The bucket-list country that’s now even easier to reach

Words: Tracey Davies

From the monolithic Uluru and the sweeping arc of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the giant whale sharks of Western Australia and the pristine wilderness of Tasmania, Australia is a place that always feels larger than life.

And its appeal is strikingly obvious. There’s the tropical north, where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, and the sparky, cosmopolitan cities of Melbourne and Sydney, offering world-class dining, arts and culture. Beyond these lie the vast rugged outback and its ethereal landscapes – a backdrop to the world’s oldest living cultures and wonderful wildlife. Few destinations offer such a rich spectrum of experiences on a single trip.

The city buzz

With British Airways launching direct flights to Melbourne from January 2027, running alongside its popular Sydney service, there’s never been a better time to come and say G’day to our friends Down Under. As Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne is a great place to start an Aussie adventure. Known for its coffee culture, hip laneway bars, First Nation art galleries and world-class dining, the city lives up to its reputation as Australia’s cultural capital. For sports fans, it’s hard to beat, too, being the home of Aussie rules football, international cricket and the tennis' Australian Open.

Of course, Australia’s dramatic landscapes are never far away. In a couple of hours, you could be driving along the Great Ocean Road, one of the world’s most scenic coastal routes, where the Twelve Apostles rises dramatically from the sea. Melbourne is also the gateway to the Yarra Valley, one of Australia’s best-known wine regions, where award-winning wineries open their cellar doors for tastings, and farm-to-table restaurants and artisan food producers champion local ingredients.

Fly into Sydney and you'll get a kookaburra’s-eye view of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as you come in to land. A pioneer of the Aussie outdoor lifestyle, Sydney lives up to its hype as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Bob between the waterfront and The Rocks, Sydney’s historic birthplace, roam around the lively bars and cafés of Darlinghurst or hit the hip beach suburbs of Bondi and Manly. After a few days in the city, head 90 minutes west to the Blue Mountains, where you’ll find eucalyptus forests, waterfalls and sandstone escarpments, along with kangaroos, wallabies and glow worms. 

Into the wild

Australia’s wildlife is unique, to say the least, and easy to experience across the country. In Victoria, just a stone’s throw from Melbourne, you can spot little penguins on Phillip Island or view koalas, kangaroos and kookaburras in the wild along the Great Otway National Park. Heading into South Australia, Kangaroo Island offers a haven for roaming ’roos, sea lions and echidnas. Further inland, wild emus traverse the vast outback, while up in Queensland the Great Barrier Reef holds a breathtaking kaleidoscope of marine life.

The Red Centre is another huge draw, not least for the chance to witness Uluru in all its magnificent glory. A little over three hours by plane from Sydney and Melbourne, Alice Springs is the jumping off point for Outback adventures, Kings Canyon and Uluru. Soaring 350m above the desert, the world’s largest single-rock monolith is Australia’s most sacred site, particularly among the Aṉangu people. Sunrise and sunset are the most spectacular times to visit, when the rock’s hue shifts from muted ochres to deep, burnished reds.

But Australia’s appeal runs far deeper than its astonishing scenery. Home to the world’s oldest living cultures, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions stretch back tens of thousands of years, from rock art to storytelling and deep connection with the land. Just as memorable is the warmth of the Australian people, who are open, friendly and delightfully informal – there’s good reason why everyone is called mate.

Spectacular, welcoming and wonderfully varied, Australia should be on every bucket list, particularly now it’s even easier to reach with British Airways’ new direct flights to Melbourne. In fact, it’s the perfect time dive in and discover it all for yourself.

Ready to say G’day? Book your ultimate Australian adventure to Melbourne or Sydney with British Airways