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Whether you prefer snuggling up to a log fire or migrating to warmer climes, you don’t need to escape Australia this winter. Contact your personal travel manager to arrange your perfect Aussie getaway.
Enjoy the cooler weather by paying a visit to the Barossa Valley, home to South Australia’s best vineyards. Each August the region is showcased at the annual Barossa Gourmet Weekend, which features produce from over 20 local wineries. Although winter is the ideal time to visit, Barossa Valley is enticing all-year-round, thanks to its relaxing ambience and abundance of cosy B&Bs.
The Australian snow season runs from the middle of June until the beginning of October and is best experienced at Perisher, Thredbo and Charlottes Pass Snow Resorts. All three resorts are in New South Wales and it’s not uncommon to visit all three during the course of the season. Snow resorts are great family-friendly destinations for those brave enough to embrace the cold!
If you prefer to bask in the sun and have little tolerance for the cold, North Queensland enjoys largely uninterrupted sunshine all year round. Take a trip to Port Douglas and unwind at an eco-lodge surrounded by luscious rainforest, or go snorkelling on the majestic Great Barrier Reef. Soar above the rainforest’s canopy on the Skyrail from Port Douglas to Kuranda, to enjoy a birds-eye-view of a thriving ecosystem.
Kakadu National Park is a winter escape that will enchant you, offering a spectacular collection of winding rivers, waterfalls and rock formations. Kakadu’s flora is among the richest in Australia and provides a winter wonderland for wildlife enthusiasts. The park experiences heightened tourism during winter, but crowds can be avoided by visiting during the shoulder season.
Located an hour’s drive from Sydney, the Blue Mountains are the ideal location to unwind and embrace natural beauty. The Blue Mountains also host luxury retreats, including the Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa and Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa. The latter, nestled within a 4000-acre nature reserve, offers a wide range of spa treatments including a four hour Australian Sunset Ritual. Natural highlights of the Blue Mountains include the Three Sisters, Leura and the Botanic Gardens at Mount Tomah.
The Augusta-Margaret River is ruggedly beautiful, and an epic winter retreat as a result. The area is conducive in the production of chardonnay, but excels in cabernet blends, forming rich complex tones. 5,000 hectares of vineyard are shared between 150 boutique wineries; many cellars are partnered with gourmet restaurants and some offer extensive tours.
The Cape-to-Cape walk stretches from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste, through dense Karri forests and expansive wildflower meadows. During the winter, Flinders Bay becomes a popular breeding ground for humpback whales and recently endangered blue whales.
With alpine ranges towering over idyllic lakes, Cradle Mountain has the ability to soothe the soul. The undulating landscape provides the perfect environment for canyoning, and tobogganing following snowfall. When in Tasmania ensure you visit Cradle Mountain’s Tasmanian devil sanctuary, a rare opportunity to observe the vulnerable species in their natural habitat.
The island’s main attraction is the penguin parade, where groups of Fairy Penguins come ashore to feed and waddle home at sunset. The rugged coastline provides shelter for Australia’s largest seal colony and a significant population of Sooty Terns.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
