Essentials

When to book Accommodation is heavily booked all year round but even worse during the summer high season (December to February) and/or major sporting events such as the Melbourne Cup, AFL grand final or the Ashes. If visiting during these periods, it pays to book as early as possible to secure the best price. If travelling independently, book hotels and resorts in advance using a travel site such as Booking. com or Expedia (expedia.co.uk) to avoid inflated prices on arrival. Stayz (stayz. com.au) has a good range of holiday rentals, farm cottages and other self-catering options.

How to get there Most international flights land at Melbourne Airport, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, Brisbane Airport or Perth Airport, with connecting flights to Ayers Rock/Connellan Airport and Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays.

The era of cheap long-haul flights is over, but you can find decent fares through Flight Centre (flightcentre.co.uk) and Skyscanner (skyscanner.net). Expect to pay around £1,200 for a return economy flight from the UK to Sydney. Qantas, British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific all fly from the UK to Australia. China Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Air India offer cheaper tickets, priced at £765 for a return economy flight, but try to avoid long stopovers on what is already a 22-hoursplus flight. Flying within Australia is expensive (apart from the SydneyMelbourne route), so book your entire itinerary before leaving home.

Car hire can be pricey. Use a comparison site such as Vroom VroomVroom (vroomvroomvroom. com.au) to find the best deal. Family cars cost from £62 per day. Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Avis and SIXT are all represented.