‘King Charles will be making the journey – and you should too’

Australia

Anywhere that takes more than 20 hours to get to must be worth the journey. King Charles will be making the trip to Australia in 2024 and there are many reasons why you should, too. With just over 25 million people in an area 32 times bigger than Britain, it is the world’s smallest continent and its biggest island, with plenty to lure visitors.

This year is set to be a big one for the Kimberley, renowned as one of the world’s last truly wild places, as it sees an influx of new cruise lines. Seabourn and Ponant are both introducing ships to the region, while the Scenic Eclipse will become the first with two helicopters onboard – perfect for sightseeing.

Over in the northeastern corner of New South Wales, the first stretch of the 82-mile Northern Rivers Rail Trail opened in 2023, with more of the route between Casino and Murwillumbah to launch in the coming years. A further 24 miles of walking trails are slated to open in the region this year in the form of the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk in Gondwana Rainforests.

in the cities, Sydney is known for its show-stopping good looks. Its eastern beaches are famed for good reason, but the city holds its own too – try Le Foote for drinks and dinner, and the newly refurbished InterContinental Sydney to rest your head. It also has a brand new addition to its art scene, with the grand opening of Sydney Modern.

Melbourne, less sun-kissed, more late-night, is peppered with small bars, laneways festooned with street art and plenty of galleries. The neo-gothic Reine and La Rue, with its oyster bar and cathedral dining room, is the restaurant du jour, and the towering Ritz Carlton is a luxe new addition to the city’s already excellent hotel stable.

How to do it

Trailfinders (020 7084 6500; trailfinders.com) offers a Discover Australia packagethat includes a Sydney Harbour cruise, a Melbourne foodie walk, and a full day snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. From £4,047 pp, excluding flights.

Ariela Bard is a travel and arts writer who spends very little time at the beach.