For many, the “Land Down Under” is an aspirational reach. But when travelers Plan with a Pro who’s supported by the resources of Funjet Vacations, it doesn’t necessarily have to be. All it takes is a little bit of insider know-how to coordinate a visit to Queensland and its bustling cities, rugged outback, beaches and the Great Barrier Reef. With these essential tips and affordability hacks to keep in your front pouch, you can get your clients hopping to like kangaroos as soon as this year.
Set Your Sights to Queensland
There’s a lot to picture when you visualize Australia. Iconic manmade landmarks, rugged landscapes, cuddly-looking animals, the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Regardless of what you want to experience of the country, the Queensland Capital of Brisbane might be the best basecamp for an adventure. Now, travel advisors can score nonstop United Airlines flights from San Francisco or Los Angeles straight to Brisbane, which puts your clients within easy access of some of the most iconic parts of Australia.
Insider Insight: A currently competitive exchange rate from USD to AUD makes now the prime time to visit. Plus, tipping isn’t a part of the dining culture there, so all prices are as marked, opening the budget up to do more on this dream vacation!
Get To Know Brisbane
If you’re flying your clients into this city, make sure you build in some time for them to stay there. It’s a cosmopolitan hub for arts, culture and dining with a laid-back vibe and subtropical alfresco lifestyle.
On the Brisbane River the lively cultural hub of South Bank features parks, galleries, restaurants and a man-made beach. Kombi Alley on Eat Street features top bands and shows, the OpenSky Theatre offers edgy entertainment and the LaneWay Cabaret hosts jazz bands and more. There’s also the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Queensland Theatre Company for something more traditional. Visitors always love the iconic Channel Seven Wheel for incredible 360⁰ views. The new Queens Wharf is set to be another stunning attraction as the city gears up to host the Summer 2032 Olympics.
Experience Wonders Under the Sea and Above
Cairns is the destination you’ll want to put on your clients’ Funjet itinerary if they want to experience the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest collection of coral reefs – featuring 400 types of coral of all kinds, 1,500 species of fish and counting and 4,000 different forms of mollusks. But from Cairns, they can also experience another UNESCO World Heritage Site where two overlap, the second being Daintree Rainforest. It contains a nearly complete record of the evolution of plant life on this planet and has more ancient families of flowering plants than anywhere in the world, even outnumbering that of the entire Amazon jungle, according to Rainforest Rescue.
Take a Beach-Forward Approach to the Great Barrier Reef
Another option? Suggest that your clients spend some time in the Whitsundays, a collection of 74 stunning inhabited and uninhabited islands sprinkled across the surface of the Great Barrier Reef’s bounds. Full of white-sand beaches that drop into turquoise waters, this is the spot for those looking for a leisurely approach to the wilds of Queensland’s waters. Sailing, diving, snorkeling, swimming with turtles and more make this a water-lover’s dream while a relaxed beach scene and alfresco dining puts relaxation at the forefront.
Pro Tip: Suggest no less than four days for an ideal mix of reef exploration, beach time and island-hopping at their leisure.
Get Off the Beaten Path
Another World Heritage-listed treasure, Queensland’s Fraser Coast should be on any family trip itinerary. The sight of 10,000 humpback whales migrating through Hervey Bay is an awe-inspiring sight to share – make sure your clients do before it becomes even more popular when it officially becomes world’s first Whale Heritage Site.
Also encouraged: finding and making their own lanes, even when there aren’t any. For example, bumping through Australia’s largest sand island, K’gari, in a four-wheel drive vehicle. Captaining your own boat to sail along the coastline. Or taking a fly-in day trip for a land and air adventure.
Protect Their Investment
For such a long-haul and typically longer trip, Travel Protection Plus is a must. Cancel for Any Reason is great in and of itself, but for clients in destination for some time, industry-leading coverage for travel delay, missed connections, baggage delay, trip interruption, emergency evacuation and travel accident and medical expense benefits is better to have than not.
Plus, bundling Travel Protection Plus can save your clients money. A Lowest Price Guarantee and lower deposits help them afford their trip, and flexible payment options like Uplift Pay Monthly makes budgeting for their big Aussie adventure easy. And when you get commission protection with Travel Protection Plus and WAVES® points for booking the package with Funjet Vacations, all of that’s a win-win.
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