IAN STALKER
Australian tourism firm Journey Beyond‘s guests can get up close and personal with some aquatic creatures they’ll be temporarily sharing a watery sub-surface ocean world with.
Justine Lally, Journey Beyond’s executive general manager – marketing & product, notes among the experiences available from the company is The Reef Suite, which provides an overnight stay on the Great Barrier Reef with Cruise Whitsundays, with that accommodation actually below the ocean’s surface.
The suite “is an incredibly rare experience – not just in Australia, but anywhere in the world. There are only a handful of underwater accommodation experiences globally, and this is the only one of its kind on the Great Barrier Reef,” Lally reports. “It gives guests the opportunity to stay overnight surrounded by the reef itself, watching the marine life move through the coral gardens from the comfort of their room. As the reef changes from day to night, it becomes a completely different environment, with different species becoming active after dark. It’s a truly immersive way to experience one of the world’s great natural wonders and offers a perspective of the reef that very few visitors ever get to see.”
Journey Beyond prides itself on showcasing a large and diverse section of a large country, offering experiences Lally says are distinctly Australian.
“Across our experiences, guests can encounter an extraordinary range of Australian landscapes and wildlife,” she continues. “What you’re most likely to see depends on the location and journey. Travelling through the Outback on our trains, it’s common to spot kangaroos, wild brumbies and even camels along the way. On Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, swimming with whale sharks is one of the signature wildlife encounters offered through our Ningaloo experiences. On the Great Barrier Reef with Cruise Whitsundays, guests are surrounded by incredible marine life, from coral reefs to tropical fish and turtles. And in Arnhem Land with Outback Spirit, the birdlife is exceptional — it’s widely regarded as one of the richest bird habitats in the world.”
Among opportunities to explore the country are rail journeys that can work their way between Australia’s northern and southern or eastern and western coasts, with Lally stating that those who choose that travel mode will find it very comfortable.
“Our train journeys are designed as experiential, luxury travel,” she says. “By day, guests enjoy comfortable private cabins along with spacious lounge, bar and restaurant carriages where they can relax, socialize and take in the changing landscapes. In Gold Service, cabins are converted each evening into twin bunk beds, so one guest does climb a small ladder to access the top bunk. In Platinum Service, the day lounge converts into either a double bed or twin beds positioned side by side, offering more space and flexibility. All-inclusive dining and beverages are part of the experience, with menus showcasing regional Australian produce and fine Australian wines that reflect the destinations and landscapes the journey travels through.”
Train options include the Ghan, which works its way on multi-day trips from tropical Darwin on the north coast to Adelaide on the southern coast, enabling passengers to spot Australian wildlife as it traverses different landscapes en route. Among towns visited is the interior community of Alice Springs, popularized in part by the novel and movie, A Town Like Alice. Alice Springs is also home to the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve, which dates back to 1871 and was founded as part of a telegraph service. It today has a museum and a cafe. “Your adventure through the country’s vast, varied and captivating interior will show you the true meaning of the Australian Outback,” Journey Beyond states. The Ghan name refers to Afghan immigrants who brought camels with them, the descendants of which can be spotted from the train.
Lally acknowledges that her homeland is frequently associated with the likes of Sydney, the Outback and the Great Barrier Reef but adds that her company will happily deliver clients to lesser known locales.
“Many of our experiences showcase parts of the country that are far less known to international visitors,” Lally continues. “For example, Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef is one of the world’s great natural wonders but remains relatively undiscovered compared to the Great Barrier Reef. Unlike the Great Barrier Reef, which requires a boat journey, Ningaloo is a fringing reef — meaning guests can walk straight from the beach into coral gardens. It’s also one of the only places in the world where whale sharks congregate close to shore each year, making whale shark swims and snorkelling here truly extraordinary. Our luxury eco-camp, Sal Salis, sits within Cape Range National Park, where the red earth of the range meets the turquoise waters of the reef – it’s a remarkable and very special landscape.”
Journey Beyond also operates Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures in the Kimberley, which she calls, “another spectacular and lesser-known part of Australia. The Horizontal Falls are created by powerful tidal movements pushing huge volumes of water through two narrow gorges in Talbot Bay, creating the appearance of a waterfall flowing sideways through the landscape. It’s one of the Kimberley’s most unique natural phenomena and an unforgettable experience for visitors.”
Notably, she points out that all of the experiences are distinctly Australian.
“Journey Beyond is built around showcasing the country’s extraordinary landscapes, wildlife and unique Indigenous cultures — places and stories you simply can’t find anywhere else in the world. A great example is the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge, led by local Kuku Yalanji guides. Ngadiku (Nar-di-gul) means stories and legends from a long time ago in the Kuku Yalanji language. In this experience, guests walk along gentle rainforest tracks to culturally significant sites, learning about traditional customs, bush foods and medicines, and the deep connection between the rainforest and the local people.”
Another powerful example is Wintjiri Wiru at Uluru, “a breathtaking cultural storytelling experience that combines ancient Anangu storytelling with world-leading technology. Set on a desert dune with spectacular views to Uluru and Kata Tjuta, guests watch a chapter of the ancestral Mala story unfold across the night sky through choreographed drones, lasers and projections. Accompanied by narration in the local Pitjantjatjara language, traditional inma and a premium food and wine offering, it’s an incredibly moving way to experience one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures in one of Australia’s most iconic landscapes.”
Journey Beyond likes to showcase Indigenous culture, and landmark attractions, including Uluru, the massive monolith once known as Ayers Rock. The vacation company offers a number of hotels for those wanting to see Uluru, including the intriguingly named Lost Camel Hotel, which blends Aboriginal and urban design.
Other Journey Beyond experiences include catamaran sailings, guided walks through rainforest, bicycle tours,Sydney and Darwin harbor cruises, seaplane adventures and adventurous sorts visiting Melbourne can step onto The Edge, standing on transparent glass extending from a building 88 floors above ground.
Journey Beyond also has different tours of New Zealand, including a 19-day option that uses motorcoach, rail and vessel travel to explore the country.
