With its pristine sand beaches, rugged mountain ranges and bountiful ocean, Australia is an ideal destination for travellers who like to keep active and fit. Whether you’re surfing with the bronzed crowds at Bondi Beach, teeing off amidst picturesque vineyards or feeling the wind in your hair as you navigate Australia’s roads on two wheels, there are plenty of opportunities for active holidays.
From north to south, east to west, Australia is brimming with adventure holidays for the active traveller. Get your high-energy holiday off to a flying start with these lively ideas.
Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
There are few experiences that could rival snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef – one of Australia’s most colourful draws. Lady Elliot Island is regarded as one of the best diving and snorkelling locations on the Great Barrier Reef, renowned for an abundance of manta rays, turtles and unspoilt coral reefs. What better way to keep fit than a day chasing after sea life?
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort organises regular trips on a guided glass bottom boat tour from this protected island, a haven for over 1,200 marine species, so you can enjoy the underwater world at its best. The adventure doesn’t end there though. You can also choose a guided reef walk, snorkel with turtles, dive with manta rays, witness the magic nesting seasons of birds and turtles or watch humpback whales blow and breach.
If you still have more energy, there are also 18 sites dotted close to the island with opportunities to scuba dive in shallow reefs, deep water blow holes and a shipwreck. After fully immersing yourself in Australia’s marine life rest those weary bones on the picture-perfect beaches with clear blue waters.
Learn to surf at Australia’s famous beaches
The best way to experience renowned places like Bondi Beach is learning to surf there, according to the surf instructors Lets Go Surfing. ‘Surfing can enhance your strength, balance and fitness, and being in the water may also have a positive impact on your mood,’ they say. ‘When you travel it can be tricky to motivate yourself to exercise, but surfing is so thrilling it is a fun and easy way to get active’
Let’s Go Surfing can instruct you in one of Australia’s favourite sports, whether you’re aching to hang ten at Bondi Beach and Byron Bay or carve up the surf beach of Maroubra. Local instructors mean you can experience the waves just like residents do, ensuring you bring back some unique and authentic memories from your active holiday. If the swell is a bit too extreme, Let’s Go Surfing offers stand-up paddle and beach-walking tours too.
See Sydney differently with a Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) Safari
ECOTREASURES offer a wide range of trips, but for a completely unique way to experience Sydney try their Basin Stand-Up Paddle Safari. Catering to everyone from kids to adults and beginners to pros, this tour is perfect whether you’re a fitness fanatic or just want a little time out in the water. It takes you through the Basin Estuary in Sydney, a ‘pristine, peaceful and protected’ area that’s away from wind, waves and boats.
‘Sheltered from wind, waves and boats, the Basin Estuary creates the perfect environment to have fun paddleboarding with your family and friends,’ say the ECO TREASURES guides.
Once you’re confident on your board, you can set off to explore protected natural areas while searching for local wildlife: think everything from white-bellied sea eagles to stingrays.
‘Paddleboarding is an amazing work out of your core muscles and helps you work on balance,’ explain ECO TREASURES. ‘While seeing Australia’s native animals and birds in the wild will shake any jet lag or tiredness.’
Tee off at a premier golf club
Australia’s golf courses are as beautiful and diverse as the country itself, according to LuxGolf. From teeing up at the vineyards in Western Australia to getting in a full 18 holes with a view of Sydney’s coastline, this is a superb way to experience the nation’s sweeping landscapes.
LuxGolf, Australia’s first all-inclusive luxury golf touring company, has links to the country's most exclusive clubs. It will help you bypass the members-only policies and long waiting times so you can practice your swing in idyllic surroundings. It also provides upscale transport in a Porsche and the use of prestigious Callaway clubs among other benefits.
A morning or afternoon on the course with LuxGolf is the perfect way to stay energised, active and enjoy the beautiful weather outdoors, say the golfing enthusiasts at LuxGolf. A tranquil walk along the fairways is a great way to keep you limber and shake off any residual stiffness after a flight.
Tour Australia on scenic cycle trails
Cycling can be a wonderful way to truly discover a new location. It doesn’t matter if you’re riding five or 200 kilometres, it gives you the chance to soak up the scenery with the open air around you in a way you just can’t in a car. Whether you’re exploring the city or tougher terrain, seeing the sights on two wheels offers a unique active holiday experience.
‘Visitors to a city experience more cycling than you would on a run and gaining a deeper connection than they would on a bus tour,’ says performance road bike rental company Livelo: Your Perfect Ride. ‘Cycling is the perfect way to gain a true sense of place.’
The Sydney-based startup courier bikes and accompanying accessories to your hotel door. On delivery, you’ll be asked for important info, such as your riding stature and style, and the bike will be tailored to you before you set off. Livelo can also provide a Garmin GPS pre-programmed with an array of recommended routes or even a local rider to follow. It’s also super convenient, as you can book it on the app
Hit some hiking trails
Hiking can be a great way to get into the bush – an iconic part of Australia – without having to head too far out of Sydney. You could also be lucky enough to spot local wildlife such as wallabies or lizards while absorbing the local nature and associated history.
Go Beyond Tours will help you navigate the wildly stunning Northern Beaches just past Sydney, from Manly to Palm Beach. The day includes a tour of the many pristine beaches and all the stunning lookouts that dot this trek. From the top of Barrenjoey Headland, your hard work is rewarded with a 360-degree view of four amazing waterways. During migrating season, you may also have the chance to spot some migrating whales.
Amongst the other trekking holidays they offer is The Ku-ring-gai National Park Bush Walking Tour, which starts off with a scenic drive through the park as you trace the shoreline of the Hawkesbury River.
Explore east-coast marine life
Australia boasts a diverse coastline and one of the ways you can experience the marine life up close and personal is to don your mask and flippers. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the popular diving hot spots. Spirit of Freedom cruises leave from Cairns to explore dive sites like the Cod Hole on the Ribbon Reefs and North Horn on Osprey Reef for action-packed 3, 4 or 7-day tours.
This is a wonderful chance to engage with the animals in Australia’s waters. You could spot enormous potato cod, swim with the rare dwarf minke whales or dive with sharks. You’ll also be able to witness the gorgeous coral reefs and undersea volcanoes.
Diving can be as energetic or as relaxing as you choose. Increase your workout by swimming under the sea or just gaze in awe at your watery surroundings while floating in harmony with the creatures.
Scuba off the coast of Western Australia
If you’re on the west coast you can sign up to Perth Scuba’s dive holidays to witness some of Australia’s best diving areas. You can even become a qualified dive master with this company, finishing off your course with a final day on board the Blue Destiny catamaran at one of Perth's best dive sites, Rottnest Island.
This location is popular for its soft corals, underwater caves and marine life: adventure holidays with Perth Scuba may even include spotting humpback whales and dolphins, snorkelling with seals or diving with grey nurse sharks.
‘Learning to dive or snorkel is a great way to fully experience some of the world-class attractions Australia has to offer,’ says Perth Scuba. ‘Travellers visit from far abroad to snorkel with the magnificent whale sharks off Ningaloo Reef or playful seals around Australia. Whether it be the cute clown fish (Nemo), leafy sea-dragons, nudibranchs, whales, sharks, turtles or warship wrecks, Australia has it all!’ With so much to distract you, you may not even realise how active you’ve been.
The last thing you want to be thinking about on your active holiday is how to pay for any medical emergency that may arise. Bupa Overseas Visitor Cover can help offer you greater peace of mind on your trip. Whether you want to take in your scenic surroundings on two wheels, have an energetic day hitting the waves or see sea life you won't spot elsewhere, Australia offers plenty of opportunities for active holidays. Which one will you choose?