Our group gelled well and, on the occasions where there was no meal arranged by Intrepid, we easily found good food and had a great evening. In contrast, Intrepid organised meals were perfunctory and not enjoyable.

Boasting many stunning white sand beaches, Australia has a coastline like none other. From busy Bondi to surfing icons like Bell’s Beach and Tasmania’s stunning Wineglass Bay, there are endless places to swim, surf, snorkel and paddle. Stop by some of Australia's best beaches from Sydney all the way to Cairns on an East Coast Encompassed tour - 18 days Winter (June to August) is pleasant and dry in the north but can get quite cold in the south, especially in Tasmania and Victoria, where snowfall is common. C) 10% off the following trip codes: AMSAC, AMSOC, AMSSC, BMSCC, CJSTC, ERPMC, ERRTC, ERSTC, ERSZC, ERYOC, GGPIC, GGYA, GGYAC, GGYBC, GGYDC, GGYP, GGYV, HHPHC, HHPWC, HHYKC, HNPEC, HPPGC, KFSAC, PHPZC, PHSQC, PUKTC, PVBCC, PVOSC, PVSCD, QBPCC, QBPMC, QBYMC, QBYXC, QBYYC, QBYZC, QVBAC, SESMC, SSEAC, TISBC, TISJC, TISSC, TKPJC, TKYMC, TMSPC, TMSXC, TTPEC, TTPVC, TTYAC, TTYDC, TTYSC, TVPHC, TVYSC, UBOBC, UBODC, UBOQC, WMSEC, XMPFC, XMPHC, XMPSC, XMSQC, XMYCC, XMYDC, YGPEC, YGPKC, YGPRC, YGYZC, ZMPAC, ZMPCC, ZMPEC, ZMPJC, ZMPLC, ZMPPD, ZMPSC, ZMPSD, ZMPUC, ZMPVC, ZMPXC, ZMSAC, ZMSBC, ZMSPC, ZMSQC, ZMZLC, ZVPCC, WMSC, BWPS, GGPU, GGXG, HHSI, PZFK, PZFR, PZKK, PZKT, PZKU, PZPT, PZSB, PZST, XMKN, XMYD, ZMKE, TSSZC, ZSRAC, ZGXA, TMKB, ZMXI, SFXR, CJYO, CJSK, ZGXT, AMYC, ZMPP, BMRI, CJSH, PUST, BMSI, HHPR, SESP, ZMSL, TISA, TMFG, CJRB, CJPJ, CJSA, HHSL, KFPU, ZMSS, PVOB, HHPG, TVPS, ZMYA, TIXB, ERSK, ZMFI, XMYM, ZSRP, ZSRR, CJXH, ZMSZ, PHSW, ZMXH, BIPI, TMPB, QUKP, ZSRV, ZLSI, TIST, ZMXS, ZMSE, ZMPL, ERYC, ZFXB, ERRS, XMPM, PHSQ, TESS, PZSI, QBPM, CJZK, PHPS, TVPV, CJFP, ERYT, TSSX, CJXK, WBSE, YGPU, XMFK, HPXM, AMSS, HNPN, BMSN, TKFB, TKPC, POKR, BIYI, PVON, TIFA, BIKH, TVFB, TTPT, BIPK, XMXOW, HHPS, PUKT, SSKK, GGSR, ZMSX, XMPE, BWSL, HPPC, PHPN, QBPC, SSKU, TISW, ZVPG, BMSH, UWFB, ZMPS, GGPA, PUKH, SSYG, PZXR, XMRW, TVYE, CBSOS, ENPI, HNXV, TVYB, SSED, XMPF, SIXY, XMXO, QBPN, KMPC, ZLSA, SESN, SIXS, ZMKS, XMYB, QBYJ, WMKK, TTYC, CJZF, PTXM, TESF, ZVPI, POKK, GGPC, QBYA, HPPS, QBYM, YGPK, SSYA, TIYB, POPR, YCSO, HNPB, TKYR, GGYS, TTYB, YGYE, GGYT, UBYB, HNYE, TKYA, HHYK, TTYN, HNYU, PZSQ, HQSW, YBYV, GGYPA, HHYJ, STKN, HHYV, TLYS, HJXB, HPYL, SASA, TESL, GGYD, ENYI, GGYB, QUYF, TESD, HNSW, AMPF, AMPN, BIYS, BMPN, BMSP, CJFK, CJFS, CJPH, CJPK, CJYK, PZSC, WMPM, XMXH, ZMFA, ZMRE, ZMRG, ZMXN, ZMYG, ZMYR, ZMZC, ZMZJ, ZSRK, ZSRS, ZSRZ, PHKN, PHKO, PHKS, SKXX, SKXH, SKTF, SKTV, SKXP, SKXW, SKXA, SKXT, SKXM, SKXV, SKXD, SKXR, SKXJ, SKXQ, SKXU, SKXI, SKXZ, SKXB, SKXS, SKXCW, SKXY, SKTA, SKXK, SKTB, SKTM, SKTR, SKCP, SKTC, SKTSZ, SKTY, SKXL, SKXO, GPXO, SKXWG, SKXWM, SKXWR, SKXWS, SKXWY, SKXE, PZSLC; Covering over one million hectares, the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains is rich in verdant rainforest, dramatic waterfalls, looming forests and an abundance of wildlife. Greet the iconic Three Sisters and wander the boardwalks to soak up this breathtaking area of Australian bush. Cycle and sample your way through one of Australia's oldest wine regions on our Cycle South Australia's Wine Regions tour - 6 days 10. Blue MountainsAn Australian classic – savoury meat pies (or vegetable pies for vegetarians) are best eaten with tomato sauce and are easily found served in city cafes, country bakeries and football matches around Australia. Be inspired by the beauty of the world’s largest coral reef – The Great Barrier Reef. Go snorkelling in the warm waters with exotic sea creatures and colourful coral. On the final evening we had an Intrepid organised ‘celebratory’ meal in an empty restaurant with no atmosphere, no wine available and no choice of food. It was a 45 minute drive across Tashkent, when there were many decent restaurants local to the hotel. Perhaps the tour guide lived nearby. The evening was dismal.

Our lodge accommodation is located outside major cities, such as near the entrance to a National Park, and has its own amenities such as a restaurant or dining room. Lodges are comfortable places to stay and offer a good night's rest after a day spent exploring the natural beauty of Australia. The main school holiday period is from Christmas to late January and is considered the peak travel time within Australia; expect popular tourist spots to be crowded during this time. Combine the best of history, wildlife, culture and beauty while venturing through a Top End & Kakadu Explorer Tour - 6 days 5. Sydney Opera House Fraser Island (K'gari) isn’t just the largest sand island in Queensland, it’s the largest one in the world. Explore the rugged headlands, silica sand beaches, lush rainforests hugging the shore and freshwater lakes that lay hidden throughout this World Heritage-listed island.

Australia tour reviews

Feeling hungry? Tasting Australia is a food festival that takes place once a year throughout South Australia and showcases the culture, producers and regions that make this state such a delicious destination to explore. Vivid Sydney Turn your Brisbane, Perth or Sydney adventure up a notch by experiencing a State of Origin game. Cairns Ecofiesta

Our tour guide appeared to be new but actually had 13 years experience. To quote Intrepid, their Premium trips are ‘led by our most experienced and highest-rated local leaders’. Her style did not suit experienced travellers. She did not give us the desert walk to look for plants and animals which is listed in the detailed itinerary. Uzbekistan is worth going to. You will find: good honest people, many interesting monuments, great countryside and decent weather (October). It’s cheap and has good local wines and beer, and some good food. Hotel staff were always friendly and helpful. On the downside Tashkent airport is pretty chaotic.On one occasion she suggested to one of the vegetarians that she could remove the meat from her food! Walk among the diverse ecosystems of the Daintree Rainforests while on our Queensland Daintree Explorer - 5 days 8. Wineglass Bay