“I can think of all sorts of reasons why I love Australia so much. The dramatic scenery, laid-back coffee-loving culture, local wines, artisan cheeses and friendly, no-worries service… But, if I was forced to sum up the country in just one word, it would be ‘beautiful’…
But one word is nowhere near enough, which explains why so many clients who’ve visited soon run out of superlatives.
Quite simply, whenever I think of Oz, I smile. You won’t find a more genuine country anywhere. The Aussies’ authentic hospitality and relaxed approach to luxury make it easy to slip into the outdoorsy lifestyle and dry humour, so you’ll soon find yourself throttling back and enjoying the country’s wonderful surroundings.
Whether it’s a light lunch, tasting menu, or full-blown feast, Aussies like their food to be great quality, organic, diverse and flavoursome. And, while they’re very serious about eating out, as a nation they definitely don’t take themselves too seriously. Add to that unique wildlife, fabulous cities and copious sunshine hours, and it’s no wonder life down-under is the envy of the world!
Where to Go?
One of the first questions clients always ask is ‘with such a big country and so much to see, where do you start?’. Australia is indeed huge – on a map, you could fit in the whole of Europe with just about enough room for New Zealand and Japan too! So, should you take the shortest flight, the non-stop Dreamliner service to Perth? Get away from it all in the remote Northern Territory? Or go for the Gold Coast, with its sunshine and beaches? The answer? Well… From Adelaide and Tasmania, to Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef, you’re well and truly spoilt for choice.
Personally though, I’d start with one of the classic combos: Sydney, followed by the Blue Mountains and then the stunning Whitsunday Islands. Flying with Singapore Airlines is as comfortable as their on-board slippers; their lounges, service, seats and entertainment are really hard to beat. The food is nothing like ‘airline food’, and the ‘book the cook’ pre-bookable menu is really impressive. Believe me, if you take the super-smooth A380 service from London, you absolutely won’t regret it!