22 Aussie experiences for 2022

Immerse yourself in the top 10 TrulyAus experiences that our readers love.

Words: Michelle Hespe

GO ON A DINOSAUR TOUR IN THE OUTBACK

There are plenty of dino hotspots in Outback Queensland, so why not make a road trip of it and soak up the local hospitality, sunshine and big blue skies while you get to know some of the most interesting creatures to have ever roamed this earth. After exploring Winton’s multimillion-dollar Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, with its outdoor canyon of life-sized dinos, and checking out the Eromanga Natural History Museum, where you can meet Cooper – the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Australia – you’ll look at theQueensland outback in a completely different way. Want to do it? Rex flies all over Outback Queensland.

DINE, WINE AND DIVE ON THE LIMESTONE COAST

This beautiful, utterly underrated area of Australia is home to some of the country’s most incredible sinkholes for swimming, cave scubadiving and snorkelling. It’s also home to fairytale-like sunken gardens, and there is history galore in nearby Penola, where Mary MacKillop lived and founded a school to provide free education for the children in the area. Right next door is Coonawarra wine country, where the dining and accommodation options are as fine as the wine andcellar door experiences on offer. Time to indulge? Rex flies to Mount Gambier.

GET INTO ART AND THE OUTBACK IN BROKEN HILL

There are more than 35 galleries in which to get an art fix in Broken Hill, and the outdoor sculpture park in the Living Desert Reserve is a must-see at sunset or sunrise. Broken Hill has a lovely community with an eclectic range of accommodation offerings. Anyone who comes to town has to stop at the pub made famous by The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – the Palace Hotel, and a 20-minute drive will have you in the ghost town of Silverton where you can check out the Mad Max Museum. A few hours drive will have you in the weirdand wonderful town of White Cliffs, where everyone lives underground. Get arty. Rex flies to Broken Hill.

GO SWIMMING WITH SHARKS AND SEA LIONS IN PORT LINCOLN

Get up close and personal with one of the ocean’s most impressive apex predators – the great white shark – in a cage dive that will have you marvelling at the majestic nature of this often misunderstood creature. Then splash around with playful sea lions, who love showing off to us humans, and are known for putting everyone under a spell with their big puppy dog eyes. While you’re in town, indulge in some seafood straight from the boats, or go for a spot of fishing yourself. Port Lincoln isn’t called the nation’s seafood capitalfor nothing! Rex flies to Port Lincoln.

MEET ADORABLE, RARE BILBIES IN CHARMING CHARLEVILLE

On the Charleville Bilby Experience you can meet some super cute bilbies. After an engaging talk by one of the keepers you will understand more about the plight of this eco-engineer, and exactly why they are worth saving from extinction. Find out about the work of the Save the Bilby Fund and how its breeding program in Charleville is helping insure against losing the bilby forever. Round off your visit by purchasing a bilby souvenir in the gift shop – all proceeds from these and tour bookings, benefit the work of the fund. Then fit in a night sky adventure at the Charleville Cosmos Centre while in thischarming outback town. Rex flies from Brisbane to Charleville, via Toowoomba.

MEET TASSIE DEVILS AND DINE ON FRESH OYSTERS IN FREYCINET

There are so many wonderful things about our smallest state, as it punches way above its weight in art, history, outdoor activities, food and wine and everything in between. But while you’re in Tasmania, you have to meet the Tasmanian devil face-to-face in one of the many animal reserves that are working on saving one of our most treasured native animals. And why not do that in one of the prettiest parts of Tassie – Freycinet? Here you can also indulge in a marine tour, where you’ll be treated to some of the state’s finest sparkling wine while tucking into oysters straight off the lease. Rex flies to Burnie,from where it’s a 3.5-hour scenic drive to Freycinet.

TOUCH THE TIP OF AUSTRALIA ON CAPE YORK

Pajinka is the Indigenous name for The Tip – the most northerly point of Australia at the top of Cape York. You don’t need your own 4WD to do it, but if you have one, this region is a bucket-list destination that you have to see to believe. The journey there is half the fun, as it’ll no doubt be loaded with friendly locals, rivers and swimming holes, crocodiles, some of the most stunning beaches in the country, and great local tucker. Bamaga, which is a two-hour flight from Cairns, is a part of Queensland's Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) and a great place to base yourself.

SWIM WITH MINKE WHALES

Imagine holding on to a rope in the vast ocean of the Great Barrier Reef – mask and snorkel in place – with that ‘Star Wars sound’ reverberating through your entire body as majestic minke whales glide by. You may not think the word dwarf aptly describes a creature that makes you seem so small in comparison, but these whales – up to eight metres long and weighing almost six tonnes – are almost two metres smaller than their other minke whale cousins. Minke whales are among the smallest baleen whale species and it wasn’t until the 1980s that scientists recognised the different species of minkes. The ribbon reefs north of Port Douglas are the only place where people are able to swim alongside these beautiful creatures. Rex flies to Cairns and Townsville, from where you can access the Great Barrier Reef.

RELAX, UNWIND AND INDULGE IN DAYLESFORD

If it’s wellness and rejuvenation you’re looking for, you can’t go past Daylesford and the neighbouring village of Hepburn Springs, tucked into the Macedon Ranges north west from Melbourne. The region is known for its natural mineral springs, and you can take your pick of luxurious treatments and massages at the renowned day spas, or simply submerge your body in the calming warm water and wallow. Once you’ve dried off, the towns are alive with top-notch restaurants, vibrant country pubs, wine bars and upmarket accommodation. Wander the heritage streets, browsing the boutiques for trinkets and homewares, or get the blood pumping with a walk up Wombat Hill to the striking Convent Gallery. Rather stay by the water? Head to picturesque Lake Daylesford for apicnic by the shore. Rex flies to Melbourne and it’s a 1.5-hour drive to Daylesford.

TAKE IN THE WONDERS AND WILDERNESS OF KING ISLAND

You can’t go to King Island without falling in love, for many reasons. It’s a working agricultural island that’s a foodie heaven, with a focus on organic, sustainable food production and some of the best cheese and beef you’ll find anywhere. It has a thriving arts community, with locals and visitors supporting each other. It’s a nature lover’s paradise due to its pristine environment, and a bird watcher’s haven thanks to so many wonderful species that can be viewed in secluded spaces where there are never any crowds. It has surfers hooked due to the awesome breaks and uncrowded beaches, and it’s the pièce de résistance for golfers, being home to one of the world’s top golf courses with one of theworld’s most sublime views. Want to head to paradise? Rex flies to King Island.