Australia: five of the best escorted tours

Francesca Freeman picks some of the best escorted tours of Australia, from hiking in Tasmania to adventure in the Red Centre

For camping: wilderness tours in the Kimberley

Covering nearly 263,000 sq miles of northwestern Australia, the Kimberley region is one of the planet’s last great wildernesses.

The four-wheel-drive journey from Broome to Darwin is punctuated with gorges and waterfalls, pristine beaches and both swimmer-friendly and crocodile-inhabited lagoons. Evidence of Aboriginal history can be seen in the indigenous rock art.

Whether they prefer making their way down the 19 miles of pristine sand on Broome’s Cable Beach or exploring the orange-and-black sandstone ranges of the Bungle Bungles, visitors to the Kimberley are well catered for when it comes to outdoor pursuits. Camping is the perfect way to get a true Australian bush experience.

Sample product: Kuoni has a 13-day Kimberley Explorer escorted camping package starting at £1,056 per person twin-share, not including flights. Camping equipment, luxury coach travel, airport transfers, guides and most meals are included.

For walking and wine: Tasmanian walking tours

Brimming with breathtaking scenery and vineyards, Tasmania offers tourists a unique combination of scenery and gastronomy.

Whether it’s the sparkling waters of Wineglass Bay, the rugged peaks of Cradle Mountain or the rainforests and waterfalls of Mount Field National Park, tourists are drawn to the island every year to explore its wildernesses on foot.

Those seeking refreshment after a day’s walking are in the right place: Tasmania is home to many vineyards and gourmet restaurants, providing plenty of opportunities for visitors to sample the country’s renowned local food and wine.

The Tamar, Coal River, Derwent and Huon Valleys are all flourishing wine regions, with many wineries open for tasting.

Sample product: Australian Pacific Touring offers an eight-day Gourmet Wanderer escorted tour, combining some of Tasmania’s best walks with excellent dining and top-end accommodation. Prices start at £1,445, including several meals, but excluding flights.

For adventure: tours of the Red Centre

Famed for the blazing hues of its red desert sands, Australia’s Red Centre is the perfect destination for those seeking a true outback experience.

The vast landscape houses some of the country’s most iconic sites, including Ayers Rock, the Devil’s Marbles, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs.

Conditions in the outback are notoriously harsh, however. For those clients who don’t fancy sleeping under the stars, accommodation in the Red Centre comes in a range of forms, catering for all tastes and comfort levels.

Sample product: Travel 2/4 offers a five-day, four-wheel-drive escorted tour of the Red Centre. Luxury camping, most meals and national park entrance fees are included. Prices start at £370 per person excluding flights.

For nature: coastal safaris on the Eyre Peninsula

With more than 1,250 miles of coastline and a selection of unspoilt national parks, South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is the perfect destination for those seeking a holiday that brings them a little closer to nature.

In comparison with the east coast, the southern edge of Australia is much less densely populated, and appeals to travellers who want to step off the tourist trail.

The limestone cliffs of Coffin Bay National Park are a breeding ground for ospreys and sea eagles, and its waterways are home to a host of fish species and dolphins.

Three times the size of Sydney Harbour, Boston Bay offers visitors the chance to swim with, and feed, the southern bluefin tuna that frequent its waters. At Baird Bay, visitors can take a dip with the local sea lions and bottlenose dolphins.

Sample product:Australian Coastal Safaris, bookable through the Turquoise Holiday Company, has a five-day Eyre Peninsula coastal safari between Coffin and Baird Bay, from £2,895 per person, including flights, meals and several activities.

For Aboriginal history: Kakadu and Arnhem Land tours

Covering more than 68,350 sq miles of the Northern Territory’s northeastern tip, Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land represent an area of great cultural significance.

Arnhem Land, home of the didgeridoo, is Aboriginal-owned and is inhabited by a host of indigenous clan groups, while the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kakadu is the traditional homeland of the Bininj Aboriginal people, who jointly manage the park alongside the Australian government. Both areas are renowned for Aboriginal art.

The region’s biodiversity is ideal for many exotic creatures, including a host of tropical birds, fish and saltwater crocodiles.

Sample product: AAT Kings has a six-day Kakadu Wanderer tour of Kakadu and Lichfield National Parks, Katherine, Eva Valley and Arnhem Land from £872 per person, including some meals, but excluding flights.

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