PERFECTING THE ART OF SLOW TRAVEL IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
As our fast-paced lives only seem to accelerate, slow travel is a trend firmly on the rise. Today’s luxury travellers are prioritising unhurried and immersive journeys that provide time and opportunity to foster deeper connections with people and places. With plenty of space and countless opportunities to jump off-the-beaten path, Southern Crossings invites luxury travellers to slow down and enjoy more mindful and meaningful travels in Australia and New Zealand.
Swap airport queues for panoramic vistas on rolling tracks with our destination’s epic rail journeys; or cruising our island nations’ scenic waterways with luxury expedition cruises. Rather than rushing between landmarks, enjoy life at slower pace with a collection of multi-day guided hikes in Australia and New Zealand’s breathtaking natural landscapes. Trade busy cities for quiet moments in nature to enjoy extraordinary, enriching travel experiences.
BY WATER: ACCESS THE OTHERWISE INACCESSIBLE
From Australia’s remote and rugged north-west Kimberley coast to the technicolour treasures of the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania’s largely explored South-West wilderness, Southern Crossings’ Travel Designers can match luxury travellers with their perfect pace and place.
Across the Tasman in New Zealand, our Travel Designers can tailor experiences for those seeking seclusion in Fiordland’s dramatic sounds or active adventures in the sparkling Bay of Islands.
A collection of small group expedition cruises and luxury private charter options provide access to the otherwise inaccessible whilst also delivering opportunities to enjoy immersive local experiences: hiking beside thundering waterfalls to swim in secret waterholes and explore stunning caves adorned with ancient Aboriginal rock art; snorkelling pristine coral reefs and picnicking on secluded sand cays; fishing and foraging to feast on fresh seafood surrounded by dramatic fiords; or dolphin watching and island hopping to dine waterside with the locals.
NEW CRUISING EXPERIENCES
Paspaley Pearl: explore Western Australia’s remote and rugged Kimberley Coast with Pearl Expeditions’ 11 day expedition-style cruising itineraries between Kununurra and Broome (April – September). Paspaley Pearl accommodates just 30 guests in 15 comfortable staterooms and suites and introduces travellers to some of the planet’s most pristine and scenically spectacular natural wonders: King George Falls, Kuri Bay (including exclusive Paspaley Pearl experiences), Buccaneer Archipelago, Montgomery Reef and more.
Dusky Sound Overnight Expedition Cruise: Heli from Minaret Station in to the depths of New Zealand’s dramatic Fiordland to join a luxury private tailored cruise exploring Dusky Sound with opportunities to enjoy paddle boarding, snorkelling, bushwalking, fishing and foraging in these spectacular and secluded surrounds. Dine on locally sourced seafood and fine New Zealand wines, marvel at the Southern stars from a deck-top hot-tub and sleep soundly in your comfortable private en-suite cabin.
BY RAIL: DISCOVER JOY IN THE JOURNEY
Epic rail journeys bisect the Australian outback and traverse New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Sit back and enjoy the romance of rail travel, watching rolling vistas unfold whilst savouring locally-inspired dining experiences and the opportunity to meet like-minded travellers.
From a few hours to a few days, Australia and New Zealand’s iconic rail journeys are also the gateways to immersive local experiences; accessing spectacular hikes, privileged cultural interactions and exclusive dining in spectacular settings.
NEW RAIL EXPERIENCES
Enjoy a new level of luxury travelling with Australia’s iconic Indian Pacific and Ghan rail journeys that bisect and traverse the vast Australian continent. From April 2026, ‘slow travellers’ will have the opportunity to travel in the trains’ new Aurora and Australis luxury suites with separate bedroom and sitting area, private ensuite, butler service, free-flowing champagne and exclusive off-train experiences.
ON FOOT: ENJOY EXPLORATIONS AT NATURE’S PACE
The ultimate slow travel experience; a collection of multi-day fully-guided, catered and accommodated walks showcase some of Australia and New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes: coastal cliffs and dramatic waterfalls; ancient outback and Gondwana rainforests; world-class wineries and breath-taking alpine scenery. Sleep in comfort with purpose-built lodgings or in a cosy swag under a blanket of stars; feast on uninterrupted scenery and savour delicious local flavours over shared meals; with all-inclusive experiences that may also include opportunities for foot spa treatments and hands-on conservation activities.
These active and immersive experiences provide the privileged opportunity to disconnect from the rest of the world, to really reconnect with nature and your travelling companions.
NEW WALKING EXPERIENCES
Uluru – Kata Tjuta Signature Walk: Explore Australia’s spiritual Red Centre on foot with a new 5-day fully-guided, catered and accommodated walking experience that showcases the Northern Territory’s most iconicWorld Heritage-listed natural wonders. Developed in close consultation with the Anangu Traditional Custodians of these sacred lands, hikers are also treated to captivating stories handed down through generations and privileged insights into their ancient culture.
Waitai Fiordland Escape: From November 2025, visitors to New Zealand who are short on time but still keen for a taste of the iconic Hollyford Track can now enjoy a tailored overnight experience including scenic helicopter transfers over Milford Sound, opportunities to enjoy short walks, a jetboating experience, outdoor hot-tubbing, a spectacular small group cruise on Milford Sound and overnight at Waitai Lodge, usually reserved for Hollyford Track hikers.
OFF GRID: REFINED LUXURIES IN WILD LOCATIONS
Australia and New Zealand’s luxury lodges invite immersion in some of our region’s most stunning landscapes whilst delivering a true sense of place through design, local hospitality, fine regional cuisine and exclusive experiences that could see you on an air-boating safari in the Northern Territory Top End or floating with turtles over technicolour reefs on the Great Barrier Reef; swimming with whalesharks on Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef or learning traditional painting techniques with talented locals in the Red Centre; walking with elusive kiwis in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands or watching local greenstone artisans at work in the stunning South Island; picnicking on secluded alpine peaks or soaking in a hot tub under Southern stars; cycling between wineries in picturesque Hawkes Bay or heli-skiing New Zealand’s dramatic Southern Alps.
NEW WELLNESS LODGES
The Sanctuary at Alba Thermal Springs and Spa: five new (opened June 2025) free standing, spacious accommodation villas complement the Alba Thermal Springs and Spa experience to provide a holistic wellness getaway in the Mornington Peninsula, just over an hour from Melbourne.
ROKI Collection Queenstown: a brand new (open 1 September 2025) luxury lakeside lodge experience with ultraluxe guest accommodation, a choice of dining options and a fabulous new wellness sanctuary. ‘ROKI’ is the te reo Maori word for tranquil – a state fostered by ROKI Collection Queenstown’s signature spa rituals, in-suite offerings (including deep baths and sleep concierge) and a collection of wellness experiences delivered in ROKI’s spectacular natural surrounds.
However you choose to travel or wherever your passions take you, Southern Crossings Travel Designers can connect you with engaging and extraordinary locals who provide authentic and immersive memory-making experiences: culinary, cultural or creative; wildlife or wild adventures. Each journey begins with a blank canvas, and every moment is curated just for you.
With Southern Crossings, slow travel is not so much about doing less; its about experiencing more.
Header image: Private overnight cruising New Zealand’s spectacular sounds
