Holidays in Australia

There's so much to see on holidays in Australia, you'll need to allow plenty of time to explore. It’s a vast country, with different climates and time zones, so it’s a good idea to think about what sights, cities and experiences are on your ‘must do’ list. Our range of holidays includes escorted and independent tours and self-drive itineraries, as well as carefully selected hotels in some of Australia’s key cities and locations.

Taking up nearly a third of the continent, Western Australia's vast interior is a land of dusty outback tracks, while around the edge white sandy beaches are lapped by the Indian Ocean. It’s capital city, Perth, is one of the most isolated in the world, and sits in the greener climes of the Southwest. This is where you'll find the Margaret River wine region and several top surfing beaches.

The Northern Territory occupies a central section of Australia, with it's coastal capital, Darwin, just across the water from Indonesia. Alice Springs lies in the interior, with Uluru, or Ayers Rock, rising up dramatically in its southernmost corner. This region is one of the richest in indigenous history and culture.

The steep cliffs of South Australia's Great Australian Bight provide shelter for marine wildlife, as well as some spectacular sea views. In this region you'll find the sedate capital city of Adelaide, and the nearby Barossa Valley vineyards. Kangaroo Island sits just off of the coast and the whole region has a wealth of national parkland and conservation areas.

Home to many of Australia's big-hitter sights, Queensland is quite simply dazzling. The Great Barrier Reef stretches out beneath its turquoise waters, while the tropical Daintree Rainforest claims the northeastern coastline near Cairns. To top it all off, Queensland's stylish capital city, Brisbane, is flanked by the perfect beaches of both the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

This is where the majority of Australia's population lives, and with good reason. Sydney is a true gem of a capital, with breathtaking views and both the beach and the Snowy Mountains on its doorstep. The surfer town of Byron Bay lies to the north while the vineyards of Hunter Valley are a road trip away from the capital, just beyond Wollemi National Park.

It is a testament to the vast size of Australia that great swathes of this (relatively) small and populous region of the country are dedicated national parkland. Here you can cruise the jaw-dropping Great Ocean Road, dine in cosmopolitan Melbourne or go wildlife watching on Phillip island. For wine tasting on your holidays in Australia, head to the Yarra Valley, and for gourmet food, well anywhere will do - Victoria is a true foodie paradise.

Across the Bass Strait from Victoria, Tasmania is a large island occupied mainly by untouched wilderness and protected reserves. Its dark past as an isolated penal colony can still be seen in Hobart and Port Arthur, but today it's a place to come and enjoy the natural world, as well as a unique arts and dining scene.