Renee’s Whitsunday Adventures in Australia

There's nothing like Australia's coastline, and one of the best places to experience the Aussie laid-back lifestyle while surrounding yourself with jaw-dropping natural wonders is the Whitsunday Islands. It's easy to see why stars like Oprah, Taylor Swift and Leonardo DiCaprio vacation here. In the Whitsundays, the adventures range from truly relaxing to adventurous.

Thanks to our friends at Tourism Australia, “Extra" and our Aussie native co-host, Renee Bargh headed to the land down under for a trip of a lifetime.

Renee kicked off the trip with a helicopter ride over one of the seven natural wonders of the world – The Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef continues to offer exceptional visitor experiences and the Whitsundays region is known as the “heart of the reef." Flying over the iconic Heart Reef and stopping at Hardy Reef for some snorkeling, we got a front row seat to one of the world's most epic locations.

One of Australia's most awarded luxury hotels has hosted celebrities including Chris Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky and Kelly Rowland. qualia has 40 secluded pavilions with views of the ocean and some even have their own plunge pools. Unwind after a big day of adventure with a dip in one of their two incredible infinity pools, a yoga class, or a world-class treatment at spa qualia that uses Sodashi organic Australian products.

The Whitsundays region also provides amazing food experiences including fresh Queensland seafood, healthy café treats, and fine dining with stunning views over the ocean. qualia's Sake and Sashimi Master Class provides an experience that pairs some of the world's finest sakes and sochus with Australia's highest sashimi grade fish, including coral reef fish found nowhere else in the world but the Whitsundays.

With a host of exciting new tourism attractions in development in the region, several island resorts will reopen over the next three years. This includes the reopening of Daydream Island in late 2018, Hayman Island in 2019, and Lindeman Island anticipated in 2022.

How to get there? Qantas makes it easy to see Australia with the most non-stop flights to Australia each week and Australia's largest domestic network. Your Australian vacation starts the moment you step onboard with Australian food, wine and hospitality from take-off to touchdown. It's just a movie, a meal and a sleep and you're there. Experience a whole new level of comfort onboard the new Qantas Dreamliner, with daily flights to Brisbane from Los Angeles and New York from September 1. From Brisbane, it's an easy connection to Hamilton Island and the Great Barrier Reef with Qantas' domestic network.

To see more from Renee's visit to the Whitsunday Islands, check out her photo gallery! And be sure to visit Tourism Australia at www.australia.com to check out all the places to go, things to do and plan your visit!