13 February 2023
5 icons of Australia
Australia is studded with some of the most iconic attractions in world travel. With Audley, you’ll see these sights – and some of their lesser-known alternatives – up close.
Australia is studded with some of the most iconic attractions in world travel. With Audley, you’ll see these sights – and some of their lesser-known alternatives – up close.
There’s no more famous building in Australia than the Sydney Opera House, its bold, sail-shaped exterior glowing white on the harbourfront. As a work of architecture it’s a masterpiece – one that marks its 50th anniversary later in 2023 – and it remains a prestigious arts venue, with dance, theatre and musical performances all staged regularly. Guided tours are also available. Facing it across the sparkling waters of Circular Quay is the unmistakable arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a fixture on the skyline since the 1930s. Join a BridgeClimb for an unbeatable view of the city from up on high.
Lesser-known alternative: On Audley’s Southeast Discovered tour, which takes in three of Australia’s major cities, you’ll have time to explore other Sydney highlights such as the world-class Museum of Contemporary Art. Housed in a six-storey Art Deco building on Circular Quay, the museum’s permanent collection showcases a fantastic selection of work from across Australia’s cultural spectrum, with many pieces by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The superb harbour views from the windows add to the overall appeal.
Your first sight of Uluru stays with you for life. The Rock, to use its colloquial name, towers over the flat, sun-baked expanse of the Outback like some sort of geological deity, a colossus of red sandstone in the very heart of this vast country. A trip here is a chance to marvel at Uluru’s monolithic bulk and beauty while learning about its rich spiritual importance and – because this is Australia – also taking time to enjoy the finer things in life. From guided walks of its base to candlelit sunset dinners on the plains, a visit to Uluru is never less than epic.
Lesser-known alternative: Those who make the effort to venture to Australia’s so-called Top End will be well rewarded. Kakadu National Park is a spectacular swathe of wilderness, but beyond it lies a region that has just as much magnetism and natural splendour: the enormous, little-known Arnhem Land. Laced with gorges and escarpments, it’s still home to the traditional Aboriginal landowners. Permits are required to enter it, and on Audley’s Outback Life itinerary you’ll have three nights in this most special of places.
Stretching along the Queensland coast for more than 2,000km, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef complex. Turtles, corals and tropical fish colonise the world below the waves, while above the surface, scenic bays and white-sand islands dot the map like jewels. It’s a fragile ecosystem, so there’s quite rightly a growing emphasis on responsible travel, but there are unforgettable options for divers and snorkellers, as well as those who prefer to sit back and take in the scenery. Some cruise operators offer liveaboard voyages, and by sleeping on board you’ll see lesser-visited parts of the coast.
Lesser-known alternative: Over on the other side of the country, Western Australia boasts a watery wonderland of its own in the shape of the Ningaloo Reef, the planet’s largest fringing reef. It plays host to a stunning variety of marine life, with migrating humpback whales and whale sharks taking top billing at different times of year (March to July is the best time for whale sharks). On Audley’s Western Australia’s Ultimate Wildlife Journey, you’ll have time to savour this UNESCO World Heritage-listed reef.
Renowned as one of the planet’s top road trips, the Great Ocean Road spools along the southern coast of Victoria, with buzzing Melbourne close by. It stretches for some 285km, hugging the shoreline and leading drivers past a succession of glorious bays, cliffs, forests, beaches and rock formations, with various visitor-friendly towns and villages along the way. The road itself has a fascinating history, having been built by more than 3,000 returning servicemen after World War One – partly as a tribute to their fallen comrades. Their legacy is a road trip that draws travellers from across the world.
Lesser-known alternative: By opting for one of Audley’s self-drive holidays, you’ll find the map opens up with all manner of enticing road-trip options. One of the most appealing is the Southwest Loop in Western Australia, a 1,050km tour taking in the sights and seascapes south of Perth. Combining history, wildlife and coastal thrills – as well as one of the best wine regions in the whole of the country – it’s a joy to discover. Audley’s Southwest Uncovered itinerary focuses on the same, richly rewarding region.
Sprawling across the wilderness north of Adelaide, the mighty peaks and valleys of the Flinders Ranges are an ancient part of the national landscape – not to mention the largest mountain range in South Australia. The rugged drama of the area makes it popular with hikers, wildlife-lovers and road-trippers, many of whom head for the natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound, a giant crater rim looming above the plains. The ranges stretch for around 400km from north to south, with picturesque villages, Aboriginal sites and bushwalks to enjoy as you travel across the map.
Lesser-known alternative: Many visitors to Australia overlook the myriad joys of Tasmania, but the island state is one of the most enjoyable – and most beautiful – destinations in the entire country. Among its highlights is the incredible Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, an area of breathtaking mountain views and phenomenal walking trails. On Audley’s Classic Tasmania Self-drive tour you’ll see first-hand what makes the area so special, and the itinerary also includes time in the jaw-dropping coastal surrounds of Freycinet National Park.
Audley can make your dreams of visiting Australia a reality. Audley’s specialists will help you connect with Australia’s Aboriginal and Indigenous people, who remain the guardians of the oldest continuous culture on the planet. It’s chosen experiences that are authentic, respectful, and responsible — whether you’re exploring rock-art galleries with your Kuku Yalanji guide in Queensland, or learning about traditional Koori bushtucker in New South Wales.
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