Is a White Christmas the right Christmas for you?
December 5, 2019
Our ATAS experts share their tips for a white Christmas abroad.
Read MoreLiving on the edge of the wilderness is something you should experience at least once in a lifetime. Of all holiday destinations, Australia is one of the few that can bring you a truly untouched natural environment.
Broome is the gateway to Australia’s last wilderness region - the Kimberley in Australia’s North West. Once submerged under the sea, the rugged gorges of the Kimberley now form some of nature’s most majestic sculptures, cracked by rivers and waterfalls that crash down to a convoluted coastline.
Venturing deep into the Kimberley by land is an adventure for the resilient traveller, but it’s easy to see the best of the region by sea and air, with an essential 4WD road trip to Cape Leveque thrown in.
Scenic flights will take you over the unusual Horizontal Falls, so named because of the way the water rushes through the rock formations. You can also explore Purnululu National Park by air, including the famous beehive-shaped Bungle Bungles.
To experience star studded nights in the wilderness, El Questro provides luxury homestead accommodation and quality camping. Broome itself has very good accommodation and lots to offer visitors. The old pearling town is proud of its multicultural, pioneering history and strong Aboriginal heritage. You can find out more about local indigenous culture on a trip to Cape Leveque on the Dampier Peninsula.
If this really is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for you, consider a Kimberley cruise. The small, luxury cruise boats that sail along the coastline provide a high end comfortable adventure through stunning remote areas only accessible by water. Photography the magnificent waterfalls, swim in freshwater pools, visit the turtles of Montgomery Reef, and go fishing for dinner - cooked up by your onboard chef. These cruises are pricey, but life is also short - as holidays in Australia go, this is one to cherish!
It goes without saying that the Great Barrier Reef is a must before you die! And what better way to experience it than a holiday on a fabulous, coral-fringed island resort? Whether you’re wanting a romantic retreat or one of the best family holidays Australia can give, the Whitsundays are a must.
The 74 Whitsunday Islands lie off the coast of Queensland and are largely uninhabited and unspoilt. Sailing around the islands is a favourite way to see them; Airlie Beach on the mainland has everything from luxury eco tours to adventurous dive trips.
The Whitsundays are all about the Reef, so if you stay there, you’ll almost certainly find yourself in the water, mesmerised by an astonishing marine world just under the surface. A fantastic option for families is Daydream Island Resort & Spa, which has one of the world’s largest human-made living coral reef lagoons. Here you can explore reef life without getting into the water - a great way for children to learn more about this delicate eco-system. As the name suggests, there’s an award-winning spa too!
Another popular choice for families is Hamilton island, with a range of accommodation and plenty of activity, including sailing, golf and water sports, while Long Island is the one for a peaceful escape to hike and snorkel the days away.
For a more exclusive experience, consider the idyllic Hayman Island, an exquisite private island resort. Popular with couples and honeymooners, it also caters to families. Despite being the only resort on a little island, there’s still plenty to do, including diving, yoga, golf and tennis.
Note that Hayman Island and Daydream Island are currently closed for refurbishment and will be opening again in late 2018 or early 2019. No doubt there will be a rush to visit, so get in touch with your ATAS travel agent if you want to secure a booking.
This iconic road trip takes you through one of the best holiday destinations Australia has to offer. There are so many photo opportunities that you’ll take days to complete it and collect some wonderful memories along the way.
The famous coastal road in Victoria runs from Torquay to Allansford - a stretch of just over 240km. You can complete it by car or bike, or walk the trail from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles. Getting out of the car is definitely required in order to truly immerse yourself in the land and seascape.
Geography had fun with this section of Australia’s coast, tucking into delightful sandy bays, rising up to breathtaking vantage points and breaking the surf with rugged rock formations. The 12 Apostles must be the most photographed scenes along the route - rock stacks up to 50m high created by erosion of the limestone cliffs.
From here, it’s worth exploring the pretty, wooded hinterland and the 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail of local mouth-watering produce, from cheese to honey to yoghurt, as well as breweries and wineries.
Adventures along the way include cage diving with fur seals, fishing charters, mountain biking, the Otway Fly zip-line, and of course surfing at world famous Bells Beach. All these activities can be enjoyed as much by novices as pros, and could be your chance to tick off a few bucket list achievements!
Add to the mix a bunch of historic little towns, arts and crafts shopping, spa retreats, native wildlife … and this road trip really does live up to the cliche, something for everyone!
In Australia, holidays mean getting back in touch with the great outdoors, and on the east coast of Tasmania is one of the country’s most beautiful eco experiences. Ideal for hikers and escapees from urban stress, the Bay of Fires provides those perfect secluded white beaches and crystal ocean we all dream of from our desks.
Stretching from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point, this is a conservation area that resists tourist traffic, attracting those who love to camp under the stars, take deep breaths of sea air and float with the fish - arguably a quintessential Aussie experience.
Bird watchers and wildlife lovers will enjoy spotting native animals at dawn and dusk, including green rosellas, wombats, dolphins and possibly even a Tasmanian devil or two.
Camping sites are situated in the southern and middle sections of the conservation area, and just outside the northern section. There are remote eco lodges outside Binalong Bay, an old fishing town that’s now a beachside community catering to visitors.
From Binalong Bay, you can drive along a sealed road to The Gardens, and a gravel road takes you further on. But the best way to enjoy this beautiful area fully is on foot along the full 46km, either self-guided or on a more comfortable multi-day guided trail staying in tented and lodge accommodation along the way.
Consider a walk dedicated to the stories of Aboriginal people and culture in the region. As you walk along the coastline, you can learn about how its original inhabitants lived in harmony with the environment, using its riches to eat, quench their thirst and find safe shelter. Small fires were used to communicate over distances, which led to the naming of the Bay by explorer Captain Tobias Furneaux who spotted the fires as he sailed past.
To organise an Australian holiday of a lifetime, chat to your local ATAS travel agent. They have the knowledge to help you complete your bucket list while staying in the best accommodation for your budget.
Shop T2239 Westfield Geelong 95 Malop Street
GEELONG , VIC
Shop 1111a, Level 1 Highpoint S.C.
Rosamond Road
MARIBYRNONG , VIC
Shop 2095A Westfield Warringah
404 Old Pittwater & Condamine Road
BROOKVALE , NSW
37 Seymour Ave
ARMADALE , VIC
Shop 1151/52, Westfield Miranda
600 The Kingsway
MIRANDA , NSW
Level 4, Union House
Adelaide University
ADELAIDE , SA
Eastland Shopping Centre
171-175 Maroondah Highway
RINGWOOD , VIC
Shop 12, Waterford Plaza Crn Manning Road & Kent Street
KARAWARA , WA
Shop B054A, Chadstone Shopping Centre 1341 Dandenong Road
CHADSTONE , VIC
Shop 146 Rockingham Shopping Centre Read Street
ROCKINGHAM , WA
Shop T207, Garden City S/C
125 Riseley Street
BOORAGOON , WA
Shop C029, Northland Shopping Centre
2-50 Murray Road
EAST PRESTON , VIC
Unit 4, 1st Floor.
460 Roberts Rd
Subiaco
PERTH , WA
30 James St
BURLEIGH HEADS , QLD
179 Boundary Street
WEST END , QLD
Shop 2098, Westfield Kotara
Cnr Park & Northcott Ave
KOTARA , NSW
Student Guild
Curtin University of Technology
SOUTH BENTLEY , WA
Shop 1064 Westfield Carousel 1382 Albany Highway
CANNINGTON , WA
Shop 2019 Westfield Marion 297 Diagonal Road
OAKLANDS PARK , SA
Shop 69A Westfield Woden Keltie Street
PHILLIP , ACT
Shop 302 Westfield Penrith 585 High Street
PENRITH , NSW
Level 1, Physics Annexe Building
University of Queensland
6 Staff House Road
ST LUCIA , QLD
C/- Suite 106, BC, 2 Cornwells St
EVELEIGH , NSW
Shop P205, P Block QUT Gardens Point
2 George Street
BRISBANE , QLD
Campus Centre
Shop G24, Campus Centre (Building 10)
Monash University
CLAYTON , VIC
Shop 1021B, Indooroopilly S/C
322 Moggill Road
INDOOROOPILLY , QLD
Level 2
129 Margaret Street
BRISBANE , QLD
Shop 357, Pacific Fair S/C
Hooker Boulevarde
BROADBEACH , QLD
2/339 Swanston Street
MELBOURNE , VIC
Shop 3034, Level 3 Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
322 Moggill Road
INDOOROOPILLY , QLD
Building 17, IT Resource Centre
Wollongong Uni, Northfields Dve
WOLLONGONG , NSW
172 Margaret Street
TOOWOOMBA , QLD
Shop GD 100B, Casuarina Square 247 Trower Road
CASUARINA , NT
Shop A7 Polaris Polaris Town Centre
1056-1140 Plenty Road
BUNDOORA , VIC
Shop C031, Level 1 Macarthur Square Gilchrist Drive
CAMPBELLTOWN , NSW
Shop 1004, Level 1, Westfield Bondi
Cnr Oxford & Grosvenor Streets
BONDI JUNCTION , NSW
Shop 1048 Stockland Shellharbour
211 Lake Entrance Road
SHELLHARBOUR , NSW
Shop 1051, Westfield Doncaster
619 Doncaster Road
DONCASTER , VIC
36 Middle Crescent
BRIGHTON , VIC
Shop T48 Pacific Werribee
Corner Derrimut and Heaths Roads
WERRIBEE , VIC
Westfield North Lakes
1245 Anzac Ave & North Lakes Drive
NORTH LAKES , QLD
Shop 34 Cat & Fiddle Arcade 51 Murray Street
HOBART , TAS
Rear 133 Carlisle Street
BALACLAVA , VIC
3 Green Ridge
WARRANDYTE SOUTH , VIC
Shop T, Heritage Shopping Centre
Nanum
WEIPA , QLD
The Link Building, Gold Coast Campus
Griffith University, University Drive
SOUTHPORT , QLD
Shop 1163 Westfield Miranda 600 Kingsway
MIRANDA , NSW
Suite 4, Level 1 - Chawla Group Floor
137 City Road
Beenleigh , QLD
Shop21B, Town Hall Square 464-480 Kent Street
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop T350, Errina Fair S/C
620-658 Terrigal Drive
ERINA , NSW
Shop G008B Bayside Shopping Centre 28 Beach St
FRANKSTON , VIC
Shop 1 9 Nerang Street
SOUTHPORT , QLD
10/154-158 Barkly Street
FOOTSCRAY , VIC
Shop GD 133A 154-164 Horton Parade
MAROOCHYDORE , QLD
Shop 127 Logan Hyperdome
Cnr Bryants Road & Pacific Highway
LOGANHOLME , QLD
Shop 2050 Westfield Knox
425 Burwood Highway
WANTIRNA SOUTH , VIC
Shop 14, Building 9 Level 1
Commercial Centre University Drive
ROBINA , QLD
230 Como Parade West
PARKDALE , VIC
Shop 2036a, Westfield Marion
297 Diagonal Rd
OAKLANDS PARK , SA
Shop 30, Cockburn Gateway S/City 816 Beeliar Dve
SUCCCESS , WA
Shop 3
2 Crowther Avenue
GREENWICH , NSW
Shop GD146, Sunshine Plaza S/C
Horton Parade
MAROOCHYDORE , QLD
Shop 2 21 Pulteney Street
ADELAIDE , SA
Shop 1195A, Westfield Fountain Gate
352 Princess Highway
NARRE WARREN , VIC
Level 1
393 Little Bourke Street
MELBOURNE , VIC
Shop No T369, Erina Fair Shopping Centre
620-658 Terrigal Drive
ERINA , NSW
256 Smith Street
COLLINGWOOD , VIC
Kiosk - K11, Lakeside Joondalup S/C
420 Joondalup Drive
JOONDALUP , WA
Shop 271, Westfield Whitford City Shopping Centre
Cnr Whitfords & Marmion Avenues
HILLARYS , WA
Shop 3030, Westfield Southland SC
1239 Nepean Highway
CHELTENHAM , VIC
55 William Street
PERTH , WA
Shop 41 Central Square Shopping Centre
18 Armstrong Street
SOUTH BALLARAT , VIC
Shop 11, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
Cnr Hooker & Sunshine Blvd
BROADBEACH , QLD
642 Glenferrie Road
HAWTHORN , VIC
Shop 2086, Level 2, Macquarie Centre
197 Herring Road North Ryde
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop M109-111 Carillon City
207 Murray Street
PERTH , WA
Shop 3073 Westfield Hornsby 236 Pacific Highway
HORNSBY , NSW
Level 3
28 Clarendon Street
SOUTHBANK , VIC
Level 1, Suite 104A
55 Grafton Street
Bondi Junction
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop 2067A, Westfield Knox S/C
425 Burwood Highway
WANTIRNA SOUTH , VIC
Shop 190, Westfield Shoppingtown
Cnr Gympie & Hamilton Roads
CHERMSIDE , QLD
Shop SP057 Galleria Shopping Centre 4 Collier Road
MORLEY , WA
Level 1
51 Queen Street
MELBOURNE , VIC
Shop 1131A Westfield Fountain Gate
25-55 Overland Drive
NARRE WARREN , VIC
Shop 2069A Westfield Carindale 1151 Creek Road
CARINDALE , QLD
Shop 8 Watergardens Town Centre
399 Melton Highway
TAYLORS LAKES , VIC
Shop 5 126 Adelaide Street
BRISBANE , QLD
Shop 1170 Westfield North Lakes 101 North Lakes
MANGO HILL , QLD
Suite 201
7 Jeffcott Street
WEST MELBOURNE , VIC
89a Orange Street
BENTLEIGH EAST , VIC
Shop 349, Westfield Chatswood 1 Anderson Street
CHATSWOOD , NSW
Shop 181, Level 3 Westfield Belconnen
Cnr Emu Bank Drive & Benjamin Way
BELCONNEN , ACT
154-14 Student Centre 154, University Avenue
Australian National University
ACTON , ACT
Shop 2087, Level 2 Charlestown Shopping Centre
30 Pearson Street
CHARLESTOWN , NSW
Shop 2, 803 - 813 George St
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop 2634 Westfield Chermside
Cnr Gympie & Hamilton Roads
CHERMSIDE , QLD
Shop T49, Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre City
420 Joodalup Drive
JOONDALUP , WA
Suite 1, Ground Floor
Endeavour House 3-5 Stapleton Avenue
SUTHERLAND , NSW
Shop 2177, Level 2 Westfield Parramatta
159-175 Church Street
PARRAMATTA , NSW
Shop 119 L01 Cairns Centre Shopping Centre
1-21 McLeod Street
CAIRNS , QLD
Level 1, Union Building
Monash University
CAULFIELD EAST , VIC
231 Lower Heidelberg Road
IVANHOE EAST , VIC
150 Upper Heidelberg Road
IVANHOE , VIC
G16/27 Lonsdale Street
Braddon
CANBERRA , ACT
Shop 013, Stockland Townsville 310 Ross River Road
AITKENVALE , QLD
58 Ferguson Street
WILLIAMSTOWN , VIC
1st Floor, 333 Clarendon Street
SOUTH MELBOURNE , VIC
Shop 4 Alex Beach Resort 180 Alexandra Parade
ALEXANDRA HEADLAND , QLD
Shop T04, Student Hub
Flinders University
BEDFORD PARK , SA
Shop 438, Macquarie Centre
Cnr Hering & Waterloo Roads
NORTH RYDE , NSW
39 Kentwell Road
ALLAMBIE , NSW
Tenancy 1, G09, Union House
Melbourne University Royal Parade
PARKVILLE , VIC
Shop GD W132 Wollongong Central Shopping Centre
200 Crown Street
WOLLONGONG , NSW
96 Albert Street
BRISBANE , QLD
3/75 King Street
CABOOLTURE , QLD
Level 1, Unit 2, 17 Carter Road
BROOKVALE , NSW
Shop B323, Chadstone S.C.
1341 Dandenong Road
CHADSTONE , VIC
Shop A13 Westfield Hurstville Crn Cross Road & Park Road
HURSTVILLE , NSW
73/ 61-65 Glencoe Street
Sutherland , NSW
C/- Suite 109, BC, 2 Cornwells St
EVELEIGH , NSW
Level 3
Suite 11
1 McLaren Street
NORTH SYDNEY , NSW
Shop 1158, Carousel Westfield S/C
1382 Albany Highway
CANNINGTON , WA
101/308 Pacific Highway
CROWS NEST , NSW
Shop 2108a Westfield Garden City
Cnr Kessels Road & Logan Road
UPPER MOUNT GRAVATT , QLD
Shop L01/066 Penrith Westfield
Henry Street
PENRITH , NSW
Shop 1428, Warringah Mall
Condamine St & Old Pittwater Rd
BROOKVALE , NSW
Amenities Blding, Murdoch Uni
South Street
MURDOCH , WA
Shop 1045, Westfield Doncaster 619 Doncaster Road
DONCASTER , VIC
Ground Floor, Union Building
University of Queensland
ST LUCIA , QLD
Suite 2
Level 16
309 Kent Street
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop G39, Quadrangle Building
University of NSW
KENSINGTON , NSW
Shop 242A, Werribee Plaza Shopping Centre
250 Heaths Road
WERRIBEE , VIC
Shop 3016 Highpoint Shopping Centre 200 Rosamond Road
MARIBYRNONG , VIC
Shop 4, Broadway Shopping Centre 185 - 211 Parramatta Road
ULTIMO , NSW
Shop F06, Carindale Shopping Centre
1151 Creek Road
CARINDALE , QLD
Shop B06, Ground Level
The Canberra Centre
CIVIC , ACT
Level 1, Suite 1
66 Terrigal Esplanade
TERRIGAL , NSW
Shop 5, Community Centre
West Creek Rd, Griffith University
NATHAN , QLD
Shop 3070 Westfield Southland
1239-1241 Nepean Highway
CHELTENHAM , VIC
13 Lyttle Crescent
CARDIGAN VILLAGE , VIC
Shop 88, Westfield Tea Tree Plaza 976 North East Road
MODBURY , SA
Unit 5
28 Bringelly Road
KINGSWOOD , NSW
Shop G17A, Broadway Shopping Centre
1 Bay Street
BROADWAY , NSW
Level 1, 12-14 Glenferrie Road
MALVERN , VIC
Level 1
361 Little Bourke Street
MELBOURNE , VIC
Shop 253, Level 2, Westfield S/T
28 Victor Street
CHATSWOOD , NSW
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