Six of Australia's best wildlife trips

When it comes to wildlife, Australia has it all. Fancy sharing a beach with a kangaroo? Travel south. Want to swim with whale sharks? Head west. Looking for bird life? Go north. Keen to dive into another world? Make your way east. Whichever direction you're heading, there's sure to be an unforgettable experience waiting for you in 2014. Here's our pick of the very bes

Australia is an isolated place – and all the better for it. Thanks to this long-undiscovered continent's separation from the rest of the world, wildlife, including many unique species, has flourished. Lovable oddities such as the kangaroo and koala call Australia home, while other natural wonders – such as sacred mountain ranges, ancient coral reefs and immense deserts – seem to be waiting around every corner for the visitor to explore.
Swim with sharks: Ningaloo Reef
Few things in life are truly jaw-dropping, but swimming with whale sharks is one of them. These gigantic creatures are the world's largest fish (some seven metres in length) and just being in the water next to one as it sweeps past is unforgettable. They visit Ningaloo Reef, off the coast of Exmouth, between April and July – swimming with them is permitted one boat at a time. Sightings are more or less guaranteed, but head out with Ocean Eco Adventures for the best chance. This eco-friendly operator has its very own spotter plane and numerous snorkel-clad guides to get you into the right place at the right time. nijahotnews.blogspot.com
Watch the birdies: Kakadu National Park
Kakadu is Australia's largest national park (about the size of Slovenia) and is home to a diversity of habitats that range from a sandstone escarpment to a tidal mangrove. There are about 2,000 different plants and 10,000 insect species in Kakadu (not to mention thousands of crocodiles), but the real attraction is the bird life, with a third of Australia's bird species found here. Grab your binoculars and follow a guide to Ubirr Rock for possible sightings of bright green rainbow pitta and Pacific bazza hawks, before moving on to Yellow Waters for an early morning cruise to look for kingfishers and white-bellied sea eagles. experiencethewild.com.au
Photograph: Alamy Snorkel on the coral: Great Barrier Reef
Want to see the largest living structure made by organisms on Earth? Just put your face in the water. The Great Barrier Reef stretches for more than 1,550 miles (2,500km) along the Queensland coast and is made up of some 3,000 individual reefs and 900 coral cays. The best jumping off point to view the reef is Cairns and the competition is fierce, making boat trips good value. Board a Seastar Cruise and in just over an hour you'll dock at Michaelmas Cay, a large coral island that protects the waters around it – making it perfect for novice snorkellers. The clear water makes spotting fish and friendly reef sharks easy. nijahotnews.blogspot.com
Peek at a platypus: Otway National Park
Every schoolchild knows the platypus – the duck-billed, beaver-tailed oddity that is one of only two mammals to lay eggs – but very few people are lucky enough to have seen one in the wild. This is because they can only be found in eastern Australia. The best place for a platypus sighting is the lush Otway National Park in Victoria, where a community of platypus live. You'll have to get up early to catch this one, joining a dawn canoe tour with Otway Eco Tours from the small town of Forrest, but once you see this 100-million-year-old monotreme gliding through the water, you'll instantly forget the early start. nijahotnews.blogspot.com
Photograph: PR Go wild near Sydney: Blue Mountains
Sydney might be Australia's largest city, but there is plenty of wilderness within easy reach. The Great Dividing Range rises up behind the city and sits within the Blue Mountains, so called because the abundant eucalyptus trees emit a blue mist that hangs in the air. Get out on two feet with Blue Mountains Walkabout and you'll be off the tourist trail in minutes, following an ancient "song line" of sacred sites with your indigenous Australian guide. Learn how the wilderness provided food and medicines for indigenous Australians and look out for unique animals and trees. nijahotnews.blogspot.com
Photograph: PR Meet some marsupials: Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island has just one person for every square kilometre – and more than one kangaroo for every person. This is a true wildlife sanctuary, and being cut off from the mainland has allowed specific species to evolve here, including the KI kangaroo. But it's not just kangaroos you are guaranteed to spot on the island: head to Seal Bay Conservation Park to see endangered Australian sea lions surfing the waves, or visit Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to see koalas, possums and echidna on a guided nocturnal walk.
For a real hideaway book in to the Southern Ocean Lodge and just let go.nijahotnews.blogspot.com

Getting there

In 2014, fly to Australia in style with Singapore Airlines and enjoy its award-winning in-flight experience. Offering five daily departures from London Heathrow and Manchester, Singapore Airlines flies over 120 times a week to five of Australia's must-see cities. Take a two-week trip combining the coastal delights of Sydney with a road trip to the Blue Mountains. From Sydney fly to Adelaide for tours of the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills wineries. End your fantastic fortnight on the gorgeous Kangaroo Island for a big hit of Aussie wildlife. All flights for the suggested itinerary, including international and domestic connections, can be booked with Singapore Airlines. Fares start at just £760* per person – see nijahotnews.blogspot.com for details.