After my return the question was beginning to goad me, which was certainly a first, and an event that I had not anticipated.
‘What was the highlight?’ / ‘Which was your favourite bit?’
I think in the case of most trips (at least of the 2-3 week variety, not counting the 3-4 month jaunts around entire continents), you tend to have one or two outstanding experiences – the stand-out moments that you know you will always think of first when you recall that particular travel episode. ‘Thailand was great, but nothing had prepared me for riding on an elephant’s head…wow…’ That sort of thing, you know?
But how am I supposed to compare my first ever scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef with the intangible change of light at dawn on Ayers Rock? The thrill of spying a koala in the wild, lazily ruminating over his eucalyptus leaves, with quaffing Tasmania’s freshest oysters and sparkling wine whilst overlooking the Yarra River in Melbourne?
What grabbed me most about my time in Australia can be summed up in one word: diversity. While we always tend to cover a lot of ground on exploration trips in the line of our work, the sheer amount of different landscapes and experiences that came my way was pretty much unprecedented. I come across a fair amount of clients who are quite single-minded: they want to experience one main aspect on their trip, be it wildlife, history or whatever. But far more want a taste of several key attributes, and this is something with which I wholeheartedly agree; when I travel, I want to experience the history, the culture, the wildlife, the cuisine, the scenery etc – in short, everything. To paraphrase one Bruce, ‘what they don’t understand is: I want it all.’
Although Australia may not have it all (as by definition nowhere can), it comes pretty close to the complete package. While it can‘t offer you ancient temples, the indigenous history of the country is nothing short of fascinating. It has an enthralling collection of animals (as a Galapagos fan, I am always thrilled to hear the word ‘endemic’) which, for the main part, are easy to spot – and the number of beautiful birds should excite even the most apathetic avian viewer. In terms of scenery – stunning waterside cities, ethereal deserts, rainforest-covered mountains dropping into the ocean … what more do you want? And the gastronomy. Don’t get me started on the food and drink. They’ve basically taken all the best bits from any number of cuisines, removed all pretentiousness from the whole affair, and just take pride in serving up quality dishes with the freshest ingredients. If you think regional produce is a strong theme now in this country, it pales into insignificance compared to its promotion Down Under. And then there’s the wine. Like most people, I had enjoyed a glass or two of Jacob’s Creek and Hardy’s – I therefore anticipated that this was by and large the sum of what Australian wineries had to offer. I was, I’m happy to say, delighted by what I actually found: delicacy and finesse from small holdings in delightful areas such as the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
You probably already know why you want to go to Australia. Most people do – for the same reasons I vaguely had in mind before the real opportunity presented itself. But here’s why you should go now: koalas, harbour, desert, sun, penguins, beaches, wine, rainforest, indigenous culture, kangaroos, mountains, al fresco dining, big rocks, coral reef, opera house, coastline, sport, wombats… Plus you probably have a friend or relative out there.
You see my point?
To discuss Australian tour packages or any other destination outside of Europe, Bales Worldwide has over 60 years experience in providing Luxury Travel. Call our consultants now on 08452 703 862 or visit our website at www.balesworldwide.com for full itineraries and travel ideas.
About Dave Orrock
Other articles by Dave Orrock
My passion for travel, and in particular Latin America, began in 1998 when I visited Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands for the first time. The Islands were instrumental in fostering a love of the fantastic wildlife to be found on this continent. I have been fortunate enough to have had many great wildlife encounters, including blue-footed boobies in Ecuador, condors in Peru and caiman in Bolivia – although volunteering with capuchin monkeys in a Bolivian animal sanctuary stands out the most!
My second visit to South America triggered another keen interest in the Pre-Colombian civilizations of the continent. Machu Picchu in Peru was just as awe-inspiring on the third visit as the first! Its location in the Cloudforest at the end of the Inca Trail encompasses what for me is the true appeal of the continent – the combination of fascinating history, an array of outdoor adventures and breathtaking natural beauty. More recently I have had the pleasure of visiting some less well-known archaeological sites, including the spectacular Kuelap, hotly tipped to be the ‘new Machu Picchu.’ To my mind, there’s no need to stand one against the other – both are outstanding historical sites.
After several years in the sales department at Bales, where I also worked with Canada and Australia, I have recently moved to the Product Department. I am now revelling in the challenge of applying my knowledge and love of Latin America to developing the holidays we feature here, and ensuring that as many of our clients as possible discover the superb wildlife, history, cuisine and landscapes on offer.
