SELLING
AUSTRALIA Inspiring those who sell travel
Dreaming of Ozzzz The journey starts here: wild adventures and unforgettable experiences
Road Tripping in Western Australia • Luxury Red Centre • Brisbane • My Journey: Hobart • Indigenous Experiences • Light Fantastic • Sydney ISSUE 2: 2026 SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK
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DISCOVER MORE
AUSTRALIA by Train 2027 SELLING FAST Experience the awe-inspiring landscapes of Australia’s Red Centre travelling between Darwin and Adelaide aboard The Ghan, one of the world’s most iconic train journeys.
DARWIN
The Ghan Expedition
Katherine
NT
Uluru
Manguri
3 The Ghan Expedition Alice Springs
SA
Coober Pedy
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DARWIN TO ADELAIDE 4 DAYS |
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Enjoy all-inclusive multi-course dining, premium beverages and immersive Off Train Experiences, with the option to upgrade to a scenic flight showcasing the beauty of Uluru.
Train Journey Optional Upgrade
Visit journeybeyondrail.com.au to learn more, or speak with your preferred Travel Partner to book your clients’ Australian rail journey.
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Contents
Inside this issue 04 Welcome &
06
What’s New
06 Feature: Luxury in the Top End
12 Feature: My Journey: Hobart, Tasmania
14
Feature: Indigenous Experiences
18 22
16 What’s New: Sydney 18 Feature: The Lights Fantastic From Coast to Coast
22
City Profile: Brisbane
24 Feature: Road Tripping in Western Australia
24
27 How to Sell: The Northern Territory
12 14
27 SELLING
AUSTRALIA
Editor: Steve Hartridge • Contributing Writers: Lauren Jarvis, Rashmi Narayan, Charlotte Flach, Stuart Forster • Editorial Director: Steve Hartridge • Group Editor: Bev Fearis • Digital Editor: April Waterston • Publisher: David Wilcox • Circulation Manager: Shani Kunar • Managing Director: Matt Bonner • CEO: Martin Steady • Designers: Colette Denham & Liz Paterson • Operations Director: Clare Hunter • Production Administrator: Steve Hunter • Cover Image: Tourism Australia. Selling Australia is produced by Selling Travel ©BMI PUBLISHING LTD 2026. 501 The Residence, No. 1 Alexandra Terrace, Guildford, GU1 3DA, uk. T: 020 8649 7233 enquiries@bmipublishing.co.uk While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, BMI Publishing Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.
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Welcome
G’DAY!
Welcome to this latest edition of Selling Australia. This trade guide is packed with inspiration to help you sell the very best of Down Under— from authentic and immersive Indigenous experiences to sustainable wildlife encounters, iconic road trips, luxury experiences in the Red Centre, a journey around Tasmania and more. As always, Australia offers something for everyone – it’s the ultimate destination for clients craving adventure, genuine relaxation and unforgettable discovery. Our ‘Decade of Green and Gold’, which is bringing major global sporting events to our shores, continues. Highlights include the special one-off cricket match (March 11-15, 2027), to mark the 150th anniversary of the first-ever test match played between Australia and England. The game will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for that first encounter in 1877. Next year will also see the men’s Rugby World Cup played out from coast to coast – and the packed calendar of sporting events will continue right through to the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane. Thank you to the Selling Travel team for creating this special issue, which allows us to share our news and latest stories with you. We hope it will go a long way towards helping you share with your clients why we’re always keen to extend an invitation to British travellers to Come & Say G’day! Andrew Boxall, Regional General Manager United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Europe, Tourism Australia
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PUDDLEHUB
AUSTRALIA - THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR ADVENTURE
Tassie showcase of excellence TASMANIA’S food and literary excellence comes into its own during the UK autumn with several events that attract international celebrities. Culinary presenter and author Nigella Lawson will headline the 2026 Tamar Valley Writers Festival (October 15–19, 2026), an event that showcases Tasmania as a world-class destination for literature, gastronomy and culture. Tourism Tasmania CEO Sarah Kingston Clark said: “Nigella inspires home cooks, food lovers and readers and we’re delighted she’ll be sharing her passion for food, storytelling and conversation in a destination where all three are such an important part of who we are.” For a full list Tasmania’s bumper calendar of spring festivals and events, see discovertasmania.com.
Flights options increase and go the distance A SIGNIFICANT uplift in airlift will make it easier for Brits planning a holiday Down Under in 2027. British Airways will begin a daily service to Melbourne from January 9, 2027, marking the airline’s return to the city for the first time since 2006.
The year-round route will operate via Kuala Lumpur, using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Finnair will also launch a service to Melbourne in October. Meanwhile, Qantas has delayed its nonstop service from London to Sydney – a 20–21-hour flight – until October 2027.
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Rawnsle
News
New Sydney airport ready for take off
THE Alice Springs School of the Air marks its 75th anniversary this year and is inviting travellers to see how the world’s first remote school reaches students across the Northern Territory’s vast Red Centre from its base in Alice Springs. Visitors looking for a glimpse into the everyday lives of those living away from Australia’s main urban areas can drop in to the visitor centre to watch live lessons being broadcast to students across the outback, and hear the children’s stories of life on the land. Teachers run three lessons daily, in English, Maths, Science, the Arts and Physical Education. Described as “the world’s largest classroom”, the school covers more than 1.3 million sq km. Lessons, lasting 30 to 60 minutes, are beamed via high-speed broadband and satellite from seven digital studios. assoa.nt.edu.au
PASSENGER services at Sydney’s brand-new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport are on course to begin on October 25, 2026. The airport, located about 40 kilometres from the city centre, will operate 24 hours a day – unlike Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which has a night curfew. The first scheduled passenger flight will be a Jetstar service to the Gold Coast, with flights to Brisbane and Melbourne also planned. Air New Zealand is due to begin international services the following day, while Qantas plans to transfer some domestic flights there from March 28, 2027. Reports suggest the Sydney Metro-Western Sydney Airport line, connecting the city centre with the airport, is expected to open in 2028.
F
SKELTON STUDIO
Visitors can tune in to distance learning
JOURNEY Beyond has acquired one of Australia’s most recognisable hotels. Located in the Northern Territory’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, the 110-room Crocodile Hotel is shaped to represent Kakadu’s most famous resident. Journey Beyond also operates other Northern Territory icons, including The Ghan and Ayers Rock Resort.
Vines to Outback Australia’s Ultimate Twin-Centre Journey
or clients wanting to experience the very best of South Australia beyond Adelaide, this four-night itinerary combines two iconic stays into one easy-to-sell self-drive journey. Stay amongst the vines Nestled in the heart of the Barossa Valley, Barossa Shiraz Estate’s luxury cottages provide a peaceful base to explore world-class wineries, artisan producers and gourmet experiences. Your clients will wake to vineyard views before discovering one of Australia’s most celebrated wine regions at your own pace. Experience the Australian Outback A scenic 4.5 hour drive takes you to Rawnsley Park
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Station, a working sheep station overlooking Wilpena Pound. Stay in award-winning Eco Villas, recommend that they join guided 4WD tours, scenic flights or walks through the Flinders Ranges, then end the day beneath some of Australia’s clearest night skies. The itinerary blends food, wine, wildlife and outback adventure into one memorable holiday. Plan your clients’ South Australia’s Wine, Wildlife and Outback adventure with Audley Travel’s 10-day self-drive itinerary, featuring Adelaide, the Barossa, Clare Valley, Kangaroo Island and the Flinders Ranges. Call Audley Travel on 01993 462054 to book South Australia’s Wine, Wildlife and Outback itinerary for your clients.
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Feature
C O M F O R T
Z O N E S
red centre The wildly beautiful Red Centre lies at Australia’s geographical – and spiritual – heart, offering unforgettable luxury experiences found nowhere else on Earth, says Lauren Jarvis
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Feature
Kata Tjuta, Longitude 131 offers guests a luxury desert stay, with 16 large tented pavilions, nestled among the red desert dunes but with elevated views. Dine on native-inspired dishes in the Dune House restaurant, cool off in the swimming pool, or head to the spa for a treatment infused with ingredients from the bush. Longitude’s hospitality team designs bespoke itineraries, so whether you want to join a guided walk of Kata Tjuta, take a helicopter flight from the lodge’s helipad or dine in the desert as the sun sets over Uluru, there’s a luxe experience for you. 2
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between Darwin and Adelaide, passing through Australia’s vast interior and the Red Centre. In service since the 1930s, The Ghan celebrates the Golden Age of train travel, with fine dining in The Platinum Club Lounge or Queen Adelaide Restaurant and stylish cabins, including the new luxury Australis and Aurora Suites, which were introduced in April 2026. Guests choose from all-inclusive one-, two- or three-night journeys, with the full expedition taking four days and offering the chance to explore Katherine and Nitmiluk Gorge, Alice Springs, Manguri and Coober Pedy on off-train excursions.
TRAVEL THE RED CENTRE BY TRAIN
One of the world’s iconic railway journeys, The Ghan travels 1,851 miles
TOURISM NT
With breathtaking views of Uluru and
“Uluru and Kata Tjuta are huge draws for UK travellers. We recommend at least two nights in the Red Centre”
TOURISM NT
TOP EXPERIENCES 1 SLEEP WITH A VIEW OF ULURU
TOURISM NT
W
ith just one major urban centre – the legendary Outback town of Alice Springs – and miles of vast red desert sands and dunes, the Northern Territory’s Red Centre is a near-mythical land, where ancient Aboriginal stories take flight and Australia’s remarkable native wildlife runs wild and free. “What truly sets the NT apart is its profound spiritual connection to Country, shared through 65,000 years of Aboriginal culture. This is Australia unfiltered, raw and real — a place that’s different in every sense,” says Suzana Bishop, Chief Executive Officer, Department of Tourism and Hospitality. And with plenty of bespoke luxury experiences on offer, the Red Centre is perfect for those who value culture, nature and connection over crowds. At the Red Centre’s heart lies the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with Watarrka National Park, home to Kings Canyon, a few hours away and Ayers Rock Airport offering easy access with flights from major Australian cities. “Uluru and Kata Tjuta are huge draws for UK travellers, and we recommend booking early and spending at least two nights in the Red Centre, as there is so much to see and do, from Segway tours to dot-painting experiences and walks with local Aboriginal guides, which is an amazing, humbling experience,” says Ali Hampton, Destination Manager for the First Class Travel Group.
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INDULGE IN A NATIVE HIGH TEA
The luxury five-star Sails in the Desert at Ayers Rock Resort offers guests an afternoon treat with a difference, incorporating local bush foods into its Australian Native High Tea. With ingredients sourced from the Central Australian desert, the feast includes a selection of sweet and savoury petit fours celebrating native ingredients, served with gourmet teas, coffee, and optional Australian sparkling wines. Enjoy tarts, sandwiches and wraps, including a Bush Dukkah, Persian feta, roasted pumpkin, Warrigal greens and pickled radicchio slider, followed by dreamy desserts such as the Uluru Saltbush Caramel Tim Tam and
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PAINT WITH ABORIGINAL ARTISTS
Based at the Cultural Centre inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Maruku Arts champions Aboriginal artists and offers immersive cultural experiences on Country, including guided tours and art classes. Guests join an Indigenous Anangu guide for a walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole at the base of Uluru to see ancient cave paintings and learn about the key symbols in Aboriginal art and storytelling. They then create their own A5 canvas while sharing their own stories with the artist. The centre also offers dot-painting and wood-carving sessions, as well as workshops on bush medicine, dancing and tools. maruku.com.au 6
DINE ON A DESERT DUNE
Ayers Rock Resort’s award-winning Sounds of Silence offers an exclusive four-hour outdoor dining experience on a secluded sand dune, with incredible views of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the desert. The Tali Wiru experience is limited to just 20 guests a night, who arrive for sunset and enjoy canapés and drinks, before sitting down to a four-course table d’hôte dinner, paired with premium wines from Australian vineyard Penfolds. With dishes that showcase native bush foods and ancient culinary techniques,
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Tali Wiru (which means ‘beautiful dune’ in the Indigenous Pitjantjatjara language) features 99% Australiansourced ingredients, including saltbush and quandong from the resort’s own gardens.
“Limited to just 20 guests a night, the Tali Wiru experience includes a four-course dinner” 7
HIKE THE MACDONNELL RANGES
For those who like to hike but have a comfortable bed at the end of the day, the Tasmanian Walking Company’s Larapinta Signature Walk ticks the box. Running 140 miles through the rugged West MacDonnell Ranges outside Alice Springs, the Larapinta Trail passes through stunning landscapes including red, rugged plateaux and secluded waterholes – perfect for a cooling dip. On the six-day guided hike, you’ll cover 40 miles of the trail on day hikes, returning each evening to a luxury camp within the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park for drinks, dinner and stargazing.
BOOK IT WITH... First Class Holidays has a 15-night Discover the Outback option that includes: return flights from the UK; 13
days’ inclusive intermediate SUV rental; two nights at Ayers Rock; two nights at Kings Canyon; two nights at Alice Springs; a night at Tennant Creek; two nights at Katherine; two nights at Kakadu National Park with breakfast and dinner; three nights at Darwin; Uluru Sunset Tour; Sunrise Kata Tjuta tour; Uluru Sunrise and Field of Lights tour; Katherine Gorge flightseeing tour; Guluyambi Cultural Cruise and Arnhem Land tour. fcholidays.com Gold Medal offers a luxury Northern Territory itinerary combining international and domestic flights, transfers and car hire. The 10-night journey includes stays at DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs, Finniss River Lodge in Rakula, Cicada Lodge in Katherine and Mindil Beach Resort in Darwin, plus three nights allinclusive at Longitude 131° at Uluṟu, with experiences and national park fees. goldmedal.co.uk
Pictured: Main image: Walpa Gorge Kata Tjuta; Second page: Luxury aboard The Ghan; Longitude 131 offers guests a luxury desert stay; This page: Maruku Arts champions Aboriginal artists and offers immersive cultural experiences on Country; A picnic with fizz in the West MacDonnell Ranges outside of Alice Springs; Finniss River Lodge in Rakula, about 128–130km southwest of Darwin
TOURISM AUSTRALIA
Lemon Myrtle Scones with Whipped Cream and Quandong Jam. trade.voyages.com.au
TOURISM NT
TOURISM AUSTRALIA
Feature
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LUCKY BAY, CAPE LE GRAND
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Why upskill in Australia? Travellers Love Australia Australia is consistently voted one of the most desired destinations on earth. Grow your sales Agents sell 35% higher value bookings to Australia after qualifying as an Aussie Specialist.
Why become an Aussie Specialist? The Aussie Specialist Program has been expertly-designed, consists of short, interactive online training courses. It is built to help increase your expertise and confidence in selling Australia over time. Benefits include: • Interactive training courses, continuously updated and new courses added. • Access to monthly webinars, short video content and our newsletters. • Access to useful tools and resources, such as destinations guides, suggested itineraries and more.
Greater than one sale
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62% of leisure travellers, return within 5 years. Sell one trip, and you can sell two!
• Become part of our global community of experts and connect with other Aussie Specialists.
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Register at: aussiespecialist.com
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A U S T R A L I A ’ S
I S L A N D
S T A T E
TA S M A N I A
Consider Tasmania, with its many attractions packed into an area the size of Ireland, as a standalone destination or a must-stop on a multi-destination trip Why sell Tasmania Located just off Australia’s south-eastern tip, nearly half of heart-shaped Tasmania is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage wilderness, national park or reserve. It has four distinct seasons, wildlife found nowhere else, food, wines and whiskies that compete on the world stage, and a museum that draws visitors from around the globe. And all these experiences are close together, which makes it practical for clients with limited time. A strong run of recent recognition is useful for client conversations. Tasmania ranked #2 Best Island in Australasia and South Pacific by Condé Nast Traveller UK in 2025. Hobart is the only Australian city on Expedia’s 2026 Destinations of the Year list, while The Bay of Fires took #1 Best Beach in Australia from Tourism Australia in 2025, and Time Out UK included Tasmania in the world’s 33 most underrated destinations. Getting there is easy. From the UK, clients fly into Melbourne or Sydney
and connect to Hobart in the south or Launceston in the north in one to two hours. With up to 40 connecting flights a day from Australia’s gateway cities, Tasmania works well both as a week’s extension to an Australian itinerary or as a standalone trip.
Who to sell to Tasmania’s broad appeal means agents can match different elements of the destination to the right client. Wildlife enthusiasts can see Tasmanian devils, wombats, wallabies, pademelons, penguins and platypus in their wild habitat, while wildlife sanctuaries offer sightings and up-close experiences. For active clients, Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks take in landscapes that include ancient rainforest, alpine lakes, white-sand beaches and the tallest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere. Multi-day epics like the Overland Track at Cradle Mountain entice serious hikers while Derby, in the north east, has some of Australia’s best mountain biking.
TOURISM TASMANIA; KATHRYN LEAHY
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For food and drink obsessives, Tasmania has over 70 whisky distilleries (more than any other Australian state), world-leading cool-climate sparkling wines and pinot noir, and a paddock-toplate culture that runs through the whole island, from Sunday farmers’ markets to Michelin-worthy restaurants. For curious culture-seekers, the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), is carved into sandstone cliffs above Hobart’s River Derwent. It’s one of the most talked-about cultural institutions in the world – it’s truly unlike anything else. For couples or even small groups with time to explore, Tasmania rewards slow travel: it’s unhurried, friendly, yet still feels like a genuine discovery.
What to sell Tasmanian itineraries can range from a focused five-day trip to well over a week, depending on how much clients want to explore – and most visitors leave wishing they’d allowed more time! Hobart, the compact capital, is the starting point for most. Mona is 25 minutes by river ferry; Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary (for devil and wombat encounters) is a 30-minute drive; while convict settlement, Port Arthur Historic Site, a World Heritage destination, is 90 minutes from the capital. Accommodation: Macq01, Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart and Crowne Plaza Hobart. From northern Tasmania’s gateway city, Launceston, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, wine-focused clients will want to visit Josef Chromy and House of Arras (Australia’s most awarded sparkling wine). Then follow the Tasting
Pictured: Main image: Wineglass Bay, situated within Freycinet National Park on the east coast of Tasmania. Above: white-sand beach at Cosy Corner, Bay of Fires Conservation Area; a wombat at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, near Hobart; Left: Looking towards the Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart
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Partner content
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
MATTHEW DONOVAN
Trail to Cradle Mountain, in the north west, for the jagged peak above Dove Lake, wilderness walks and Devils@ Cradle experiences. Accommodation: Peppers Silo Hotel, Cradle Mountain Lodge, Discovery Resorts – Cradle Mountain. The east coast and Freycinet Peninsula is built around water and wildlife. The evening penguin tour at Bicheno, where little penguins (the world’s smallest) come ashore to their burrows, works for all ages. Further south, Wineglass Bay is reached via a two-and-a-half-hour return walk through Freycinet National Park. The views are worth the climb. Ecocruises from Coles Bay take clients along the peninsula, regularly spotting dolphins, seals and seabirds, while Freycinet Air offers scenic flights for the full aerial perspective. Accommodation: Freycinet Lodge, Edge
What’s new “Pumphouse Point has • Pumphouse Point has added two two new lakeside retreats new lakeside retreats at Lake St Clair, at Lake St. Clair, Australia’s Australia’s deepest lake • Picnic Island – a private island off deepest lake” Freycinet National Park – has reopened of the Bay, Saffire Freycinet, Little Beach Co, Picnic Island. The west coast suits clients who want real wilderness. Gordon River Cruises from Strahan is a full-day experience through World Heritage waterways with stops among ancient Huon pines. Par Avion Wilderness Tours runs scenic flights and overnights in the remote Southwest National Park. The West Coast Wilderness Railway is a historic rack railway that winds through rainforest and dramatic mountain scenery between Queenstown and Strahan. Accommodation: Risby Cove, Strahan Village, Pumphouse Point.
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JORDAN WILSON
after major upgrades, offering exclusive stays for two to eight guests, with a private chef, daily curated experiences and fully off-grid, sustainable operations • Callington Mill Distillery has opened a new lounge bar and dining room on Hobart’s historic harbourfront for tastings and cocktails of its world-class whiskies and gins. • An addition to Tourism Australia’s Cultural Attractions of Australia collective, the West Coast Wilderness Railway has launched new journeys, including Beyond the Line premium small group experience and A Moving Feast on the Cryptic Express ride and dine collaboration with Agrarian Kitchen.
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My Journey
Hobart, Tasmania A stay in Australia’s southermost capital reveals a fascinating heritage, cultural attractions and a caring approach to its resident wildlife, says Steve Hartridge
T
asmania is the roadkill capital of Australia,” says Des, my taxi driver, as we head from the airport to downtown Hobart. “RSPCA Tasmania reckons that around 30 animals are killed every hour on our roads. We don’t have many of the predators found on the mainland, such as foxes, and our native marsupial populations are incredibly dense. “Possums, wombats, pademelons, wallabies and other animals emerge from the lush grasslands and forest close to our roads and come down to drink from the asphalt run-offs. It is often the last thing they do.”
“Tasmanian Devils were so named because of their shrieks that unsettled early European settlers” It’s a somewhat cheerless start to my visit to the state’s picturesque and quirky capital, but ‘Des’ quickly follows up with more uplifting news. .
BONORONG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
“The flip side to this is we are also the animal rescue centre of Australia. “Many drivers will stop if they hit a marsupial, to check if there is a baby joey in its mother’s pouch. If there is they will call a wildlife rescue centre, which will collect it.” There are several such animal sanctuaries on the island and one that welcomes tourists is Bonorong, located around 30 minutes north of the city. It is a facility that rehabilitates the injured animals and, where appropriate, releases them back into the wild. It is also a responsible place for visitors to view Australia’s native animals. I meet a cohort of animal carers and guides, who are keen to stress they work in a rescue facility “not a zoo”. They care for residents that include
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wombats, spotted-tail quolls, snakes, wedge-tailed eagles, cockatoos, owls and several others. There’s also a mob of lively kangaroos – guests receive a bag of food to feed them from the palms of their hands. I tentatively hold out my offering, and a soft, fleshy tongue quickly laps it up. But for most visitors, the headline act is the Tasmanian Devils. I watch as the creature – so named because of its late-night shrieks that so unsettled early European settlers – scuttles around its custom-built enclosure. “Don’t be fooled by what looks like an angry scowl. They are shy and will always choose to run away and hide from humans – but you wouldn’t want to put your fingers or toes anywhere close to them,” advises my guide. In 2018 Bonorong opened Tasmania’s first wildlife hospital and, through a viewing area with one-way glass, I watch the veterinary care team at work as it tends to a bandicoot that I am told was injured by a dog. Leaving Bonorong, I head to another of Tassie’s star attractions: the Museum of Old and New Art, or MONA.
“BEST CLIMATE IN AUSTRALIA” On the way, Des enthuses about his island home in a way that leaves me anticipating my four days here. “We have the best climate in Oz. We enjoy a temperate climate and are cooled by the ocean – and we don’t have hurricanes, flooding or extreme heat,” he says, as we cross the Tasman Bridge. My first impressions are certainly positive. This is a city that is defined by water: its 250,000 population is squeezed into a narrow slice of land, framed on one side by the deepwater River Derwent estuary, which connects directly to the Southern Ocean and is today dotted with sailboats and ferries. On the city’s other extreme is Mount Wellington, which is splashed with houses that cling to the steep slopes.
Margaret Thatcher at MONA
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My Journey
at Bonorong Tasmanian Devil uary Wildlife Sanct
“A member of Small luxury Hotels of the World, The Islington Hotel is a HeritageListed building that dates back to 1847” Located in the suburb of Berriedale and sitting on a strip of land next to the water’s edge, MONA is one of the country’s most eclectic, provocative (and thus controversial) art museums. The building itself is an architectural wonder, carved into a sandstone cliff. Once inside, the random collection of exhibits – a mix of contemporary and ancient art, artifacts and memorabilia – is homed in a subterranean setting of caves and corridors. I explore the various floors, browsing exhibits that include sculptures, paintings, manuscripts, historically significant letters and more. In a small room, a film of the miners’ strike in 1970s Britain – a unionbusting conflict between Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and miners’ leader Arthur Scargill – and the police’s nononsense (read violent) approach to ending it, is playing on a loop. Elsewhere, there are explicit artworks that explore themes of nudity and bodily functions, sex and death. MONA sets out to disorientate and shock, and it does that in spades. I find it an interesting but at times jarring experience. Back in the city, I walk from the waterfront, past the popular Salamanca Place, with its Georgian sandstone warehouses filled with galleries, market SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK
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stalls, gift shops and pubs, up to the southern suburbs. My accommodation is the Islington Hotel, a heritage-listed property dating back to 1847 that is surrounded by lush, tropical gardens.
ABORIGINAL HISTORY The next day, I meet up with Blak Led Tours Tasmania, which explores Hobart’s history from an Aboriginal perspective. Nunami is a passionate and engaging guide. “Aboriginal sovereignty over Hobart was never ceded…no treaty transferring land to the Crown was ever signed,” she tells my small group. Over the next 90 minutes, she takes us around the city centre, pointing out buildings and monuments that have a place in the city’s Indigenous heritage. Outside the Museum and Art Gallery, Nunami points to a plaque. “Fanny Smith was a revered Palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) who preserved our language and songs. We celebrate her as a resilient survival icon and continue her legacy. She was also my ancestral grandmother,” she tells us. In the museum are scratchy recordings of Fanny Smith’s songs and two galleries that tell the Aboriginal story. “Our culture gets stronger every year. We are playing the long game. There is no end to our story,” says Nunami.
Pictured: (clockwise from top) Hobart’s attractive harbour; A Tasmanian Devil at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary; Mount Washington, as seen from the Islingwood Hotel; Flying into Hobart on a domestic service from Sydney; The Hope and Anchor Tavern in Hobart, formerly known as the Hotel Alexandra, which dates back to 1807 and is both one of Hobart’s oldest surviving buildings and Australia’s oldest existing hotel/pub; The Two islands sculpture in Franklin Square, Hobart, a skeletal wreck of HMS Erebus with a traditional Aboriginal canoe inside. Artist Nigel Helyer describes this as “creating a tension that reflects Tasmania’s complex history; The author meets resident kangaroos at Bonorong
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C U LT U R A L
I M M E R S I O N
adventures T
he sun is dropping over the russet sands of Wulyibidi (Francois Peron) National Park, as kangaroos bounce beside the track and Aboriginal songs drift from the stereo, the soundtrack to a drive that will forever be burned in my memory. I’m riding with my guide, Darren ‘Capes’ Capewell, a descendant of the Nhanda people, the region’s traditional Aboriginal custodians, and founder of Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures. Sandy, salty and sun-kissed, I’m at the end of a two-day adventure exploring the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shark Bay in Western Australia. Lying 430 miles north of Perth, the Bay is a world away from the state’s cosmopolitan capital city, and exploring with an Aboriginal guide offers visitors the chance to experience this spectacular land through Indigenous eyes.
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Capes shows me how to survive “On Country”, to find fresh “sweet” water beside the Indian Ocean, to forage for bush foods, follow directions from the stars and to breathe deep. “Looks good; feels better!” Capes smiles, as we float on the Bay’s turquoise sea, home to turtles, reef sharks, dugongs and rays. Australia’s cities are sure to get your heart pumping, but it’s the Country in between that will soothe your soul.
going native Indigenous tourism experiences offer travellers the opportunity to immerse themselves in Aboriginal culture and spend time with the ancient custodians of the land in every state. Across the Northern Territory, there is huge investment in Indigenous art and culture, highlighting the connection to
Country and creating more opportunities for traditional owners in tourism. These include the Larrakia Cultural Centre in Darwin. Scheduled for a mid2026 opening and overlooking Darwin Harbour, it is set to become a major tourism attraction, with Larrakia history, language, art exhibitions, traditional craft experiences and a restaurant. Elsewhere in the territory, Alice Springs Araluen Arts Centre is a major regional facility with an important Central Australian Aboriginal art collection and home to exhibitions such as Desert Mob. For the visitor, local Aboriginal art centres and galleries in Alice Springs are often the best places to see contemporary works connected to desert communities. In Victoria, not-for-profit arts and culture organisation Koorie Heritage Trust offers Melbourne city walking tours to learn more about the state’s Aboriginal history,
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Seek out Indigenous experiences during your Australian adventure to gain a deeper understanding of Aboriginal culture and Country, says Lauren Jarvis
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led by a First Peoples Aboriginal guide, and in Queensland, the ancient Daintree Rainforest and the Gold Coast can all be explored with Indigenous guides. Discover Aboriginal Experiences – a collective of 50-plus Aboriginal tourism businesses offering more than 200 experiences – has assets for the travel trade, including inspiration for Indigenousinspired travel itineraries, available online at discoveraboriginalexperiences.com “Every part of Australia is Aboriginal Country, and every place has a different story to tell. It is important that the stories of Aboriginal Australia are told – as they should be – by Aboriginal peoples,” says Nicole Mitchell, Executive Officer, Discover Aboriginal Experiences.
TOP INDIGENOUS EXPERIENCES • Community and culture in the NT Join members of the Indigenous Wanmarra community outside of Watarrka National Park, home to Kings Canyon, for a deep dive into Aboriginal stories, culture and traditions. The tours have a mission to preserve Southern Aranda language, heritage and wisdom. • Connect to Country in Queensland Yura Tours runs Indigenous-led walking and 4WD tours of Quandamooka Country on Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island, outside of Brisbane in Queensland. Learn about Aboriginal creation stories
and the island’s native flora and fauna with a Quandamooka guide, or join a seasonal tour during the humpback whale migration along the coast. • Ancient rock art in Victoria Known for its stunning landscapes and spectacular wildlife, Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park in Victoria is also home to a large number of significant Indigenous rock art sites. Before exploring, visit Brambuk: The National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap, which provides insights into the flora, fauna and Aboriginal culture. • Immersion in South Australia Kaurna man Corey Turner, owner of Southern Cultural Immersion, promotes reconciliation and cultural respect towards First Nations people. Visit the gallery or watch a performance at the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre at Warriparinga. Or join an Aboriginal guide on the Adelaide City Cultural Tour to learn about Indigenous history. The tour is part of Tourism Australia’s Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective.
WHAT’S NEW • Since April 2026, the Tasmanian Walking Company has been offering a five-day desert trek inside World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, covering 34 miles between Kata Tjuta and the iconic Uluru, while learning
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about the culture of the land’s Traditional Owners, the Aṉangu. • Visitors to Melbourne can now join a behind-the-scenes tour of the National Gallery of Victoria, to discover the stories behind First Nations art and design from world-leading art conservationists. • The Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park has introduced a new Algohgarrng night tour, a stargazing cruise blending astronomy with stories of the Indigenous Gagudju people. • The Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk is one of Australia’s newest multi-day hiking experiences. The four-day, 26-mile trek heads through the traditional lands of the Widjabul Wia-bal and Minjungbal people on the north coast of New South Wales.
BOOK IT with... Intrepid Travel’s five-day Broome to the Bungle Bungles 4WD adventure explores the remote landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Guests discover Dreaming stories with a local Gooniyandi guide at Mimbi Caves, join the Darlgunya Cultural Walk with an Aboriginal guide along the Fitzroy River, and spend two nights in a safari-style camp in Purnululu National Park, home to the iconic Bungle Bungles domed rock formations. From around £1,215pp, excluding international flights. intrepidtravel.com
Pictured: Opposite: Mount Borradaile, a registered Aboriginal sacred site in the remote northwestern corner of Arnhem Land, NT; This page from top: Small-group immersive Indigenous experience within the Casuarina Coastal Reserve, NT, run by Saltwater Cultural Tours; The Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk is located in the Tweed-Byron hinterland of New South Wales; Jarramali Rock Art Tours is based in Laura, Queensland. Led by Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owners, it takes visitors by 4WD, on foot or by helicopter into the remote Quinkan Country to see ancient Aboriginal rock art
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With a new airport and a riverside museum coming soon, we detail what’s new in New South Wales’ (NSW) state capital
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Landing soon Western Sydney International (NancyBird Walton) Airport will open on October 25 in Badgerys Creek. Under an hour’s drive from the city centre and curfew-free, Sydney’s first 24-hour airport carries the name of a famous Australian aviator. The Waldorf Astoria Sydney, a 220room hotel, will open at One Circular Quay in early 2027. Chef Curtis Stone, who trained under Marco Pierre White, will open his first restaurant in Australia within the luxury hotel..
Recent openings The Museum of Illusions has opened in central Sydney. Aimed at visitors of all ages, over 80 mind-bending exhibits blend optical science and psychology with playful, photogenic installations designed to trick the human brain. The newest incarnation of the Sydney Fish Market, the largest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere, opened on the waterfront in January 2026. The state-of-the-art building offers tours and is home to Sydney Seafood School. The facility will appeal to the growing number of travellers seeking culinary experiences.
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West of centre Visitors who appreciate cultural attractions will enjoy Western Sydney. This evolving part of the city will soon be home to NSW’s largest museum. Overlooking the Parramatta River, Powerhouse Parramatta will span design, engineering, science and technology. Early colonial history is conveyed at UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island and Old Government House and Domain, Parramatta, while nearby Parramatta Park offers further insight into the city’s colonial past. The Riverside’s programme of comedy, dance, film and theatre provides reasons to linger in Parramatta into the evening. The 65-suite QT Parramatta is set to open as Parramatta’s first five-star hotel.
Beyond Sydney Trips out of Sydney provide opportunities to explore beyond popular destinations such as Bondi Beach and Kamay
“For ghost tours, the Quarantine Station in Manly is registered as one of Australia’s most haunted places”
Pictured: Above: the city’s iconic skyline is dominated by The Sydney Opera House; Below: Bondi Beach, a vibrant beachside suburb in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, is popular for its cafe culture and trendy dining options
Botany Bay National Park. The Blue Mountains make for an ideal day trip by train. Highlights include the observation platform at Echo Point and the Three Sisters rock formation. The Snowy Mountains are home to Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak, and offer trekking in summer as well as snow sports in winter. With wineries and white-sand beaches, Shoalhaven is wellpositioned for visiting Jervis Bay and Seven Mile Beach National Park.
New group tours Cox & Kings, part of A&K Travel Group (AKTG), is reintroducing holidays to Australia. Starting with small-group tours averaging 14 guests, the company will expand to tailor-made journeys. Debra Fox, Chief Sales Officer – Trade and Managing Director for AKTG, UK and APAC, commented: “Our focus is on creating journeys that offer genuine insight and connection, brought to life by the people and expertise behind them.”
book it with... Audley Travel’s tailor-made Luxury In and Around Sydney 16-day itinerary includes three nights in Sydney, Jervis Bay, the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley and Central Coast. Including flights and vehicle hire, prices start from £24,830pp. audleytravel.com
TOURISM AUSTRALIA
nstantly recognisable for its spectacular harbour views, enjoyed from bridge climbs and ferry rides, an iconic live music venue, incredible beaches, a world-class culinary scene and attractions like The Royal Botanic Garden – a heritage-listed oasis located directly adjacent to the Opera House – Sydney is among the world’s great cities. Here’s a look at what’s new....
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million stars are still lighting up an indigo sky as I sip a hot Australian chai tea and scan the darkness for the unmistakable outline of the world’s most famous rock: Uluru. Among an increasingly excited crowd, we mingle, chat and munch on lemonmyrtle muffins before being asked to take our seats. We are here to watch a performance created by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, in partnership with the Anangu, the traditional owners of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed UluruKata Tjuta National Park in the spiritual heart of the Northern Territory. Before us, a carpet of lights and lasers projected on to the sand and soaring oaks brings to life a dot painting called Ngura Nganampa Wiru Mulapa (Our Country is Truly Beautiful), created by three renowned Anangu artists, Selina Kulitja, Denise Brady and Valerie Brumby. Words and music pulsate across the desert as the dreamscape sees flowers bloom and birds take flight. “Our country holds many stories. They are the past, the present and the future,” an Anangu voice tells us as dawn casts its rose-gold glow over Uluru and the distant domes of Kata Tjuta.
Cultural storytelling Sunrise Journeys joins British-Australian artist Bruce Munro’s mesmerising Field of Light and Light Towers installations and the ground-breaking Wintjiri Wiru –
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the world’s largest daily drone show – as another innovative attraction illuminating the Red Centre. And while Australia’s star-studded skies maintain their astro-tourism appeal, a myriad of human-powered light shows and festivals are also attracting travellers to other parts of the country like moths to a flame. “Australia is illuminated by a series of spectacular light festivals and installations that blend cuttingedge technology with deep cultural storytelling,” says William McQuade, Australia expert and Product Manager at Vista, Hays Travel’s in-house B2B tour operator. “These events showcase Australia’s commitment to blending tradition with innovation, offering travellers unforgettable experiences that celebrate the nation’s rich cultural tapestry and natural beauty.” Here are some dazzling attractions, shows and festivals you should be selling in the Red Centre, Sydney and beyond.
Lighting up Northern Territory Visitors to Uluru can enjoy a range of stunning light shows and experiences. Extended until April 2027, the Field of Light installation features 50,000 solarpowered spindles of light that shift colour to symbolise the desert bursting into bloom after rain. Visitors walk through the Field of Light at sunrise or sunset. A Night at Field of Light includes canapés, a three-course
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From the Vivid Sydney festival to the new Sunrise Journeys spectacular at Uluru, Australia is bringing ancient stories, art and culture to life through fabulous light shows and installations, says Lauren Jarvis
Pictured: Above: The world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney, transforms iconic landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay and The Rocks; Below: Extended until April 2027, the Field of Light installation at Uluru features 50,000 solarpowered spindles of light that shift colour; to symbolise the desert bursting into bloom after rain; Parrtjima – A Festival in Light in Alice Springs
buffet, drinks, an astronomy talk and a didgeridoo performance under the stars. “Creating the Field of Light at Uluru was a dream come true and it’s a personal joy to see that it still shines bright in the landscape that inspired it,” said Munro. Sip on cocktails made with Indigenousowned Beachtree Gin and try nativeinspired canapés as the sun sets over Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Then enjoy a gourmet dinner hamper, served picnic-style, before watching the desert sky light up for the world’s largest daily drone show, Wintjiri Wiru. Designed in partnership with local Anangu, the Wintjiri Wiru show tells an ancient Aboriginal story using state-of-the-art technology including 1,100 drones. Sunrise Journeys is a pre-dawn laser,
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light and sound experience staged in front of Uluru. The work of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia in collaboration with Aṉangu Traditional Owners, the two-hour show transforms a huge desert canvas into a living gallery before ending with an outback dawn spectacular that brings Aboriginal art to life. It is set to a soundtrack of music and storytelling in the local Pitjantjatjara language and English. At Watarrka National Park, home to Kings Canyon, Munro’s Light Towers is a maze of light and sound. Each April in Alice Springs, Parrtjima: A Festival in Light celebrates Aboriginal culture with large-scale projections and interactive illuminations. northernterritory.com
“Words and music pulsate across the desert as the dreamscape sees flowers bloom and birds take flight” Bright ideas in New South Wales The world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney, returns for three weeks in May and June, with incredible illuminations transforming iconic landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay and The Rocks. Vivid Sydney 2027 will take place from May 28 to June 19, 2027. Darling Harbour also boasts the world’s largest interactive light display, Luminous, which spans 150 metres across the waterfront and features 557
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solar-powered LED lights. The display lights up as soon as darkness falls. From Sunday to Thursday, it plays automated structural light shows designed by artist Bruce Ramus. On Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 18.00, the public is invited to use the interactive consoles on the pedestrian walk to manually play with and control the colours on the building. visitnsw.com
Igniting Western Australia Known as the “City of Light”, Western Australia’s capital city, Perth, comes alive with several sparkling events each year. Kings Park and Botanic Garden is transformed by the Lightscape festival in June and July, with more than 20 nature-inspired art installations. For
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2026, a newly reimagined 1.8-km illuminated pathway featured more than 20 large-scale light, laser and sound installations. Meanwhile, the annual Perth Festival sees the Swan River lit up during the Karla Bidi fire trail show. Inspired by the Indigenous Noongar tradition of welcoming visitors with fire, massive beams of light and structural light sculptures pierce the night sky at 11 distinct locations. westernaustralia.com
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Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens hosts the dazzling Lightscape festival each winter, from June to August, with immersive light and soundscapes. Catch the Rising Arts Festival in Melbourne, too, which has laser shows, along with music, theatre and dance performances. In Mildura, further Bruce Munro installations – Trail of Lights and Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra, which opened in late 2025 – turn Lock Island into a magical wonderland with 12,500 firefly lights. visitmelbourne.com
Ready to glow in Queensland In recent years, Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens have been aglow with the illuminations of Lightscape festival, with the work of local and international artists showcased at the Brisbane Festival. A new after-dark fire and illumination experience called Afterglow, a massive trail of glowing neon tunnels, large-scale color illusions and lit tree canopies, returned in 2026. Bright Nights is a free nightly light, laser, fountain and water screen spectacular that takes place on the Brisbane River. On World Heritage-listed K’gari (Fraser Island), Kingfisher Bay Resort hosts Illumina’s Return to the Sky, an immersive light and sound experience created by Bruce Ramus, who designed the Wintjiri Wiru show at Uluru. llumina is Queensland’s first permanent night-time light, laser and sound installation. Built
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Illuminating Victoria
“Light festivals and installations blend cutting-edge technology with deep cultural storytelling” directly into the resort’s wallum wetlands on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), the 20-minute show plays nightly. queensland.com
Set to sparkle in South Australia South Australia’s winter nights are brightened by its annual signature Illuminate festival in Adelaide, which is set to return in July 2027. It features art, music, light and technology with installations, projections, drone shows and events throughout the city’s CBD, urban laneways and parks. Adelaide’s Immersive Light and Art venue is a high-tech arts space which supports emerging artists and hosts immersive music, dance and theatre performances. southaustralia.com
Beaming into Tasmania One of the world’s best destinations for viewing the Aurora Australis (Southern
Lights), Tasmania also has some excellent man-made light-focused attractions, including Bicheno Beams, a 15-minute laser light show which takes place nightly in June and July in Bicheno on Tasmania’s east coast. The shows illuminate the night sky with a spectacular display of light and synchronised sound. The experience features two entirely different 15-minute laser-light shows that alternate every other night. Running every night of the year, the immersive light and sound show, From Sky to Sea, celebrates the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Devonport. The 14-minute production is a permanent, nightly attraction built into the city’s Waterfront Park. Over 350 custom light patterns, towering video elements, and searchlights transform the foreshore to tell the story of the Mersey River flowing from Cradle Mountain out to Bass Strait. discovertasmania.com.au
Enlightening the Capital Territory
Australian
With large-scale laser projections and installations, film screenings and music events, Enlighten Canberra takes place each March in the nation’s capital, illuminating architectural icons such as the Parliament House and the National Gallery of Australia. visitcanberra.com.au
Book it with…. Hays Travel offers 11- to 14-night multistop packages that include Sydney, Melbourne and the Red Centre, starting at around £4,500pp, including international and domestic flights with Qantas. An evening pass to Bruce Munro’s Field of Light installation at Uluru can be bundled into the package. haystravel.co.uk
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Tropical Queensland With ancient rainforest, secluded sandy beaches, exotic wildlife and the coral-rich waters of the Great Barrier Reef, Tropical North Queensland invites you to immerse yourself in some of the world’s natural wonders Reached by an international or domestic flight, cosmopolitan Cairns is the perfect place to start an adventure in Far North Queensland. Travel at an easy pace from reef and rainforest to the outback, linger in laidback coastal towns and discover a destination where the journey is every bit as rewarding as the places you visit.
The road to paradise From Cairns, point the hire car north and soak up some of Queensland’s – if not Australia’s – most epic coastal vistas. Curling between reef and rainforest, past some of the coast’s prettiest bays and beaches, the Great Barrier Reef Drive is a gateway to Tropical
North Queensland’s twin UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. The coastal town of Port Douglas is known for its Four Mile Beach and is a perfect base for exploring the Daintree rainforest, Mossman Gorge, Cooktown and the Great Barrier Reef. Just 20 minutes away, at Mossman Gorge, visitors can learn about the traditions of the Kuku Yalanji Traditional Custodians on a guided Dreamtime Walk through the rainforest. Head out from Port Douglas Marina to explore the Great Barrier Reef on a snorkelling, sightseeing or sailing adventure. Sailaway’s stylish catamaran takes you out to the reef, to discover coral gardens and abundant marine life. Prefer to stay above the water? Enjoy a sunset cruise or take to the skies with Nautilus for a view of this spectacular marine wonderland by helicopter
Time to slow down Travellers who stay longer will soon slip into the slow rhythm of The Tropics. Whether they’re looking for an intimate beachfront hotel, boutique stays, a stylish self-catering apartment or a luxurious resort, they’re bound to find it in Tropical North Queensland. For something special, retreat into the rainforest at Silky Oaks Lodge or escape to the secluded paradise of Lizard Island, two exceptional luxury lodges surrounded by nature..
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In Port Douglas tuck into juicy prawns or linger over ocean-fresh barramundi at one of the town’s many restaurants, browse the boutiques and visit the weekend market to meet the laid-back locals who call this paradise home.
The atherton tablelands A meandering drive southwest of Cairns, along Gillies Highway, takes travellers to the Atherton Tablelands, a lush highland plateau with towering forest, creeks, gorges, wetlands and waterfalls. The Tablelands are home to the elusive Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo, while the wider Wet Tropics provides a habitat for the magnificent southern cassowary. Walking and cycling trails wind through lush rainforest and woodland, offering opportunities to spot native wildlife and an abundance of birdlife Those who want to taste the tropics can join one of the food and wine tours that visit wineries, tea and coffee plantations and farms for tastings. (Hot tip to share: take an empty bag). Whether it’s for the reef, the rainforest, the wildlife or simply the chance to slow down and connect with nature, Tropical North Queensland is a destination where every day brings a new discovery. Book with Prestige Travel. prestigetravel.co.uk
Pictured: Tropical Queensland is known for its pristine, sandy beaches; the region’s warm waters are home to six of the world’s seven marine turtle species; at Millaa Milla Falls in the Atherton Tablelands water cascades down an 18-metre volcanic basalt cliff into a pristine, wide pool surrounded by tree ferns and lush tropical rainforest
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City profile
BRISBANE The host of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is so much more than just a gateway to the state’s rainforests and reef, says Rashmi Narayan
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ften seen as a jumping-off point to Queensland’s major attractions such as the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane (Meanjin) offers plenty of reasons for an extended stay. From being the home of ‘Bluey’ to an excellent dining scene, “Brissie” offers one of Australia’s most compelling city breaks. Visitors can expect year-round sunshine, riverside neighbourhoods and easy access to the beaches of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, plus new hiking and walking trails in the hinterland. Served by flights from London via Singapore, Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, Brisbane is a relaxed, water-facing city that is easy to explore on foot. Home to stadia such as the Gabba and Suncorp Stadium, the city will host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
city highlights The Brisbane River is at the heart of the city and one of the best ways to
“Once a shipping yard, Howard Smith Wharves is transforming Brisbane’s waterfront”
experience it is aboard a CityCat ferry, which sashays between neighbourhoods including South Bank, New Farm and Howard Smith Wharves. Visitors can hop on and off, taking in river views. South Bank remains one of the city’s biggest draws, with its riverside parklands, museums, restaurants and Streets Beach, Australia’s only inner-city man-made beach. Brisbane’s compact centre makes it easy to explore on foot. The Queensland Art Gallery, part of a larger cultural precinct that also includes the Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), offers free guided tours led by First Nations guides. From here, the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Roma Street Parkland and James Street’s independent boutiques, cafés and restaurants are all within easy reach. The best way to experience the city is by joining one of the many guided walking tours, which uncover everything from Brisbane’s colonial history to its thriving foodie scene. Elsewhere, a landmark transformation of the Howard Smith Wharves, beneath the Story Bridge and close to the city centre, is elevating Brisbane’s riverfront. Once an industrial shipping yard that also served as air-raid shelters during the Second World War, Howard Smith
Wharves is now a popular dining and entertainment precinct. Future expansion plans feature a new 106-room boutique hotel, Brisbane’s first over-river swimming pool and two new cliffside lifts to enhance urban connectivity. Elsewhere, South Brisbane is one of the city’s hottest culinary neighbourhoods. Its Fish Lane – described as “an alliance of art, food and entertainment” – has welcomed Goodside, where the all-day menu takes inspiration from the comfort food of Southeast Asia.
Looking Ahead
Pictured: Above: Kangaroo Point is one of the city’s most scenic cycling routes; Left: Downtown Brisbane is never far from the water
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Brisbane continues to evolve ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with new attractions and hotel developments adding to the city’s appeal. The Story Bridge Adventure Climb has introduced the world’s first wheelchairaccessible bridge climb, allowing more visitors to enjoy views across the city. The city will also welcome visitors for the Rugby World Cup 2027, hosting 14 tournament matches, including England’s opening fixture against Tonga. South Brisbane has seen the return of a local landmark. Hotel Terminus has breathed new life into the former Fox Hotel site, reopening as a four-level
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venue with a restored long bar, bistro, rooftop terrace and late-night cocktail lounge overlooking the city skyline. With its range of hotels, bars and restaurants, Brisbane is strengthening its position as one of Australia’s most exciting city break destinations.
Beyond the City Brisbane also works well as a base for day trips. North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), the world’s second-largest sand island, is just 25 minutes away by ferry. Here you can join First Nationsled cultural experiences with Yura Tours or explore beaches, coastal walks and abundant wildlife. The Scenic Rim, Moreton Bay and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary are also within easy reach, giving clients plenty of reasons to extend their stay. After Mondrian’s successful debut on the Gold Coast in 2025, luxury accommodation continues to expand along the coast, with The Calile Hotel planning to open a sister property in Noosa Heads. Trade-friendly packages are also developing, including Emporium Hotel’s Reef & Retreat offer, which combines a luxury Brisbane city stay with a getaway
to Lady Elliot Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. A two-hour drive south of the city brings visitors to the Scenic Rim Trail, which has launched a new four-day selfguided hiking experience through the Tweed Byron Hinterland. The 42-kilometre journey traverses the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests, challenging seasoned hikers to navigate less well-defined trails through Mount Jerusalem and Nightcap National Parks.The self-guided format is designed for intimate groups of up to 12, with participants following a route that encounters waterfalls and panoramic views of the Wollumbin caldera. Each evening, hikers arrive at exclusive private eco-camps featuring raised sleeping platforms and permanent facilities accessible only to guests. The experience is fully catered, with chef-curated meals provided at the camps to allow for an immersive trek at a self-determined pace, as well as daily luggage transfers and shuttle connections from nearby towns. For travel agents with customers looking for outdoor adventure, riverside dining, cultural experiences or an easy introduction to Queensland, Brisbane is SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK
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“South Brisbane is one of the city’s hottest neighbourhoods, with several new dining options” a versatile destination that works both as a standalone city break or the starting point for a wider Australian itinerary.
BOOK IT WITH... . Audley Travel has a 16-day Exploring Queensland tour, starting at £19,130pp, The deal includes flights, vehicle hire and accommodation, with time spent exploring Brisbane, Lady Elliot Island, Sunshine Coast and Cairns. Excursions include snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef and a private culinary tour in Brisbane. queensland.com Pictured: (From top) Bridge “climbers” get 360-degree views of the Brisbane skyline from the top of Story Bridge; A scenic coastal boardwalk located at Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island; Lady Elliot Island is often called the “Home of the Manta Ray” and is one of the best places in the world to see the creatures
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ROAD TRIP Australia’s largest state has much to offer beyond the gateway city of Perth – and a road trip is a great way to explore, says Lauren Jarvis
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ig in both size and attractions, Western Australia offers empty white-sand beaches, worldclass vineyards, unique wildlife like quokkas and dramatic outback country.
WHY SELL THEM Western Australia’s miles of coastline – approximately 12,913 miles (20,781 km), including islands, making it the longest in Australia – top wine regions and rugged northerly ranges offer spectacular landscapes at every turn, and a road trip offers a fantastic way to see the diverse attractions that lie beyond the state’s cosmopolitan capital, Perth. “There’s a growing trend among
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travellers to explore lesser-known parts of Australia rather than sticking solely to major cities and iconic landmarks,” says William McQuade, McQuade, Australia expert at Vista, Hays Travel’s in-house B2B tour operator. “This shift is driven by a desire for authentic, immersive experiences and a break from crowded tourist spots.”
WHO TO SELL TO “While most of our visitors are couples and solo travellers, for adventurous families, Western Australia pairs really well with Singapore in a super-accessible twin centre trip, connected by a five-hour flight,” says James Neal, UK Country
Manager, for Tourism Western Australia. Wildlife lovers can hit the road to see wild dolphins at Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort in Shark Bay, penguins and sea lions at Penguin Island, humpback whales seasonally along the coast and kangaroos, or catch the ferry to Rottnest Island to see the world’s largest population of quokkas. Activities like sand boarding, cycling, snorkelling and diving on the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Ningaloo Coast make WA a magnet for adventure-seekers, too.
WHAT TO SELL Western Australia is the perfect destination for those who love a road
trip. Think Epic experiences and bitesized drives. The state’s bountiful southwest region is just a few hours from Perth, and an easy route takes visitors to one of Australia’s most varied regions. It is famous for its coastlines, wine – Margaret River has over 100 cellar doors, many with acclaimed restaurants – gourmet food based around local ingredients, giant forests and marine wildlife. It also has some of the world’s best beaches and laid-back towns such as Pemberton, known for its ancient karri forests, and Margaret River, with its independent shops and boutiques, local art galleries and coffee culture.
Pictured: Gantheaume Point is well worth visiting when in Broome. Explore its coastline and rock formations, where contrasting red pindan cliffs meet the Indian Ocean, and discover 120-million-yearold dinosaur tracks alongside the area’s rich Aboriginal heritage
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Pictured: Pictured: Wild western grey kangaroos at Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand, on the south-east coast of Western Australia; The Cape to Cape Track is one of Western Australia’s great long-distance walking trails, running for about 123km along the spectacular coast of the Margaret River region; The distinctive turquoise lagoons, coral reefs and deepblue of the Rowley Shoals, three remote coral atolls iabout 300km west of Broome, off the Kimberley coast
Further south, Albany has a rich colonial and ANZAC history, and whalewatching trips, while Lucky Bay’s white sand is often populated by kangaroos. And don’t miss Busselton Jetty, the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. It extends 1.14 miles over the ocean. The spectacular rugged regions of northern Western Australia offer a different vibe and feel altogether. Popular are Broome, in the Kimberley region, which offers attractions such as Cable Beach, famous for sunsets and camel rides and Purnululu National Park, home of the Bungle Bungle range. South of the Kimberley, Pilbara is a land of red outback landscapes, mining country, ancient rock formations and national parks like Karijini National Park. Exciting road trips on offer in the north of the state include the remote Gibb River Road, which requires a 4WD.
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A road trip around the south-central section of the state reveals historic gold rush towns like Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Australia’s largest outback city and the rugged, historic heart of the Western Australian Goldfields.
WHEN TO SELL Western Australia often experiences high temperatures in the summer (December to February), which is the rainy season to the north of the state. Spring (September to November) or autumn (March to May) days are cooler. Perth is credited as the sunniest capital in the world, with eight hours of sun a day, year-round.
WHAT’S NEW Heyscape’s newest off-grid accommodation in Denmark, just over an hour’s flight from Perth, opened in mid-April 2026, in one of the state’s most picturesque locations with panoramic views across the surrounding landscape. The project adds 12 premium offgrid cabins, with forest, valley or ocean views. Accommodation includes single, dual and family options. The dual cabins feature shared saunas, side-by-side sunken outdoor baths and a communal lounge area. Other touches include native botanical bathroom products and Bang & Olufsen speakers. From this October, travellers to Perth can enjoy a sophisticated, residentialstyle retreat following a multi-milliondollar refurbishment at Adina Perth in the city’s centre. The redesign “transforms the property into a contemporary reflection of the Western Australian
landscape” with 138 studios and oneand two-bedroom. Under developmen at Perth’s Elizabeth Quay is a new multi-level waterfront hotel. Ningaloo Coral Bay holiday village on the northwest coast has opened new Bayview Villas, with two- and threebedroom layouts. RAC Esperance Holiday Park has opened after a major renovation, which included new cabins and the refurbishment of the four-bedroom Blue Waters Lodge. The Lodge Wadjemup, formerly Rottnest Island Lodge, has undergone a A$40 million redevelopment, with its boutique Courtyard, Poolhouse and Lake Rooms are now open. Western Australia’s Great Southern region has several new tourism offerings, including The Great Southern Helicopter Winery Experience by Scenic Helicopters in Albany. The bespoke day trip is a curated helicopter wine tour that lands at multiple premium wineries, combining scenic flying with tastings and food experiences.
BOOK IT WITH... Audley Travel’s 16-day Western Australia’s Coral Coast self-drive itinerary costs from approximately £6,080pp and includes international and domestic flights, vehicle hire, all accommodation and visits to Perth, Fremantle, Rottnest Island, Nambung National Park, Kalbarri National Park, Shark Bay, Coral Bay and Exmouth for Ningaloo Reef. audleytravel.com
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How to sell
NORTHERN TERRITORY
WHY SELL IT An exciting range of travel experiences is on offer in a region where the journey is always as exciting as the destination. “The Northern Territory offers incredible ways to explore – from iconic road trips and luxury train journeys like The Ghan to RV adventures and coastal cruises,” says William McQuade, Australia expert and Product Manager at Vista, Hays Travel’s in-house B2B tour operator. “The destination fits the bill for immersive and experience-rich holidays.”
WHO TO SELL TO “The NT suits adventurous families, curious solo travellers, nature and wildlife enthusiasts and couples seeking unforgettable escapes,” says Suzana Bishop, CEO of Tourism and Events NT. “With endless outdoor activities to choose from – such as hiking, biking, camping, fishing, helicopter flights and hot-air ballooning – fun wildlife encounters, from prehistoric crocs to cuddly joeys, unique events, a vibrant food scene, Aboriginal culture and sights such as Uluru and Kakadu, the NT offers something for everyone.”
TOURISM AUSTRALIA
The Northern Territory boasts some of Australia’s most remote – and iconic – attractions, and exploring its spectacular wilderness has never been easier or more exciting, says Lauren Jarvis
cuts through the Red Centre on its way between Darwin and Adelaide. Or immerse yourself in the state’s wildly beautiful landscapes on a six-day hike of the Larapinta Trail with the Tasmanian Walking Company, exploring the West MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs.
WHEN TO SELL The best time to visit is during the dry season from May to October, when the humidity is lower in the Top End and temperatures are cooler in the Red Centre. From November to April, the Top End experiences tropical rains and high humidity, but the national parks’ waterfalls are in full flow.
WHAT’S NEW Outback Motorcycle Adventures is hosting a 10-day Rock to Croc Adventure Ride, taking bikers more than 2,100 miles from Uluru to Darwin (September 7–17). The ride combines sealed and dirt roads and takes in the territory’s diversity of landscapes and iconic landmarks,
Pictured: Above: At Ormiston Gorge in Namatjira you can swim in a permanent waterhole, walk through the gorge or tackle longer walks; Left: The Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise is a classic Northern Territory experience on the Adelaide River, about an hour’s drive from Darwin
Book it WITH...
WHAT TO SELL
TOURISM NT
Hiring a 4WD vehicle or a campervan from a company such as Britz, Apollo or Maui offers visitors the ultimate freedom to explore, and many UK tour operators, including Hays Travel, Travelbag and Freedom Destinations, offer self-drive itineraries. Travel in style on Journey Beyond’s luxury train, The Ghan, which
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from the red sands and rugged beauty of the Red Centre, past the soaring cliffs of Kings Canyon and the ancient charm of the MacDonnell Ranges, to the boundless horizons of the Barkly Tablelands. The Bawaka Experience offers cabin accommodation, safari tents, BYO camping and unique Yolngu cultural experiences in Arnhem Land. Follow the flight path of the 1942 WWII bombing of Darwin Harbour in a restored vintage 1940s DC-3 with Gooney Bird Adventures. Sea Darwin-Sea Tiwi has a new Darwin Distilled harbour cruise, including a visit to the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, the Cyclone Tracy memorial and the Willing Distillery. See the NT’s epic landscapes on a HeliGin foraging flight to Finniss River Lodge with Darwin Distilling Co, or experience new scenic flights over Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Parks with Indigenousowned North Horizon Heli Adventures. Located in the heart of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, Cooinda Lodge has new camping tents, Indigenous hiking and 4WD tours, and scenic flights with Kakadu Air.
Travelbag’s nine-night Darwin, Kakadu and Nitmiluk 4WD Adventure is a selfdrive itinerary from Darwin, exploring the waterfalls and billabongs of Kakadu National Park and Nitmiluk National Park, home to Katherine Gorge. Prices start from £2,849pp, including international flights via Singapore to Darwin and five days car hire. travelbag.co.uk
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Australia starts in the clouds With over 150 years of experience, the best of Australia starts with Qantas. Book now at qantas.com
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