Rendezvous with Australia: 20 amazing adventures of a lifetime Down Under
There’s a lot more the Men in Blue and their fans can do in Australia, besides bar-hopping and shopping. Check out these mind-blowing, uniquely Aussie adventures:
1. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Selfies with the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge in the distance are totally lame. The thing to do is sign up for the Bridge Climb. In the company of trained climbing guides, you ascend the arches of the bridge and reach the summit 134 m above sea level. A sweeping panoramic view is your prize. Now, that’s what we call a good photo op.
2. Go whale-watching from Sydney
Four-hour cruises depart from various piers around the Sydney Harbour and hit the open ocean with a guarantee that you’ll spot these magnificent oceanic mammals. Besides mammoth whales, you’ll also see a variety of other sea creatures such as dolphins.
3. Get spooked at The Rocks, Sydney
This is a walking tour that sends shivers down your spine. The Rocks, a Sydney precinct, is where the first settlers pitched their tents, as it were. There’s now a night tour of The Rocks, billed as a Ghost Tour, on which you hear true stories about murder, hangings, haunted nooks and ghosts as you walk the cobbled paths in the birthplace of Australia.
4. Watch a ballet at the Opera House, Sydney
Everybody traipses around the Opera House, one of the most recognisable landmarks of Sydney. But to really appreciate the magnificence of this structure that sits at the edge of the harbour, you should catch a performance here. Backstage tours and Australian Ballet dinner packages are also available.
5. Explore the Jenolan Caves, from Sydney
The Jenolan Caves, in the Blue Mountains – a World Heritage Site – are one of the world’s most fascinating cave systems. The beautiful Blue Mountains are about a three-hour drive from Sydney. Besides delving into the dark, eerily glowing world of caves you can also go on bushwalks, during which you can spot kangaroos and platypus.
6. Tour Melbourne by tramcar
The Colonial Tramcar is a restaurant in a converted 1927 tram. The restaurant on wheels travels through the scenic streets of South Yarra, Toorak, Armadale, St Kilda and South Melbourne, while diners indulge in some fine Australian food and wines. It’s a great way to see the graceful city of Melbourne for sure and experience one of its unique features – the tram.
7. Hit the Great Ocean Road
If you enjoy scenic drives, it doesn’t get better than this. The Great Ocean Road begins in Melbourne and zips past beautiful beaches, dramatic cliffs, koala country and tree canopies. En route you can take a tree-top walk, climb to the peak of a volcanic crater or just get some quiet beach time.
8. Ride a steam train, from Melbourne
Want to slow down and travel at a gentler pace? Hop aboard the Puffing Billy, the steam train preserved from a 100 years ago. The train stills chugs on its original mountain track, cutting through some scenic wine country and makes a perfect day trip from Melbourne.
9. Swim with sharks in Melbourne
Fancy an underwater adrenaline rush? You can have a close encounter with sharks when you sign up for the Shark Dive Extreme at the Melbourne Aquarium. Equipped with scuba diving kits and in the company of qualified dive staff, you get to swim alongside sharks, stingray and thousands of other less menacing creatures.
10. Yarra Valley wine tour by limo, from Melbourne
The picturesque Yarra Valley, not far from Melbourne, is a must-see for the wine lover. Do it in style and take a limo tour of this premier wine-making region in Victoria. You’ll be spoilt with Champagne on the drive and visit wineries such as Domain Chandon, Rochford and Yering. Delightful tasting sessions and gourmet meals in the vineyard are part of the deal.
11. Walk with penguins on Phillip Island, near Melbourne
Less than two hours’ drive from Melbourne is Phillip Island, home to one of the largest penguin colonies in the region. Every evening, the penguins return to their homes after the day’s exertions, making one of the most beautiful parades in nature. This is one that kids will enjoy.
12. Get up close with koalas, in Brisbane
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane has been ranked among the top 10 zoos in the world. In this sprawling, natural setting, you can see and even cuddle koalas, feed kangaroos and spot platypus. It’s a perfect way to spend a day with the kids. Combine it with a Brisbane River cruise for another of the Sunshine State’s top experiences.
13. Go island-hopping from Brisbane
Australia’s east coast is dotted with clusters of islands. Stradbroke Island, or Straddie as the Aussies call it, is only a short trip across Moreton Bay from Brisbane. This yet unspoilt island is great for caravan trips – a ferry will take you across – and camping holidays. There are opportunities for surfing, swimming, fishing and simply stargazing. This is truly a feel-good beach holiday.
14. Go glow worm-watching, from Brisbane
Just an hour’s drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast is the wondrous Tamborine National Park. Here you can walk in subtropical rain forests and marvel at another grand spectacle: the largest colonies of glow worms in the country. The ‘glow worm cave and Natural Bridge tour’ from the Gold Coast allows you to explore the Tamborine National Park and glow worm colonies by night in a 4WD.
15. Catch Uluru at sunset on camel back, from Alice Springs
Ayers Rock, which has now been rechristened Uluru – its original Aboriginal name – is one of Australia’s most spectacular sights. And it’s never better than at sunset, when the rock glows in a myriad shades. A camel tour is an excellent way to take in the spectacle. Later, sit down to a Sounds of Silence dinner, where you’ll be entertained with tales about this magical rock and the land around it through your meal.
16. Take the Bush Tucker Tour in Uluru, from Alice Springs
The Northern Territory is harsh and unforgiving terrain. Yet, generations of Aborigines have thrived there, especially around Uluru. The Bush Tucker tour, guided by an Aborigine, allows you to understand the importance of bush food to the people of Central Australia, how they survived in such a hot desert climate on a variety of bush plants and animals. You’ll also get to taste bush food if you are up for it.
17. Listen to Dreamtime stories at Tjapukai Culture Centre, from Cairns
The Tjapukai Culture Centre near Cairns is dedicated to preserving the culture of Australia’s indigenous people, the Aborigines. You can spend a day here, exploring their unique way of life and culture. At night, you travel to ‘dreamtime’ which comes alive with Aboriginal legends told through dance and music.
18. Cruise with the jumping crocodiles, from Darwin
Anyone who watches wildlife channels knows all about these deadly predators. In Darwin, you can take a Jumping Crocodile Cruise along the Adelaide River and get to see these feared creatures in their natural habitat, lurking on the riverbanks, waiting for their prey.
19. Go wine-tasting in Margaret River, from Perth
The Margaret River area makes waves on the wine scene with its excellent reds and whites. This region, blessed with natural beauty, is also known for its great local produce, meats and seafood. A wine tour of Margaret River is a great way for foodies to indulge their passion for fine food and wine. And if wine’s not your thing, they have beer and cider tours as well.
20. Eat in award-winning restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne
From watching Masterchef Australia we know the country is a superb gourmet destination. Check out restaurants such as Sepia in Sydney which serves signature dishes like marron with shiso and shellfish butter. Or, Stokehouse in Melbourne and Brisbane which maintains high classical standards. The thing to eat here is the Wagyu beef tartare, pickled cabbage, tuna flakes, tonnato sauce.
