Luxury Australia Active and Adventure Tours made for you
Diving and snorkelling
Explore coral reefs, marine life and clear lagoons at the Great Barrier and Ningaloo Reefs
Hiking experiences
Hike around Uluru and follow bushwalking trails through desert landscapes and remote wilderness
Sailing between islands
Cruise around the Whitsundays archipelago, stopping at white-sand beaches and looking out for humpback whales
Venture off-road
Follow remote tracks through the Blue Mountains or the Outback by 4WD
Spotting wildlife
Look for Australian wildlife, including red kangaroos, emus (the second-tallest bird in the world) and platypuses
The best hikes and reef adventures in Australia
Australia is a vast outdoor adventure playground. Expect swathes of arid outback and wilderness interspersed with pockets of rainforest and glacial valleys. Its coveted coastline opens out to reef snorkelling, scuba diving and sailing around islands ringed with white sand.
Near Sydney, discover some of Australia’s best hikes in the Blue Mountains. Trek to waterfalls and through eucalyptus forests or cover more ground by 4WD – following remote tracks to lookout points overlooking the Three Sisters sandstone formation.
In the Northern Territory’s Red Centre, we recommend the Kings Canyon Rim Walk. The route climbs to sweeping views over towering sandstone walls and red rocks dotted with palm trees. See Uluru on a guided camel ride and take a sunset walk through nearby Kantju Gorge.
Marine private adventures include sailing in the Whitsundays and joining a Great Barrier Reef diving tour from Cairns. Explore coral gardens and look for stingrays, turtles and parrotfish. Or snorkel over Ningaloo Reef, where whale sharks gather from mid-March to late July.
With so many possibilities, start planning your Australian adventure with one of our travel specialists. Drawing on their expertise and first-hand experience of the country, they’ll create a trip around you. Combine active experiences with stays in handpicked accommodations.
Highlights
Fly through the canopy on ziplines and walk on Cape Tribulation Beach in Daintree, the world’s oldest tropical rainforest
Cruise around Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, and take a private fishing trip around the archipelago
Follow Tasmania’s Overland Track, a bushwalking trail through alpine moors, ancient rainforests and glacial valleys
Snorkel in Ningaloo Reef looking for turtles, dolphins, dugongs (sea elephants) and seasonal whale sharks
Take a ride to Mount Conner in the Outback, seeing an ancient salt lake and spotting endemic birds and red kangaroos
Australia’s vastness is what makes it so exciting. I love creating adventures that combine bushland hikes, the Daintree, the Great Barrier Reef and striking landscapes such as Uluru and the Blue Mountains.
David D'Arcy
Senior Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation for active adventures in Australia
There are many incredible places to stay in Australia. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip inspiration
Get inspired with our Australia example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure
Where to go for active adventures in Australia
Brisbane
The jumping-off point for adventures on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Brisbane itself is a surfing hub. Take a lesson, explore the coastline or hike in the Glass House Mountains.
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Great Barrier Reef and Northern Queensland
The world's biggest coral reef system is incredibly biodiverse and impossibly beautiful. Explore with expertly guided diving and snorkelling trips. And head to the northernmost part of Australia and ancient Daintree Rainforest.
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Kangaroo Island
Off the southern coast of Australia, Kangaroo Island is a wildlife lover's dream. Take guided hikes and nature walks to see the eponymous marsupials along with sea lions, koalas and little penguins (the world's smallest penguin species).
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Luxury Rail Travel Australia
Cover vast distances and explore more of Australia with bespoke rail adventures. Travel through the Outback, explore the Blue Mountains and the incredible route between Sydney and Perth.
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New South Wales
With Sydney as its main urban hub, this diverse region packs in surfing, wineries beaches backed by dramatic mountain ranges – and underwater adventures in the Great Barrier Reef.
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Perth and Margaret River
Western Australia’s laid-back capital, Perth is the perfect base for exploring the region’s beaches. Visit Margaret River’s wineries and spot local wildlife such as the quokkas of Rottnest Island.
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South Australia
From Adelaide, spend days hiking, wine tasting in the Barossa Valley and head into the Flinders mountain ranges for views over the Outback.
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Sydney
Being active is a way of life in Sydney. Explore the city on foot, take a surf lesson Manly or Bondi Beach, or scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge with your private guide.
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Tasmania
Hiking in Tasmania is possible all year round, with summer days typically mild and sunny. Follow bushland trails through the wilderness, looking for Tasmanian devils and other endemic wildlife.
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Top End
The Top End, or Northern Territory, is where you'll find some of Australia's most remote wilderness areas. Hike through canyons and walk with Aboriginal guides through Kakadu National Park, looking for rare and endemic birds.
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Uluru and the Outback
Guided walks around Uluru and deeper into the Outback reveal more about the landscape, its wildlife and its cultural significance. Hike among the ancient domes of Kata Tjuta before finding a quiet viewpoint to watch the desert change colour at sunset.
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Victoria and Melbourne
This region combines city culture with plenty of outdoor adventure. Explore the beaches and coves of Phillip Island, home to its famous penguin colony, then take a hot air balloon flight over the vineyards of the Yarra Valley.
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Western Australia
Western Australia covers around a third of the country. Trek through Purnululu National Park and snorkel in Ningaloo Reef, where whale sharks congregate from March to July.
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Whitsundays
This dreamy archipelago in the Great Barrier Reef consists of 74 islands, many edged with soft, alabaster-hued silica sand. Explore on boat trips or private fishing expeditions, and explore beyond the beaches with guided nature walks.
Discover moreMeet your Australasia team
When to visit Australia for active adventures
Australia’s sheer size means the best time to visit varies depending on the destination and activity. New South Wales lies in the temperate zone, so Sydney and surrounding hiking areas tend to be pleasant all year round.
The Outback and Top End can be uncomfortably hot in summer (December to February), when hiking and other strenuous activities are best confined to southern areas and Tasmania
Explore the Outback, and Uluru, in the region’s dry season (May to October). And explore the Great Barrier Reef between June and October, when lighter rainfall means improved underwater clarity.
Spotting whale sharks
April–July
Outback hiking
May–October
Exploring the Great Barrier Reef
June–August
Whitsundays sailing
September–October
Travel guides
Plan your active and adventure trip to Australia
Whatever you want from your trip to Australia, our team of expert travel designers is ready to help.
Your trip, your story
We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.
Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.
