Meg Australia specialist

AUSTRALIA expert

Why do you love Australia so much?

Australia is huge so it really has something for everyone. It offers every landscape you can think of, from vast deserts, wetlands and gorges, to sparkling coastlines, paradise islands and bustling cities. As someone who likes a bit of everything when they travel, I love Australia for its wonderful wildlife, for the incredible food and wine, for the off road adventures, for its Aboriginal people and for the guaranteed sunshine!

When did you first visit Australia and what was your first impression?

I first visited Australia when I was eight years old and living in Hong Kong. We have friends and family who live in Sydney so my visits always focused on the East Coast, but last year, on a research trip to Australia, I was able to explore a bit of the country in depth. Having always found Australia a warm and welcoming place, my visit last year was the first opportunity I had to explore a bit more off the beaten track, and I was simply blow away by the landscapes, wildlife and Indigenous heritage of these incredible territories.

What is your all-time favourite place in the country?

That is an impossible question! If I have to pick one, I would say that I love Tropical North Queensland because here you can really get a great balance of outback, rainforest, and reef, as well as having a rich Aboriginal history. That being said, I love different parts of Australia for different reasons and at different times of the year! South Australia is great for wine and wildlife and exploring over our winter, while Western Australia and the Northern Territory are full of wild and untouched landscapes that are great to explore during our summer (Australia’s winter) to avoid the heat.

What’s been your most memorable experience in Australia?

Any Indigenous-led experience has taken the destination to a new level of immersion and understanding for me. In the Daintree Rainforest, a guided tour with Juan Walker, a local Kuku Yulanji man and his family, bring this ancient forest and the wetlands where the rainforest meets the reef to life in a way that adds a deeper understanding and appreciation for this unique environment. There are so many Indigenous-led and operated experiences across Australia, and I think an itinerary is incomplete without one of these experiences.

What would be your top recommendation for someone visiting Australia for the first time?

Don’t try to do everything at once. Australia is a huge country with differing climates at different time of the year. The best thing to do is think about what your priorities are (wildlife, scenery, adventure, cities etc.) and let me help you hone in on the places that will work best for you. You can always come back again and again!

What’s your insider tip?

If you want to see the Great Barrier Reef, the further north you go, the healthier the reef quality is. Tropical North Queensland (Cairns/Port Douglas) is the best place to experience it.

What’s been your best foodie experience in Australia?

A fresh platter from the fish market during a harbour sailing cruise in Sydney. It’s the freshest fish and seafood I have ever eaten in a truly unbeatable setting.

Is there somewhere you haven’t had a chance to visit yet that you’d love to go?

I would love to drive the Gibb River Road across the Kimberlys! It’s an itinerary I love putting together and I am jealous of every client I have sent there.

What’s one place in Australia that you could go back to again and again?

I wouldn’t – Australia is so big you may as well explore somewhere different each time you go back.

Is Australia somewhere to go to as a couple or with family?

Australia is perfect for every kind of traveller. I have sent solo travellers, honeymooners, couples and families all to Australia on various trips – like I said at the start, it has something for everyone!