G’Day Mates!
Imagine, a three week hiatus across Australia. You fly into Sydney where you stay a few nights in luxury accommodations with sensational views of Sydney Harbour. You embark on a small group tour that includes a gentle hike into the Blue Mountains where you’ll be wonderstruck by the unique landscape. Only impeccable timing allows you to partake in the traditions of Anzac Day and learn a local bar game that is only legal to play on this holiday! Try enjoying your first couple of stubbies (cold beer) here at Sydney’s oldest pub dating back into the 1820’s. Plenty of time remains to venture on your own and learn about the intriguing origins of Sydney, tour the Sydney Opera House, complete the Sydney Harbour bridge climb, cruise through Sydney Harbour, shop souvies, try Emu pizza and visit the world’s second largest zoo, the Australian Zoo, second only to the one in San Diego.
Next, you will depart Sydney on a short domestic flight into Cairns (pronounced CAAAANS) where the adventurous rent a car. And yes folks, you will learned to drive on the right hand side of the car and the left hand side of the road just like I did. No worries, it only takes a few minutes to adjust. And I did it all without so much as a love tap (fender bender), even through the round-a-bouts (red lights) whew!
Nearly a thousand miles in five days You start by trekking across the waterfall circuit on your way to your relaxing accommodations in an immersive setting within the Botanical Ark region where you might encounter a wild Cassowary. Imagine awaking to the striking sounds of the eastern whip bird while experiencing rare and unusual wildlife not found anywhere else in the world! Time remains to explore the region perhaps meeting some locals (feed some nearby Wallabies, see a platypus, engage with kangaroos that just happen to live on a golf course) and try some of their world famous cuisine like vegemite.
Next you will head north to Port Douglas taking in sights along the way. Thousands of flying fox (bats) greet on your way to luxury beachfront accommodations. For you foodies, this is the place to go exotic. Try the chips (prawns with their heads on them), Roo filet, pork belly tacos, and the local catch of the day. Finish it off with the best ever chocolate dessert! The following day is your chance to get out on the open waters for a day filled snorkeling/diving along the unforgettable Great Barrier Reef! No worries land lubbers, you’ll have a day to hit the road for some walkabouts through the Daintree rainforest where the original Jurassic Park was filmed. Next Stop, perhaps a local tourist trap, where you observe Salty’s (crocodiles), an Emu, and even feed a Cassowary before heading back south to Cairns!
Next you will take another domestic flight from Cairns to Ayers Rock a.k.a. the Red Center for a luxurious stay in the Australian Outback. The Red Center offers a spiritual connection with the Aboriginee people and their sacred grounds of Uluru “Ayers Rock” and Kata Tjuta. You will learn more about the indigenous people of Australia. If you’re lucky enough you could witness a private concert of a man playing a didgeridoo and / or The “Field of Lights”, which is an immersive artistic array by British artist Bruce Munro, while on display. You will be awestruck stargazing at the Australian night sky from the outback where the Milky Way is on prominent display!
Finally, you will take another domestic flight from Ayers Rock down to Melbourne (pronounced MEL_BUN). Consistently named “Most Livable City in the World”. Experience a unique blend of sports, world class restaurants and rooftop bars, art, and captivating museums! This part of the journey is more of a trendy city-scape with one exception, the parade of the Blue Penguins of Phillip Island. A privately guide tour will get you the closest to these little guys as they make their daily trip inland and back to their homes for a good nights sleep!
So much to explore … so little time … you will need more!
This itinerary maximized my time in Australia but there is still so many other parts to see and explore like Darwin, Perth and Rottnest Island (home of the happiest animal on earth), Canberra, and the festivals of Adelaide just to name a few. There is surely another trip to Australia on this Luxologist’s horizon!
Dreaming of a similar experience … Destiny has introduced you the World of Luxology Travel!
Cheers II Big Ears!
Joe Meggison
Luxologist
“Travel like a Local”