Around the world 2024

2024 | AROUND THE WORLD IN 180 DAYS | 39 WINE COUNTRY & DESERT DELIGHTS 3 NIGHTS | 25 FEBRUARY 2024 BRISBANE to CAIRNS Opposites attract. Imagine spending the morning at a koala sanctuary and the evening enjoying tastings at an oasis-like winery. Alluring, yes? The North Territory’s desert yields even more contrasting experiences. Delight in a pyrotechnic sunrise over Uluru, a monolithic rock that becomes a silhouette at night as 50,000 coloured lights illuminate the surrounding terrain. This is Aboriginal land, a fact that becomes wonderfully evident as you examine ancient rock art, learn about bush tucker foods and explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the ancestral land of the indigenous Anangu. Prambanan, available from Benoa KOALAS, ULURU & THE KUKU YALANJI 3 NIGHTS | 25 FEBRUARY 2024 BRISBANE to CAIRNS No stone is left unturned on this exploration, including monolithic Ayers Rock, which the Aboriginals hold sacred and call Uluru. Watch it change colours at sunrise. Walk in its shadow while viewing the ancient rock art that the Anangu people created there. Behold Uluru looming in the distance during a magical evening light show as 50,000 bulbs illuminate the landscape. Port Douglas also beckons with the irresistible lure of seeing koalas in a wildlife habitat and walking through a rainforest with an indigenous Kuku Yalanji guide. JOYOUS JAVA 2 NIGHTS | 9 MARCH 2024 BENOA to SURABAYA Become immersed in Java’s history and culture through experiences that divulge the island’s true nature. The impact of Hinduism and Buddhism comes to light at the temple complexes of Prambanan and Borobudur, respectively. Both architectural treasures are enlightening UNESCOWorld Heritage sites. A rare opportunity to watch a revered, almost spiritual kris dagger being made sheds additional light on the Javanese way of life. A train ride from the royal city of Yogyakarta brings you to sprawling Surabaya, where Arabic Square reveals the roots of Islam in Indonesia. Uluru, available from Brisbane ARMIES OF THE FIRST EMPEROR 2 NIGHTS | 4 APRIL 2024 SHANGHAI to XIAMEN Browse the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xian, a repository for thousands of excavated life-size clay soldiers and horses that once guarded the nearby tomb of China’s first emperor. Incredibly, each figure was created individually with unique characteristics, grouped by battle order, armed with weapons and then covered with earth to protect the deceased Emperor Qin. Other highlights in Xian include the monumental ancient wall that stretches around the old city and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist landmark founded in the 7th century. Terracotta Warriors Museum, available from Shanghai