Australia is open again for business, and Air Canada is an ideal way to get there.
Australia has long been a top destination for Canadians dreaming of fantastic scenery, sunny skies, indigenous travel experiences, and amazing culture. The borders were pretty much closed for two years, but international visitors began to be welcomed again in late February.
Air Canada has daily flights from Vancouver to Sydney on posh, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. They’ll add direct flights from YVR to Brisbane starting July 1.
(Air Canada also will resume flights from Vancouver to Auckland, New Zealand in November of this year.)
Vic Naughton, Air Canada’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand, said flights make Vancouver an easy gateway.
“Our new services not only provide more direct links to Canada, they also open up one of the fastest ways for Australians and Kiwis to reach New York and other key U.S. cities,” Naughton sid.
I flew from Toronto to Sydney earlier this month, and it was a terrific experience. I arrived in Vancouver in plenty of time to catch my next flight, and it was only a short walk from my arrival gate to the Sydney departure gate.
The flights from Vancouver to Sydney leave late at night, so you can sleep on the plane and arrive reasonably refreshed in Sydney the next morning. (Actually, it’s two days later on the calendar given the time zone difference).
I was lucky and got to fly in business class from Vancouver to Sydney, which is a fabulous way to travel. The Dreamliners have fully reclining seats and comfortable bedding so you can catch a full 40 winks. The service is exceptional, and you’ll get plenty of very good food and wine if you like.
I’ve also flown Air Canada to Australia in coach and premium economy, and they’re both excellent. Air Canada has some of the best entertainment options in the sky, and there are literally hundreds of movies and TV shows to help you pass the time.
This is my fourth visit to Australia, and I’ve managed to see a reasonable amount of the country. Here are some suggestions
THINGS TO SEE AND DO DOWN UNDER
NEW SOUTH WALES
Sydney Harbour, Australia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Sydney is one of the world’s great cities, with iconic sights such as the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, which brave travellers can climb if they feel so inspired. The city’s harbour is not to be missed. Try a ferry ride to lovely Manly Beach, then take a short, three-block walk to a tremendous stretch of sand. Take the waterfront walk from Manly to Shelly Beach for lovely ocean and coastal views, or try the walk between fabled Bondi Beach and Bronte. Aunty Margret Campbell runs aboriginal tours of Sydney, which I’ll be sampling this week. Try the Hunter Valley (a little more than three hours from downtown Sydney) for terrific wines. The Three Sisters are a cool rock formation in the Blue Mountains, roughly 120 km’s west of Sydney. For something truly exotic, hop a flight to remote Lord Howe Island, where you’ll find sheer, towering cliffs of basalt, empty beaches and a true “end of the world” vibe. Near the border of Victoria state, Mount Kosciuszko towers 2,228 meters above sea level and is often covered in snow.
QUEENSLAND
Fraser Island, Queensland. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Brisbane has made great strides as a city, with new restaurants and hotels popping up all the time. The Queensland Museum and the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art are top-notch cultural spots in the city. Brisbane has been chosen to host the 2032 Summer Olympics. Queensland also is home to the Gold Coast, which features great hotels along the ocean. Fraser Island is a remarkable sand island off the coast, where you’ll find a fine, freshwater lake, wild dingoes, and white sand beaches that stretch on just shy of forever. You also can go tubing down a small creek. Queensland is the jumping off point for snorkelling and divng tours of the Great Barrier Reef. Lady Elliot Island is the southernmost coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. You can take a day trip from Hervey Bay or stay the night at the island’s eco-lodge. The snorkelling on Lady Elliot Island is first-rate. Daintree Rainforest is a wonderful spot in northern Queensland.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Abrolhos Islands are only a short plane ride from Geraldton in Western Australia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
This is one seriously wild state. Perth is a terrific city, with a vibrant nightlife and a beautiful setting on the Swan River. The beaches, including lovely, white sand Cottlesloe, are terrific, and Fremantle is a fun suburb on the water that has tremendous, old-time architecture. Take a short ferry ride to beautiful Rottnest Island to admire the beaches and the adorable marsupials called quokkas. A short flight from Geraldton are the Albrohos Islands, which are about as stunning an archipelago as you’ll find anywhere on the planet. A couple hours north is Kalbarri National Park, where the Outback meets the ocean. Truly spectacular scenery, with inland canyons bisected by a wide river and deep red, orange and pale yellow cliffs pounded by deep blue waves. Further north are the remarkable Kimberleys and the red rocks of the Bungle Bungle range. South of Perth, the Margaret River area grows some of Australia’s best wines. Josh Whiteland and Koomal Dreaming run amazing tours of the Ngilgi limestone caves near Yallingup. Whiteland also plays the didgeridoo and explains local aboriginal culture. A truly tremendous tour you don’t want to miss.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Uluru is a mystical, magical part of Australia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Uluru, formerly known as Ayers’ Rock, is perhaps the quintessential Australian experience. There’s a tremendous power to this place, and it’s a humbling experience to walk around the base of this monolithic piece of ancient, red rock. The rocks at nearby Kata-Tjuta are equally inspiring, and equally impressive. King’s Canyon is a terrific hiking spot a few hours north of Uluru. I had a great trip there a few years ago, as well. Up near Darwin, Nitmiluk National Park offers river cruises in the shadow of massive red rock canyons. Darwin is a cool frontier town in the far north of the state and is the gateway to the immense and beautiful Kakadu National Park.
TASMANIA
Bruny Island, Tasmania. Tamara Thurman/Unsplash Photo
Travellers from around the world are discovering this Australian gem, which features rugged mountains, sparkling beaches, amazing seafood, and tremendous cool climate wines such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Yes, you also can find Tasmanian devils and cute fairy penguins. In bustling Hobart, the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) has been revamped with new galleries and some of David Walsh’s private art pieces. Tasmania is famous for its walking trails. Walk into Luxury’s signature small group walk at Pumphouse Point takes in the best of World-Heritage Listed Lake St Clair and surrounding wilderness areas with a day in Mount Field. There are also are great sea kayak and whale watching trips, and indigenous-led walking tours, where you can forage and eat native bush foods while learning about the people who’ve lived for tens of thousands of years in what’s now called Australia.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australia beach. Christian Holzinger/Unsplash Photo
This is a state that offers up city life, wineries, and incredible scenery. The capital, Adelaide, has great dining spots and museums, including The Art Gallery of South Australia displays a great deal of important Indigenous art. You’re only minutes from Australia’s top wineries. The Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale produce wines that are acclaimed around the world, especially their deeply flavoured Cabernets. Kangaroo Island is home to some of the cutest roos in Australia. Coober Pedy is a cool mining town some 850 km’s north of Adelaide, and is known as the opal capital of the world. The Flinders Ranges provide a real Outback experience less than five hours from Adelaide. East of Adelaide, The Limestone Coast offers up a dramatic, highly Instagrammable coastline. There’s also great surfing in South Australia.
VICTORIA
The Great Ocean Road in the state of Victoria, Australia. Alex Rhee-Unsplash Photo
Melbourne is an amazing city, with a walkable downtown, great restaurants, charming laneways, and legendary coffee shops. The city is home to the Australian Open tennis tournament, and some of the world’s best golf courses are just outside of town, including Royal Melbourne. Check out the beaches and the colourful, Victorian-era “bathing boxes” at Brighton Beach. Victoria has a number of well-known wine districts. Domaine Chandon has a lovely tasting room and makes fabulous sparkling wines. It’s only about an hour from downtown Melbourne, so it’s an easy day trip. The Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles (towering rock formations that jut out of the sea) are one of the great sights in Australia. The road is only about two and-a-half hours west of Melbourne. The Grampians National Park is a terrific area for hiking. It’s about three hours’ drive from Melbourne.
