Elite Traveler January-February 2018

DreamTime SYDNEY HARBOUR

Destination Australia LUXURY AUSTRALIA For those wanting to explore all that Australia has to offer, this spectacular tour takes place over 19 nights and covers Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, Barossa Valley, Ayers Rock, Daintree Rainforest, Lizard Island, Sydney and the Blue Mountains. From $20,895. Melbourne, Victoria Fly toMelbourne and spend three nights getting to know this vibrant city. While staying at Crown Towers, peruse fashion boutiques, relax in expansive parks and sample some world-class cuisine. Start your day with a tour of some of the backstreets of Melbourne in their Lanes & Arcades private city tour, enabling you to get a unique view of this charming city. Kangaroo Island, South Australia Be sure to stay at Southern Ocean Lodge and spend three nights on Kangaroo Island, famed for its outstanding natural beauty. TheWonders of Kangaroo Island Experience is well worth enjoying, introducing you to the Island’s wildlife, dramatic landscape and the deep history of the early island settlers. Barossa Valley, South Australia Australia is well known for its amazing wine and the Barossa Valley is home to many high-profile wineries. Stay at the sublime vineyard retreat, The Louise, and savor the views across acres of vines. For real foodies the Hentley Farm Experience is a must. Uluru (Ayers Rock), Northern Territory Outback Spend the next two nights under the stars at Longitude 131. While the expansive spa, pool and restaurant provide an oasis of calm, there are a number of historical and cultural tours on offer for those looking to get out and about among nature. Daintree Rainforest, Queensland Nestled on the edge of theWorld Heritage-listed Daintree National Park, your destination for the following two nights is Silky Oaks Lodge. There are an abundance of exciting and unique experiences to enjoy here, including mangrove, rainforest and beach tours. Great Barrier Reef, Queensland Lizard Island is known for offering some of the best diving and big game fishing on the reef, and you’ll have plenty of time to indulge in both activities during your two-night stay. Keen snorkelers will be astonished at the abundance of aquatic life, just moments from the island’s beaches. Sydney, New South Wales No visit to Australia would be complete without a trip to Sydney. During your three-night stay at the Park Hyatt Sydney you can partake in a guided journey to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and get amidst the hustle and bustle of the habor from the deck of a 54-ft yacht. Blue Mountains, New South Wales For eco-adventurers there is nowhere quite like the Emirates One&OnlyWolgan Valley. From this 7,000-acre wildlife sanctuary spend the final two days of your trip enjoying the wild natural beauty of Australia through an array of adventure activities such as trail hikes, horseback rides and mountain biking.

Oenophiles’ Delight ADELAIDE Surrounding the buzzy metropolis of Adelaide is lush and verdant wine country. Discover what makes an award-winning wine at the Hentley Farm. Following an in-depth tour that takes you from terroir to vine to barrel to glass, you will be treated to a memorable four-course lunch, complemented with a selection of Hentley Farm’s luxury wine range. For a truly unique experience take to the skies for an hour-long Barossa Balloon Adventure, organized by The Louise hotel — and soak up a bird’s-eye view of the vineyards below. For a more modern take on the art of viticulture, head south to the d’Arenberg winery. The d’Arenberg vintners are putting the finishing touches on an avant-garde puzzle-cube structure that will house tasting rooms, virtual fermenters and a restaurant. Estate Suite at The Louise, from$1,400 per night Daintree National Park offers access to the world’s oldest rainforest, the Unesco World Heritage–listed Wet Tropics. With your personal expert naturalist guide, learn about the flora and fauna that make this ecosystem so valuable. After building up an appetite, head to a traditional Australian BBQ lunch. Jump into a canoe to explore the Daintree, soaking up the abundance of wildlife, including freshwater turtles, eels and jungle perch. For a spiritual experience, head to Daintree Eco Lodge’s spa for a Wawu Jirakul massage next to a rainforest waterfall. If the stunning scenery inspires your creative flair, the nearby Janbal Gallery offers art workshops alongside their collection of local Kuku Yalanji art. Billabong Suite at Silky Oaks Lodge, from $760 per night dynamic Sydney dining scene at King Street Wharf. Enjoy cocktails at Cargo before heading to Bungalow 8 for a seafood platter. If you’re in the mood for fine dining, head to Quay (rated by Elite Traveler as one of the Top 100 Restaurants in the world) before it closes for refurbishments in March. For music lovers, time your visit to coincide with the music-and-light festival Vivid Sydney, which takes place every May. Ensure you have front-row seats for Vivid Sydney’s mesmerizing experiences by chartering a yacht in the harbor, or immerse yourself in one of the music performances being held across the city. Opera Suite at Park Hyatt Sydney, from $1,190 per night Take a leisurely walkabout with an Aboriginal guide and discover the Aboriginal people’s saltwater heritage within Sydney Harbour. Delight in the Rainforest Safari DAINTREE NATIONAL PARK

Great Barrier Reef Dive LIZARD ISLAND Diving in the largest coral reef in the world is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or happier snorkeling on the surface, you’re sure to be entranced by the abundance of color and aquatic life the reef offers. Lizard Island is ideally positioned for swimming out to explore the reef and while you’re there ensure you tick off The Great Eight — a list of marine creatures including clown fish, giant clam, potato cod, manta rays, maori wrasse, turtles and whales. Spend a day aboard 51-ft yacht Fascination III and see if you can land a mahi-mahi, sailfish or black marlin for your evening meal. If you’ve exhausted your sea legs and need some time on land, head up to Cook’s Look, the highest point of the island and a perfect place to survey the stunning scenery. The Villa at Lizard Island, from $4,200 per night

To book these experiences or to find out more about the bespoke itineraries Swain Destinations can create go to swaindestinations.com/elite