Our Australia expert, Winnie, has 25 years’ experience creating tours to Australia. Here you can read about one of her recent trips there and why Australia is so close to her heart.
It hits me already in the airport. The smell of eucalyptus. No matter where in the world I am, the smell of eucalyptus or “gum trees” as the Australians call it, sends me right back Down Under, where I once spent so much of my time.
Finally, I am back and the excitement of once again, standing under Sydney Harbour Bridge with the view to the beautiful Opera house is bubbling inside me.
Sydney is, in my opinion, one of the world’s most beautifully located cities. It is built around a large harbour, which is dotted with beautiful bays and beaches. Here you are never far from a peaceful little spot where you can sit and enjoy the sun and light breeze. A few kilometres from the city centre is the Royal National Park, which is full of good hiking trails and picturesque views of the harbour. And then Sydney is a big cosmopolitan city in every sense of the word. Good restaurants, wine bars, shopping and loads of museums, so there is lots to do for history-fanatics like myself. The locals here are happy, smiley, and welcoming – it makes me think that the many hours of sunshine every day must help give you a positive mindset.
From Sydney, I travel on to Australia’s red centre. It is probably one of the things, I love the most about Australia. The contrasts. I love flying from a bustling large city by the water to the centre, where everything is red, and the earth is as dry as sandpaper. There is still blue here – now from the sky, which is larger here than anywhere else in the world. The endless expanses of nothing both excite and frighten me, and I am constantly fascinated by how people have survived here for thousands of years before the first Europeans came.
Seeing a sunset and a sunrise over Uluru are an absolute must when I am here. The feeling of standing in the middle of nothing and seeing the sun go down or over a big red rock is almost mythical in many ways. The place is very sacred to the indigenous people and during sunset, when Uluru is lit up in shades of red and orange, I can understand why.
The tour ends in Cairns. Again, another contrasting destination. From dry, red bush to the tropical north, where palm trees stand tall and act as homes for the most colourful birds I have ever seen. Here in Cairns, there is access to the Great Barrier Reef – the world’s largest coral reef. This is an entirely different world, with corals every colour of the rainbow and fish, I’ve only even seen in cartoons.
Back at my hotel, I end the day with a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc from the country’s oldest wine district, the Hunter Valley and I know why it is that I will forever love Australia.
Winnie,
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
Discover Australia’s amazing contrasts. From the country’s two largest cities Melbourne and Sydney to the red desert and Uluru. Round off in tropical Cairns and visit the Great Barrier Reef or the world’s oldest rainforest.
The absolute classic Australia tour with city experiences in Sydney, a visit to Uluru in the red heart of Australia, and tropical Cairns with the possibility of experiencing the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s oldest rainforest.
Discover Australia’s 3 largest cities, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Spice up the tour with excursions and get right up close to nature, culture and history while making the most of the city comforts.
Travel to Australia in your summer holiday. The climate in the northern part of the country is perfect, with warm days, cool nights and low humidity. In Sydney, you may be lucky enough to see some whales!
The grand tour is for those wishing to see it all in one go! It offers a whole host of experiences – and plenty of freedom to put your own mark on the tour to make it just the way you want it.
Look forward to making a stop in fabulous Singapore, before continuing to the amazing contrasts of Australia. Melbourne, Sydney and the red desert await you Down Under, before the tour rounds off in tropical Cairns.
Start out with a couple of days in the vibrant metropolis of Singapore before the tour continues Down Under. Look forward to beautiful Sydney, a visit to Uluru in the red heart of Australia, and tropical Cairns. Option to extend the tour to include a beach holiday or national park experiences.
Come on a self-drive adventure along one of the world’s most scenic stretches of coastline, the Great Ocean Road. Experience the country’s two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney, the endless red desert with Uluru, and round off with relaxation in tropical surroundings in Cairns.
Discover Sydney and Brisbane followed by a self-drive tour on Australia’s east coast. Look forward to sights such as the world’s largest sand island, K’gari, the scenic Whitsunday Islands National Park and the beach resort of Port Douglas.
Your adventure begins in New Zealand, immersing you in Maori culture, geothermal wonders, mountain lakes, and glaciers, before continuing on to Australia. Here, you’ll experience the vibrant city of Sydney, the striking red outback at Uluru, and finish your journey in tropical Cairns.
Discover Australia’s amazing contrasts. From the country’s two largest cities Melbourne and Sydney to the red desert and Uluru. Round off in tropical Cairns and visit the Great Barrier Reef or the world’s oldest rainforest.
The absolute classic Australia tour with city experiences in Sydney, a visit to Uluru in the red heart of Australia, and tropical Cairns with the possibility of experiencing the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s oldest rainforest.
Discover Australia’s 3 largest cities, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Spice up the tour with excursions and get right up close to nature, culture and history while making the most of the city comforts.
Travel to Australia in your summer holiday. The climate in the northern part of the country is perfect, with warm days, cool nights and low humidity. In Sydney, you may be lucky enough to see some whales!
The grand tour is for those wishing to see it all in one go! It offers a whole host of experiences – and plenty of freedom to put your own mark on the tour to make it just the way you want it.
Look forward to making a stop in fabulous Singapore, before continuing to the amazing contrasts of Australia. Melbourne, Sydney and the red desert await you Down Under, before the tour rounds off in tropical Cairns.
Start out with a couple of days in the vibrant metropolis of Singapore before the tour continues Down Under. Look forward to beautiful Sydney, a visit to Uluru in the red heart of Australia, and tropical Cairns. Option to extend the tour to include a beach holiday or national park experiences.
Come on a self-drive adventure along one of the world’s most scenic stretches of coastline, the Great Ocean Road. Experience the country’s two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney, the endless red desert with Uluru, and round off with relaxation in tropical surroundings in Cairns.
Discover Sydney and Brisbane followed by a self-drive tour on Australia’s east coast. Look forward to sights such as the world’s largest sand island, K’gari, the scenic Whitsunday Islands National Park and the beach resort of Port Douglas.
Your adventure begins in New Zealand, immersing you in Maori culture, geothermal wonders, mountain lakes, and glaciers, before continuing on to Australia. Here, you’ll experience the vibrant city of Sydney, the striking red outback at Uluru, and finish your journey in tropical Cairns.
