WHY I LOVE AUSTRALIA

WHALE OF A TIME

For all the stories about snakes and spiders of unfriendly temper fomented by nature documentaries, Australia offers wildlife experiences that deal in the serene rather than the scary. This is the case in Western Australia, where the coast is host to some of the planet’s most graceful marine mammals. Trailfinders (020 7084 6500; trailfinders. com) sells a 14-day

“Western Shores and Whale Sharks” fly-drive, which provides snorkelling encounters with the big beasts in question along the Ningaloo Reef. Bottlenose dolphins are the order of the holiday in the town of Monkey Mia. From £1,430 a head, flights extra. “Adelaide is completely underrated. Most travellers overlook it – they’d rather go to Melbourne or Sydney. But it’s a beautiful city on the doorstep of one of the best wine regions in Australia with a vibrant nightlife, stunning architecture and friendly people.”

ELUSIVE DEVILS

Tasmania’s pre-colonial history as an outpost (largely) isolated from the rest of the world bequeathed it a range of wildlife that bears careful inspection. The Tasmanian devil, now sadly endangered, is the headline attraction, but there are intriguing creatures beyond said misunderstood marsupial, such as the 40-spotted pardalote, one of Australia’s rarest birds, only found on Tasmania; and echidnas, egg-laying mammals that look half anteater, half hedgehog. Naturetrek’s (01962 733051; naturetrek.co.uk) “The Wilderness Isle” is a 17-day group trip that seeks all three. Next departure Nov 3; from £6,295 a head, with flights.