Anita’s Blog: Australia revisited

I’ve always believed that some places deserve a second visit. Australia, for me, was one of them.

My first trip 'down under' was 30 years ago on an educational trip with the Australian Tourist Board - back when you could still climb Ayers Rock/ Uluru and when I first set foot on the stunning Whitsundays.

That experience left a lasting impression, but as the years went by, I knew I wanted to return properly - to take my time, explore at my own pace, and see how much had changed.

This trip? It was everything I’d hoped for and more...

Sydney

We kicked things off in Sydney, staying at The Sebel Quay with a jaw-dropping view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge - waking up to that sight every morning felt like a dream.

View from The Sebel Quay

Having done the classic Sydney spots before, I wanted something different, so we took a helicopter ride over Sydney Harbour and the beaches. Talk about a bucket list moment - soaring over Bondi, the cliffs and the endless coastline, snapping photos like a true tourist.

Of course, no Sydney stay is complete without hopping on a ferry. We took the scenic route to Manly and Watsons Bay, soaking up the waterfront vibes before heading off on our road trip up the coast.

Blue Mountains

Driving into the Blue Mountains was like stepping into a completely different world. The scenery was breathtaking. We stayed at The Lilianfels Hotel in Katoomba - an old-world retreat in the heart of it all.

The Lilianfels Hotel

I’ll admit, I’m not usually one for rollercoasters, but I couldn’t resist Scenic World’s steepest railway in the world. It’s a heart-racing ride down into the rainforest, followed by an equally thrilling cable car journey back up, with views stretching for miles.

Coastal Road Trip

From there, we made our way up the East Coast, stopping at Port Stephens (with a fantastic meal at Rick Stein’s restaurant at Bannisters), Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. We’d hoped for some whale watching, but we were just a little too late in the season - next time!

Byron Bay was an instant favourite - trendy and laid-back. We stayed at Crystalbrook Byron - its beautiful rainforest location was a perfect mix of beach life and nature.

We visited the famous Byron Bay Lighthouse, marking the most easterly point of Australia - another one to tick off the list!

The Gold Coast was next, where we stayed in Burleigh Heads, in an apartment right on the beach.

After that, we spent a night in Caloundra - a place I could easily see myself living in - before heading to the luxury of Noosa’s Sofitel.

Caloundra

Fraser Island

One of the standout moments of the trip was Fraser Island (K'gari). After checking in at Kingfisher Bay Resort, we took a 4WD tour across the world’s largest sand island, spotting dingoes up close and tackling some wild off-road tracks. It was such a unique adventure – there is nowhere else quite like Fraser Island!

Tropical North Queensland

From Brisbane, we flew north to Cairns, where we spent five incredible nights at Kewarra Beach. This part of Australia is so full-on - there’s so much to see and do.

A helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef and rainforest was sensational - seeing the reef stretch out beneath us in all its turquoise glory was breathtaking.

We also explored Daintree and Cape Tribulation, took the famous Skyrail and railway to Kuranda, and crammed in as much as we could during our time in Port Douglas. We could have easily stayed longer.

A final stop in Singapore

Reluctantly, we said farewell to Australia, but not before rounding off the trip with four nights in Singapore - where, yes, we treated ourselves to two Singapore Slings at Raffles (£80 well spent!).

It was the perfect way to wrap up an adventure that had been decades in the making.

Would I go back to Australia again? Absolutely. It’s a place that gets under your skin, and after this trip, I know for sure - it won’t be my last visit.

Anita