Are you considering a holiday to Australia with friends? Take a look at some of our frequently asked questions to help you make the most of your time Down Under.
Our carefully selected down-to-earth hosts will make you feel at home with their welcoming Aussie hospitality. Get to know them over dinner. Or join them for a tour of the farm or vineyard.
Australia is best experienced when you stay with the locals. A cottage on a rural vineyard. A charming bed and breakfast. A beachfront house. A modern holiday house perched on a hill. A lakeside lodge. Glamping in the midst of nature.
At some accommodations, breakfast and dinner may be included. We can also recommend our favourite local restaurants in the area. And if you prefer to cook, we will ensure that you have a self-catered kitchen. An Aussie barbeque is also common at many of our accommodations.
We can ensure that your accommodation has enough bedrooms and bathrooms to suit your travel party.
Yes, Australia is a safe country to drive. The locals are easy-going and are generally not in a hurry on the roads, outside of the bigger cities. In the city, you do not need a car and the public transport system is of high quality. The roads in Australia are easy to and well maintained. When visiting national parks, it’s best to only drive during day time because of the possibility of wildlife crossing the road.
To get the most out of your holiday in Australia, we recommend travelling by car. You can go wherever you want and also reach the less touristic places. And you can stay at small-scale accommodation, away from mass tourism and meet the locals. It’s possible to build an itinerary without the need of a car. You could go on day or multi-day tours in different parts of Australia and travel by plane, train or transfer from your accommodation.
To reach approximately 99% of our accommodation on the East Coast of Australia, you won’t need a 4WD. On the other hand, in some Western and Northern parts, a 4WD is needed. There are plenty of roads located in national parks, that can only be visited with a 4WD.
We believe that you should drive less and see more. Therefore, we try to keep the driving distance between your accommodations 2-4 hours. And you will be staying 2-4 nights at each accommodation. This way, you can enjoy the best of what Australia has to offer. And waste less time during your holiday on the road, driving.
In general, we recommend a large SUV for any party of four. However, if there are two couples travelling together you might want to go for two smaller SUVs. Sharing one vehicle will be cheaper but having two vehicles gives you more flexibility.
Yes, in our standard rate two drivers per car are included. More drivers can be arranged when picking up the car, with an additional charge.
The flight time to Australia is dependent on which airline you fly with. However, the average flight time to Australia is on average between 18-24 hours. And of course, it is possible to stay at a stopover location for longer too.
This depends on you. We can make the journey as quick as possible with a short stopover in Asia or the USA. Or add a couple of day’s stopovers in metropoles like Singapore, Hong Kong or San Francisco. We can select the best flight times for you with only one stop.
Generally, we choose to travel with Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Air New Zealand. However, we have contracts with all the major airline companies. We will ensure you fly with a suitable airline to enhance your journey.
Yes, you can. We also can arrange an Australian holiday without flights.
Our two favourite and most popular stopover destinations are Hong Kong and Singapore. This is because of the convenient location of both cities. You’re already half-way to your destination and both cities offer plenty of opportunities for exploring, sightseeing, shopping and relaxing. If you have more time, you can consider stopping over in Bali, the Cook Islands or Fiji. Each a tropical haven with friendly locals, exotic cuisine and stunning beaches.
The cheapest way of flying to Australia is Economy Class. We can arrange a comfortable seat at the aisle or window for you. If you prefer more leg space we can also book emergency exit seats for you. Premium Economy is a good step up from Economy with more leg space, better food and service. First and Business Class is the most comfortable way to fly. You can enjoy fine dining, more privacy, excellent service and your seat converts into a fully lie-flat bed.
We will select the best suitable flight schedule. During your stopover, we will organise a hotel stay or a day room at the airport, so you can shower, rest and relax. We will ensure that you arrive relaxed in Australia. This will all help you get used to the time difference.
Yes, we can choose your seats well in advance. It is recommended to book early for the best choice.
It very much depends on your interests and fitness level. From authentic cultural experiences, wildlife encounters, meetings with the locals, kayaking, wine tours, cycling and sailing trips, sightseeing flights and more. Our focus is on nature conservation and small-scale locally owned companies. We can also arrange private tours if you wish. Check here for more suggestions.
Yes, we have a 24/7 emergency number you can call in case of an emergency. Our local hosts are also there to assist you if you need. We work directly with all of our hosts in Australia, so if anything were to happen, we can act fast if necessary.
Yes, overall it’s a safe destination to visit. Australia has a low crime rate and generally, Australians live a safe lifestyle. And Aussies are renowned for being friendly. Of course, we still recommend using your common sense as you would if you were at home.
Would you like more information about your journey DownUnder? Lisette, a semi-local Australian is happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Get in touchYes, we recommend Fiji and the Cook Islands as a tropical ending of your journey Down Under. The best time to visit these beautiful and remote islands in the South Pacific is between April to October.
This depends on which regions you visit in Australia and which month you travel. We know what animals you can find where and in which period of the year. So if you really want to see kangaroos, koala’s, wombat, cassowaries, emus, platypus, whales, dolphins, turtles or whale sharks, please let us know and we will try to fit it into your schedule.
You need at least three weeks in Australia to make your journey worthwhile. To visit everything you probably need a year (or 2). Most people travelling to Australia have 3-6 weeks. This allows you to get a good experience of the variety and diversity Australia has to offer.
We recommend a relaxed travel pace, instead of rushing past all the highlights and returning home exhausted. Spend 2-4 nights at each location and discover each place through the eyes of the locals.
Yes! It’s the best time to visit the Red Centre, the national parks of the Top End and the Tropical North, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. The weather will be on average 25-30 degrees. Even on a good winter’s day in Sydney, it could be well above 20 degrees!
Christmas time is Australia’s peak season, Australians are enjoying their 6-week summer school holidays during this time. Seeing Santa in summer is a strange sight! It will be summer in Australia’s south and south-east coast and wet season in the North. In the south, it will be busy and more expensive than other months. It’s strongly recommended to book 9-12 months in advance if you would like to travel during this period.
If you book your holiday in advance, we can organise the best route, accommodations and activities for the best price. We will do all the work for you to create your dream holiday. If you travel on the go, you will stay at the last choice/leftover accommodations and often there is no availability. You may also not be able to join an activity because it is full. Booking last-minute domestic flights are also generally more expensive than pre-booked flights. If you want to make the most out of your holiday, please contact us.
Because we work with small scale suppliers, they generally tend to book up very quickly. Therefore we advise booking 9 - 12 months in advance. Of course, we can still tailor a holiday 3 months before departure. But be aware that the options may be limited and ticket prices might be higher than expected.
Our travel specialists have worked and travelled extensively in Australia. Every year we travel to Australia to find new accommodations and experience new tours. By doing this, we are able to fit the most suitable accommodations and activities to each traveller. Because everyone is different and so is every trip that we plan. We will tailor your trip based on our experience and your wishes. We work, you enjoy.
You can find our destination day page here.
Please be aware that some remote accommodations, Downunder have limited WiFi access or none at all. In some places, you may also need to pay for WiFi and internet access. This, of course, varies from accommodation to accommodation.
You will need to purchase a travel adaptor to plug in your electrical goods in Australia. Because they use a different plug to the UK. The adapter required for Australia is Type 1 Australia plug. They have two flat metal pins, and sometimes a third pin to form a ‘V’ shape. The electrical current in Australia is 220-240 volts, AC 50Hz.
We can design your holiday the way you want. Whether you would like to join a small group for an activity or explore places by yourself with help from our local tips. It's your holiday. Together, we will decide how much free time you want and how many days you would like to spend with a group. We don’t offer a complete group holiday.
We specialise in individual tailor-made journeys. We don’t offer a complete group holiday. However, we can include several (multi) day group tours in your itinerary.
This depends on your choice of level of comfort, flights and time of travel. Please take a look at some of our suggested journeys to get an idea of the possibilities.
At TravelEssence, we specialise in crafting custom-made holidays that take you off the beaten path and create memories to last a lifetime. We believe in connecting with the heart and soul of a place, introducing you to the locals who call it home. Engage in conversations with fascinating individuals who will share their stories, traditions, and way of life, leaving an indelible mark on your journey.
Questions? Speak to one of our specialists by phone Mon - Sat 0900 until 2100. You can discuss your travel plans in detail where and when it suits you, also in the evenings and on weekends on a no obligation basis.
020 36 95 95 69
