As if trying to wriggle free from the land, the Freycinet Peninsula reaches into the Tasman Sea; an exceptional beauty, where cockatoos sing from gum trees and pink granite cliffs crumble into bright, blue seas. Bushwalking trails wind for miles, throwing up sightings of honeyeaters and wallabies all the way to Wineglass Bay, the park’s showstopping beach, where a perfect sweep of white sand scythes into the mountains. 

The Tasmanian capital is something of a pleasant surprise for travellers who make it as far south as the foothills of Mount Wellington. Compact, cultural and refreshingly easy-going, Hobart is happening: small-scale breweries are appearing as quickly as plush new hotels, while brilliant art galleries and thriving food markets are helping to breathe new life into the bones of Australia’s second-oldest city.

Adelaide’s many steeples are a reminder of its proud history of religious freedoms, though the assets of ‘the City of Churches’ are not solely ecclesiastical; ringed with lush parkland, the capital of South Australia has a blooming bar scene, a busy cultural calendar and easy access to both coast and countryside, where old vineyards roll away into golden horizons.

Sydney revels in its hedonistic stereotypes, and yes, this is a city of morning runs and yoga sessions on the beach, but there is so much more besides: the food, the live music, the effervescent social scene, the duelling architectural styles, plus the world’s most beautiful natural harbor to boot. A&K’s expert guides tap into their network to deliver an action-packed urban adventure that can include an exhilarating jet boat tour, surf lessons on Bondi Beach and the chance to climb 400ft to the summit of Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sydney’s loveliest landmarks are well worth touring, too: Parliament House, the Botanical Gardens and the historic neighborhood known as The Rocks.