Australian Highlights: Sydney, Kangaroo Island, Port Douglas, & Uluru

I have traveled to Australia countless times and am pleased to be a destination specialist for this amazing country.

On each visit, I discover something new and return home excited to share my recommendations with my travelers.

Australia is a place of incredible diversity and offers a plethora of experiences that keep visitors coming back again and again.

Here are just a few of my favorite experiences:

Sydney

Climbing the Sydney Bridge is a must-do for all first time visitors to Sydney as long as you are okay with heights. To really take the experience to a new level, try climbing it at night. When I was last summiting the bridge, the gorgeous Vivid (light show) was going on.

Taking a helicopter ride into the city and seeing the Sydney Opera House from above. We had an extra treat: The tower asked the pilot to wait longer to land, so we were able to stay high up above the city with that view beneath us. I was thrilled I could spend some extra time in the air and just soak it all in.

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island sits off the mainland in the south of the country and is a haven for wildlife due to its large quantity of nature preserves. I greatly enjoyed staying at Sea Dragon Lodge and waking up to see lots of kangaroos bounding about the property.

Port Douglas

Port Douglas is a city in Australia’s Northeast, just up the coast from Cairns. It is home to gorgeous coastline and includes a spectacular 4-mile long beach. While in Port Douglas, I also loved visiting the Daintree Forest at night and swimming in the Daintree River.

Uluru

Uluru is magical, it is this huge, red rock formation out in the bush. I was lucky to experience the site by arriving on camelback at sunset. It’s hard to get more breathtaking an introduction to Uluru than that.

Who Would Love Australia

Generally speaking, Australia is a wonderful place for so many kinds of travelers.

It is safe and easy to get around. It’s a great destination for honeymooners, families, as well as retirement aged people. I travelled by myself and felt safe and always welcomed. There are plenty of lodging options and all that I tried for myself were excellent. I stayed in several different hotels and all were centrally located and delivered excellent service.

People, Culture, & Weather

I traveled in May, which was a great time to go to Sydney, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Port Douglas and Uluru.

It was not too cold or too hot, and we did not have much rain either. At every opportunity, I interacted with the locals as much as I could. I enjoy and recommend getting out to coffee shops and restaurants to mingle, linger, and people watch. The Aussies definitely deserve their reputation of being fun and friendly people. For the local cuisine flavor, you have to try Australian meat pies. The seafood is also super fresh and delicious. I especially liked the Barramundi.

Interested in an Australian adventure? Contact me to discover hidden gems, unexpected itineraries, and to start crafting your trip of a lifetime.

–Liz Neal, Luxury Travel Advisor & Australia Destination Specialist