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Australia: Gearing up for a surge of reunion travel
Globe hopping 22 / Australia
Family fi rst
As hopes rise of family reunions in 2022, Australia’s tourism sector is preparing its welcome with new hotels and visitor attractions, reports Julie Baxter
Last week i received a letter from Australia. inside were photos – yes, old-school, traditional prints, sent by my relatives Down Under with news of newborns and new jobs, of family picnics and birthday celebrations, student successes and anniversaries marked.
The letter told of toasts that had been raised in Sydney, Tasmania and Adelaide: “To absent friends,” they’d said, for me and my UK family, ruled out from any of their Australian gatherings for nearly two years now –not by the historic barriers of cost or distance, but by the travel rules of a pandemic.
Among the photos was also one taken on our most recent visit, three years ago – to the Yarra Valley in Victoria for a wedding. It was a baking blue-sky summer’s day as we headed from our base in Healesville out to a beautifully old stone chapel, set within the stunning rolling fi elds of one of Victoria’s fi nest vineyards.
The immaculately manicured vines stretched for miles beyond the bride and groom as they posed for sunset shots, and the scent of eucalyptus fi lled the air as we threw confetti and sipped our chilled Aussie drop. Inside the cool vineyard building, we were seated on long, sociable trestles as a seemingly u?nending array of spectacular Aussie food was laid before us – succulent charcuterie and melt-in-themouth meats, fl avourful cheeses, fabulous salads, dainty desserts and, of course, copious amounts of Australian wine.
Our attendance, 12,000 miles from home, was mentioned in the speeches, but we were not the only ones who had made the eff ort. Others had come from far and wide and the roll-call of honoured international attendees simply served to confi rm the multicultural make-up of many Australian families and the magnetic appeal of the destination for many.
Another of the photos was of a small child – unbelievably the off spring of the bride and groom – shown now walking! A living embodiment of just how long families like mine have been held apart.
The letter arrived just as news of the Omicron variant hit the headlines and that has triggered new internal border controls Down Under and a decision to delay the reopening of international borders to most leisure visitors (only some restricted categories including working holidaymakers can currently enter).
No doubt a reopening roadmap will emerge early in 2022. The government already has its eye on tourism recovery with a THRIVE 2030 strategy, focused on ‘The Re-Imagined Visitor Economy’, and designed to drive long-term sustainable growth.
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striking Lake BaLLard, Western austraLia tarraWarra estate vineyard in victoria
Better together
Once borders do open, the classic Visiting Friends and Relative (VFR) sector will surely be the first to reap the rewards.
In 2019, 52% of the 715,000 arrivals from the UK to Australia were VFR travellers.
Once a little derided as a market that didn’t spend much (staying with relatives rather than booking hotels and tours), today these are sophisticated travellers who combine time with the ‘reles’ with road trips and tours, and often encourage their extended Aussie family to travel with them.
“When leisure travel from the UK returns, we expect VFR travellers will be among the first to make the journey in order to be reunited with their friends and family,” says Sally Cope, Regional General Manager, UK & Northern Europe for Tourism Australia.
“What we at Tourism Australia want to do for this audience is to inspire them to use the opportunity to travel in and around Australia with their loved ones. After such a prolonged period of separation, it’s a time to really create memories together that will last a lifetime.”
This sector is highly motivated to travel, loyal to the destination and in the habit of repeat booking. They are also likely to be reassured by the fact that Australia has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. Boosters are being rolled out too.
The fact that domestic tourism has remained buoyant means there are plenty of new products and experiences for visitors to discover.
Iconic Favourites
The holy hat-trick of the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru Red Centre Rock and Sydney Harbour have long been the iconic must-sees for travellers down under and even repeat travellers will likely want to include some old favourites in their itineraries. New at the reef is the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA), the only underwater art museum in the Southern Hemisphere. And in Sydney there’s a new twist on the Harbour BridgeClimb with an indigenous storyteller now sharing tales from his heritage for the Burrawa Climb.
For those willing to ring the changes, there is the alternative of Ningaloo Reef, the Pinnacles and Wave Rock in Western Australia, or perhaps the gorges and Aboriginal heritage beyond Uluru at Katherine Gorge; or The Flinders Ranges out of Adelaide.
Natural Assets
Lockdown has had us all getting closer to nature and few destinations can beat the eco-credentials of wilderness Tasmania or the rainforest experiences
Globe hopping Globe hopping 24 / Australia
Wave rock, Western austraLia iconic sydney, neW south WaLes
marramarra Lodge, neW south WaLes nine miLe Beach in Western austraLia FriendLy Quokka on rottnest isLand
of Queensland. New to the mix is Australia’s only floating wood-fired sauna, Floating Sauna Lake Derby, where visitors combine a traditional sauna with a cold plunge into the freshwater of Briseis Hole. Or, focus on the river regions for retreats such as the exclusive Marramarra Lodge on the Hawkesbury River, offering a bush experience with accommodation in Peninsula Tents.
The new Kalbarri Skywalk in Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia, is set likely to become a must-do with two cantilevered viewing platforms over the Murchison Gorge, river and surroundings.
South Australia now has the largest safari park outside of Africa following the reopening of Monarto Zoo, 50 minutes from Adelaide, as a safari park complete with southern white rhino and Australia’s largest giraffe herd.
Even most city stays are close enough to national parks to combine with hikes in the great outdoors, or perhaps some glamping as now offered at the elegant Australian eco-retreat nestled within Taronga Zoo, overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Perth’s off-shore island destination, Rottnest, has a new resort too – Samphire Rottnest – set within the natural habitat of the A Class Reserve and designed to immerse its guests in the natural elements.
Road Trips
The wide open roads of Australia are just made for driving holidays. Along the dramatic craggy coast of Victoria on the Great Ocean Road, Wildlife Wonders is a new protected habitat creating a good stop-off for guided walks among bushland wildlife, overlooking the ocean and the Otway Ranges. Or, for those joining the dots of the coastal resorts along the Pacific Coast route between Sydney and Queensland, flag up the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary with a skywalk in the treetops to view koalas in their natural habitat. For those with a sense of adventure suggest trips into the Red Centre from Darwin or Adelaide, or out of Perth on the Gibb River Road for memorable 4WD adventures.
sally cope, tourism australia
City stunners
Australia’s cities deliver on style and entertainment and are small enough to be manageable but big enough to offer a huge diversity of activity.
Sydney now has its first six-star hotel, Crown Sydney, housed in the city’s tallest building at the newly- developed Barangaroo waterfront precinct. It features a spa and Nobu restaurant (among 14 eateries), large outdoor pool and great harbour views.
Melbourne too has new openings including the W Melbourne, with four restaurants and bars.
On eco-trend, sustainably-led hospitality company, Crystalbrook Collection, has launched Crystalbrook Vincent in the heart of Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves, with a five-star property carved into a cliff face below the city’s historic Story Bridge.
In Canberra a new chef-driven food hall, Verity Lane Market, will create a gastronomic ground zero.
Where to book it
Scenic – 0808 231 4901
A 20-day Grand Australia land journey from Perth to Sydney takes in Rottnest Island, the Yarra Valley and the Great Barrier Reef. Departing October 12, 2022, prices start from £6,945pp. scenic.co.uk •
Cosy cabins in Alberta
Globe hopping Six of the best... / 25
Nothing beats returning to a warm cabin after a long day of winter wonderland exploration. These charming stays will be sure to rosy the cheeks
Mount Engadine Lodge
Mount Engadine Lodge sits against a backdrop of staggering mountainscapes within the Spray Valley Provincial Park near Canmore. With its all- inclusive offering of three meals a day plus afternoon tea it’s a perfect pit stop after a day of skiing, hiking, cycling or kayaking nearby. Hidden in the wilderness, passing coyotes, beavers, deer and elk are all commonplace from a window seat.
Storm Mountain
With views for days, these cabins invite panoramic vistas of Storm Mountain, Castle Mountain, the Sawback Range and the Bow Valley. The lodge also has a second trick up its sleeve: a menu using local ingredients, paired with fine regional wines.
Originally built in 1922 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the cabins have been restored with the addition of fireplaces or log-burning stoves for winter cosiness.
Pocahontas Lodge
Taking its name from the famous native American Powhatan princess, Pocahontas Lodge is surrounded by the wild and untamed beauty of Jasper National Park. Follow in Pocahontas’s footsteps on a historic hike along the original mine site trail or bathe in the nearby Miette Hot Springs, the warmest in the Canadian Rockies. After a chilly day, guests can unwind and rest tired muscles in the outdoor hot tub.
Baker Creek
Baker Creek Mountain Resort sits on the Bow Valley Parkway at the confluence of Baker Creek and the Bow River. Its location offers ice walks in Johnston Canyon and hiking and wildlife spotting nearby at Lake Louise, by day. At night, guests can head for the onsite Baker Creek Bistro to throw back a local craft beer, or admire the sparkling stars as they retreat to the warmth and privacy of their log cabin.
Bear Hill
With cabins in the town of Jasper, Bear Hill is the perfect choice for clients that want rustic charm within walking distance of shops and bars. Despite its central location, the lodge is tucked in a peaceful corner and loses none of the quaint cabin aesthetic. Its smaller studio cottages are good for couples, while heritage log cabins are great for bigger groups or families. Bike rentals are available in the summer.
Jasper Park Lodge
Wrapped around the tranquil shores of Lac Beauvert, Jasper Park Lodge is ideal for any clients keen on sustainable stays with initiatives including reducing food waste and joining the Energy and Carbon Management Program. The 700 acres of mountain resort play host to a range of outdoor activities, plus abundant nature and wildlife. Afterwards, escape the cold with a rejuvenating visit to the Fairmont Spa.
