In today’s travel landscape, safety and security are paramount, with 58% of travellers prioritizing these aspects when selecting their next holiday destination (Tourism Australia). Australia, consistently ranked in the top 10 of the Safest Places Ratings (Source), offers not just a secure environment but also a rich tapestry of cultural and natural experiences.
This April, embrace the opportunity to explore Australia’s latest destinations, where safety meets cultural richness for an unforgettable journey.
Below, you’ll discover a variety of new restaurants, activities, and accommodations to help you discover Australia.
EXPERIENCES
Whale Shark season at Ningaloo Marine Park (Coral Bay, Western Australia)
It’s whale shark season from February through to July at Western Australia’s Ningaloo Marine Park (Nyinggulu), and Coral Bay Tours is offering an intimate, face-to-fin experience with these gentle giants. Each year, the park becomes a haven for the largest fish in the ocean – the whale shark. Reaching lengths up to 11 metres (36 feet), gentle whale sharks return to the shores of Western Australia in search of plankton and krill. The World Heritage-Listed Ningaloo Marine Park is one of the only places on Earth where visitors can experience swimming with three big marine wonders in one location – manta rays, humpback whales and whale sharks – when migration seasons align around August. The tour kicks off with a reef snorkel experience amidst coral gardens and vibrant marine life. After morning tea, the quest to encounter the majestic whale sharks begins, with a spotter plane guiding the way.
Elevated Escape: Noosa to K’gari (Noosa, Queensland)
Discover the world’s largest sand island by land and air with K’gari Explorer Tours newest package, Elevated Escape: Noosa to K’gari. Departing from Noosa, two hours north of Brisbane / Meeanjin, a helicopter takes three guests through the skies above the Great Sandy National Park and UNESCO-designated Noosa Biosphere Reserve to K’gari’s sandy shores. Upon landing, guests embark on private ranger-guided and bespoke 4WD tours of the island’s World Heritage-listed icons, and can enjoy light touches of luxury like a gourmet picnic lunch. Developed in partnership between eco-certified K’gari Explorer Tours and Salt Air Aviation, Elevated Escape: Noosa to K’gari includes return transfers to Noosa, national park fees, and foreign language translation through the K’gari Explorer Tours app
Great walks of Australia adds 13th Member (Flinders Island, Tasmania)
Explore the rugged and remote Flinders Island with Tasmanian Expeditions’ Flinders Island Walking Adventure In Comfort, the first trail added to Signature Experiences’ Great Walks of Australia collective since 2017. The 13th experience to join the Great Walks of Australia since its inception, the six-day/five-night guided hike explores the best-kept secrets of the stunning Tasmanian island. Set along a 42 kilometers (27 mile) trail, hikers will find a diverse range of ecosystems, superb coastal vistas, 360-degree mountain views, crystalline swimming spots, and a captivating cultural history. The all-inclusive Flinders Island Walking Adventure In Comfort package offers return flights from Launceston, gourmet food, and nightly stays at Tasmanian Expeditions low-impact Eco-Comfort camp, designed to minimise environmental impact and maximise natural immersion.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Scribbly Farm (Southern Highlands, New South Wales)
Embrace the tranquility of the Southern Highlands’ bushland, with a stay in one of Scribbly Farm’s dome stays. Set on an 100 acre property, Scribbly Farm’s space-age geodesic domes each sleep two adults and offer a stripped back aesthetic emphasising the serene view through the floor to ceiling windows. The domes also include a wood burning fire, ensuite, lounge and dining area and adjoining private covered outdoor deck. Full concierge service from the visionary duo behind Scribble Farm Dome Stays, Ally and Steve, is also available, alongside a range of onsite seasonal farm-to-fork experiences and access to a 30-acre private sanctuary; home to flourishing fauna and flora, including the eponymous Scribbly Gum trees. Limited phone reception and no wi-fi provides the perfect escape into the natural beauty of the Southern Highlands, 90-minutes drive from Sydney / Warrane airport.
The Lyall (Melbourne / Narrm, Victoria)
The Lyall, South Yarra’s revered five-star boutique hotel, has re-opened its doors in March, after the completion of a two-year redesign and refurbishment; revealing an elegant neighbourhood hotel providing grand service and design on a delightfully intimate scale. Comfortably located right in the thick of Melbourne / Narrm, The Lyall’s 49 rooms and suites have undergone a complete revamp, featuring king or twin beds, Parisienne or furnished balconies, a bespoke collection of Melbourne-made furniture, and a thoughtful list of creature comforts including pillow menus, velour bathrobes and slippers, and top-tier technologies. The hotel’s newly renovated restaurant offers a range of elevated Australian classics. From breakfast to dinner, enjoy curated favourites like ricotta hotcake with elderflower syrup and steak frites with chimichurri and mixed greens.
RESTAURANTS
Icebar Australia (Surfers Paradise, Queensland)
Duck out of the tropics and into the arctic with a visit to the coolest place in Queensland, IceBar, a frosty winter wonderland themed bar made entirely of ice, right in the heart of Surfers Paradise. Constructed with over 40 tonnes of ice, with everything from the bar to the chairs made with ice, IceBar serves fresh cocktails and mocktails in ice glasses, in an sub zero ambience at -10°C all year-round. Equipped with snow capes, gloves, and UGG boots provided by the friendly IceBar team, guests can explore this family-friendly frozen oasis, admire intricate ice sculptures, or play a round of air hockey on an ice table during their 45-minute session.
Bartiga (Sydney/Warrane, New South Wales)
South Asian zest and Australian flavours combine at Bartiga, a new restaurant in Sydney / Warrane’s bustling Double Bay. Bartiga’s blend of Australian produce and Head Chef Faheem Noor’s Malaysian heritage is encapsulated by menu highlight beef rendang sausage rolls, alongside duck tacos (a betel leaf with French-style confit duck legs, tamarind sauce, fried onions and mango) and the tom yum spaghettini with scampi. Playfully exploring Southeast Asian ingredients in drinks such as a banana and vanilla espresso martini and whisky-based Skyfall, Bartiga’s cocktail menu continues the venue’s delicate dance between familiar flavours and innovative creations. Bartiga’s interiors give a slight Mediterranean feel thanks to a sophisticated fit-out, with banquette seating and warm lighting spilling onto streetside al-fresco dining.
AKAIITO: Omakase at Your Table (Melbourne / Narrm, Victoria)
Akaiito, Melbourne / Narrm’s acclaimed Japanese fine dining gem, has introduced a new bespoke dining journey led by a team of skilled robatayaki & sushi chefs. Elevating the traditional omakase experience, ‘Omakase at Your Table’ prepares the choice of two degustation menus tableside for only 30 guests an evening. Each course blends traditional Japanese and French cooking techniques with seasonal produce and is served with an intricately explanation by the chefs, under the direction of Head Chef Winston Zhang. A selection of wines, sakes, and cocktails, chosen by sommelier Grant Van Every and Owner Christine Chen, carry the seasonal focus with regular updates. Centrally located on Flinders Street, Akaiito’s interiors present a modern Japanese atmosphere, centred on a central marble stone topped counter and Robatayaki Charcoal Grill.
