Australias greatest escapes – in pictures

The easternmost point of the Australian mainland, Byron Bay is where the story of modern Australia began, when Captain James Cook landed here in 1770. The lighthouse was built just over 100 years later. Photograph: Dean Turner

The King Leopold Ranges of Western Australia are in the Kimberley region, a wilderness of vast canyons, thundering waterfalls and pristine beaches. The ranges are crescent-shaped and run 567km (352 miles) from the northern end of the Durack Range in the East to Secure Bay in the West Kimberley. Photograph: Steve Waters/Lonely Planet Images

Burleigh Heads, on the Gold Coast, is famous for its world-class waves but less crowded than many other surfer hotspots nearby. The town itself has fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, and on warm summer evenings it feels like all of them gather on the head to picnic, and watch the surfers or games of cricket on the sand. Photograph: Andrew Watson/Photolibrary RM

Cathedral Beach on Fraser Island, a 123km (76 miles) island off the southern coast of Queensland, has been a protect World Heritage Site since 1992. Its unspoiled beaches and spectacular coastline are accessible only by ferry; take at least three days to see the island, preferably in a rented 4X4. Photograph: Richard I'Anson/Lonely Planet Images

Take a camel ride at sunset on Cable Beach in Broome, a pearling town in the Kimberley region. The sunsets along this stretch of sand are spectacular, as the sun drops into the Indian Ocean. Photograph: Ingetje Tadros/The Image Bank

The Cathedral Gorge in the Kimberley, Western Australia, is one of the most awe-inspiring sights in an amazing region. The gorge is accessible by foot, a 4km walk from Piccaninny car park in Purnululu National Park, also known as the Bungle Bungle Ranges. Photograph: Michael Fuller/Flickr RF

The best way to get to the heart of Australia is by train. Cutting across the appropriately named Red Centre, the Ghan ( greatsouthernrail.com.au) travels from coast to coast in three days, taking in epic Outback scenery in style. Photograph: PR

Australian roads are the stuff of legend and the road to Alice Springs, a historic town that has played host to numerous Outback pioneers, is special, even by Australian standards. From here you can strike out into the desert to see Uluru and Kings Canyon. Photograph: Luigi Vaccarella/SIME/4cornersimages

Heading north from Queensland the pace of life slows. Make time to go snorkeling in the Whitsunday Islands, and don’t miss Whitehaven Beach, where you can’t fail to take a photocard-worthy shot of the perfect silica sands. Photograph: Maurizio Rellini/SIME/4cornersimages

The gorges of Nitmiluk National Park in the Northern Territory are best explored by canoe or flat-bottomed boat. The Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls are of great cultural significance to the local Jawoyn people. Find out more at the Katherine Gorge visitor centre. Photograph: Johanna Huber/SIME/4cornersimages

On its new Boeing 777-300ERs, Singapore Airlines has the world’s most advanced entertainment system, with more than 1,000 movies, TV programmes, music albums, radio channels and interactive games. All this on your personal touchscreen. You’ll be in Australia before you know it. Photograph: PR

On selected routes you’ll travel on the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger plane. Those who can stretch to it can even travel in one of the Singapore Airlines suites. These individual cabins are only available on the A380 and feature sliding doors, a comfortable full-size bed and a personal 23-inch LCD screen. Photograph: PR