The Best Australian Experiences 2016

And the winners of the Best Experiences in Australian Traveller’s 2016 People’s Choice Awards are…

1. Best walk: Bondi to Bronte, NSW

Why you love it… From one of Australia’s most iconic beaches to another, this cliff-clinging walk is an absolute show-stopper, starting or finishing at our cover star, the famous Bondi Icebergs Club. Despite having to dodge the occasional glistening, bronzed local in activewear, this walk never disappoints, especially when Sculptures By The Sea is happening.

Our hot tip… Keep a look-out for ancient aboriginal stone carvings of a shark and a whale on the rocks south of Mackenzies Point. During the humpback migration season between April and December gaze out to sea for a glimpse of frolicking whales.

If you love this, your next walk should be… Next time you feel like stretching your legs in Sydney, hop north of the bridge for the Spit Bridge to Manly walk, which takes in bushland, harbourside trails and stunning beaches.

You also rate… Bibbulmun Track, WA / Cradle Mountain, Tas / Noosa National Park, Qld / the Overland Track, Tas

2. Best food and wine region: Margaret River, WA

Why you love it… Apart from playing host to one of the country’s best food festivals, the always incredible Margaret River Gourmet Escape, this region is brimming with cellar doors, producers and some of the most stunning beaches on the south-west coast.

Our hot tip… While you’re there, scuttle on down to Dunsborough (read more about this fun coastal town here), another gorgeous oceanside town just half-an-hour away, and pop into the celebrated Jake’s Break, WA chef Jake Drachenberg’s casual lunch spot.

If you love this, your next food and wine adventure should be… Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. If the combination of grape vines and the scent of the ocean is what your mini-break dreams are made of, check out this stunning wine region just a short drive from Melbourne.

You also rate… Hunter Valley, NSW / Barossa Valley, SA / Yarra Valley, Vic / McLaren Vale, SA

3. Best outback adventure: Uluru, NT

Why you love it… Australians dream about seeing Uluru in all its ochre-red brilliance at least once in their lives. It’s no secret that the 348-metre-high monolith holds a deep spiritual significance to its traditional owners, the Anangu people, but it has the power to move anyone privileged enough to visit.

Our hot tip… You should see Uluru from as many vantage points as you can: bicycle, scenic flight, camel, or even on a sky dive. Check out ayersrockresort.com.au/experiences

If you love this, your next outback adventure should be… The Devil’s Marbles, NT. Also known as Karlu Karlu, these huge granite boulders, scattered across a wide valley with some balancing on each other, are one of the most intriguing sights in the country.

You also rate… The Kimberley, WA / Kakadu, NT / Flinders Ranges, SA / Birdsville, Qld

4. Best historical site: Port Arthur, Tas

Why you love it… The World Heritage-listed, 19th-century penal station, once home to the most notorious British criminals, is perhaps Australia’s most gripping historic site. It is places like this that bear tales of a time gone by and contribute to our national identity.

Our hot tip… Port Arthur’s convict-era attractions can be quite a chilling experience. If that’s what you’re into and you are of the dauntless and fearless kind, then an after-dark pass comes highly recommended. This spooky version of a golden ticket includes a two-course dinner and Port Arthur’s infamously terrifying, notoriously unsettling Ghost Tour (read about our spooky tour here).

If you love this, your next historical site should be… Bendigo, Victoria. The small rural town, impressing with its heritage streets, dates back to the 1850s, and much like Port Arthur, is a town frozen in time.

You also rate… Uluru, NT / The Rocks, Sydney, NSW / Ballarat, Vic / Fremantle, WA

5. Best cruise line that operates out of an Australian port: P&O

But you also love… Princess Cruises / Silversea / Carnival / Royal Caribbean

6. Most scenic road trip: The Great Ocean Road

Why you love it… What’s not to love about this curvaceous ribbon of road with jaw-dropping views? You consistently vote this drive as Australia’s best, and when you consider its accessibility, beauty and endless things to stop for on the way, such as incredible cellar doors, restaurants and lookouts, we can’t fault your choice!

Our hot tip… Take your time doing this roadtrip and be sure to include a few gourmet stops along the way, but we suggest a night or two at the stunning Drift House in Port Fairy for a little luxury before hitting the road again.

If you love this, your next drive should be… The Southern Ocean Drive in South Australia. Including Kangaroo Island and the gorgeous towns of Robe and Goolwa, this drive offers equal beauty and plenty of incredible food producers along the way.

You also rate… Cairns to Port Douglas, Qld / Tasmania (just anywhere on the island, it seems) / South Coast, NSW / Gibb River Road, WA

7. Must-visit city restaurant: Chin Chin, Melbourne, Vic

Why you love it… As one reader put it: “Chin Chin has instant city buzz and great food. You really know you are in the CBD." With its upbeat but laid-back atmosphere and hit-list of authentic Asian favourites, this Melbourne institution isn’t going anywhere.

Our hot tip… Put your name down for a table and promptly head downstairs to GoGo Bar for a pre-dinner primer.

If you love this, you should try… Lucy Liu, also in the CBD on Oliver Lane. If you can’t get into Chin Chin, you’ll be relieved to know you can book at this vibing Asian eatery.

You also rate… Vue de Monde, Melbourne, Vic / Quay, Sydney, NSW / Rockpool Bar & grill, Melbourne, Vic / Tetsuya’s, Sydney, NSW

8. Best annual festival: Vivid Sydney

Why you love it… This is when Sydney truly shines. From the colourful projections on the Opera House to the artistic displays of abstraction and creativity, the Vivid Sydney festival of light, music and ideas is abuzz with plenty to see and do.

Our hot tip… Get yourself to the ideas fraction of the festival, where you will listen to people in the know who inspire, endeavour and make change in their respective industries. You will leave with a wealth of knowledge from the worlds of art, tech and science, and be moved by the stories of people who daren’t quit.

If you love this, your next festival should be… White Night Melbourne, Victoria. Inspired by the international Nuit Blanche movement, White Night is a one-night only (7pm – 7am) cultural event where artistic expression is celebrated and design is appreciated. The festival also hosts a mesmerising light show over the cityscape, and what’s more… there’s no entry fee.

You also rate… Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW / Adelaide Fringe Festival, SA / Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay, NSW / Tamworth Country Music Festival, NSW

9. Best guided tour? BridgeClimb Sydney, NSW

Why you love it… This is a bucket-list item for Sydneysiders and visitors alike: climbing the world-famous Coathanger and enjoying incredible views of the pretty harbour and beyond from 134 metres up, while the city traffic zooms below.

Our hot tip… If you’ve already done the day climb or are more nocturnal, try the night climb to see the city lights sparkle under the moon.

If you love this, your next guided tour should be… Story Bridge Climb, Brisbane, Queensland. Brisbane’s Story Bridge is one of only three bridge climbs in the world (the third is the Auckland Harbour Bridge).

You also rate… Port Arthur, Tas / Uluru, NSW / Fremantle Gaol, WA / Kakadu, NT

With so many worthy finalists nominated by our very own AT readers, don’t miss out on finding out where all these amazing places are!

•Best Accommodation Finalists

•Best Getaways Finalists

Big skies and otherworldly landscapes are the hallmarks of Australia. Discovering them in-depth becomes easier with the experts.

Australia’s extraordinary landscapes make this vast continent like no other place on Earth, offering an unforgettable feast for the senses as you traverse deserts, cruise on vast inland lakes and dine under star-studded skies. What makes this land special is the people you’ll meet along the way, and the chance to forge a deep connection with the country and its people. The new AAT Kings small-group tours focus on the incredible experiences available in remote places that might otherwise seem daunting.

With an average of 16 guests and a maximum of 24, the tours offer intimate access to the best Australia has to offer, with special behind-the-scenes encounters led by knowledgeable experts.

1. Tasmania and Flinders Island Explorer

aerial shot of flinders island tasmania — Fly over beautiful Flinders Island as part of a tour of Tasmania. (Image: Luke Tscharke)

Escape the tourist trail in north-eastern Tasmania while still seeing everything the island state has to offer. From coastal villages to bucolic rural scenery, the six-day Tasmania and Flinders Island Explorer tour offers world-class food and wine, with the bonus of a flight to Flinders Island.

From Launceston, the tour winds through the verdant Tamar Valley and includes a stop at Fork It Farm , where guests are given insight into sustainable farming while snacking on a house-made charcuterie platter paired with Tasmanian wines.

Fly by private plane to secluded Flinders Island, uncovering pristine beaches and savouring local seafood and wine. Explore the main settlement and learn about the history of Settlement Point and Wybalenna before soaking up views of the island and Bass Strait and exploring part of Strzelecki National Park . From there, it’s another scenic flight to Bicheno, flying down the east coast of Tasmania and across the stunning Bay of Fires and Wineglass Bay (a taste of what’s to come by land).

Other highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Brickendon Estate , still run by the same family since its founding in 1824, where the property’s convict history will be revealed.

In Devonport, a heritage train ride will track alongside the Don River to Coles Beach before returning to learn more about Tasmania’s railway history and vintage locomotives at Don River Railway .

2. South Australian Outback Adventure

aerial of Anna Creek Painted Hills — Fly over the Anna Creek Painted Hills. (Image: Emile Ristevski)

From Adelaide, the highlights of the eight-day South Australian Outback Adventure tour open up the rugged grandeur of the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound and Arkaroola. Home to the Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years, the natural beauty and wide open spaces of this remote region unfold as you explore from both land and air.

Looking to the skies for a new way to experience South Australia’s outback, a scenic flight over the striking outcrops of the colourful Anna Creek Painted Hills and the shimmering saltpan of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is an eye-opener like no other.

Wilpena Pound Resort, owned and managed by the Indigenous community, is a haven in the midst of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park . It’s worth the hike to enjoy sweeping views over the natural amphitheatre before your journey continues through dramatic gorges, where you may spot endangered yellow-footed rock-wallabies.

At the award-winning Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, dive deep into the region’s billion-year-old geological history with an expert guide as you tackle the steep ascent of the Ridgetop Track in an open-air 4WD. When the sun goes down, look up at the dazzling wonders of the Milky Way in this International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

3. Broome and the Kimberley Highlights

small plane flying over the Bungle Bungle Ranges — See the iconic Bungle Bungle Ranges from the air. (Image: Tourism WA)

From Broome’s sparkling beaches to the red dirt of Kununurra, the Kimberley region is one of Australia’s most extraordinary and unforgettable places. It’s a region of contrasts, beginning with multicultural Broome and the history of pearl divers.

Kick off your Broome and the Kimberley Highlights experience with a tour of Broome led by a local Aboriginal guide. You’ll learn about 40,000 years of culture as you explore historic landmarks, discover bush foods and medicinal plants and enjoy a private didgeridoo performance.

Learn about Broome’s rich pearling history at Willie Creek Pearl Farm , on the banks of a turquoise tidal estuary that provides the perfect environment for growing the South Sea pearls for which Broome is world-renowned. Then cruise the calm waters to see the oyster farm before a masterclass that reveals the secrets of the pearl industry.

As you continue your discovery of the Kimberley, fly over the dramatic striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range, the Argyle Diamond Mine and gorgeous Lake Argyle, Western Australia’s largest freshwater body of water. Take a sunset cruise on the lake, which is dotted with more than 70 islands and is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The water teems with freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bream and cod.

Complete your seven-day exploration of the Kimberley in Kununurra with a local Aboriginal guide to hear Dreamtime stories and wander through the ‘mini bungles’ of Mirima National Park.

4. Outback Contrasts

aat kings small group tours at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience — Expand your knowledge at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. (Image: Tourism NT/ ArchieSartracom)

From Alice Springs, the six-day Outback Contrasts adventure includes the wonders of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, offering premium accommodation and exceptional experiences. Ancient rock art, creation stories and the spiritual essence of the land will be revealed as you discover some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks.

A highlight of your stay in Alice Springs will be meeting chef Rayleen Brown, who shares her knowledge of Aboriginal native foods with a tasting of the many flavours of Central Australia’s wild harvest bush tucker. More culinary indulgence will follow at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon in the heart of Watarrka National Park, where you’ll enjoy a degustation menu and paired fine wines under the desert moon.

After a sunrise walk on the rim of Kings Canyon, head off to the Wanmarra community to learn about the Luritja and Pertame people’s spiritual connection to the land at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. Crossing desert scenes, you’ll arrive at Uluru and end the day watching the setting sun’s changing palette on the ancient landscape.

More awe-inspiring landscapes will be revealed as you wander between Kata Tjuta’s tallest domes in Walpa Gorge and explore the rugged beauty of Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Start planning your small group adventure with AAT Kings.

Best Experiences winners – 2016 People’s Choice Awards