Touching down in Sydney, we landed just in time to ring in the New Year…. an epic start to our Australian honeymoon! Escaping the crowds, we headed out on a boat to watch the world-famous fireworks from the waters of Sydney Harbour. With some of the best views in the city, we drank bottomless champagne and rung in the new year, the Opera House glowing in the background. 

Having never visited Sydney before we spent the next few days ticking off the city’s best – ferrying to Manly Beach, walking the coastal route between Coogee and Bondi, and sampling fresh seafood at Darling Harbour. There was also time to escape the city and squeeze in a trip to the azure-tinted Blue Mountains, perfect for a day’s hike to take in the insane, panoramic views. Sydney had the perfect mix of energy and elegance to kick off our honeymoon.

From the city, we traded skyline views for ocean vistas as we cruised up to Byron Bay. We had always fancied the idea of a road trip and driving as much of the coast as we could, mainly to take to the scenery and hopefully to spot some wildlife on route. 

Arriving in Byron Bay, we were hit by its laid-back charm and natural beauty. Mornings were slow and sweet with barefoot beach walks, cute iced-coffee spots, and Aussie-style brunches. Afternoons brought whale watching, ocean swims, and sunsets from the Cape Byron Lighthouse - the easternmost point of mainland Australia. 

We continued onto Noosa Heads, staying at the elegant and nautical Sofitel Noosa. Wanting more of the same, we spent the next few days hiking to the Fairy Pools and remote beaches, kayaking through the everglades and watching the glowing sunsets with a cocktail in hand. It was a breath of fresh air and the perfect mid-trip escape.

No Eastern Coast adventure is complete without visiting the magical Whitsunday Islands. We spent a day sailing through the islands, taking in the views, heading further and further into the Great Barrier Reef for a totally unique experience awaited. I had booked The Cruise Whitsunday Reef Sleep – a night’s stay on a unique floating pontoon, sleeping in small pods with a private chef and host looking after us, I would probably best describe it as ‘elevated camping’! As far as the eye could see there was nothing but calm, turquoise waters. 

The next 24 hours were magical; we snorkelled the colourful reef, swam with green turtles, indulged in seafood and sunset cocktails, before falling asleep under the stars. It was serene, surreal, romantic, and even better than I had imagined.

The final part of our journey took us to Northern Queensland, where the climate became tropical and the scenery lush, green rainforest. We wandered the palm tree lined beaches, went crocodile spotting in the Daintree, and survived the high thirties temps! 

There was just time to tick off one more bucket list location: we hopped on a tiny propellor plane and flew an hour north of Cairns, to Lizard Island, a private island in the northernmost tip of the Great Barrier Reef. A haven of isolation, the island is truly unspoilt, the luxurious villas are nestled amongst the wild scrub land and rocky mountain ranges overlooking the island’s powdery white sand beaches and surrounding turquoise sea. 

As adventurous as it is relaxing, we spent the next five days swimming, kayaking, hiking and later indulging in the classiest of all-inclusive menus. We rented a small boat and had a picnic on a secluded beach, snorkelled the world-famous clam gardens and watched the sun set from our private plunge pool. Totally secluded from the rest of the world, it felt like real desert island escape.

Four weeks, thousands of kilometres, and countless memories later, we were left captivated by the east coast of Australia. The vast scenery, impeccable vibes, and variety of experiences all made for the most perfect honeymoon.