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Clients visiting friends and relatives could be the first to return to Australia once the borders reopen. Madeleine Barber rounds up itineraries for extra-special reunions
With Australia’s borders remaining closed to tourism and no end date for the travel ban in sight, UK and Irish residents with friends and family down under are becoming increasingly frustrated about being separated from their loved ones.
The destination’s VFR (visiting friends and relatives) market is experiencing pent-up demand and these travellers are likely to be first into Australia when it opens up again to tourists.
“The VFR market will play a crucial role in market recovery,” says Sally Cope, Tourism Australia’s regional general manager for the UK and Northern Europe.
“Australia has the largest population of UK citizens living abroad and, in the year ending April 2020, VFR traffic accounted for roughly half of the overall arrivals from the UK.”
VFR clients will want plenty of time to reconnect with loved ones on memorable itineraries, which Cope believes will change traveller behaviour.
“Rather than staying local to friends and relatives, as VFR travellers have tended to do in the past, we think this will be the time to move bucket-list locations to the top of the list, to create memories that last a lifetime by experiencing them together after such a difficult period.”
Here, we talk to operators with itineraries that are perfect for either families or groups of friends reuniting in the destination.
For families: If Only’s Pacific Coast itinerary visits Sydney, Port Stephens, the Blue Mountains, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Kingscliff. Alison Murphy, the operator’s product manager, says: “I’d recommend hiring a motorhome to travel around for a few weeks, so it’s like one big family holiday.” She suggests dune-bashing in Port Stephens, whale-watching and surfing in Sydney, and snorkelling or diving in Jervis Bay.
Book it: If Only offers a 13-night Pacific Coast motorhome holiday from £1,989pp, based on November 2021 departure and including vehicle hire, flights and a two-night stay at Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach. ifonly.net
For friends: Groups of friends who like to wine and dine will love If Only’s vineyard-hopping road trip in New South Wales. Wine-tasting pairings in The Hunter Valley feature cheese and chocolate, while Orange incorporates bush-tucker trials and aboriginal experiences.
“With so many new offerings popping up all the time, it’s easy to find something even long-time residents haven’t tried yet,” says Murphy.
Book it: If Only’s 12-night self-drive of New South Wales’ wine regions costs from £2,559pp, including car hire, flights and accommodation. Based on November 2021 departure.
Find the latest contacts for If Only in the Supplier Directory Live
For families: Steppes Travel’s guided tour of South Australia includes stays at Molly’s Run on Kangaroo Island and The Louise hotel in Barossa, which will be a big hit with foodies. “The trip suits families reuniting in Adelaide and will take locals to parts of the state they have probably never visited, showcasing Australia’s outback, coastline and winery regions,” says Jarrod Kyte, the operator’s product and sales director.
Book it: Steppes Travel’s 10-day luxury South Australia trip costs from £6,645pp, including flights and accommodation, with a Best of Barossa day tour add-on priced at £300pp. steppestravel.com
For friends: Steppes Travel is debuting a Murray River Safari in March. It sees guests board a 10-person houseboat to explore the waterway, taking part in riverbank campfires and searches for koalas, kangaroos and rare birds.
“Sleeping on a houseboat adds to the excitement of seeing wildlife while the region’s aboriginal history is brought to life by guides,” says Kyte.
Book it: Steppes Travel’s three-day Murray River Safari costs from £1,000pp land only (based on two sharing), including accommodation, activities, meals and drinks.
For families: Bamurru Plains, a luxury safari lodge made up of 10 rustic bungalows on the edge of Kakadu national park, is reopening in March after refurbishment. Guests have access to 186 miles of savanna woodland and floodplains beside the Mary River, where they can spot buffalo, brumbies, dingoes, wallabies and crocodiles.
Fleur Sainsbury, regional manager at Tourism NT, says: “This is an extraordinary experience for adventurous, nature-loving families, with guided walks, airboat rides, river cruising and four-wheel drives the best way to spot local wildlife.”
Book it: Gold Medal offers three nights in a Safari Bungalow on a full-board basis at Bamurru Plains for £3,279pp, including flights and experiences. Based on 10 October 2021 departure. goldmedal.co.uk
For friends: The Ghan, a train that slices through the outback between Adelaide and Darwin, gives friends the chance to dine under the stars at Alice Springs, explore indigenous culture at Nitmiluk Gorge and take a scenic flight to Uluru.
“This epic Australian experience offers more than transit between Darwin and Adelaide or vice versa – you can personalise your client’s journey with immersive off-train experiences,” says Sainsbury.
Book it: Based on a 10 November 2021 departure in Gold Service, a two-night journey on The Ghan costs from £1,759pp with Gold Medal, including meals, drinks and off-train experiences. Or, £2,579pp including flights.
Find the latest contacts for Gold Medal in the Supplier Directory Live
For families: Led by a guide, APT’s Kimberley and Top End itinerary features 17 destinations between Darwin and Broome. It incorporates a hunt for ancient rock art, gorge swimming, visits to sacred aboriginal sites and waterfalls, as well as overnights in wilderness lodges.
Paul Melinis, managing director at APT, says: “Travelling in a small group over 21 days, families have an opportunity to reconnect as they marvel at sensational landscapes and starscapes.”
Book it: APT’s 21-day Kimberley and Top End trip costs from £7,495pp land only, including airport transfers, accommodation, most meals and sightseeing. aptouring.co.uk
For friends: The highlights on APT’s round- trip from Broome include seeking out Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art, relaxing in Zebedee Springs, a helicopter flight over Mitchell Falls and sipping on bubbly while watching the sun set over the Bungle Bungle Range.
Melinis shares a selling point for agents: “Talk of the scenery that captivated audiences in Baz Luhrmann’s movie Australia, such as the Cockburn Range, which is explored on this trip.”
Book it: Costing from £5,795pp land only, APT’s 15-day Kimberley Complete holiday includes airport transfers, accommodation, most meals and sightseeing.
Find the latest contacts for APT in the Supplier Directory Live
For families: An introductory guided tour of Melbourne with a day trip along the Great Ocean Road with AAT Kings features a tour of the city’s boutique shops and street art, a visit to The Twelve Apostles landmark and the chance to spot koalas, Tasmanian Devils and penguins on Phillip Island and in the Maru Koala and Animal Park.
“It’s the wildlife experiences that make this trip popular with families,” says Heather Colbourn, senior UK sales manager at AAT Kings. “Children love to see the koalas and kangaroos, but it’s the heroic little penguins that really melt the heart.”
Book it: The four-day Melbourne and Great Ocean Road short break by AAT Kings is priced at £467 per adult and £373 per child, land only, including accommodation and entry fees. trade.aatkings.com
For friends: Highlights on AAT Kings’ week- long guided adventure from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road and into South Australia include visiting the country’s celebrated wine regions, as well as trips to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Seal Bay Conservation Park.
“This trip is ideal for friends who want to relax and see the best of Melbourne, Kangaroo Island and the Great Ocean Road,” says Colbourn.
Book it: Priced from £2,010pp, AAT Kings’ seven-day Great Ocean Road and Kangaroo Island tour includes airport transfers and accommodation.
