The Great Australian Takeoff

Glorious gold-sand beaches, spectacular skyrise stays, bustling ‘burbs and subtropical serenity. There’s nothing standard about the Gold Coast. Access this shimmering city of high-rises and ocean-kissed coastline within a 30-minute drive of Coolangatta Airport.

A relaxed resort town known for its palm-fringed beaches and aquatic, Airlie Beach is the perfect launchpad to the Whitsundays Region and the Great Barrier Reef. Offshore, the Whitsundays 74 jewel-like islands beckon – just a short ferry or catamaran ride from Airlie Beach.

Widely known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is the perennially warm, buzzing capital city of Tropical North Queensland, a hotspot for lovers of azure waters, postcard-perfect beaches and outdoor adventures – just a two-hour drive from Cairns.

Hugging the southwest coast of Victoria is one of the world’s most sought-after coastal drives, stretching from Torquay to Allansford. Discovering it is easy with the start of the Great Ocean Road just a short 50-minute drive from Avalon Airport.

Almost slap-bang midway between Adelaide and Darwin (roughly 1500km from each), Alice Springs is a one-of-a-kind town with a quirky free spirit and the jumping-off point to some of Australia’s most iconic experiences.

With flights available direct to Alice Springs Airport, you can embark on the ultimate scenic road trip through to Uluru, which is just a 4.5-hour drive away (an iconic experience in its own and all on completely sealed roads).

A place of indulgence, wild beauty and World Heritage-listed wonders, the Apple Isle is every bit as extraordinary as it is natural — discover it all in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport or Burnie. The best part? For this ‘overseas’ journey, you don’t even need to pack your passport.

Why fly direct into Brisbane when you could land in the Sunshine Coast, a sun-kissed coastal town where you’ll find sun-soaked beaches, verdant mountain ranges and national parks, marvelous markets and some of the state’s best cafes, restaurants and bars.

Majestic beauty abounds in the Kimberley, from camel rides along 22 kilometres of impossibly white sand at Cable Beach to dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point. Reward your inner adventurer with direct flights into Broome.

On Australia’s third-largest island, a regrowth of bushland quickly gives way to soaring cliffs, stunning rock formations and white-sand beaches. Although this spectacular region feels worlds away, it has its own airport on the island and with just 155km from east to west coast, everything’s in easy reach.

The Sapphire Coast’s heart beats with the tides of the lake and ocean surrounding Merimbula, the ultimate family-friendly destination between Melbourne and Sydney. Surrounded on all sides by ocean, bush, rainforests and lakes, with gourmet dining and local wineries in between, Merimbula offers up something for everyone.

The smallest of Australia’s capital cities is unlike anywhere else in the country and now it’s more accessible than ever. Surrounded on all sides by a seemingly unending sweep of natural beauty, Darwin is the ultimate place to discover the likes of Litchfield National Park, Kakadu National Park and eat your way through the seasonal Mindil Sunset Market.

An ‘under the radar’ capital city, Adelaide has well and truly shaken off its sleepy persona and transformed into a vibrant and sophisticated metropolis, renowned for its annual events, festivals and culture scene. Adelaide delivers all of the benefits of the bigger cities with a more laidback feel. Plus, it’s your gateway to Adelaide Hills and the iconic Barossa Valley – what’s not to love?