stuart and takes 12 days to complete. Alternatively, AAT Kings offers fully escorted tours from Uluru to Darwin, taking in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Katherine Gorge, Kings Canyon and Kakadu National Park. The 11-day outback safari includes a walking tour around the base of Uluru, a cruise on Kakadu’s Yellow Water Billabong and a visit to Darwin’s Mindil Beach Sunset Market. 
Darwin is a vibrant tropical outpost with a unique blend of European, Asian and Aboriginal influences. Allow a couple of days here before your return flight south.
The Ghan is one of the world’s great rail adventures, linking Adelaide and Darwin. The journey takes three days to complete but offers a rare level of outback comfort. Extended itineraries, including off-train tours, are available. Intrepid has a range of affordable guided tours in the Northern Territory, including its four-day Uluru & Kings Canyon Family Adventure.
Summer in the Red Centre is uncomfortable with temperatures in the high 30s, so avoid December, January and February. The best time to visit is in the southern spring or winter, when daytime temperatures are pleasant, but pack warm clothes for those chilly desert nights.

North

The world has been obsessed with far north Queensland since 1908 when EJ Banfield released Confessions of a Beachcomber, his classic tale of island life. A century of development has transformed this part of Australia – and the Great Barrier Reef is now a global superstar in its own right, and a UNESCO World Heritage Area. 
Like a huge aquatic outback, the reef covers an immense area, stretching some 2,300km (1,430 miles) along the coast and comprising of a myriad of islands, coral cays and reef systems. The standard way to explore the reef is from a mainland base such as Townsville, Cairns or Port Douglas. A modern fleet of dive boats takes visitors out for a spot of snorkelling – while dedicated scuba divers can board multi-day charters to remote locations. Resorts such as Lizard Island, Bedarra Island and Orpheus Island provide privileged access to the reef but are beyond the reach of backpackers and many families with young children. 
If you are trying to stretch the travel budget then Cairns is the obvious choice since it offers a good airport, plenty of fun things to do and a wide range of accommodation. Apart from snorkelling and glass-bottom boat tours, visitors can head inland to the Atherton Tableland, a region famous for its wetlands, waterfalls and coffee. The 66km (41 mile) drive from Cairns to Port Douglas is utterly delightful, taking you past sugarcane plantations, pristine beaches and dusty little towns. 
Many of the best reef charters operate from Port Douglas, but it’s also handy for exploring the Daintree National Park, one of the oldest rainforests on the planet, teeming with wildlife, including fearsome saltwater crocodiles. 
Silky Oaks Lodge, just north of Port Douglas, is an exclusive rainforest hideaway, complete with its own day spa, treehouse restaurant and immaculate suites. Guests can book a range of indigenous-themed experiences or guided reef trips. Daydream Island is a family-friendly resort in the Whitsundays, with unpretentious rooms, friendly staff and activities for all ages.
Marine stingers such as box jellyfish and Irukandji are a major threat in far north Queensland from November to May, and special suits should be worn in the ocean. Weatherwise, winter (July to August) is pretty idyllic, but spring and autumn are also pleasant times to visit the tropical north.

When to book

Accommodation is heavily booked all year round but even worse during the summer high season (December to February) and/or major sporting events such as the Melbourne Cup, AFL grand final or the Ashes – if visiting during these periods, it pays to book as early as possible to secure the best price. 
If travelling independently, book hotels and resorts in advance using a travel site, such as Booking.com or Expedia – to avoid inflated prices on arrival. Stayz has a good range of holiday rentals, farm cottages and other self-catering options.

How to get there

Most international flights land at Melbourne Airport, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, Brisbane Airport or Perth Airport, with connecting flights to Ayers Rock/Connellan Airport and Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays. 
The era of cheap long-haul flights is over, but you can find decent fares through Flight Centre and Skyscanner. Expect to pay around £1,200 for a return economy flight from the UK to Sydney. Qantas, British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific all fly from the UK to Australia. China Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Air India offer cheaper tickets, priced at £765 for a return economy flight, but try to avoid long stopovers on what is already a 22-plus hour flight.
Flying within Australia is expensive (apart from the Sydney-Melbourne route), so book your entire itinerary before leaving home. 
Car hire can be pricey. Use a comparison site such as VroomVroomVroom to find the best deal. Family cars cost from £62 per day. Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Avis and SIXT are all represented.

What to pack

Know before you go