The Greatest Hits: Oz’s Wild East Coast

Your base is Capella Sydney, a landmark 1912 building near Circular Quay, with the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Royal Botanic Gardens all within walking distance. From there, the days move into Sydney's wild side: cruise the harbour by private sports boat, landing on a secluded national park beach; go behind the scenes at Taronga Zoo, walking among kangaroos; then swim at Balmoral and follow the coastal trail from Manly to Shelly Beach. For the finale, leave the city altogether for the Blue Mountains.

At the far northern reach of the Daintree, the world's oldest tropical rainforest tumbles all the way to the Coral Sea. This is the setting for Ever Bloomfield, a 14-room wilderness retreat reached by boat across the river. The real luxury here is access: head offshore to isolated reef sites to snorkel, follow the river to hidden waterfalls, cross paperbark forest and open savannah by UTV, and spend time with the Kuku Yalanji community.

Finish on the Reef at Orpheus Island, a private-island retreat with just 14 suites, 28 guests, and 11 kilometres of turquoise coastline inside a World Heritage-listed marine park. Dinghies, kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkel gear are all available, complemented by a daily guided experience such as a low-tide reef walk, island hike, or sunset cruise. Offshore, the protected Giant Clam Garden shelters some 300 giant clams, while humpback whales pass through in season.

A single night at the Park Hyatt, below the Bridge and across from the Opera House. Sleep in the city, wake to the water, and fly home without rushing.