The Australian Capital Territory is a great place for an Australian luxury vacation. Full of history and beautiful sights to see, the ACT is not quite as famous as larger destinations such as Sydney, but it holds a unique and special charm that holidaymakers often have found endearing and special in its own right.

Consider the white sands of the beaches in Jervis Bay. As seaside experiences go, it is among the most iconic in the Australian repertoire. Beautiful shoreline, the ability to see or even swim with dolphins, crystal-clear waters for miles around and beachside food resorts all conspire to make it an indulgent, relaxing experience that is sure to rate among the best.

The city of Canberra is a particularly worthwhile stop as vacationers explore the ACT. Full of first-class accommodations, spectacular restaurants and plenty of culture to explore, the city is an excellent place to base an ACT vacation from. In particular, visitors are encouraged to visit the numerous museums and the Old Parliament house, where the history of the Australian government can be explored before a delicious lunchtime visit to a nearby café.

The countryside around Canberra and the rest of the ACT is, of course, worth a visit as well. Luxury vehicles can be had for ease of exploration, making the experience pass in complete comfort and control. Public parks and still more venues to enjoy the local cuisine are abundant, giving many choices in relaxation and indulgence for a visitor to the territory. The Hilltops district is especially recommended, being the ACT’s premier wine country; guests can sample the newest vintages to be bottled, getting a taste of the many reasons that Australia is becoming one of the world’s most respected winemaking power houses. There truly is something for everyone in the environs of the ACT.

The Australian Alps provide a setting for many exciting vacation packages to Australia. Home to well over a dozen parks and preserves, host to activities both active and recreational and gorgeous in many different ways each season of the year, these iconic Australian mountains provide just as many wonders as their European namesakes.

The sheer diversity of activities and vistas available in the Australian Alps is a direct result of their wide range across the country. They stretch through three provinces of Australia, specifically New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

New South Wales is home to Mount Kosciuszko, and is appropriately snowy for such a high altitude region. Some of the best skiing and snowboarding are to be found here in the Australian wintertime, providing recreational and competitive activities alike. Spring and summer offer the opportunity to visit the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and in the fall visitors are encouraged to go fishing and canoeing through the region’s many rivers of astounding clarity.

The mountains around Victoria also offer opportunities for exciting skiing and snowboarding, but it is the off-winter months that are truly the most interesting. Lake Eildon hosts waterskiing and swimming in the warmer months, and in the fall the view of the foliage is spectacular when viewed from a luxury all-wheel-vehicle tour.

The ACT has its own wonders as well, particularly for visitors wanting to mingle their high-altitude experiences with an abundant and ancient sense of history. The aboriginal culture is strong in the ACT, just waiting for people to rediscover it and learn about this oldest of Australian traditions. Campsites with ancient art depicting millennia-old customs and traditions, caves where tribes harvested the local moths and standing stone arrangements all can be unlocked through the knowledge of experienced local guides, making any vacation to the ACT Alps into something approaching a visionary quest.

—