There’s so much to do and see in Australia it can be hard to know where to begin. Do you follow the well-worn tracks of travellers before you, or are you looking for something a little different? If something truly memorable is what you’re after, here are some ideas that might tickle your fancy.
Reefsleep Whitsundays
Plenty of tourists can say they’ve visited the Great Barrier Reef, but how many can claim to have slept there? You’ll be able to say just that if you take part in the ‘Reef Sleep” experience on offer here. Forty nautical miles from shore is a permanently moored pontoon on Hardy Reef, one of the most spectacularly beautiful and biologically diverse regions of the Great Barrier Reef. For the lucky few there’s the opportunity to camp out here – stretch your swag out and sleep under the stars. You’ll wake up surrounded by beautiful seascapes, and get the chance to explore the reef before the other tourists get there for the day.
Jamala Wildlife Lodge
Lions, tigers, giraffes and hyenas probably aren’t the first things to come to mind when you think about Canberra, but they might be after you stay here. The Jamala Wildlife Lodge offers unique accommodation in the middle of Canberra’s national zoo and aquarium. Take your pick from the Giraffe Treehouses, where you can get face to face with beautiful giraffes or The Jungle Bungalows, which feature a suite with a glass enclosure alongside so you can wake up next to a pride of lions, cheetahs, tigers or bears. For ultimate luxury try the uShaka Lodge, where there is a shark tank aquarium in your living room and an enclosure full of cheeky monkeys for neighbours. Whatever you choose you also have exclusive access to behind-the-scenes at the zoo including hands-on encounters with the animals. A once in a lifetime experience.
Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef
On a remote stretch of the Indian Ocean in Western Australia you’ll find a beachside safari camp like no other. Offering an ‘eco-luxe’ experience, this solar powered luxury canvas enclave has no televisions and no telephones, allowing you to truly get away from it all. There’s hammocks to relax in on your balcony, and amazing private beaches to explore, and the reefs are some of the most spectacular in the world. You’ll get to truly experience nature in one of the most remote locations on earth.
