Audley Travel have launched a new Australia brochure with many ideas of ways to discover and explore the country's great outdoors.  

Highlights include:

Walking and Trekking

The Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory – one of Australia's finest bushwalking tracks covering 223 km and weaving past vast flood plains, rocky outcrops and exposed ridge lines.   Visitors can tackle a section of the trail on a challenging, yet relatively luxurious, six day walk across the wild and untamed landscapes of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Each evening guests will be accommodated in stylish semi-permanent wilderness campsites, complete with hot showers and a heated dining tent. Luggage is transported by support vehicles, allowing everyone to walk with only a small day pack. 

Twelve Apostles Walk, Victoria –an ideal way to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Great Ocean Road. With permits for less than 900 walkers a year and only 10 in a group at one time, the walk provides a far more intimate way to get to know this remarkable region.   Four night tours include accommodation in an eco lodge, freeing guests up to carry the bare minimum as they walk and returning each night to a home-cooked dinner with fresh local produce and accompanying regional wine.   The route runs from Apollo Bay in the east to the Twelve Apostles in the west and on the last day guests see the Twelve Apostles from a private viewing platform before taking a scenic helicopter flight back.  

Bruny Island Long Weekend, Tasmania – this short, small group tour allows guests to experience the scenery, wildlife and produce of Tasmania over three days.   Covering approximately 26 kilometres of bush and beach terrain it includes relaxed walks and a wildlife cruise. Guests visit the local oyster farm and one of the southernmost wineries in the world as well as seeing the island's wildlife including wallabies, echidnas, beautiful birdlife and marine mammals. Accommodation is in a purpose-built campsite with permanent raised tents.

Unique Properties

Bear Gully, near Wilsons Promontory National Park – Bear Gully coastal cottages offer peace and tranquility just a three hour drive from the bustle of Melbourne. The four cottages each come with a fully equipped kitchen and have a large deck and stunning view over the ocean.   Wallabies regularly graze in the grounds and the spectacular Wilsons Promontory National Park is just a 35 minute drive away.

Spicers Vineyard Estate, Pokolbin – surrounded by its own small private vineyard, Spicers Vineyard Estate is the ideal haven from which to explore the highlights of the Hunter Valley.   Guests can take a behind the scenes wine tour as well as visiting neighbouring vineyards. The lodge has just 12 luxurious guest rooms and each one has its own wood-burning fireplace.  

Glass on Glasshouse, Glasshouse Mountains – this is a great option for those flying in or out of Brisbane airport but wanting a relaxing countryside stay rather than being in the city.   Located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Glass on Glasshouse offers three luxurious cottages with a spectacular floor-to-ceiling glass wall that frames amazing views of the mountains. There are good walks close by as well as several sandy beaches.

 DULC Cabins, The Grampians – ideally located for exploring the dramatic beauty of the peaks, cliffs and native bushland of Grampian National Park, Down Under Log Cabins (DULC) provide the perfect base in the area.   There are four intimate cabins nestled among the trees and bushland. For couples seeking romantic solitude there is a wonderful two-storey cabin with the bedroom set high among the trees.  

New Experiences

Dolphin Watching, Adelaide – the seaside suburb of Gleneig makes for an enjoyable day out from the city centre and is a popular destination for dolphin watching. A trip on board a catamaran allows you to get up close as they swim and jump metres from the bow. You can even jump in to the water and use the catamaran's floating device to swim right next to them.

Penguin Parade – Summerland Beach on Philip is best known for its nightly penguin parade where hundreds of little penguins emerge from the ocean shuffle through the grass to their nests in the dunes.   Audley suggest taking a ranger-led tour to get up close to them and learn a little about their habits and lifecycle. You will sit with the ranger on a deserted beach away from the main crowd and be given night goggles so you can watch the penguins' antics.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Australian wildlife is unique and beautiful but sometimes quite elusive. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary allows you to get up close to some of Australia's most lovable creatures.   Located at Fig Tree Pocket on the Brisbane River, guests take a guided cruise there from the city centre and have the chance to meet a koala, walk with dingoes, hand feed kangaroos or even work as a keeper for a day.  

 Sailing Around the Barrier Reef – Audley have selected a few different options for those looking to explore the Great Barrier Reef by boat. The Whitsunday Getaway is a spacious 41 foot catamaran with just four en suite cabins and offering three night expeditions taking in the highlights of the Whitsundays Alternatively Whitsunday Bliss is a modern, stylish sailboat with just three cabins and can be chartered on a private basis or it has scheduled three day, two night sailings.  

 For a slightly bigger boat, Coral Expeditions offer a choice of small ship cruises with three, four or seven night options that take guests around the unspoilt reef system between Carins and Lizard Island.   The ships take up to 44 guests and are large enough to ensure total comfort yet small enough to access reef and island sites that are inaccessible to the big cruise boats.  

For further details call Audley Travel on 01993 838 810 www.audleytravel.com 

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Issued on behalf of Audley Travel by:

Jemma Hewlett PR

Tel: 01491 614660

jemma.hewlett@btinternet.com                           December 2016