Melville Island: quiet beauty
Queensland
Attractions: destinations include Brisbane and the Gold Coast; The Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane; Cairns and Tropical North Queensland; and the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays Islands (see destination report, page 51). While the latter caters for those looking to get away from it all, the Gold Coast offers a lively experience. Brisbane is the gateway to the Gold Coast, with 26 miles of pristine beaches and the resort Surfer’s Paradise. The region is also known as the ‘Playground of Australia’ and offers a variety of family attractions, including SeaWorld and Wet ‘n’ Wild aqua park.
Best time to go: November-March.
Sample price: Connections, part of The Imaginative Traveller group, offers a 12-day Reef Suntanner package taking in the Gold Coast, Whitsundays and Cairns from ú495 per person, twin share.
Victoria
Attractions: the Great Ocean Road is one of the most popular self-drive routes, starting at Torquay, the surfing capital of Australia. The drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay is particularly breathtaking with wooded mountains and a long coastline. The drive from Lorne to Mount Gambier includes the windswept Shipwreck Coast with the Twelve Apostles, a row of great stone pillars.
Best time to go: November-March.
Sample price: self-drive tours with Travel 2 start from ú120 per person on a twin-share basis, based on three or four sharing a car.
South Australia
Attractions: the most popular beach destinations are found in the capital city, Adelaide, and on nearby Kangaroo Island. Visitors should take the 20min tram ride to the resort of Glenelg, teeming with cafes, restaurants and a much-photographed jetty. Those in search of a quieter experience should head for Kangaroo Island, which is fringed with superb beaches such as Vivionne and Emu Bay. It is regarded as one of the best wildlife-spotting places in Australia – sea lions, New Zealand fur seals and white-breasted sea eagles gather here. Activities include sailing, surfing, water skiing scuba diving and fishing.
Best time to go: November-March.
Sample price: a three-day Kangaroo Island Discovery Tour with Travel 2 costs from ú166 including flights from Adelaide and car hire.
Wide choice of coastal attractions offered by UK operators
Northern Territory
Attractions: the Northern Territory is best known for its barren Red Centre but it also offers attractive coastal towns. The capital, Darwin, is located at the mouth of the Adelaide River and offers sailing, fishing and water-skiing. The Casuarina Coastal Reserve has a long, sandy beach, dunes and patches of rainforests. The Tiwi Islands of Melville and Bathurst boast beaches and Aboriginal culture.
Best time to go: May-October.
Sample price: Jetabout features Darwin from ú84 per person for two nights’ accommodation.
New South Wales
Attractions: the capital, Sydney, is a thriving harbourside metropolis renowned for its surf and sand beaches which stretch from Manly to Palm Beach. Most famous of these is Bondi. The picturesque and varied coastal route from Sydney to Brisbane is a popular self-drive choice. The journey takes in the wine region of Hunter Valley; surfer’s resort Port Stephens; Coffs Harbour with the sea circus Pet Porpoise Pool; and Byron Bay.
Best time to go: November-April.
Sample price: British Airways Holidays offers a three-day Seaside Sojourn by Seaplane ex-Sydney. The programme includes accommodation at Port Stephens, and golf, surfing, snorkelling, fishing and whale-watching activities are also on offer. Prices start from ú267 per person.
Tasmania
Attractions: white sandy beaches at Boat Harbour and all along the east coast of the state. Wineglass Bay in the Freycinet National Park is the best known, but others near Hobart in the southeast include Kingston and Seven Mile Beach.
Best time to go: January-March.
Sample price: Kuoni features the Freycinet Lodge on the Freycinet Peninsula and Great Oyster Bay from ú54 per person per night.
Western Australia
Attractions: the capital city, Perth, has a number of wide, sandy beaches with perfect surfing, sailing and yachting conditions. Possibly the most famous beach in the state is Cable Beach, Broome, whichboasts 14 miles of pristine white sand. Other coastal highlights include Monkey Mia, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a meeting point for dolphins, and Shark Bay. Ningaloo Reef, the largest fringing reef in the world, meets the beach at Coral Bay, offering great diving.
Best time to go: November-March.
Sample price: Travel 2 features one night at the Cable Beach Inter-Continental from ú36 per person per night twin share.