If you spent your year helping guests fall in love with Australia, you’d become very clear on which experiences stay with people long after the trip ends. It’s why we asked our buddies at Journey Beyond which experiences make the perfect Christmas gift.
From rail crew and pilots to managers and ground staff, we asked which Journey Beyond products they’d gift to someone they love, and the perfect experience for first-timers to Australia.
On the rails
While you can’t wrap a train cabin, for many Journey Beyond team members, Australia’s iconic rail journeys are an idyllic gift.
Melbourne Skydeck Operations Team Leader Benji Splitter says The Ghan or Indian Pacific would please his train-buff dad. “The Ghan is one of Australia’s quintessential experiences, combining luxury train travel with rural Australian experiences.”
Abhiram Venkitt agrees, “I’d gift The Ghan’s Adelaide to Darwin journey to my sister who’s always been fascinated by the Outback.” The Monarto Safari Resort Front Office Manager continues, “The Ghan offers the perfect blend of luxury, history, and raw beauty – with exceptional service and storytelling.”
Vessel Master for Darwin Harbour Cruises Tobias Nahrhaft says The Ghan is ideal for first-timers, too. “The Ghan gives visitors a great snapshot of all Australia offers.”
Adelaide-based rail crew member and Platinum Host Suzi Cousins would gift-wrap one of the newer additions to the Journey Beyond portfolio: a Vintage Rail Journey to the Tamworth Country Music Festival for her mum to honour her dad, who sadly passed away this year.
“My parents took every Journey Beyond rail trip, and Vintage Rail was next on their bucket list.” Cousins adds, “Not many people know about them. I love telling our train-loving guests there are more great rail adventures with the same amazing service and hospitality they know and love.”
Underwater dreaming
Forget uninspiring gift cards; choose underwater stays and vibrant coral colours, says Airlie Beach-based Cruise Whitsundays Director, Danica McDougall. She’d send her mum to Reefsuites on the Great Barrier Reef. “She’s never seen the Reef, and staying in an underwater hotel room watching marine life from your bed would be magical.”
Queensland-based Business Development Manager Hannah Dare picks a night under the stars above deck on Cruise Whitsundays Reefsleep. “It’s ideal for visitors as there’s nothing else like it: sleeping under the stars, waking up to the Great Barrier Reef, and wonderful all-inclusive hospitality.”
Vessel Master for Darwin Harbour Cruises, Tobias Nahrhaft, would also gift his parents a Cruise Whitsundays escape, while Melbourne-based Operations Manager Shane Sundaram says a Reefsuite underwater stay is his go-to introduction to Australia for international visitors. “It’s an extraordinary way to experience the Great Barrier Reef in a private setting,” he says.
Nature’s finest
There was no hesitation for Horizontal Falls Seaplane pilot Jack Martindale: he’d send his girlfriend to Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, “as long as I can go too. We are so lucky to have a pristine coral reef on our doorstep with abundant megafauna year-round.”
Monarto Safari Resort’s Groups and Reservations Manager Ella McAvaney agrees Sal Salis would be the ultimate gift: “Swimming with the whale sharks in Exmouth, followed by a stay in quiet luxury at Sal Salis with delicious local food and wine is the ultimate introduction for visitors to Australia.”
Hannah Dare would also whisk her sister to Sal Salis, “Lissa has two teenage boys. She’d enjoy the complete disconnect at Sal Salis – no calls, no Wi-Fi, just luxury accommodation, the reef steps away, and all-inclusive hospitality.”
Australia’s beating heart
Remote Australia has its drawcards, too. Outback Spirit driver guide and tour director, Garry Parker, would send his wife to Seven Spirit Bay in Arnhem Land as a thank you for her support while he’s out on tour. “Seven Spirit Bay is an exclusive lodge untouched, full of history, showcasing the region’s natural beauty.”
For overseas friends, Garry would choose an Outback Spirit Red Centre tour. “It’s an immersive cultural experience in the beating heart of our country that connects people with the land and showcases some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in Australia,” he says.
Ella McAvaney thinks a Horizontal Falls overnight stay is the perfect gift for her grandma. She shares, “She has always wanted to go to Broome. I can imagine her enjoying the excitement of the falls, and local barramundi and sunset drinks on the pontoon after a big day snorkelling.”
City-based icons
Melbourne Skydeck Operations Team Leader Benji Splitter’s perfect ‘welcome to Australia’ present is Altitude Dining. It’s an evening pairing Melbourne Skydeck’s Voyager Theatre – a 12-minute virtual journey over the city – with a deluxe three-course meal at Eureka 89. “I’ve seen plenty of people discover and rediscover the city in the Voyager Theatre,” Splitter shares.
In Perth, Rottnest Express Grounds Team Leading Hand Joel O’Brien would gift his dad a day trip to Rottnest Island with Rottnest Express, saying, “I want him to see why ‘Rotto’ is such a special place for us locals.”
For his overseas friends, he’d choose the Darwin Harbour Sunset Cruise, “it’s an experience that showcases the famous Northern Territory hospitality and one of the world’s best sunsets.”
More than you realise
When pressed, many of the crew admitted they didn’t realise twenty Australian products and experiences were under the Journey Beyond umbrella until they joined.
Eureka 89 Operations Manager Shane Sundaram commented, “Journey Beyond offer a remarkable variety of experiences and, whilst continuing to expand, maintains an unwavering commitment to its people and the guest experience.”
Across the board, pride in working for Journey Beyond is clear. Abhiram Venkitt says it best, “Journey Beyond isn’t just about travel – it’s about storytelling. From local guides who share personal stories to menus inspired by regional flavours, Journey Beyond creates immersive moments that go far beyond sightseeing. It’s not only about where you go – it’s about how you feel while you’re there.”
Discover more
If you’re looking for Christmas inspiration, take a cue from the people who live and breathe these journeys. Somewhere between reef and rail, Red Centre and rooftop, your client’s perfect gift is already waiting.
Explore more Journey Beyond experiences here or contact the experts on 1800 703 357 or sales.enquires@journeybeyond.com.
This article is brought to you by Journey Beyond.
