Why it’s the ideal year to hop off to Oz
WHEN the Hogmanay fireworks burst over Sydney Harbour Bridge on January 1, they heralded the start of a perfect year for an epic adventure to the surf-washed shores of Australia.
The hard-hit Aussie dollar means we can enjoy about 25 per cent more spending power than a couple of years ago.
And new pension-pot rules from April will make it easier for those nearing retirement to draw down the spare cash to take off on that memorable holiday of a lifetime.
Even better news is that the cost of escorted touring Down Under is now at genuinely can-do levels.
Look out for innovative itineraries that prioritise great accommodation and brilliant experiences, while keeping costs manageable, for example by using four-star rather than five-star hotels.
Australia welcomed a record 6.7 million international visitors in the year to August 2014, with visits from Britain up by 12 per cent. Many people were lured by the country’s new affordability. And interest has continued to soar since Kate and Wills took the gorgeous Prince George for a king-sized toddle there last year.
The effortless way to see it all for yourself is on a meticulously planned escorted tour, where you can let your tour manager and guides take care of all the logistics while you relax with plenty of time to explore. Look for a tour that includes breakfasts – as this can be worth about £250 per person.
It’s also worth taking advantage of the option of a two-night stopover in Dubai, Bangkok or Singapore, which can be tagged on at very low cost and will add extra city sparkle to your great Antipodean adventure.
COLOURS OF AUSTRALIA
Australians love to show off their country so you’ll benefit from a warm welcome in this vibrant land, which is 11 hours ahead of us in Sydney. It is also a vividly colourful place to be.
You could glide through the vastness of the Outback on the luxurious Ghan sleeper train from Adelaide to Alice Springs, halting in the early morning to stretch your legs and fully appreciate the contrast between the sunscorched ochres of the earth and the azure blue sky. Or you could meet the Flying Doctors at Alice Springs, then watch the magnificent colours of Uluru (Ayers Rock) change through burnished oranges and reds at sunset and sunrise, while dining alfresco or sipping Aussie wine.
You could bathe in clear turquoise waters off a pontoon at the outer Great Barrier Reef, snorkelling among a rainbow of corals and fish or viewing them from a semi-submersible.
Or you could visit the lush Daintree Rainforest, which is best explored first by train and then by cable car on the way back. Look out for the colourful flash of a parrot or hummingbird as you skim the vivid greens of the world’s oldest rainforest.
There are also the Blue Mountains of New South Wales – named after the bluish haze that envelops them – which are great for bush-walking.
WATERSIDE CITIES
As well as natural wonders, your tour will probably include lovely waterside cities. If you are going near the party city of Adelaide, take the chance to hop across to Kangaroo Island – often called the Galapagos of Australia as it teems with spectacular wildlife.
You can also board the indulgent Indian Pacific train in Adelaide. Culture-rich Melbourne is the gateway to the dramatic Great Ocean Road (ideal for a foodie road trip) and Phillip Island, where you can watch little penguins parade after their day at sea.
And Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. Take a tour behind the scenes at the opera house and cruise the incredible harbour past billionaire mansions, while enjoying an à la carte luncheon.
In fact, superb dining is now a big story in Australia, especially the world-class seafood, wine and beer. And expect excellent service, too, tinged with that Aussie friendliness and a sense of humour we share.
Australia is a bucket-list essential – and there really couldn’t be a better year than 2015 to experience for yourself its rich palette, warm welcome and value.