Where else but Australia can you view kangaroos and koalas in the wild , watch the sunrise in the Outback or witness Aboriginal traditions stretching back to the dawn of time ? From the mysterious Red Centre to the glittering waters of the Great Barrier Reef , it is a land of unique , yet accessible adventures , the ultimate destination for that once-in-a-lifetime trip . Next month 's new pension rules make funding a grand tour more feasible - and right now , there 's a favourable exchange rate for British visitors , too . The Great Ocean Road near Melbourne , which passes stunning rock formations such as the Twelve Apostles . Tourism Australia reports a 12 per cent surge as more of us seize the opportunity , often breaking the journey there with a few days in Bangkok , Dubai or Singapore . Recent television shows have also been whetting the public 's appetite for travel Down Under . In the BBC 's A Cook Abroad - Rick Stein 's Australia , the celebrity chef revealed why bountiful fresh seafood and sublime produce , served by friendly Aussies , is making this land the next big foodie destination . And Jimmy 's Australian Food Adventure on More4 sees British farmer and food expert Jimmy Doherty trace Australia 's award-winning passion for food back 50,000 years . It 's completely fascinating . Joining an escorted tour is the easiest way to see Australia . It means you 'll reach all the right places , with a tour manager and specialist local guides to take care of you the whole way . And far from being about long coach rides , the latest tours make it easy to access the most iconic places and hidden wonders , usually by air and at a steady , manageable pace . The itinerary will have been expertly arranged . Watching the little penguin parade at Phillip Island . All you 'll have to think about is being in the magical moment , soaking up each incredible Aussie experience as it comes . One day you might find yourself being guided through the southern night sky by an indigenous star-talker during a Sounds of Silence dinner at Uluru - rounding off a day when you 've ridden through the Red Centre on a camel or on the back of a Harley-Davidson . Another day you might be watching migrating whales , skimming over coral in a semi-submersible , or snorkelling for a close-up views of turtles and tropical fish . Each place will bring a new way to engage with nature and the vibrant Australian lifestyle - you 'll never have felt so alive . Here 's what a tour might also include : . PERTH breathes west-coast optimism . View the glowing skyline of the City Of Lights from a delicious dinner cruise boat on the Swan River . Meet and greet a colony of 200 wild dolphins in crystal-clear waters , en route to lunch in the premier wine-growing area around Margaret River . MELBOURNE is full of bespoke charm , with free tram rides in the European-style centre . Treats here include dinner on an historic tramcar and visits to the amazing botanical gardens . The city is the gateway to the circular Great Southern Touring Route and the Great Ocean Road , which passes stunning rock formations such as the Twelve Apostles . And Phillip Island , 90 minutes from Melbourne , is home to teeming Australian wildlife and the world-famous little penguins ' parade . ALICE SPRINGS introduced the Royal Flying Doctor Service - and is the closest city to Uluru - or Ayers Rock as it is otherwise known . Watch the iconic sandstone rock change through burnished oranges and reds at sunrise and sunset . Uluru - or Ayers Rock as it is known - changes through burnished oranges and reds at sunrise and sunset . CAIRNS is the launch pad for sunrise balloon rides over the Atherton Tablelands , rail and cable car trips through rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef . The best tours take guests by high-speed catamaran to pontoons moored on the outer reef - which is unspoiled and far superior to the tourist hotspots . SYDNEY is where most tours converge . After a seaplane flight over the city , a dip in the surf at Bondi Beach , a fiery curry in the city 's Thainatown , a sail on an America 's Cup yacht or a lunch cruise around Sydney Harbour , you 'll know you 've been in another world . Why not top off this life-enhancing holiday with dinner overlooking the iconic Opera House ? Just one more incredible Aussie moment to add to a stack of memories that will stay with you for ever .
View kangaroos and koalas in the wild and witness Aboriginal traditions . There 's a favourable exchange rate for Britons travelling to Australia . Break the journey there with a few days in Bangkok , Dubai or Singapore . Joining an escorted tour is often the easiest way to see Australia .