Unforgettable: Discover the beauty and heritage of regional Victoria on a paddle steamer as you cruise the Murray River. Photos: Supplied.
Fair dinkum, the immense heterogeneity is what makes Australian adventures so awesome! Down Under is chockers with myriad experiences because this is where sheer diversity is the key to what enlivens holidays.
You could be on a sea-to-table tour on Bribie Island, a paddle-steamer cruise on the Murray River, a brunch walking tour in Bendigo, an outback animal night safari or unwinding in an exclusive outdoor wellness suite just west of Melbourne.
A new day tour from Explore Australia unveils the diverse character of Victoria’s scenic Campaspe region, a 150-minute drive from Melbourne/Narrm. The journey begins in the historic port town of Echuca with a classic paddle-steamer cruise on the iconic Murray River.
From the water, the experience moves to land to showcase the region’s other treasures. Travellers will encounter native wildlife at the Kyabram Fauna Park — home to kangaroos, koalas and rare cassowaries.
In Rochester and Colbinabbin, towering silos have been transformed into enormous outdoor canvases, painted with vibrant murals that tell the stories of local communities. The tour also explores the unique, time-worn landscape of the Pink Cliffs Ecology Reserve, where mineral-rich clay formations glow in shades of blush pink, deep orange and gold.
Watching this little-known natural wonder carved into dramatic shapes over time feels like stepping onto another planet.
Family-friendly: A coastal experience that blends beach adventure with Bribie Island’s natural beauty, rich history and local flavours.
Craving an experience that blends beach adventure with Queensland’s Bribie Island’s scenic splendour, historical significance and authentic cuisine?
There’s a lot of appeal for haute cuisine on this beautiful island, just over an hour’s drive from Brisbane/Meanjin. G’day Adventure Tours’ new kayak and sea-to-table lunch option combines beach driving, guided kayaking and gourmet dining.
Running for five to six hours, this small-group coastal adventure starts with a thrilling 4WD journey through the sandy tracks of Bribie Island National Park, followed by a serene paddle across Norfolk Lagoon, both with ample chances to encounter the island’s abundant wildlife — from kangaroos in the dunes to lace monitors and migratory birds along the shoreline.
The tour continues into Fort Bribie’s World War II bunkers. Built in the early 1940s to defend Moreton Bay and Brisbane during World War II, these ageing concrete bunkers now sit tucked into the dunes, slowly eroding into the landscape. Guides will walk you through their strategic role in Australia’s wartime efforts and share stories from the soldiers who once stood watch here.
The trip culminates with a shady beachside picnic — a feast of fresh seafood — featuring locally caught Queensland prawns, seasonal Moreton Bay bugs and a choice of wine or beer.
Original: A Taste of Bendigo food tours give the opportunity to explore Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
It’s quite a treat to stroll through Bendigo’s historic city centre on a foodie excursion where the flavours tell their own stories. Explore Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, just under a two-hour drive from Melbourne, with two new Saturday walking tours from A Taste of Bendigo.
We stop at four venues that showcase dishes such as beetroot rosti with feta and Belgian hot chocolate, paired with local juices and artisan coffee. Alternatively, the spring foodie tour offers an afternoon of zest, starting with beetroot tartlets and local wine before moving on to tapas, craft beer flights with wood-fired pizza and slow-cooked lamb with gin tastings. Both tours connect Bendigo’s thriving food culture with stories of its gold rush history.
Journey into the Dryandra Woodlands, a two-hour drive southeast of Perth/Boorloo, for an evening blending astro tourism, nature and wellness. Located in the expansive Wheatbelt region, this spectacular conservation area and biodiversity hotspot is home to numbats, bilbies, echidnas, brush-tailed wallabies, woylies, quendas and chuditch.
This Quokka Adventure Tours’ new experience enables you to enjoy a short bushwalk before sitting down for a picnic dinner in the forest. Set out on a guided night tour at Barna Mia wildlife sanctuary before finishing with a sound healing session under the Milky Way.
An exclusive outdoor wellness suite has been unveiled at the Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld, three hours’ drive west of Melbourne. The well-appointed retreat now offers a spacious magnesium-salt hot tub, refreshing cool-down shower and Finnish-inspired cedar wood sauna … perfect for soothing muscles after exploring ancient landscapes.
In-between therapeutic sessions, take the opportunity to relax in the cosy indoor lounge with uninterrupted views of Mount Sturgeon, sipping tea crafted from kitchen garden ingredients or enjoying local beers, wines and the hotel’s signature gin. View natural wonders as emus, kangaroos and wallabies wander past the panoramic windows!
