5 Different Ways to Experience Australia

In a country the size of Australia, it’s no surprise that our list of must-do travel experiences is as long as our country’s sunburnt circumference. We could (and do) wax lyrical about the diverse experiences to be found in our capital cities and the unparalleled adventures to be had in some of our biggest tourist hotspots like the Great Barrier Reef. 

Something we have really come to appreciate over the last few years, however – especially since international travel has been off the table – is seeking out new and novel ways to explore this grand ol’ land of ours. We’ve enjoyed discovering the Australia that doesn’t necessarily hog the front page of your favourite travel magazine; and we’re excited to bring you five of our favourite experiences in this vein.

As you’ll see, each one immerses you in the splendour of our natural environment and aligns beautifully with at least one (though usually many more) of Y Travel’s eight Y Factors. 

Kakadu National Park

The Y Factors: Adventure, Nature & Sustainability, Culture & Community 

An Air Safari Over Kakadu National Park

The only form of travel more enticing to nature enthusiasts than a safari is – surely – an air safari. And what better place to see the wonders of the world in action than the skies above Australia’s largest national park?

Take to the air and witness the biodiverse magic of Kakadu National Park – from its world-famous wetlands and floodplains to the sandstone plateaus of ancient Arnhem Land. Marvel at the depth and complexity of this mighty landscape, which teems with colour, life, and history.

For the most powerful viewing experience possible, aim to visit during the Northern Territory’s wet season. Between December and March, Kakadu’s expansive river systems and floodplains are fed by monsoonal rains, transforming the landscape into a tropical wonderland bursting with wildlife. Witness sleepy waterfalls burst into life, cascading over rugged sandstone cliffs and plateaus, attracting up to three million waterbirds each season; hug the coastline to catch a glimpse of the iconic Jim Jim and Twin Falls in their full glory; and learn about the cultural and natural history of this World Heritage-Listed paradise.

Satellite Island

The Y Factors: Adventure, Nature & Sustainability, The Unexpected

A Private Island Getaway in Tasmania

At the farthest reaches of Tasmania’s wild southern coastline, jutting nonchalantly out of the deep blue water of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel between Bruny Island and the mainland, is Satellite Island. 

This tiny, rugged, and unexpectedly irresistible island is available for exclusive hire, and is described by the owner as being the perfect place for “slowing life down and enjoying the simple things”. Be warned though, time doesn’t just slow down on Satellite Island, it feels as though it ceases to exist entirely. The trappings of modern life and the stresses of society seem to melt into the horizon; an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of colours that you could be fooled into thinking were painted by nature exclusively for your enjoyment. 

World over, the concept of escaping to a private island is compelling. The promise of seclusion and sense of freedom is difficult to replicate in day-to-day life, or even in other holiday situations. Satellite Island – with its raw, primordial landscape that is equally humbling and haunting – delivers both elusive sentiments in sea-spray-rusted bucketloads.

There are two accommodation options on the island, a jetty boathouse on the water’s edge and a summer house atop the hill. In total, the island accommodates eight people, meaning you and your group have complete autonomy. 

Spend your days walking, hiking, kayaking, heading over to Bruny Island to stock up on supplies of artisan produce, casting a line from jetty to catch dinner, shucking your own oysters, and drinking wine by the pine-filled fire-pit bundled in a cocoon of layers.

This is the place to seek solace in nature and to connect with yourself or loved ones.

Longitude 131°

The Y Factors: Culture & Community, Nature & Sustainability, Taste, Generosity, Well-Being

A Luxury Desert Base Camp in Australia’s Heartland 

Timeless, enchanting and enriching, Longitude 131° lies at the gateway of the dual World Heritage-listed wilderness of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The luxury, eco-sensitive wilderness camp in the Northern Territory’s Red Centre falls under the Baillie Lodges banner and offers an exclusive experience of the Australian outback. 

Longitude 131° was designed and constructed using techniques that minimise its impact on the site and surrounds, and actively seeks engagement with the nearby communities, ranging from establishing supplier relationships with food and beverage producers, local artists and furnishing designers to supporting school education initiatives, community events.  

The property prioritises slow travel, culture and respect. Guests are invited to embark on a signature itinerary of guided adventures that encourage personal connection with the region’s iconic attractions and Aboriginal heritage.

Every element of your experience here is designed to pay homage and respect to the oldest living culture in the world. From its uniquely contemporary Australian menu that combines high-quality produce from around the country with indigenous and ‘bush-tucker’ flavours, to its spa treatments that showcase Central Australia’s resource of natural and traditional Indigenous products and remedies, a stay at Longitude 131° will teach you more about Australia than any guidebook.

The Gawler Ranges

The Y Factors: The Unexpected, Adventure, Nature & Sustainability

South Australia’s Quiet Achiever

South Australia sometimes feels like the forgotten state, which is both a mystery and a blessing, because there is much to discover and enjoy in this humble haven. We could dedicate entire articles to the understated allure of Adelaide, or the sprawling wine regions for which the state is most well-known.

Seeing as we’re talking about camouflaged charm, however, we thought it would be fitting to highlight an area that is striking in both its natural appeal and its absence from the ‘hit lists’ of South Australia. 

The Gawler Ranges National Park is a unique and special place where the worlds of history, conservation, and Aboriginal culture meet. Granted, the park doesn’t have the dramatic peaks and gorges of its more famous sister, the Flinders Ranges. However, its more subtle landscape – featuring placid, white salt lakes and rugged protrusions of red earth juxtaposed against blue sky – is just as awe-inspiring.

Formed by a series of powerful yet rapid volcanic eruptions over 1,500 million years ago, the Gawler Ranges most captivating attraction is the Organ Pipes, a magnificent display of sweeping granite domes and jutting pillars of deep red rhyolite.

It also offers a diversity and profusion of wildlife seen in few other parts of the county. Not only can you walk through fields of wildflowers in spring, you’ll find South Australia’s floral emblem – Sturt Desert Peas – here. It is also home to three species of kangaroo, all of whom live in harmony and significant numbers.