Australia Insider Tips

Australia | Discover the Crocodile Dundee campaign, featuring Danny McBride playing long-lost son of Mick Dundee and Chris Hemsworth as his sidekick, Wally Jr. Enjoy the ads including a supporting cast of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and many more including the original Paul Crocodile Dundee Hogan. The ads are sure to tickle your funny bone and highlight spectacular views of the Land Down Under. Click on each to relive the adventure: Teaser 1 | Teaser 2 | Teaser 3 | Cameo Film | Dundee Commercial

Australia | Did you know Australia has more than 10,000 beaches nationwide - meaning if you visited a new beach every day, it would take more than 27 years to visit them all! With more than 30,000 miles of splendid coastline from white-sand coves in the Whitsundays to Western Australia's rugged, windswept shores, click here to discover Conde Nast Travelers top 10 beaches. In addition, a few honorable mentions from our team include Four-Mile Beach in Port Douglas, Burleigh Heads Beach on the Gold Coast and Main Beach in Byron Bay.

New South Wales, Sydney | If your client doesn't have a lot of time, recommend a half-day city excursion rather than the full-day option. The late afternoon portion of the journey takes you out past a lot of suburb type areas to Manly Beach. If you do a half-day excursion, you would be able to spend the afternoon exploring the sites you would like to go back to and spend more time.

New South Wales, Sydney | Australia is full of adventures. One of my favorite activities when my husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary in the land down under was the Bridge Climb. It was not strenuous at all, and the views were simply amazing. Definitely a must do. Next time around, we'll do the night climb and admire the city lights. ~ Chenoa Hopkins, Marketing Project Manager

New South Wales, Sydney | Take the green bus while in town (its free) and travel to the ferry terminal. Take the ferry toward Manly and get off at the first stop for Taronga Zoo. Not only do you get to take a boat ride around the harbor past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, but you get to see one of the most incredible zoos. The giraffes are in an awesome area overlooking the water and you can see the cityscape. While you cannot hold koalas here, you can get extra close, and take a picture with them. If you are intent on holding one, you can travel to the Blue Mountains on an excursion about an hour and a half away. ~ Caetie Shewmaker, Manager, Customer Service

New South Wales, Sydney | Stroll the cobblestone laneways of The Rocks Foodie Market, on Friday mornings and revel in a world of homemade preserves, smoked meats, savory pastries and freshly baked breads, fulfilling all your culinary senses. Then, wander through the delightful Rocks Market street fair on Saturdays. Local food and music is plentiful as you meet and mingle with passionate vendors selling handmade dresses and bags, one-of-a kind jewelry, original artwork and more.

New South Wales, Sydney | If you don't have time to get to the Taronga Zoo, a good alternative is the Wildlife Sydney Zoo located in Darling Harbour. ~ Denise DeCoite, Supervisor, Destination Specialists

New South Wales, Sydney | Take the regional train from Circular Quay to Town Hall. Town Hall has a Westfield shopping center with high-end retail shops and restaurants. ~ Denise DeCoite, Supervisor, Destination Specialists

New South Wales, Sydney | Discover the InterContinental Sydney, located close to the water with spectacular views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Built around the restored treasury building of 1851, you can see the restored part of the building and its new contemporary structure. The Club Lounge features a wrap-around outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the Harbour. The hotel has its own security service so a lot of high-profiled people stay here. FUN FACT: This is where Oprah Winfrey stayed on her trip to Sydney.

Northern Territory, Ayers Rock | A favorite experience in the heart of the red dessert is a Sunset Camel Ride to the national park of Uluru-Kata Tjuta. A native guide will point out lots of herbs and wild life, then savor The Sounds of Silence Dinner experience. Once darkness falls you'll enjoy the southern night sky where your guide will point out the southern cross, the zodiac and the milky way, all crystal clear due to the exceptional clarity of the atmosphere.

Northern Territory, Ayers Rock | A trip to the outback is not complete with exploring Ayers Rock, reveling in its expansive views and rich history. Sacred to the Aboriginal people, this red monolithic sandstone rock, also known as Uluru, is one of the oldest rocks on earth, estimated at 600 million years.

Queensland, Island Resorts | I loved Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays. I highly recommend renting a buggy to get around the island and explore the shops, restaurants, pools and general areas - request them early, they sell out quickly! They also offer a Buggy Rally - in teams of four, drive around the island answering a series of trivia questions about Hamilton Island, each question taking you to a new location. ~ Malia Amelita, Destination Specialist

Queensland, Island Resorts | Enjoy a romantic picnic on your own private beach when you stay at Lizard Island. You can choose your picnic menu and beverage selection the night before, then arrive at the Beach Club the following day, hop on your motorized dinghy and set out for your private beach day. Resort chefs create fresh salads, seafood and freshly backed sweets for your enjoyment and the best part ... its all included as part of your stay.

Queensland, Cairns & Port Douglas | I recommend renting a car and enjoying a day trip from Cairns to Port Douglas. The drive is only about 30 miles and it's surprisingly easy to drive on the wrong side of the road, plus you can take in the spectacular views along the way. Pack a picnic lunch to savor on Four Mile Beach or explore the market on Wharf Street on Sundays. On the leisurely drive back take in the spectacular view while enjoying an appetizer at Thala Beach Lodge, stop to stroll along Ellis Beach or enjoy an ice cream on the beachfront esplanade in the quaint town of Palm Cove. ~ Chenoa Hopkins, Marketing Project Manager

South Australia, Adelaide | Adelaide Central Market offers more than 80 booths, restaurants and cafes, spend your Sunday morning shopping, sipping coffee and tasting samples of extraordinary fare from this farmer's market showcase.

South Australia, Kangaroo Island | Getting to Kangaroo Island is easier than you think ... you can fly to and from the island or take a bus, then a ferry one way and fly back. We flew over and took the ferry and bus back, but to save time, I would recommend flying to and from the island as the ferry can take several hours. ~ Kathryn Holland, Destination Specialist

South Australia | For travelers visiting Adelaide or South Australia, a hop on over to Kangaroo Island is a must! I highly recommend a two- to three-night stay as there is so much to see and do. The island is knows as "Natures Playground" for good reason ... it is one of the best places in Australia to see wild populations of kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and other famous local animals. This was by far the highlight of my trip! ~ Jessica Neuner, Destination Specialist

South Australia, Adelaide | South Australia's award-winning winery d'Arenberg has released their first wine blend labelled with a fully organic certification. The vegan friendly, biodynamic wine is produced in the family-owned vineyards and is a product of d'Arenberg's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. Located in McLaren Vale, 45 minutes from Adelaide's city center, visitors can experience private tastings, wine-making sessions and museum tours inside the iconic d'Arenberg Cube.

Victoria, Melbourne | Enjoy a walking city excursion of Melbourne and ask your private guide to point out their favorite local cafes and restaurants. I had the opportunity to try both kangaroo and crocodile and was pleasantly surprised. Plus, there are a large variety of local wines available, with nearby Yarra Valley noted for is high-quality chardonnays, pinot noirs and sparkling wine. ~ Lauren Tavares, Destination Specialist

Victoria, Melbourne | Explore the world's greatest food and wine regions in Yarra Valley, discovering a wealth of distinctive eateries, art galleries, regional produce and award-winning jams.