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.
The Outback may not immediately come to mind as a great place to take children, but in reality it has much to offer to families and can also be an affordable but exciting roadtrip. Many kids love following the dinosaur trail, and seeing these massive creatures brought to life is enough to awe the most imaginative of minds. For many kids, reliving life in the old west is a dream come true, so visiting a station and learning how to do ranch chores and ride horses is a fun and exciting way to enjoy the region. It can also be great for burning off all the excess energy that kids seem to pack with them! If a stay at a station isn’t quite what you are looking for, try a visit to the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, where visitors can learn about the past through interactive displays, and also a show that includes working dogs, horses, mules, and authentic Outback stockmen.
The Min Min Encounter, in Boulia, gives visitors a show unlike any other, complete with fibre optics and special effects. It tells the true story of the Min Min light, a ghostly light that residents of the area have claimed to have seen for more than seventy years. If traveling with smaller children, the Tambo Teddies workshop may be more appropriate. Here you can watch the famous teddy bears being made from scratch. The Bilbies Centre in Charleville is home to Queensland’s most endangered species, a loveable little marsupial that is being bred at the centre as part of the effort to save the animals.
Older children will enjoy the Cosmos Centre and Observatory in Charleville, where they can enjoy films about the universe and at nighttime view the skies up close. The Qantas Founders Outback Museum in Longreach is an aviation museum full of interactive displays that are sure to please children of all ages.
While Cairns is the northern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Coast and Bundaberg are considered to be the southern gateway, and are worthy of a visit in their own right. This pristine, nature-filled area is a wonderful getaway and a great way to explore the natural wonders of reef life, including the large numbers of turtles who arrive at Mon Repos every year to nest and hatch their eggs.
Australia luxury travel is what awaits visitors to Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay island in the Great Barrier Reef. The island is home to many species of wildlife, including a large Manta Ray population. Because of the fragile nature of the ecosystem, the only accommodation is a world-class eco-resort that offers visitors several beaches, restaurants, and activities include reef walking, tours of the reef, diving, and stargazing.
For a more affordable Australian vacation that includes intimately experiencing the Great Barrier Reef, try visiting Lady Musgrove Island. Visitors can take boat cruises in order to explore the island for the day, or spend a few nights camping on the beach. Only fifty campers are allowed at a time, and campers must bring all equipment, including fresh water, with them. Since the island is a very sensitive ecosystem, all precautions must be taken to ensure a light footprint. However, this can be an affordable way to truly explore the wonders of the reef on your own terms.
Bundaberg is the main city in the area, and offers visitors a wide range of activities besides cruises out to the Great Barrier Reef. Local attractions include the Alexandra Park and Zoo, the Fairymead House Sugar Museum, and of course, no visit would be complete without a trip to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery and a taste of their world-famous liquor. There are also several local parks and gardens, and only a few miles from town is the Sloping Hummock, a dormant volcano that offers beautiful nighttime views of the area.
