Christmas Gifts

OPPO

Find X5 Pro smartphone, £1,049 Want to travel light and leave the DSLR camera behind yet still take photos you’ll be proud of? OPPO’s latest smartphone was co-developed with Hasselblad and takes remarkably good images and videos, including in low light. It’s also rain and dust resistant. oppo.com

REMEMBERING WILDLIFE

Remembering Bears, £45 The seventh book in the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series features incredible images by top wildlife photographers of the eight species of bear found worldwide. It’s a must for the animal lover in your life, as all profits go to supporting projects working to protect the bears. rememberingwildlife.com

WANDERLUST

Gift membership, £35 The best gift of all for the keen traveller! Not only do Club members get to indulge their wanderlust through the planet’s best travel magazine, but they get access to a digital archive of past issues, exclusive events, competitions and offers. Buy it as a gift and you’ll get a copy of our Incredible Travel Stories From Around The World bookazine. shop.wanderlust.co.uk

CRAGHOPPERS

Women’s orlena half-zip fleece, £75 This cuddly women’s fleece from Craghoppers has come just at the right time for cold winter days, whether at home or away. Made from part-recycled boucle fleece, polyester lining and zip tapes, it’s cosy and stylish, has practical zipped pockets and a lifetime guarantee. Available in three tempting colours. craghoppers.com

MARLOE

Pacific Collection watch, £975 The Pacific collection has been inspired by the dawn of the Jet Age, with a style that reflects an ‘above the clouds’ vibe. We just think they’re beautiful. Swiss-made, there are four watch designs to choose from (including the Pacific 55; pictured) as well as a variety of straps. marloewatchcompany.com

POCKETALK

Pocketalk Plus, £299 We were already fans of the Pocketalk, a portable, AI-powered instant voice-translator that can translate 82 languages at the touch of a button. Its new Plus device has a 40% larger display and a longer battery life (192 hours). It also comes with a complimentary two-year mobile data plan that can be used in 130 countries and regions. uk.pocketalk.com

6 travel gift ideas for Christmas

From phones that take pro-level pics to cuddly tops, here are six ideas for the travel addict in your life

UNDISCOVERED ADVENTURES ON THE EYRE PENINSUL A

Where the Ocean meets the Outback in South Australia

The Eyre Peninsula is South Australia in microcosm – beloved for its succulent seafood, 1,930km of untouched coastline, and vast, wildlife-rich Outback. Best of all, you'll have this lesser-known Australian gem largely to yourself. Hop on a one-stop flight from the UK to state capital Adelaide, before driving or flying onto the Peninsula in as little as 45 minutes to start your adventure.

AUSTRALIA’S SEAFOOD FRONTIER

With freshly shucked oysters, prawns, tuna and mussels on the menu, there’s no risk of going hungry in this seafood lover’s paradise. You’ll feel like you’ve earned your food here too, thanks to myriad catch and cook-your-own experiences across Port Lincoln. Waders at the ready on a tour of Coffin Bay with Oyster HQ, where you can sample oysters straight from the ocean. If it’s a mix of wildlife encounters, wine and seafood you’re after, Australian Coastal Safaris are your go-to, from four-wheel driving through sand-dunes and rugged terrain to birdwatching and wildlife experiences and wellness tours. Self-drive is a big deal Down Under, so what better than to search for seafood than under your own steam? The Seafood Frontier road trip takes you from Adelaide to the Eyre Peninsula's sparkling coastline.

Dive right in

(top to bottom) Swim with sea lions in the waters surrounding the Eyre Peninsula; feast on freshly shucked oysters

MAKE A SPLASH

Clean waters abound on the Eyre Peninsula – that’s what makes it a thriving location for seafood and marine life. Come face to face with sea lions as they somersault and play in front of your eyes, swim with pods of wild dolphins, or for the ultimate adventure, go cage sharkdiving to see great whites heart-racingly close. Back on dry land, explore Greenly

Beach’s rock pools and the towering sand dunes en route to Gunyah Beach.

Heading out on the water is one of the region’s highlights, particularly from June to September, when you might spot migrating southern right whales. Divers and snorkellers, meanwhile, can seek seahorses and octopus year-round, or giant cuttlefish between May and July.

For coastal dwellers, the beaches here are a sight to behold, from the flamingohued sands of Lake MacDonnell to calm Perlubie, isolated Locks Well and crystalclear Memory Cove. And, for exploring beyond the silica, Talia boasts hidden, icy rock pools and a confection of granite and limestone grottos, the most iconic being the dramatic Woolshed Cave.

GO WILD

Eyre is as wild as it gets. The Peninsula boasts all that quintessential Aussie wildlife, from wombats to emus to kangaroos. Speaking of ‘roos, this is one of the only places in the country where you can seek out three different species coexisting – namely red, western gray and the euro, or common “wallaroo”. Look out for the yellowfooted rock wallaby, an endangered species that can be found amid the rocky outcrops of the Gawler Ranges. Koalas can be spotted at eye level here, thanks to the comparatively short manna gum (eucalyptus) trees at Mikkira Station, where a colony of these iconic marsupials like to hang out.

The Peninsula is also home to over 270 bird species, including the rare broad-billed sandpiper, which eagleeyed travellers can spot in Nullarbor’s Streaky Bay – with a bit of patience of course. For maximum exposure to the region’s plentiful avifauna, the research station at the Eyre Bird Observatory is well worth a visit.

INTO THE OUTBACK

Arid crimson sands against impossibly blue skies – the Eyre Peninsula’s Outback lives in the 1.5-billion-year-old Gawler Ranges. Koalas, kangaroos and wombats are found in huge numbers, while over 1,000 species of flora and fauna flourish, despite seemingly harsh conditions. Sturt’s desert pea and crimson mallee pepper the landscapes, which – when not a vibrant red – turn to crisp, craggy white. We’re talking, of course, about the Lake Gairdner salt pans, which look more Antarctica than Australia.

And then there’s the lava-sculpted Organ Pipes, ancient rock prisms formed millennia ago, not to mention innumerable sites of Aboriginal significance, offering a glimpse into the national park’s cultural identity. With a little help from Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris, it’s possible to see all this – and more – on a four-wheel drive safari. Beneath unblemished night skies with unforgettable sunrises and sets, a stay at Geoff and Irene’s tented Kangaluna Camp will get you fully immersed in the Outback, so much so that you’ll forget what life in modern ‘civilisation’ is like… much to your joy.

Go wild

(clockwise from top left) Woolshed Cave has been carved by the waves at Talia Beach; the famous Organ Pipes of the Gawler Ranges National Park were formed some 1,500 million years ago; see koalas at Mikkira Station near Port Lincoln

WHERE TO STAY

Camel Beach House Teetering on the coast, this rustic hideaway sits amid 250 aces of Talia wilderness, offering barbecues, sundecks, and blissful night skies. Eyre.Way Yambara Go off-the-grid at this remote oasis, which gazes across Port Lincoln’s Sleaford Bay and promises wildlife-spotting and whale-watching aplenty. Tanonga Luxury Eco-Lodges This awardwinning eco retreat, nestled within 240 acres, boasts walking trails, wildlife and history just 20 minutes from Port Lincoln.

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Fly to Adelaide with Qatar Airways, named World’s Best Airline at the 2022 Skytrax Awards. Stretch out in comfort onboard one of the youngest fleets. While you dine, sleep or watch some of the 4,000-plus entertainment options, you’re sure to enjoy the inflight experience. qatarairways.com A 12-night holiday in Australia, including flights, 3-days car hire and 4-star hotels in Adelaide, Barossa, Port Lincoln and Sydney, costs from £4,029 per person (based on two sharing). Includes 3-night 4WD tour with a local guide, most meals and wildlife experiences. Call Trailfinders on 020 7368 1354 | trailfinders.com