THE WONDERS DOWN UNDER

Your ultimate Australian wildlife adventure begins in Sydney, the country’s largest and most iconic city and, as any Sydneysider will tell you at least, its de facto capital. Attractions include the world-famous Sydney Opera House, Australia’s most famous building; Bondi Beach, one of the most iconic beaches in the world and a great spot for surfing, swimming and people-watching; and the beautiful Sydney Harbour National Park, with its islands, soaring cliffs and rugged coastline. For a cultural fix, head to the Art Gallery of NSW, where you’ll find international exhibitions and a vast collection of Australian art, including Aboriginal collections.

Your home for your first two nights is the Park Hyatt, a luxurious hotel in the heart of the city. Overlooking the Sydney Opera House, other attractions nearby include the Museum of Contemporary Art and Darling Harbour.

Departing Sydney, you’ll be taken by private transfer into the rugged wilderness of New South Wales’ Blue Mountains, and the unspoilt Wolgan Valley. Many examples are still visible in this area of its thousands of years of Aboriginal history, such as the rock art of Blackfellows Hand.

You’ll spend two nights at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, a luxury hotel set in 7,000 acres of private conservancy. The hotel's setting makes it perfect for exploration of the area, whether on horseback, by mountain bike, or on a guided nature walk with an expert who will introduce you to the rich wildlife which inhabits this area. Kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos are among the iconic animals to be found here, while a trip to the glow-worm tunnel on the Newnes Plateau is an unforgettable experience.

The next stop on your wildlife adventure is the aptly-named Kangaroo Island, which you’ll reach after a private transfer from Wolgan Valley to Sydney, followed by a flight to Kingscote via Adelaide. Much of the island is protected as national parkland, and a wide array of wildlife can be found here. As well as the ‘roos, there are koalas, echidnas and wallabies,  as well as endearing little penguins, who return from the sea to their burrows on land at night. Under the sea you’ll find the bizarre leafy seadragon, the state emblem of South Australia, and you can see rare Australian sea lions at Seal Bay.

The island’s rich biodiversity has much to do with its unspoilt nature, and nowhere is this better experienced than at your hotel, Southern Ocean Lodge, a luxurious retreat perched on top of a rugged cliff. Kangaroo Island is also renowned for its gastronomy, with some world-class seafood restaurants, acclaimed wineries and small, artisanal producers of products such as honey and cheese.

After two nights on Kangaroo Island, you’ll fly back to the mainland, reaching Perth via Adelaide, where you'll stay at COMO The Treasury, an elegant central hotel. The capital of Western Australia, Perth’s so far away from Sydney that it’s in a different time zone. It is a laid-back city with gorgeous beaches and more sunshine than any other Australian capital. There’s also some beautiful green space, most prominently at Kings Park & Botanic Garden, where you can picnic surrounded by thousands of native plant species.

Go swimming with dolphins in Rockingham, and take a day trip to wildlife-rich Rottnest Island, which is home to the quokka.

Boarding a flight to Exmouth on the North West Cape, you’ll be transferred to Ningaloo, a coastal region home to the wildlife-rich Ningaloo Reef system. You’ll spend three nights at Sal Salis, a collection of luxurious safari tents on a spit of sand overlooking the ocean. The hotel’s unique location within Cape Range National Park means you’ll have prime opportunities for wildlife spotting, with guided snorkelling trips allowing you to spot clownfish, rays, sponge gardens and beautiful coral.

Further afield, the resort’s luxury launch, Wave Rider, can take you on guided excursions to swim with humpback whales and whale sharks – an unforgettable experience. Back on dry land, guided walks will take you through Mandu Mandu Gorge and Yardie Creek Gorge, where you can spot the elusive black-footed rock wallaby as well as cormorants, egrets and colourful galahs.

After three days in Ningaloo, you’ll be transferred back to Exmouth for your flight back to Perth, where you’ll spend the final night of your journey back at COMO The Treasury. If you missed it the first time round, check out Fremantle Prison, an imposing reminder of the city’s early convict history, and the Shipwreck Galleries, part of the Western Australian Museum, where amazingly-preserved remnants of wrecks from the 17^th century are on display.