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From the Great Barrier Reef to the red heart of the outback, from the fjords of New Zealand to the scattered atolls of the South Pacific, Australia & Oceania offer some of the most remote and rewarding travel on earth.
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Australia & Oceania Australia Est. 1918 · four generations · 38 countries
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Destinations · Australia & Oceania
Reef-fringed coasts, the red outback & easygoing cities.
The country
Few countries reward the long flight quite like Australia. In the space of a single trip you can stand on the steps of the Sydney Opera House with the harbor at your feet, snorkel a coral garden on the Great Barrier Reef, watch the sun set the great dome of Uluru ablaze in the heart of the outback, and trace the cliffs of the Great Ocean Road as the Southern Ocean crashes below, a continent of wildly different worlds stitched together by quick domestic flights.
This is a country that lives outdoors and takes its time. Mornings begin with flat whites and a swim before work; weekends spill onto the beach, the barbecue or the bush; and the welcome everywhere is warm, unhurried and refreshingly informal. The pace shifts from the polished waterfront of Sydney to the laneway cafes of Melbourne and the timeless quiet of the Red Centre, and learning to slow into it is half the pleasure.
We design Australia itineraries that balance the headline sights with the quieter moments in between: a private sail on Sydney Harbour, a dawn walk around the base of Uluru with an Aboriginal guide, a slow drift over the reef before the day boats arrive. Because the distances are vast, we build the route around the right internal flights so you spend your time in the places themselves, not getting to them, and each stop has room to breathe.
When to go
Australia is a continent, and no single season suits all of it: when the southern cities are at their best the tropical north is often closed for the wet, and the Red Centre and the reef keep their own windows. This is how we square it across the desk.
Our favorite window: spring in the south brings warm, settled days to Sydney and Melbourne, the outback is comfortable before the summer heat, and the reef is calm and clear, all before the peak summer crowds and prices.
Southern autumn: mild, golden days in the cities, fewer crowds, and the dry season opening up in the tropical north and the Red Centre. Ideal for pairing the coast with the outback in comfort.
Peak summer down south: glorious for Sydney, Melbourne and the beaches, but the outback is fiercely hot and the tropical north enters its humid, stormy wet season. Book the coast and Tasmania well ahead.
Southern winter, and the prime dry season up north: perfect for the reef, Uluru and the tropics, with warm sunny days, though the southern cities and Tasmania turn cool and crisp.
Where to go
Australia is less a country than a continent, and its regions feel like separate nations of reef, desert, rainforest and coast. These are the ones we weave together most often, from the harbor cities to the red heart of the interior, and we shape the route and the internal flights around the rhythm you have in mind.
Region
The glittering gateway: the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the golden arc of Bondi, leafy harbor coves and ferry rides, with the vineyards of the Hunter Valley and the eucalypt haze of the Blue Mountains within easy reach.
Region
The tropical north: the largest living structure on earth, reached from Cairns or Port Douglas for snorkeling and diving among coral and turtles, with the ancient Daintree rainforest and the sailing waters of the Whitsundays alongside.
Region
The spiritual heart of the continent: the great monolith of Uluru glowing at sunrise and sunset, the domes of Kata Tjuta and the gorges of Kings Canyon, all steeped in tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal culture.
Region
The cultured south: Melbourne's laneway cafes, galleries and sport, paired with one of the world's great coastal drives past the Twelve Apostles, surf beaches and the rainforest of the Otways.
Region
The wild island state: rugged mountains and ancient forests, the world-class MONA gallery in Hobart, fresh oysters and cool-climate wine, and some of the cleanest air and clearest night skies on earth.
Coming soon
We're busy writing up our favorite Australia experiences. There's far more here than we can list, so the fastest way to start is simply to tell us what you're dreaming of.
Plan a Australia TripA sample journey
1 Begin in the harbor city: a guided tour of the Opera House, a private sail on the harbor, the golden sands of Bondi and the coastal walk to Coogee, with day trips out to the Blue Mountains or the Hunter Valley vineyards.
2 Fly north to the tropics and base in Port Douglas for the reef: snorkeling and diving among the coral, a scenic flight over the Heart Reef, and a day in the ancient Daintree rainforest where it meets the sea.
3 On to the heart of the country: sunset over Uluru with a glass in hand, a dawn base walk with an Aboriginal guide, the soaring domes of Kata Tjuta, and a night beneath the brilliant desert stars.
4 South to Melbourne for a change of pace: the laneway cafes and street art, the galleries and gardens, a tram ride through the grand boulevards, and the city's famous food and coffee culture.
5 Finish with one of the world's great coastal drives: the towering stacks of the Twelve Apostles, surf beaches and lighthouses, koalas in the treetops and the cool rainforest of the Otway Ranges.
Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.
Getting around
Where to stay
Internal flights, light-aircraft and reef transfers, car hire and private driver-guides are all arranged and timed as part of every itinerary, so the continent's vast distances are settled before you arrive.
Good to know
Because the distances are so vast, we suggest twelve to sixteen nights for a first trip, which comfortably links Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and Melbourne with the internal flights between them. With less time we focus on two or three regions rather than rushing the whole continent, and with three weeks you can add Tasmania, the Whitsundays or Western Australia at an unhurried pace.
It depends on where you are headed, as the seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere. Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) are the ideal all-rounders, with mild days in the southern cities and comfortable conditions in the outback and on the reef. Summer (December–February) is glorious down south but fierce in the outback and wet in the tropical north, while the southern winter is the prime dry season for the reef and Uluru.
Yes, and they are central to how we plan every trip. Australia is roughly the size of the continental United States, and the gaps between the highlights are too great to drive; Sydney to Cairns or Uluru is around three hours by air. We build the itinerary around an efficient flight schedule so you spend your time in the places themselves rather than in transit, with private driving reserved for the scenic stretches like the Great Ocean Road.
Absolutely; it is one of the natural wonders of the world and a highlight of any Australia trip. We usually base reef trips in the relaxed town of Port Douglas rather than Cairns, with access to the outer reef for snorkeling and diving, scenic flights over the coral, and the ancient Daintree rainforest next door. For a special occasion, a few nights on a private island or a reef liveaboard is unforgettable.
Yes, and we highly recommend it as the spiritual heart of the country. Climbing Uluru is no longer permitted out of respect for its Aboriginal custodians, but the rock is best experienced from the ground: a sunrise or sunset viewing with a drink in hand, a guided base walk that shares the Anangu stories and rock art, and the nearby domes of Kata Tjuta. We arrange Aboriginal-led experiences as a meaningful part of the visit.
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