Think of the glorious land down under and most of us will conjure up images of a hot sun, golden beaches and warm sparkling waves.
But if that’s all we think Oz has to offer, then we’re seriously missing out.
G’day, indeed…
Attend an alternative arts festival, Hobart, Tasmania
Dark Mofo is the midwinter festival held annually by Hobart’s innovative Museum of Old and New Art. Running from June 8 to 22, it takes its theme from an ancient winter solstice ritual, celebrating the dark nights through public art, music, fire, food, light and noise.
Signature events include the tasty Winter Feast, held on Hobart’s waterfront, the Nude Solstice Swim, where hundreds of skinny-dippers take to the sea, and the Ogoh-Ogoh procession, where giant sculptures are paraded through the streets and then burned.
Event ticket prices vary, more information can be found here.
Ski in the Snowy Mountains, New South Wales
If you associate Australia with sun, sand and sea, you might be surprised to know that you can ski here.
The mighty Snowy Mountains are home to Kosciuszko National Park, which includes mainland Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, at 2,228m, which is ski-able. Popular resorts in the Snowy Mountains region include Thredbo, which boasts the longest runs in the country and Perisher, the largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere.
Thredbo sits at 1,365m while Perisher is 1,720m, and both offer a fantastic range of bars, restaurants, lodges and hotels. And, most importantly, prime pistes for every ability.
Walk the Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory
A beautiful desert trek spanning 140 miles from east to west, the Larapinta Trail starts at the historic Telegraph Station just outside Alice Springs.
Its rugged landscapes take in the majestic Ormiston Gorge in the spectacular MacDonnell Ranges, the high peak of Mount Sonder, and the striking, red-rocked Standley Chasm. Along the way you can take dips in cooling waterholes, spend nights gazing at the star-filled skies and enjoy breathtaking views of the scenery.
A five-day trek starts from £1,132pp, excluding flights, more information can be found here.
Help rehabilitate turtles, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Queensland is known as Oz’s sunshine state, and during winter its temperatures will still be balmy. In addition, this being dry season means that water visibility is good, so it’s a great time to visit the Great Barrier Reef.
Fitzroy Island, a resort 45 minutes from Cairns, has just launched a ‘citizen science’ tour where visitors can go behind the scenes at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and help with the Reef Restoration Foundation’s coral work.
You’ll help volunteers feed and care for the turtles, go snorkelling to observe their behaviour, and learn about the vital work of regrowing coral.
£105pp for a full day, including lunch and refreshments, more information can be found here.
Sleep in an igloo, Mount Hotham, Victoria
In the Victorian Alps, part of the Great Dividing Range, Mount Hotham is a lively ski resort with 30km of slopes.
As well as activities from snowboarding to backcountry skiing and snowmobiling, you can stay somewhere a bit different. The resort offers an overnight adventure in an igloo, where you’ll start with a sunset snowshoe trek to a village in the forest for dinner, followed by a night in the igloo’s icy walls (don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of sheepskins to keep you warm) before a skidoo trip back to the main resort after breakfast.
More information can be foundhere.
Swim with giant cuttlefish, Whyalla, South Australia
With eight arms and two tentacles, cuttlefish are like a cross between an octopus and a squid. And while they may not be the most attractive sea inhabitants, once a year these curious creatures gather in their thousands in the Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park in Whyalla to breed, putting on an amazing colourful display to attract a mate. They can change the luminescent colours and patterns of their skin, making for a unique spectacle.
More information can be found here.
How to get there:
Return flights from London Heathrow to Sydney with Emirates start from £1,335, for travel until Feb 29, 2024.
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