The best Australian tours revealed by our writers

Five APT travel writers share their most extraordinary encounters across Australia and remind us that the most memorable travel moments are often the ones we never planned. 

Uluru has long drawn travellers from across the world — a monolith of staggering scale and spiritual significance. But I never truly grasped its immensity until I stood before it myself, bleary-eyed, as the first light of day set its surface aglow in amber. Later, as I watched it deepen into a rich, resonant crimson at dusk, I thought I had seen it in all its glory. But by fate, or some other kind of luck, I joined an exclusive group I hadn’t even known existed: the one per cent of visitors who get to see Uluru in the rain. Our guide told us it was the first significant rainfall in three years. At 15, I didn’t fully grasp how rare that was, but even then, I could tell from the way the rock transformed that this wasn’t something you stumbled across every day. As I walked the base, water cascaded down its flanks, gathering in glimmering pools that mirrored the sky above. The sandstone, usually blazing orange, had turned a moody purplish red, streaked with silvery ribbons of water. The rain brought a kind of alchemy. Desert wildflowers stirred, and I could hear the soft, unexpected call of burrowing frogs. It was Australia’s spiritual heart, briefly reborn, and a moment I’ll never forget. 

Discover Uluru on our Central Australian Discovery tour. 

Words by Danielle Cowen 

Cape Tribulation felt like stepping into another world. There’s something surreal about standing where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef — two spectacular World Heritage Sites colliding in one breathtaking place. I was struck by the sheer vitality of it all: emerald canopies brimming with life, a beach so tranquil it felt untouched, and the chorus of birds echoing through the verdant trees. Spotting a wild cassowary in its natural habitat was unforgettable — its prehistoric presence unlike anything I’d ever encountered. As it disappeared into the dense undergrowth, I found myself imagining what other elusive creatures might be hiding in the shadows of the rainforest. The most surprising part? This lush destination isn’t tucked away on a distant tropical island, it’s right here, in our own backyard. Experiencing something so rich and exotic without leaving the country made me appreciate the diversity of Australia’s natural wonders all the more. 

Explore Cape Tribulation on our Cooktown and Cape York tour 

Words by Annie Gray  

Before visiting South Australia’s Clare Valley, I was strictly a red wine drinker. I didn’t want anything to do with white – too fruity, too acidic. But then, I hadn’t tasted a Clare Valley Riesling. From Adelaide, it’s just under a two-hour drive to the verdant, rolling hills of the valley, where historic vineyards criss-cross the landscape and over 50 wineries welcome visitors into their cellar doors for a tasting. The entire day had been set aside to hop between wineries, sampling prized drops and the region’s gourmet delights. It all culminated with (surprise) another Riesling in one hand and a slice of woodfired pizza in the other, perched at a rooftop bar overlooking the sun-kissed hills. If I’d had more time, I’d have headed further north to see Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre — but that’s a story for another trip. 

Journey to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre and Clare Valley on our Lake Eyre and Flinders Ranges tour 

Words by Felicia Arhontissas 

Tasmania’s colonial architecture endures in a way rarely seen elsewhere in Australia, thanks to the island’s early European settlement — predated only by New South Wales — and a slower pace of development that has spared its historic fabric from the widespread demolition seen in larger urban centres. Nowhere is that legacy more tangible than at Port Arthur, the most substantial of the 11 UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites. I’ve visited three times now and each time, I’m struck anew by the sheer scale and preservation of this 19th-century penal settlement. Set beside Carnarvon Bay, its amphitheatre of lush lawns and orderly rows of trees forms an almost serene setting for what was once a harsh and highly self-contained world. The imposing penitentiary building is just one part of the broader town-like complex that includes law courts, a hospital, farm, dockyard, and countless other intact structures — all of which you can enter and explore. Port Arthur’s most defiant inmates were transferred to the Separate Prison — a sobering prison which was an experiment in behavioural reform defined by psychological claustrophobia, complete silence and social isolation. Port Arthur is a rare place where built heritage, ideology and innovation converge — and where the past still stands, ominously intact. 

Venture to Port Arthur on our Tasmania Complete Tour 

Words by Alexander Simpson 

River red gums gently sway along the banks of the Murray. Shimmering in the sun, the lifeblood of the landscape snakes its way through the Earth like a deep vein. There are a hundred different shades of brown and green, while the raucous laughter of a Kookaburra can be heard overhead. These are the moments emblazoned in my mind from my visits to the Murray River. Spanning more than 2,500 kilometres, Australia’s longest river straddles the border between Victoria and New South Wales and flows to the Southern Ocean in South Australia. The overarching feeling this destination encapsulates is tranquillity. Between taking refreshing dips in the river, experiencing an enchanting symphony of birdsong as an alarm clock, and cosying up by a crackling campfire, my time here has always been characterised by connecting to nature and grounding in the present moment. And, of course, nothing compares to an award-winning pie from a bakery in one of the region’s quaint country towns. Sometimes the best adventures are right on your doorstep. 

Cruise the Murray River aboard a luxury paddle steamer on our Retreat to the Murray cruise. 

Words by Jemma Glucina-Henderson