Just as the California winter kicked in this past December, I hopped on a plane, trading drizzly days and chilly nights for a sunkissed trip to explore Australia for you. (I know, tough gig! 😉)
Australia is a great destination all year round, though. In the US summer/Australian winter, it’s peak season on the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and Uluru.
US winter/Australian summer is the perfect time to visit Sydney and other destinations in the south of the country.
While Nellie can plan a luxury trip to Australia specifically for you, I wanted to give you an exclusive sneak peek at some of the travel gems I discovered on my adventure.
Let’s go!
First Stop: Sydney
Though Sydney is the largest city in Australia, it definitely has a different feel than, say, London or New York. And I actually didn’t truly appreciate it until I got out on the water to take in the magnificence of it. In fact, I insist that you take a day voyage with Sydney Harbour Boat Trip so you can see Sydney come alive on the water. It’s worth it for the magical view of the Opera House (a bucket list item for me, for sure) alone. I got to stop at a cool yacht club for lunch, a treat you can't access otherwise. The boat went into lots of other tiny harbors, and I marveled at the beaches they’d turned into public swimming “pools,” something we don’t do here in the States. The ocean is such an integral part of Australian life, and when I asked Australians where they like to holiday within the country, almost everyone said “the beach.”
In addition to the boat trip, here are my Sydney musts:
STAY
- For design lovers, the brand new Capella Hotel is GORGEOUS.
- If you want to lie in bed and gaze at the Opera House, I highly recommend the Park Hyatt.
SHOP
- Paddington Street is the place to go to shop the best Australian designers: Viktoria & Woods, Maggie Marilyn, Oroton, and, of course, Zimmerman.
EAT & DRINK
- For dinner, Bennelong at the Opera House has stunning harbor views and is the perfect place for a special celebration.
- Other favorites included Ester, Firedore (amazing steak). Peterman's and St Peter's (great seafood).
- My fave bar was Maybe Sammy, one of the World's Top 50. So fun and whimsical.
PLAY
- For families with kids that just want to let loose, head to the iconic Luna Park amusement park right on the harbor.
Next stop: Uluru
Uluru, a massive sandstone monolith is located in the heart of the Northern Territory’s arid “red center.” It’s sacred to indigenous Australians—so much so that you’re not allowed to take photographs on one side of the rock.
And now that I’ve been there, I can confirm: this is an incredibly spiritual place. I adore hiking in nature, and it’s where I feel my best. Uluru took this to a whole other level. There’s a tranquility and reverence there you just have to experience for yourself.
I highly recommend doing Uluru with a local private guide so you get more insight into the significance of the area through stories of the people who live there.
STAY
Longitude 131° is the place to stay. It's an all-inclusive, super-luxury glamping resort with head-on views of Uluru. Best place for a cocktail: the sunset pool. Insider trip: arrange private trips so that you can select how much activity you get and when you go versus the set itinerary that is included.
PLAY
As mentioned above, this is a great hiking destination. I did an easy hike around the base of Uluru; a harder hike I loved was Valley of the Winds at a stunning rock formation nearby, Kata Tjuta. For families, you can also rent Segways, take helicopter rides, visit camels, or go to visit a local indigenous community.
NICE TO KNOW
I saw a lot of reptiles here, from the harmless Huntsman spider to large (and friendly) lizards, as well as scorpions and snakes stalking and slithering at night.
Next Stop: Daintree Rainforest
The Daintree Rainforest feels like the end of the world—and it kind of is. It’s a land of outlaws and folks trying to escape their old lives. North of the Daintree River is especially isolated; you have to take a boat to cross, and most people rely on generators for electricity. It’s a place you go to disappear.
All that and still: it’s a great family destination, especially if you spend your days at home stuck in traffic or buried in your phone. As soon as I arrived, I wished I had my boys with me to see the crocs, pythons, and other rainforest creatures.
In addition to the fun outlaw reputation, there are a ton of adventure activities to enjoy, from ziplining to drift snorkeling: floating downstream holding a kickboard while you check out the underwater wildlife through your snorkeling gear (I wasn’t brave enough to try, but it looked fun!). Your kids will love it.
STAY
Silky Oaks Lodge is about an hour north of the city of Cairns and it was delightful to come back there every night after our rainforest adventures. There’s a beautiful 2 bedroom villa with its own pool that’s ideal for families.
EAT
At Silky Oaks, too, please. The food was delicious and they have a happy hour with free drinks every night (which is exactly what I needed to calm my fear of pythons; turns out I am not exactly a rainforest person!).
PLAY
Take a day trip out to the Great Barrier Reef (what most Aussies do), try ice cream made from native tropical fruits, go on a river cruise looking for alligators, or visit Mossman Gorge and learn about indigenous traditions.
NEED TO KNOW
Avoid the ocean in Daintree though. As inviting as it appears, Cape Tribulation is considered the most dangerous beach in the world due to the numbers of saltwater crocs, sharks, and box jellyfish (the most venomous).