A focus on keeping active and going on adventures while on holiday is of increasing importance for travellers. Not only is it a fabulous way to unplug from your day-to-day routine and enrich your senses, but adventures that challenge you and stretch you outside of your comfort zone can often lead to transformative moments and lifelong memories.
Working with a range of expert guides and operators, our guests seeking active and adventure experiences can be safely taken in and out of their comfort zone with expert tutelage in Australia’s most remarkable locations on a personalised journey made by our Travel Designers that is completely tailored to your skill level, interests, and abilities – both mental and physical.
Discover our favourite five-star, adrenaline-pumping active and adventure experiences to discover while holidaying in Australia.
Adventuring in the Blue Mountains with James Castrission
A World Heritage-listed natural wonder only one hour from Sydney, Australia’s Blue Mountains is home to outstanding outdoor activities and is the adventure playground for local Sydneysiders and international visitors alike. Ancient and cragged landscapes house walking and hiking trails, rainforest-clad valleys beckon abseilers and canyoners, and quaint villages to discover are scattered throughout the region.
One of the best ways to discover the peaks, valleys, and plateaus of the region, whether you’re a beginner or an seasoned adventurer, is under the tutelage of world-renowned explorer James Castrission. Renowned for completing the world’s longest unassisted polar expedition as well as kayaking across the Tasman Sea with his friend Jonesy, James has cultivated an expert team to help lead you through the dramatic Blue Mountains landscapes. Safely step outside of your comfort zone with a personalised program comprising of abseiling, hiking, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountain-biking and challenge your capabilities against the landscape for a rewarding experience that lasts much longer than your holiday.
Navigate the rugged landscapes of the most remote Top End
Home to dramatic and contrasting landscapes, the Top End is where the tropics meet the outback. Ripe with adventure, this region is home to capital city Darwin, World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, and remote Arnhem Land where ancient and enduring Aboriginal traditions and cultures are embedded in the day-to-day.
With this region brimming with native wildlife ranging from birds, mammals and crocodiles, ancient Aboriginal rock art hidden amongst dramatic escarpment, and soaring landscapes of waterfalls and sandstone outcrops, the best way to discover these landscapes first-hand is with esteemed, family-run adventure tours. Explore the region’s most remote corners and National Parks on a 4WD safari with Venture North, and marvel at the abundant ecosystems of Kakadu and most remote Arnhem Land. For high-speed thrills, airboat down the Finniss River and admire enormous saltwater crocodiles before resting at Finniss River Lodge, an experiential lodge and working cattle station perched along the floodplain. For those looking for a practical education, learn survival skills with renowned SAS-survivalist Andrew Ucles and learn how to identify wildlife, try bush craft and persistence hunting, and fish the Top End specialities of Barramundi and Giant Mud Crabs.
Head into the wild on a custom adventure in Tasmania
Australia’s offshore island state Tasmania is filled with profound natural beauty. Travellers looking for active adventures in Tasmania are drawn to its range of walks and hikes that lead you alongside windswept oceanside cliff face and dramatic mountain peaks. Its natural diversity makes it a popular vacation destination for travellers of all types, whether you’re looking for activities for families, an adrenaline-pumping adventure shared for two on a romantic getaway, or a group-building exercise to remember.
Collaborating with local suppliers, we can coordinate outstanding custom adventure experiences to suit all levels of fitness. Explore the landscape on foot and learn about the unique history of Tasmania while wandering through its natural World Heritage areas, mysterious caves, and human-constructed abandoned mines and colonial ruins. Turn the landscape into your own private gym with an exhilarating mountain bike down the thrilling peak of Ben Lomond National Park, or quad bike through Freycinet National Park’s eucalypt-covered hills, boulder strewn valleys, and coastal heath. For a slower but no less adventurous pace, abseil down spectacular granite cliff face plunging straight into the sea and hop into a sea kayak to trace the edge of Freycinet’s coastline into Wineglass Bay on a bespoke itinerary. Our expertise means we know the lesser-known and most spectacular spots of natural beauty to discover, as well as the expert locals who can lead you there.
Heli-fish at hidden waterfalls and rarely visited waterways
Australia is widely recognised as having some of the best fishing spots in the world. Between mangroves, inlets and deep-water game fishing, sport fishing is of a world-class standard in Australia and offers a unique challenge in nearly every state and territory.
One of the most exciting ways to cast your line is heli-fishing – a signature Top End experience and one of Australia’s most exciting fishing adventures. Travelling by helicopter allows you to cover large distances over a shorter period and provides access to multiple remote fishing locations in a single day, many of which cannot be accessed via any other modes of transport. Venturing off the beaten path also mean very few other anglers have ever tried their luck in those waters, making heli-fishing a great way to enjoy exceptional fishing spots and greatly improve your chance for success, all while targeting exciting species such as barramundi, salmon, mangrove jack, and more.
While heli-fishing is mainly done in the Northern Territory’s Top End, it can also be done in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, and along the Great Barrier Reef where remote waterfalls are hidden amongst tropical rainforest and castaway islands.
Travel off-road with award-winning racers
One of the most adrenaline-pumping activities is getting truly off-the-beaten-track at a rapid pace in an off-roading vehicle. Both fun and requiring absolute precision and skill, exhilarating off-road adventures in Australia can be conducted by our range of expert guides and connections.
Jump into a NASCAR-spec off-road trophy truck and tear over limestone pebbles and throughout mallee scrub at speeds of over 200km/h (124 mph) with a two-time Finke/Dakar Champion local racer, born and raised alongside South Australia’s most renowned racing track on his custom-built course built near the Murray River. For high-speed thrills on the water, traverse the mighty Murray itself alongside local creek systems laden with snags and hidden logs on the Riverland Red Bull Dinghy Derby. Learn from champions who have tested and proven their mettle and discover speeds of up to 30HP upon Australia’s largest river.
If you’re looking to go further remote, embark across Australia’s most rugged terrains on an off-road motorcycle adventure tour with an ex-500cc MotoGP champion. This exclusive experience invites just a few guests to explore the red sands of the Finke Desert racetrack and Simpson Desert, the remote tracks of Cape York, and the historic, enormous, and challenging Canning Stock route of Western Australia – or invites you to customise your very own journey. Going off-the-beaten-track on an off-road 4WD is often incorporated into our itineraries to the Eyre Peninsula, where guests are invited to tear through the Wanna sand dunes before tasting the world’s freshest seafood with passionate and adventurous locals.
Australia is ripe for adventure suiting all levels of ability. If you’re looking to discover a memorable five-star active and adventure experience on a customised holiday, contact our Travel Designers today.
