8 once-in-a-lifetime getaways in Australia to add to your bucket list

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From ultimate escapes in tropical paradises and luxury expedition cruises to helicopter wine odysseys and decadent dinners, these OTT adventures by land, sea and air need to be on your wish list.

1. Stay in Queensland’s Luxury Lodges of Australia

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Turquoise, terracotta and emerald are the three bands of colour that define the distinct landscapes that backdrop the three Luxury Lodges of Australia in Tropical North Queensland. Stitch them together and it becomes a bold needlework. Bounce from Lizard Island , with its white sand hemmed in by turquoise seas, to Silky Oaks Lodge , which is enveloped in the tropical greenery of the Daintree, to Mt Mulligan Lodge in the outback, which is dominated by the russet-red hues of the ancient monolith.

the white sand beach on Lizard Island
Lizard Island is blessed with pristine white sand and turquoise waters. (Image: Elise Hassey)

2. Cruise the Kimberley, WA

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

A cruise to the Kimberley is on most Australians’ bucket lists for a multitude of reasons. True North has small ships purpose-built for navigating the region’s shallow bays and river systems, offering unparalleled access to that Kimberley magic. Or join a Silversea cruise onboard Silver Cloud from Broome or Darwin to make this vast stretch of wild and remote coastline more accessible: see everything from saltwater crocodiles and humpback whales to ancient Indigenous rock art and soaring limestone cliffs carved by the mighty Fitzroy River over millennia.

Kimberley falls on a True North cruise
Explore the Kimberley onboard True North. (Image: True North)
a Silversea cruise onboard Silver Cloud
Passing through the narrows on Talbot Bay at Sunrise with the Silver Cloud. (Image: Kris Markovska)

3. The Big Lap of Australia

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

It’s time to leave your life as a corporate schlub behind and head out on the road to do the Big Lap of Australia. While you might have pressed pause on this popular pilgrimage while working your way up the career ladder, the bitumen still beckons for a golden gap year. Cash in your long service leave and hit the road in your RV to make your own discoveries during this indulgent, oh-so-Aussie rite of passage.

an RV at the Great Australian Bight
Hit the road in your RV to the Great Australian Bight. (Image: Getty Images/Philip Thurston)

4. Sail to Antarctica from Hobart, Tas

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

While most Antarctic expedition cruises depart from Ushuaia in Argentina, the southernmost city on Earth, it’s possible to sail from Australian shores, too. Hobart is a launch pad for exploring remote East Antarctica with Scenic Cruises. Departing January 2026, its 24-day itinerary, Antarctica’s Ross Sea: Majestic Ice & Wildlife, cruises from the Tassie capital to New Zealand onboard Scenic Eclipse II.

Aurora Expeditions’ 24-day Mawson’s Antarctica sets sail in December 2025 onboard Douglas Mawson, stopping at Tasmania’s subantarctic Macquarie Island and crossing the Arctic Circle. Or flip the script with the 31-day half-circumnavigation of the Antarctic onboard Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot, sailing January 2026 from Ushuaia all the way back home to Hobart.

Adelie penguins in Cape Adare
Adelie penguins in Cape Adare. (Image: Myeongho SEO/Shutterstock)

5. A heli-tour of SA’s best wine regions

Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

You’ve probably visited several wineries, possibly even in South Australia, but you’ve never been on a wine trip like this. Watch the ground below give way as the roar of propellers signals the start of a heli-tour between three wine regions and three female-owned and/or operated wineries on an Ascend Wine Odyssey : Oliver’s Taranga in McLaren Vale, Golding Wines in the Adelaide Hills and Kimbolton Wines in Langhorne Creek. At each stop, there’s a different experience – from a tasting amid the vines to a long lunch to cheese pairings. Plus, there’s a chance to compare how the different geography of each region gives a unique flavour to its wines. This is wine tasting at its most luxurious.

wine tasting on an Ascend Wine Odyssey tour
A wine tasting offers a glimpse into the region’s unique flavours.

6. Dinner with the founder of Mona, Tas

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Accept your rich benefactor’s offer to drop $50K on Dinner with David Walsh , founder of Mona in Hobart. The experience, dreamt up by Cultural Attractions of Australia, includes a private jet from the mainland, a two-night stay in Mona’s luxury pavilions and lavish degustation dinner with David at onsite eatery, The Source. The price tag includes a private museum and winery tour, lunch at Faro Bar + Restaurant and access to art experiences.

MONA Founder, David Walsh
Meet MONA Founder, David Walsh. (Image: MONA and Remi Chauvin)

7. Circumnavigate Australia

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Circumnavigation cruises around Australia operate between September and April each year. Think of the voyages as a highlights reel of the country as the ships hug the curves of the coastline. Itineraries tend to include capital cities from Sydney to Brisbane and Perth to Melbourne, as well as regional ports like Hobart, Port Lincoln and Cairns. You’ll need some time on your hands to circle our vast coastline with Princess Cruises , Viking , Holland American Line and Silversea .

a woman at the sauna, Silversea
Relax at the Otium Spa onboard Silversea. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

8. Hire Makepeace Island, Qld

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

the interior of Richard Branson’s Makepeace Island home
Book a stay at Richard Branson’s Makepeace Island home.

Live out your most debauched White Lotus fantasies when you book a stay at Richard Branson’s Makepeace Island home on the Noosa River. The private sanctuary, surrounded by a tangle of tropical gardens, sleeps up to 22 guests and includes a tennis court, gym, media room, pool and 15-person heated spa, as well as dedicated staff. Inclusions range from guided nature walks to river fishing, kayaking, kids’ cooking classes and a sunset river cruise.

an aerial view of Makepeace Island
The magnificent heart-shaped Makepeace Island was reopened in 2024. (Image: Jesse Lindemann)
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This hidden region in Victoria is home to a peaceful lake trail

    Craig TansleyBy Craig Tansley
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    Video credit: Tourism Australia

    From pink salt landscapes to oases fringed by forests of red gums, the lakes of this rural region are astounding. 

    You’re going to find peace and quiet when you take a road trip through the lakes of the Wimmera Mallee region. Whether it’s mirror-like pink salt lakes that look like an inland sea, or lakes fringed by forests of red gums that showcase Victoria’s arid beauty, there’s a lake for you out here somewhere.  

    1. Lake Tyrrell  

    Lake Tyrrell
    The colours of Lake Tyrrell blend into the sky. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Located in the dead heart of the Mallee, Victoria’s largest salt lake, Lake Tyrrell , is a landscape photographer’s dream – especially at sunrise and sunset when the pink salt flats look like a gigantic mirror. It’s easy to camp or park a caravan nearby, too, though the tiny town of Sea Lake is just south (with accommodation). In winter, shallow water covers the salt, creating surreal reflections of the sky.  

    2. Nhill Lake  

    There’s a permanent water source here, so there’s always plenty of water for water skiing, swimming and fishing (the trout and redfin fishing here is legendary). Located beside the pretty heritage town of Nhill with its main street of historic buildings, there’s options for eating and drinking right next door. There’s also a barbecue area with plenty of shady picnic spots and a boardwalk for walking around the lake.  

    3. Lake Bringalbert  

    Lake Bringalert
    Lake Bringalert is a great spot for aquatic adventures.

    Located south-west of the pretty Mallee town of Kaniva, Lake Bringalbert epitomises the best of ‘outback’ Victoria. It’s ringed by red gums and red mallee and feels completely hidden from the world – you’ll barely ever see another person. There’s basic camping on its foreshore and Kaniva offers more accommodation options. It’s the perfect lake for swimming, kayaking and skiing, and the stars at night come without even a hint of city glow.  

    4. Lake Hindmarsh 

    If you’re a bird fan, you’ll love Lake Hindmarsh . Located north of Dimboola, Victoria’s largest natural freshwater lake is like an inland sea full of pelicans, swans and numerous species of ducks – but it also teems with everything from spoonbills to parrots. Sunsets here will blow your mind – the lake is a mirror for the pinks and golds you’ll see on the horizon. There’s free camping spots along the foreshore if you’d like to really contemplate the magic of the lake.  

    5. Pink Lake 

    pink lake
    The Pink Lake is most vivid after rain. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Also known as Loch Lel , the summer months offer up some seriously vivid pink water colour at this lake north of Dimboola. The pink varies throughout the year, but is best after rain (hence why summer is the time to visit).

    pink lake
    Pink Lake, also known as Loch Lel, is located near Dimboola in the Grampians. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    There’s plenty of birds, including wedge-tailed eagles, but you’re as likely to spot big lace monitors, kangaroos and echidnas. Nearby, check out the uber-cute heritage town of Dimboola and its eclectic shops, and Little Desert National Park, full of walking trails through mallee heathland. 

    6. Lake Lascelles 

    Lake Lascelles
    You can camp at Lake Lascelles.

    On a hot summer’s day, there’s nowhere better for a cooling dip, kayak or boat ride. You can camp by the lake , or at powered caravan sites – or the pretty town of Hopetoun offers numerous accommodation options a short walk away. At night you’ll see the lights of Hopetoun reflect off the lake. Fish for yellow belly, redfin or catfish, or try water-skiing. There’s also a great walking trail around the lake, where there’s more birds than you can count.