How to do it

Stay in some of the country’s most exclusive lodges and locations with a 19-day tailor-made tour from Hayes & Jarvis (020 8106 2403; hayesandjarvis.co.uk), including luxury stays from Sydney to Lord Howe Island, Uluru, Cairns and Lizard Island. The trip includes a private tour of the Blue Mountains through the Valley of Waterfalls, discovering hidden grottos and exploring swimming holes. From £18,800pp; including flights.

If you fancy swimming with cetaceans in the ultimate luxury, Pelorus (020 3848 5424; pelorusx.com) offers a six-day charter onboard explorer yacht Beluga, whose owner, captain and crew have connections with the Queensland-based Minke Whale Project. From £52,158 for up to eight people; excluding flights. 

Best time to go

Uluru and the red centre is best in winter when temperatures are cooler (May-Sep). To see minke whales, travel in June and July.

10. To explore Western Australia

The country’s western state has proven to be somewhat stubborn when it comes to allowing in visitors – foreign or domestic, however from March 3 it will finally reopen its borders. Travellers will need to be double jabbed, or have proof that they cannot be vaccinated, and they must take a test within 24 hours of arrival, followed by a rapid antigen test within 12 hours of arrival.

Centred on the state capital Perth – easily the most underrated of Australia’s cities – WA accounts for almost a third of the entire continent. Anyone with an adventurous streak will love the far west coast, which stretches 1,000 miles along the Indian Ocean from the Margaret River wine-growing region in the south to Ningaloo Reef and its world-famous whale sharks near Exmouth in the north. Along the way are world-class landscapes (the Pinnacles Desert with its bizarre limestone formations); wildlife hotspots (Monkey Mia and its bottle-nose dolphins); as well as numerous National Parks, wildlife reserves, bays and beaches.

How to do it

Responsible Travel (01273 823 700; responsibletravel.com) offers a 16-day self-drive holiday that takes you from Perth to Rottnest Island (with its famous quokkas), the Nambung National Park, Kalbarri National Park, Monkey Mia and Ningaloo Reef before flying back to Perth; from £3,830pp including UK flights.

Best time to go 

The west coast is at its best during Spring (Sep-Nov). At this time of year you can expect an average temperature of around 23C, not much rain and the world-famous wildflowers in bloom.

With contributions by Adrian Bridge, Annabel Fenwick Elliott, Richard Madden, Sarah Marshall and Sarah Rodrigues

Need to know

Australia reopened to fully vaccinated tourists with a relevant visa (including a tourist visa) on February 21 without quarantine.

All travellers require

• Proof of full vaccination (this currently means two jabs; Australia accepts the NHS Covid Pass as proof). At least seven days must have passed since second dose.
• A negative Covid-19 PCR result taken within 72 hours of departure
• An Australian Travel Declaration completed 72 hours before departure

Travellers who have a legitimate medical reason for not being vaccinated can apply for a travel exemption. All children aged under 12 years count as fully vaccinated for travel to Australia. Arrangements are also in effect in some states and territories to allow unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged 12-17 to travel with a fully vaccinated adult. 

Quarantine rules will still apply for all travellers in Western Australia until March 3. Other state-by-state restrictions are in force.

Find more of the latest holiday guidance as the country reopens to vaccinated tourists here. 

This article is kept updated with the latest advice and information.