If you’re looking for an Australian luxury vacation package, it doesn’t get much better than a visit to the Whitsundays region of Queensland. Here you can experience the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef in as luxurious accommodations as you can afford. The Whitsundays area is home to an amazing seventy-four separate islands, some of which are home to exclusive and private resorts where guests can immerse themselves in luxury while enjoying the unique setting of the Great Barrier Reef.
With warm, tropical temperatures, crystal clear water, and an incredible array of sealife, it’s no wonder that this area has so many resorts. If island life suits you, try the five star boutique hotel, the Beach Club, on Hamilton Island, the area’s largest inhabited island. Looking for something a little more private? Check out the Hayman Island Resort. As the only facilities on the island, this five star resort offers luxurious rooms, lovely gardens, and a unique swimming pool. There is no end of things to do on the island, both outdoor and water activities as well as in the resort’s spa.
If staying on the mainland seems more your speed, the resort town of Airlie Beach offers no end of fantastic accommodation. The Martinique Whitsundays resort is known as one of the best, and its unique architecture was inspired by the French Caribbean style. Just entering the resort is a journey in itself, as guests make their way into the lobby via a walkway over the pool. The exclusive Coral Sea Resort is another fantastic facility with luxury apartments and penthouses, two swimming pools, and unique dining.
Travelers can also enjoy trips to the Great Barrier Reef in utter luxury due to the wealth of luxury cruises available in the area. Whether you wish to travel by yacht, catamaran, or on the fastest vessel in the harbour, the ReefJet, you’ll find what you are looking for here. Helicopter flights over the region are also popular.
Most visitors to Australia dream of exploring the outback but find themselves quite daunted by its treacherous reputation. Luckily, there are now many Australian vacation packages that make visiting the Queensland Outback easy, and with the comfort of luxury travel as well.
Because it was once part of a huge inland sea, the Outback is particularly rich in dinosaur fossils. Vacationers looking to experience Australia’s ancient past will want to head out on the Dinosaur Trail, a tour of the area that hits all the major prehistoric attractions. Visit museums in Hughenden, Richmond, and Winton, as well as the Riversleigh Fossil Centre in Mount Isa. The Lark Quarry Trackways is home to the largest fossilized dinosaur stampede. In certain areas you can even dig for your own fossils or, if you are interested in a truly unique experience, join an organized dig.
Another outback must is a visit to a local pub. Long known for their quirky atmosphere and colorful regulars, these pubs have been immortalized in movies and popular culture and are a great way to really get to understand the local culture of the Outback. Another fantastic way to enjoy Outback culture is on a station stay. Similar to a dude ranch, these stations raise cattle and sheep, and offer visitors a chance to try their hand at such chores as sheep shearing, mustering, and fencing. Most offer extensive horse-back riding as well, allowing visitors to explore the land in a unique way.
Those who enjoy four-wheel-driving and fishing will find an abundance of possibilities in the Outback. The area is home to more than twenty national parks, giving visitors an excellent opportunity to explore the outdoors. Alternatively, the area can be toured simply for its heritage attractions. In any case, making the trek into the Outback has never been easier and once there, visitors will be sure to find a unique Australian vacation experience.
For a seaside day trip, nothing can beat the scenic Cook Highway from Cairns up to Port Douglas. Along the way you’ll drive along the coast as well as through large sugar cane fields. Just outside of Cairns you’ll pass through a wonderful network of beaches with fabulous accommodations, restaurants, and golf courses. Swimming here is very popular, although beware of stingers and jellyfish from November to May when swimmers should stay inside netted enclosures.
Further up the coast you’ll see the quaint Palm Cove with its palm tree lined streets and grassy, landscaped beachfront properties. Palm Cove is a relaxed beachtown where visitors can enjoy swimming and tanning on the beautiful beach, golfing at the local course, and horse-back riding, especially sunset beach rides. Wild World is a local wildlife park and kangaroos still thrive here in the wild.
An interesting side trip from the Cook Highway is to the town of Kuranda, a little further inland. Karanda is a small village in the midst of a rainforest and is a very popular destination for tourists. To get to the village requires taking either the Kuranda train or the Skyrail cablecar, or some combination of the two. Once there, visit the Aviary, where you can walk through the birds’ enclosures or the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary where you can view the famous tropical butterflies of the region. Other highlights include the Rainforest Walk and river boat cruises.
Finally, Port Douglas is a wonderful place to get away from it all. A beautiful seaside town, here you can enjoy cruises to the Great Barrier Reef, a trip to the award winning wildlife park, Rainforest Habitat, or the markets held every Sunday. The more adventurous can take part in adventure water sports, and others can spend a lazy afternoon on the beach or taking in a round of golf.
