AUSTRALIA
From its gorgeous coasts to its expansive interior, Australia is blessed with wide-open spaces, laid-back wine regions, rugged countryside adventures, lush rainforest, and off-the-beaten-path beach escapes. The headline sights — the Reef, Uluru, the Opera House — live up to their billing, but Australia's real luxury is what lies between. Wine regions where lunch lasts four hours. Stretches of the Kimberley where the next human is a hundred kilometers away. The Daintree is one of the only places on Earth where ancient rainforest meets coral reef. Tasmania has cool-climate vineyards, world-class whiskey, and a museum that argues with itself. And on the quiet coasts — Cape Le Grand, Wineglass Bay at sunrise, the Eyre Peninsula — the sand still squeaks underfoot and the only other tracks belong to wallabies.
A Taste of What's Possible
Take private surfing lesson at the iconic Bondi Beach
Cocktail crawl with a local insider through Melbourne’s hidden bars and historic haunts
Watch the sun rise over Uluru with a spiritual walk and outback picnic breakfast
Where You'll Stay
We spend a lot of time obsessing over the perfect accommodations. Our favorites tend to be smaller, boutique properties with a unique sense of style and fantastic service.
Here are just a few of our favorites...
Three of Our Favorite Spots
TASMANIA
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MONA alone — David Walsh's subterranean museum carved into the cliffs above the Derwent River — would justify the flight. That it shares the island with Cradle Mountain, Freycinet's pink granite, the orange-lichened boulders of the Bay of Fires, world-class single malt whisky, and some of the cleanest air ever measured feels almost unfair. Cool-climate oysters in the south, pinot up the Tamar, devil shrieks at dusk. Go for a week. You'll wish you had two.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
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Uluru no longer gets climbed, and the walk around its base at sunrise is the more honest way to meet it anyway. The Territory is mostly empty and entirely vast: Kakadu's wetlands hide saltwater crocodiles and rock art tens of thousands of years old; Arnhem Land is Aboriginal-owned and largely closed to casual visitors, which is the point. Darwin runs on tropical time: eat at Mindil Beach as the sun drops into the Timor Sea.
QUEENSLAND
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Queensland holds nearly half of Australia's natural World Heritage sites, and the headliners still deliver. Seeing the Reef properly is worth doing now rather than later. The Daintree, the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth, runs right down to the sand. K'gari is the largest sand island anywhere, all perched dune lakes and a 75-mile beach you can drive on. The silica sand on Whitsunday Island is fine as flour and stays cool to the touch even at midday.
Sample Itinerary
From Southern Cities to the Coral Sea
Day 1: On arrival in Melbourne, you’ll be met and transferred to your luxurious accommodations in the city center. This afternoon, wander a labyrinth of vibrant laneways and gorgeous Victorian arcades with your local insider guide to discover where the city’s creative culture abounds.
Day 2: Embark on an excursion to the scenic Mornington Peninsula, a glorious tapestry of changing topography, vegetation and cultivation lending itself to be one of Victoria’s leading food and wine regions. Along the way enjoy private tastings, mouthwatering farm-grown produce, and meet a variety of artisans throughout this captivating peninsula.
Day 3: Fly to Kangaroo Island, Australia’s third largest island and home to an impressive line up of flora and fauna amid diverse landscapes. Settle into your lovely accommodations this evening and enjoy a delicious dinner.
Day 4: Spend the day exploring this rugged and wild island with a local guide. Walk through tall eucalyptus trees where koalas sleep overhead, spot a species of kangaroo found only on this island, and perhaps encounter wallabies, which are almost extinct on the mainland. Enjoy a local seafood lunch on a private bush reserve before continuing to a beautiful sandy beach to walk among Australian sea lions.
Day 5: Fly to Adelaide today for some city time before continuing onward to Queensland tomorrow for more wildlife explorations. From your base in the heart of the city, stroll elegant tree-lined streets, explore stalls at the Adelaide Central Market, and indulge in an impressive culinary scene.
Day 6: Your adventures continue to the tropical wilderness of Far North Queensland today. Begin with a flight to Cairns, where you will be met and transferred to your beautiful lodge in the rainforest. Settle in and enjoy dinner in an open-sided treehouse restaurant, where walls and windows have been replaced with surrounding rainforest.
Day 7: A full day to explore the captivating Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest on Earth. Start with a drive through historic and scenic sugar cane country to the Daintree River, where a cable car ferry will transfer you into the rainforest. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the rainforest before continuing onward to Cape Tribulation for a horseback ride along winding riverbeds, eventually arriving at Myall Beach where you can take your horses into the sea to cool off. Swim in secluded waterholes and beaches in the cape before returning to your lodge.
Day 8: Fly from Cairns to Lizard Island today, where you will stay at a secluded resort located directly on the iconic Great Barrier Reef.
Days 9-10: Enjoy two full days from your idyllic island base to explore the reef. From snorkelling to scuba, sea kayaking to naturalist-guided walks, there are many incredible ways to take in this spectacular corner of the world. In the evenings, awe at a brilliant night sky untarnished by light pollution.
Day 11: To round out your Australian adventure, fly south today to Sydney to immerse in some of the country’s most vibrant urban culture. Arrive in time for a scenic sunset cruise around Sydney Harbor on a private yacht.
Day 12: Explore Sydney’s highlights and hip backstreets on foot with your local guide, before heading to the famous Bondi Beach in the afternoon to soak up the atmosphere of this beachside mecca. In the evening, embark on a progressive dinner that hops between hidden gems and local hotspots with a Sydney culinary insider leading the way.
Day 13: Board a seaplane for a scenic flight to one of Sydney's best-kept secrets, where you can enjoy tranquil waters and relax among the peaceful sights and sounds of local bushland as you enjoy a superb lunch on a private deck. Fly back to the city center with a memorable bird’s eye view of Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House.
Day 14: Private transfer to the Sydney airport for your onward journey home.
