When you think ‘safari’, what springs to mind? Red-dusty plains, sweltering heat, exotic animals and perhaps a roofless Jeep. As it turns out, there’s a little more than meets the eye with the word. In Swahili, a language spoken widely across East Africa, ‘safari’ means ‘expedition’ or ‘journey’ – and plenty of those are waiting for you Down Under.
Across Australia, safaris have developed into a range of adventures from snorkelling and sandboarding to swimming with whales. For the adrenaline junkies, we’ve tracked down all the best safaris that you have to add to your bucket list.
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Think of the Ningaloo Reef as the Great Barrier Reef’s lesser-known, but equally enthralling cousin. The reef is World Heritage-listed and is one of the most likely places in the world where you can swim with a whale shark. Ningaloo Safari runs three different tours – two of which involve snorkelling the crystal clear waters and lunch by the pristine lagoon. There’s still plenty to be seen on dry land with dramatic gorges and canyons. You can check out the full-day itineraries here.
When you can’t travel to Africa to spot cheetahs and giraffes, you spend the night with them at the National Zoo instead. At Jamala Wildlife Lodge in Canberra, you get as close to the animals as you could ever be. The balconies of the treehouse lodges give direct access to the giraffes so you can feed them yourself, and the jungle bungalows separate your bed for the night from lions, tigers and bears (oh my!) by just a pane of glass. The experience stays very on-brand with a gourmet African-themed dinner party.
Okay, the name certainly does give away some of what you’ll encounter on this South Australian Island, but alongside furry marsupials, like kangaroos, wallabies and koalas, there's a lot to encounter in the waters surrounding this South Australian island. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and seals on the 75-minute coastal journey with Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari. If seeing them from dry land (well, dry boat) isn’t enough, check out the snorkelling safari where you can swim with the cheeky animals.
As it turns out, the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere happen to lie on the coast of NSW. That means some pretty incredible sights to marvel at on a casual beachside stroll, but also a whole lot of fun to be had if you’re game. Just two and a half hours up from Sydney, Sand Dune Safaris run a range of tours from sandboarding and sand surfing to four-wheel driving. One of the safaris even brings you to the ‘tin city’. Is it a little village of shacks for shipwreck survivors or is it all a mirage?
Tropical Moreton Island’s coastline is easily distinguished by a cluster of 15 shipwrecks sunk by the Queensland Government decades ago. Now, the site's a playground for a ridiculous amount of marine wildlife and it’s only an hour and a bit away. At Tangalooma Island Resort, you can do snorkel tours and glass-bottom kayak rides, but one of the coolest experiences is the Underwater Sea Scooter Safari. With so many boats and new coral growths to explore, you can cover more ground with the handheld devices that propel you through the water.
If you like pressing one ‘book now’ button for your holiday without having to worry about anything else, you’re in safe hands at the Top End Safari Camp. You can book a one-day-only tour that includes helicopter and airboat rides, a billabong cruise, barbecue brunch and crocodile feeding. If the thought of that excites you, why not even opt in for an overnight stay at the private base off the Finnis River? As well as all the adrenaline-seeking activities during the day, you’ll spend the night in a glamping tent with dinner under the stars.
Broome's original camel lady, Alison Bird, once spent seven years trekking solo through the Australian Outback with her beloved camels. For the past three decades, she and her team of cameleers have been offering unforgettable sunset safaris along the stunning Cable Beach. Meeting north-of-the-rocks on Cable Beach, you'll have time to snap some photos with your new humpback companion – like sweet Timrin, 37-year-old Ghannam and the handsome Negev – before saddling up for the one-hour journey. As you gently plod along the sand, you'll be captivated by the sight of the sun sinking below the shimmering seas. This safari-type activity is a must for any Broome newcomer.
How many places in the world can you say you’re standing on the borderline of two World-Heritage listed sites? The spot where the world’s oldest rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef is just one of the highlights of this luxury four-wheel drive experience in far North Queensland. The itinerary is jam-packed but rest assured, you’ll be exploring the humidity in a land cruiser with individual air conditioning for each passenger. Cross the Daintree River, sample goods from the Daintree Ice Cream Company, spot crocs on a guided river cruise and swim at a secret waterhole.
Perth’s Swan Valley is home to some lush rolling green hills and plenty of vineyards. Once you’ve hit up enough vino pit stops, shake things up with a Kangaroo Safari. Not only can you hop on a golf buggy and get up close and personal with the furry friends that frequent The Vines Resort, but you’ll also get to play 18 holes of mini golf on the course. To top it all off, you get a sunset beveragino as well. If you really enjoy the safari, you can book in the next day to play a few holes of the real deal at the resort’s world-class golf courses.
Swimming with whales... If you nerd out on biodiversity and conservation laws, you’ll be wondering how such an adventure came about when it’s illegal to swim with whales in Australian waters. The answer to that is Woebegone Freedive – a family-owned business that has the whole ethical, eco-friendly, whale-friendly tourism experience down-pat. Depending on the time of year, you can swim with seals, dolphins and sharks, but our pick of the lot is their humpback whale adventures. Part of the reason Woebegone has a permit for whale swim tours is that their boat never goes up to them. Instead, they look at the direction they’re swimming in and park the boat – motors off – to see if the whales come close. It's well worth trying your luck.
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