Incentive Tour to Australia

Wake early to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for breathtaking views across the harbour. Afterwards, meander through The Rocks, Sydney’s historic quarter. On weekends, local artisans set up shop at The Rocks Markets, where you can pick up unique souvenirs to take home. Art lovers should leave time to explore the Museum of Contemporary Art, which sits on the Circular Quay side of The Rocks. In the afternoon, catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, a 30 minute ride. With a long, sandy surf beach and lively esplanade, Manly is a wonderful spot to experience laid-back Sydney life. Relax over dinner at Manly’s Papi Chulo, which specialises in seafood and smokehouse meats.

Just under two hours drive west of Sydney are the Blue Mountains. Catch a train, bus or day tour to Katoomba to see the impressive rock formation, the Three Sisters. Scenic World in Katoomba features a cableway, a walkway over the rainforest canopy and a glass-floored skyway. Suspended 270 metres (886 feet) above ancient ravines, this is an unparalleled way to view the mountain range in all its blue-hued glory. You can spend a few hours at Scenic World, then come back down to earth with a visit to the neighbouring village of Leura, which is pretty and charming and just the spot for some afternoon tea and shopping. It has friendly cafes, antique shops and a must-visit candy store. Head back to Sydney for the night.

Catch a three hour flight from Sydney to the heart of the outback, Alice Springs, and spend the afternoon exploring this unique and fascinating town. With its flat terrain and compact size, Alice Springs is perfect for walkers. Head to the historical Telegraph Station, dating back to 1872, or the Olive Pink Botanic Garden closer to town. Visit reputable Aboriginal art galleries, such as Araluen Arts Centre and Ironwood Arts, where you’ll see artworks synonymous with the Red Centre of Australia. For night time entertainment, have a burger and a cold craft beer at the bohemian pub-restaurant, Monte’s Lounge.

Alice Springs is a great place to join a tour (companies such as Emu Run offer tours from one to four days). Or you could hire a car to explore the Red Centre. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is four to five hours drive south-west of Alice Springs and includes both Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock) and the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta (formerly the Olgas). Spend your first night in the Red Centre in style, with the once-in-a lifetime TaliWiru dining experience at Ayers Rock Resort. The evening includes champagne and canapés as the sun sets, followed by an intimate four-course dinner with matching wines. Stay at the resort or glamp (camp in luxury) at the Longitude 131° luxury wilderness camp.

Experience the ever-changing palettes of Uluru and Kata Tjuta at sunrise on the Desert Awakenings tour. Once the sun comes up, your guide will take you to the base of Uluru, where you’ll stop at spots significant to the local Aboriginal people, including the Mutitjulu Waterhole, ancient rock paintings and the Cultural Centre. Take the road 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Uluṟu to reach Kata Tjuta. Walk among the 36 domes of this sacred site on the easy Walpa Gorge Walk, or tackle the four hour Valley of the Winds Walk right into the heart of the landscape.

Take the 2 1/2 hour flight from Ayers Rock Airport to Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Head to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, just 15 minutes drive out of Cairns, and be immersed in Australia’s Aboriginal culture with authentic music, dance and storytelling. In the evening, stroll along Cairns Esplanade before sitting down to dinner at The Raw Prawn seafood restaurant, Tamarind at the Reef Hotel Casino or Salt House, overlooking the water.

Stretching 2300 kilometres (1430 miles), the Great Barrier Reef has more than 3000 coral reefs, 900 islands and 1500 species of fish. Drop into the Cairns and Tropical North Visitor Information Centre, where you can pick from a selection of day cruises and Great Barrier Reef experiences to fill your day. Activities include scuba lessons, snorkelling with the sea turtles, scenic helicopter flights over the reef and more. The trip to the outer reef from Cairns takes about two hours.

Head 2 1/2 hours north of Cairns by car (self-drive or on a tour) to explore the mighty World Heritage-listed Daintree Wilderness Area. Older than the Amazon, the Daintree rainforest is a living museum of flora and fauna dating back at least 135 million years. The Daintree’s incredible variety of wildlife includes more than 400 species of birds, the most famous of which is the large, flightless and endangered southern cassowary. And the scenery is spectacular: lush tropical rainforest meets white sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs. See the rainforest from horseback while you’re riding along the beach, or take the Aerial Walkway to the Canopy Tower at the Daintree Discovery Centre.

From Cairns, fly just over two hours to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. Get your pulse racing by climbing to the top of the Story Bridge, which towers 80 metres (262 feet) above the river. It takes a couple of hours to get up and down with a tour company. Next head to South Bank, where you can spend the afternoon exploring the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). Have dinner at one of Brisbane’s most awarded and innovative restaurants, Esquire. Make sure you book ahead to enjoy the degustation menu.