Isolation Escapism – Australia

Whilst we cannot physically transport you to our destinations themselves at present, we would like to offer you a little virtual escapism. We do hope that they will be a welcome distraction as we sit out these extraordinary times, and act as an inspiration for your next adventure.

In our thirteenth Isolation Escape we would like to offer you a snapshot of Australia. Not to be attempted in one sitting (unless you are taking a sabbatical!), Australia should be thought of as a continent and taking bite sized mouthfuls on each trip will ensure you have the time to absorb your surroundings, rather than scratch its multi-layered surface. From West to East and North to South, these are a handful of our highlights.

Perth and its beach lined suburbs acts as a gateway to Western Australia, an area covering the entire western third of the country. Largely made up of arid outback, the lion’s share of its conservative population reside in the fruitful southwest corner surrounding the region’s river side capital and along the infamous Margaret River wine region. Drifting to the far north you’ll happen upon Kimberly and its ancient indigenous rock art, the orange and black striped sandstone domes known as the Bungle Bungle and the spectacular 22km Cable Beach, kissing the waters of the Indian Ocean.

Australia’s Northern Territory is celebrated for its Outback desert wilderness and rich indigenous culture. It’s dry Red Centre is punctuated with the iconic outcrops of Uluru and Kata Tjuta and the dramatic, towering sandstone walls of Kings Canyon. The territory’s frayed coastline boasts countless tidal inlets and islands housing a vast variety of endemic wildlife residing within huge areas of national parks intersected by watercourses, spectacular gorges and valleys, floodplains and woodlands, rock escarpments and plummeting waterfalls.

To the east of Australia, Queensland’s coastline stretches nearly 7,000km, dotted with relaxed cities and towns, laidback surf resorts and fruit and vegetable plantations thriving in the tropical climate. Offshore, the Great Barrier Reef comprises over 900 islands and 2,900 individual reefs, hosting thousands of marine species inviting underwater visitors while the Whitsundays are a favourite for sailors. Inland the Daintree rainforest teems with tropical flora and fauna while remote outback towns and ranches meet every expectation of larger than life characters and vast, open farmlands. The more temperate climes of New South Wales add more variety still. The state’s capital Sydney is home to iconic structures such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge while inland the furrowed Blue Mountains and tempting Hunter Valley wine region, attract explorers and epicureans respectively.

The south of the country delivers a further assortment of gems. The region of South Australia possesses the wildlife haven of Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide, accommodating a plethora native wildlife including sea lions, koalas and penguins while inland The Barossa Valley is known for its array of high-profile wineries offering tours and cellar-door tastings. Victoria prides itself on its cosmopolitan and cultural city of Melbourne with its warren of 19th-century ‘laneways’ and lively arts scene, the charming Mornington Peninsular and the infamous Great Ocean Road following the coast west to Port Campbell National Park, where the Twelve Apostles are limestone stacks on the edge of the ocean. The island of Tasmania, home of the (probably) extinct Tansmanian Tiger, is its own state, just over two thirds of the size of England. Notorious for its sensational food and drink, the island is packed full of micro producers owned and operated by passionate foodies, resulting in an abundance of gastronomic festivals like nowhere else. Admired for its natural beauty and ever present native wildlife, Tasmania encompasses white sand beaches, bleak alpine plateaus and wild rivers to be explored by foot, bicycle and boat.

If you’d like to start planning a holiday to Australia while waiting for this storm to pass, please drop us a line and we’ll be delighted to send you further information on vast and diverse country.

“You feel free in Australia. There is great relief in the atmosphere – a relief from tension, from pressure, an absence of control of will or form. The Skies open above you and the areas open around you.”

— D. H. Lawrence