Things to Do in Australia in June

This trip packs the Blue Mountains' grandeur into one day. It includes the engineered thrill of Scenic World's steep railway descent into the Jamison Valley. You get intimate wildlife encounters at a local zoo where you can hold a koala. Panoramic views await at Echo Point where the Three Sisters stand in the clear, cold air. You will hear cockatoos echo in the vast gorge. You will feel the Scenic Railway vibrate as it climbs the sandstone cliff.

Paddle a kayak across the still waters of Sydney Harbour in June. Glide past the sandstone fortifications of Fort Denison toward the bush-covered slopes of Goat Island. The city's skyline reflects in the water. The hum of distant ferries fills your ears. Your guide will point out penguin nesting sites and share tales of the island's convict past. You will feel the cool harbor breeze. You will smell the salt and seaweed.

This classic tour delivers the Blue Mountains' essentials. Soaring views come from Scenic World's cable car over a forested abyss. You will visit the charm of Leura village. The finale swaps a bus ride for a ferry cruise from Parramatta back into Sydney Harbour. You will pass under the iron arches of the Harbour Bridge as city lights twinkle in the early winter dusk. See the blue haze clinging to the valleys. Hear the shriek of a steam train in the distance.

As dusk falls, stand beneath a riverine canopy. Watch thousands of Australia's largest bats, grey-headed flying foxes, stir from their daytime roosts. Their leathery wings create a rustling murmur. It builds into a deafening flutter as they blacken the twilight sky seeking nectar and fruit. You will smell the musky scent of the colony. You will feel the cool evening air move as they launch en masse.

Your private vehicle winds through the McLaren Vale or Adelaide Hills. June's bare vines create stark, beautiful patterns across the rolling hills. It leads to cellar doors where you can taste the region's signature Shiraz straight from the barrel. It is paired with local artisan cheese that melts on your tongue. The air in the hills is crisp. It carries the scent of woodsmoke from tasting room fireplaces.

This exclusive tour goes deep into the Blue Mountains. Your guide knows where wild kangaroos graze in the cold morning grass. They know which wildlife park offers the most serene koala encounter. You will avoid coach crowds at major lookouts. Feel the crunch of frost underfoot in hidden clearings. Hear the quiet chatter of wallabies in the underbrush.