Australia’s Winelands & Luxury Island Lodges

At your UK departure airport you’ll enjoy private lounge access before your flight to Sydney. 

A city of icons, Sydney’s emblematic harbour or skyline will be viewable from the private balcony of your luxury room at the Shangri-La, arrived at via a private transfer from the airport, of course. Centrally located, the hotel is the perfect launchpad for lazy boardwalk strolls leading to the curvy Opera House next door and its accompanying botanic gardens. To take it all in, soar on an included seaplane flight over Sydney to arrive at the white sands of Palm Beach for a champagne-paired, three-course dinner.

Then, after time at leisure to explore both Sydney’s city glitz and natural, beach-fringed splendour, you’ll be treated to a private tour of Hunter Valley’s esteemed vineyards. Drive through national-park beauty, stop for tea in the bush and enjoy a gourmet lunch of local produce as you taste your way through the region’s finest oenological offerings.

Stay: Shangri-La, Sydney

Fly out to Lord Howe Island, a hidden, UNESCO-listed gem, Lord Howe's golden beaches are framed by old-growth greenery. And, with visitors strictly limited, it’s a truly exclusive hideaway. On arrival, you'll be met for a private transfer to your luxurious retreat whose nine indulgent suites form the island’s most luxurious accommodation. And, with plenty of open-bar relaxation, canapé-prefixed sundowners and indulgent breakfasts and dinners, all included in the price, you'll feel less like a hotel guest and more like this is your private home.

Your contemporary suite features private-deck views over the island and a secret beach, along with its own stocked bar. You’ll also have a range of activities if you want to head out and explore, like snorkelling cruises, naturalist-led hikes, beach barbecues and surf trips.

In between private transfers, a scheduled flight brings you back to the Australian mainland and the city of Melbourne where you'll discover a contrast of stately Gold Rush architecture and cutting-edge contemporary art and rooftop bars. You’ll stay right in the heart of the city, with the option of unwinding by the pool or in the superb spa before exploring the city’s distinctly European charms – landscaped parks intersperse leafy, Victorian boulevards.

On day 12, a tailor-made tour of Yarra Valley – one of Australia’s leading wine regions – will bring you behind the scenes of its upscale, mountain-backed vineyards. Barrel-room tastings, expert commentary, a visit to the wildlife-filled bushland of Healesville Sanctuary and a gastronomic lunch – wine-paired, of course – will bring it all to life.

Stay: Park Hyatt Melbourne

Take off for the wild beauty of Tasmania, where waterfalls dive from granite peaks and seemingly undiscovered beaches speckle cragged coastlines. Staying in a Luxury Suite at the designer Saffire Freycinet hotel, you’ll enjoy floor-to-ceiling views of the pink Hazards mountain range and the sweeping Great Oyster Bay, while all-inclusive drinks and degustation dining showcases the island’s finest viticulture and cuisine. The just-caught seafood is a particular highlight. Enjoy a full complement of included activities ranging from pelican-viewing kayaking trips and fishing to hiking and cold-climate wine tasting.

One particular standout is a visit to Freycinet Marine Oyster Farm where, as the sun sets, you’ll don gators to wade out onto the beds themselves, enjoying sparkling wine and freshly shucked oysters served on a table in the sea.

A final private transfer brings you to Hobart to start your overnight journey back to the UK.