Southern Islands by Private Jet

Our privately chartered, business class jet departs Sydney, before landing momentarily in Wynyard, north-west Tasmania. A coastal drive then brings us to Stanley, a charming village with colonial-era buildings. Here we visit ‘The Nut’, a distinctive land formation on the edge of Bass Strait. After enjoying a chairlift ride, we return to Wynyard for the short flight to Hobart. On arrival, guests on our February departure check in to the The Tasman, Hobart’s brand-new luxury hotel. Guests on our October departure will be welcomed to the MACq 01 hotel. Tonight’s dinner is at nearby Mures Upper Deck.

You might choose to explore Hobart independently today, or join us on an adventure to nearby Bruny Island, where you can select one of two experiences. Choose the gourmet tour to sip and savour the island’s renowned produce straight from the source. There’s oozing cheese, freshly shucked oysters, fudge and golden honey, washed down with wine, beer or cider. Then, a short stroll to balance things out. Alternatively, cruise alongside some of Australia’s highest sea cliffs and beneath towering crags while looking for seals, whales, dolphins and birds.

This morning, guests on our February departure have the opportunity to browse the eclectic stalls at Salamanca Market. Our October guests will enjoy a free morning in the city, or perhaps choose to join a historic walking tour, followed by a gourmet lunch. The afternoon offers a choice as well: Perhaps pay a visit to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). The creator of this ultramodern art museum designed it to be approached from the water, and the ‘Posh Pit’ experience on its dedicated ferry is the only way to go. Alternatively, choose to visit the Nolan Gallery, which features works from Tasmanian artists, as well as Mawson’s Huts, faithful full-sized replicas of the ones which can be seen at Cape Denison, which were used by Australia’s most famous Antarctic explorer and his expeditioners.

This morning, guests on our October departure have the chance to visit Salamanca Market before rejoining our private jet. After take-off, we watch the lush green of Tasmania disappear from view. It isn’t too long before we make our descent to King Island. On touching down, we head straight to Cape Wickham Golf Course for lunch. Our travels then bring us to the tallest lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere, also on Cape Wickham. Afterwards, we set out on a discovery of the island’s famous cheeses, before checking in at our accommodation, The King Island Hotel or Boomerang by the Sea.

From one splendid island to the next. It’s back aboard our private jet for the short flight to Kangaroo Island. While the west coast of the island was devastated by the bushfires of January 2020, the east remains untouched – our visit will help a local community and a tourism industry much in need of support. We head straight to Dudley Winery for a tasting and a cheeseboard for lunch, followed by a walk around Cape Willoughby Lighthouse. We then check in to the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge (February departure) or Ozone Hotel Kangaroo Island (October departure) for a relaxed evening.

We spend the morning exploring the natural charms located within Flinders Chase National Park, including the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Continue to Seal Bay, where visitors are able to get close to a wild colony of around 1,000 rare Australian sea lions. We reconvene at our hotel’s restaurant tonight for our last dinner as a group, an authentic local meal celebrating our time on the island.

There’s time for one more stop before our journey’s end. Our private plane lands in Mildura and we travel to Trentham Estate winery aboard a charming paddle steamer. Watch the bush scenery of the Murray River unravel before lunch, wine tastings and a few final reflections with our new-found friends. It’s then back aboard our private jet for the flight to Sydney. We say goodbye, feeling refreshed and looking forward to the next adventure.