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Swim with whale sharks, humpbacks, and manta rays in Western Australia

Swim with whale sharks, humpbacks, and manta rays in Western Australia

SWN | Travel Weekly | 13 March 2023

We blinked, and somehow, it was March. Summer is on the decline, and we’re already dreaming of a warm European getaway. Our minds have wandered to Tuscany, Antibes, and plenty of quaint European villages, but ultimately, they’re stuck on Ponza, the biggest island of the Ponzine archipelago. Take us to the cliff-flanked, crystalline beaches immediately. Preferably in those sleek new Qantas business and first-class suites.

As the seasons change, we’re taking a look at some of the best experiences you can have in Autumn around the country. There are plenty of amber-hued walk trails and winery visits to pencil in, as well as some once-in-a-lifetime oceanic experiences. In Western Australia’s north, the onset of the season brings whale sharks en masse to the Ningaloo Marine Park.

AUSTRALIA

How to swim with whale sharks, humpbacks, and manta rays in Western Australia

Certain animal encounters drive the making of holiday plans. People dream of visiting Kruger National Park to spot elephants and giraffes roaming the African savanna and Borneo to chance a sighting of a wild orangutan in the rainforest canopies. Australia’s Coral Coast’s calling card is swimming with the ‘big three’ — whale sharks, humpback whales, and manta rays — on the Ningaloo Reef.

Here’s how you can come face-to-face with each of them responsibly and sustainably.

EUROPE

Unknown Italy: uncover the alluring island of Ponza

We all know the experience of seeing that photo of an incredible European island with a picturesque coastline and excitedly booking our trip to paradise before being rudely disappointed upon our arrival.

Instead of calm beaches and pristine surrounds, we find that the magic of Photoshop has led us astray into a tourist circus very different from how we hoped we would spend our holiday.

But there are places where expectation meets reality. You just need to know where to look; Ponza, Italy is one of them.

AUSTRALIA

The best experiences in Australia during autumn

Although we love our long summer days here in Australia, the start of March typically means a change towards cooler weather and we can enjoy possibly the most underrated season we have.

Autumn brings leaf-lined streets and footpaths filled with golden leaves. There is debatably no better time to get out and about exploring than our most beautiful and romantic season before the winter blues set in.

Destination of the week

Kaua'i, Hawaii

Sitting in a helicopter high above the Na Pali coastline, the dramatic, razor-sharp cliff face ahead seems so unreal. There’s a reason this uninhabited part of Kaua'i (Hawai’i’s fourth largest island) has been the backdrop for many Hollywood films — it’s pure drama. The whole island abounds in natural beauty, often being referred to as the ‘garden isle’ for its verdant landscapes. In stark contrast is the aridity of the inner Waimea Canyon, Kaua’i’s answer to the Grand Canyon. Take the Waimea Canyon Drive to the lookout for the best photo opportunities of the gorges, following it along to the Pu’u O Kila lookout for a scenic view of Kalalau Valley and the ocean.

These valleys and peaks are of great significance to the Hawaiian people, the stories of which you can learn by visiting the Kauaʻi Museum. Follow your cultural immersion with some local fare — ahi pokē and poi — from the Ishihara Market or Kōloa fish market, and an afternoon of pure indulgence at any one of the luxury resorts dotted along the coastline. As cliché as a beachfront mai tai at sunset sounds, it wouldn’t be a Hawaiian holiday without at least one.