Don’t worry, you won’t suddenly become upper-middle class. Flashpackers love the traditional back-to-basics travelling style, but are prepared to fork out that little extra for certain creature comforts or once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Some like to up their whole budget just a smidge, others prefer to mix high- and low-end experiences as they go. You only live once, after all.
So, if you’ve got the cash to splash, get out your wallet and live like a king (or queen) from time to time on one of our favourite flashpacking tours…
5. Hunter Valley Wine Tours
If you love wine, head down to the Hunter Valley where you can experience the best Australia has to offer with some amazing tasting experiences.
The trouble is there are loads of coach tours that’ll take people through some of the area’s bigger wineries and it can be a chore. What you need is a private tour, personalised to your own needs. Go on, splash out. Price: Around $200
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4. Kimberly Region Tours
The Kimberley Ranges are the last unspoilt wilderness left in Australia – it’s so remote, day tours hardly scratch the surface.
The best way to experience this rarely seen beauty is on a Kimberley Expedition. Available tours from nine-12 days will take you between Darwin and Broome (or the other way around) or, if you are short on time, two and three days tours are available. Price: $495-2,645
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3. The Ghan Train
Train and luxury don’t always come hand in hand, but on this trip you can indulge yourself on the most sought-after train expedition in Australia.
he Ghan is an all-inclusive trip with booze and a tasty menu with flexible times for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It travels between Adelaide and Darwin and allows you to see the Red Centre, Flinders Ranges and the tropics of the Top End. Price: from $969 for gold service, low season.
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2. Reefsleep
Enjoy a day cruise around the Great Barrier Reef and then, once everybody else departs at 3pm, wave them off with a smug smile as you get to stay overnight on the only permanent pontoon on the entire Great Barrier Reef for a truly unique experience.
Reefsleep guests can experience the underwater viewing chamber and scenic deck before sleeping snuggly under a ‘star swag’ tent. Price: $399.
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1. Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Package
When you flew into Cairns you probably noticed how awesome the Great Barrier Reef looked from above. Most tours, though, only offer trips to view it from on the water or under it.
Air Whitsunday’s Panorama Tour, though, allows you to get those postcard-perfect pictures from all angles: from above in a seaplane, then up close from their glass bottom boat and from below while snorkelling.
The most comprehensive experience of the Whitsundays ends at Whitehaven beach for a secluded sunbathe and a taste of some complimentary Australian wine. Sit back and let yourself imagine you own the beach and the pilot is your personal chauffeur. Sigh.
Price: $490
Value for money: A sea plane trip is an awesome experience, plus this tour offers four unbelievable experiences wrapped into one, showing you almost everything that the Whitsundays have to offer. By that measure, it’s a great deal.
