DESTINATIONS AUSTRALASIA | ADD-ONS


rest BEST OF THE 5 Spot PENGUINS ON STEWART ISLAND


If you’ve got keen birdwatchers on your hands, New Zealand’s third-largest isle is well worth recommending. Stewart Island’s rugged landscapes are home to more kiwis than humans, and it boasts a smattering of penguins, including the rare yellow-eyed variety, to boot. Gold Medal pairs a visit here with a half-day trip to the neighbouring isle of Ulva, where native bird species


live predator-free and there are no human inhabitants, making for an especially tranquil escape. Book it: A three-night stay in the gateway city of Invercargill (on the southerly tip of New Zealand) costs from £383 (room-only), including a day trip to Stewart Island and half-day tour to Ulva. goldmedal.co.uk


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Cook Islands: For more Polynesian hospitality – plus ultramarine waters, emerald jungles and forest-covered mountains – look to the


Cook Islands, a 15-strong archipelago whose beating heart is Rarotonga, located a four-hour flight from Auckland. Premier Holidays, Cox & Kings and Kuoni are among the operators that sell the islands.


Whitsundays: For a Down Under add-on


clients won’t forget, suggest an island-hopping trip around the crystal-clear waters of the


Whitsundays. Intrepid Travel offers a six-day sailing trip here from £1,380, starting at the


coastal town of Airlie Beach in Queensland and visiting several isles, with swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing opportunities aplenty along the way.


New Guinea: For clients really wanting to go


off the beaten track – and make up for lost time with a bumper trip they’ll never forget – Exodus Travels has a 14-day Secret Valleys of New Guinea tour that takes guests to explore this


remote, rarely visited island. Highlights include attending the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival


to meet the indigenous Dani people, canoeing alongside crocodiles on the Karawari River and


staying in remote wilderness lodges. Prices start at £10,780, including domestic flights.


6 RIDE THE GHAN TO THE RED CENTRE


For clients heading to Australia, no visit is complete without a trip to the Red Centre to watch the sun rise above Uluru or walk the rim of the extraordinary Kings Canyon (pictured). Add in a ride on cross-country train the Ghan and it’s hard to turn down AAT Kings’ six-day Outback Railway trip, which takes passengers rolling from the verdant hills of Adelaide through the desert wilderness to reach a base in Alice Springs. From there, clients will explore the highlights of the outback and learn all about Aboriginal culture on daily excursions and once-in-a-lifetime experiences – not least a sunset barbecue dinner


beneath the stars with Uluru as a backdrop. Book it: From £2,051, including accommodation, some meals, transport and driver-guide. aatkings.com


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25 FEBRUARY 2021


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURES: Shutterstock; Chris McLennan; AAT Kings


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