Once in a lifetime holidays

We live in a wonderful world, brimming with incredible travel experiences. But only the best of the best make it to the top of our own personal bucket lists. From travelling around Australia in a campervan to admiring the Eiffel Tower on a snowy Parisian night, the choices are boundless and ticking them off the ultimate pleasure. We’ve put together a few once-in-a-lifetime experiences that we believe are true bucket list material, perfect for the over 60 traveller.

Ride the Rocky Mountaineer

Touted as one of the best rail experiences in the world, the Rocky Mountaineer is no stranger to acclaim. While there’s a range of routes, the Canadian Rockies journeys are by far the most famous and stunning, winding through dry deserts, along the edge of dramatically steep gorges, over glacially-fed lakes and past soaring snow-capped mountains. Best of all, the carriages are custom-built to ensure the best possible window views of all this staggering natural beauty. Famous stops include beautiful Lake Louise, the ski resort town of Banff, the super-modern prairie city of Calgary and sophisticatedly beautiful Vancouver. Choose your level of comfort on board, then kick back and enjoy the world-class ride as magnificent landscapes transform before your eyes.

Make the Journey to Uluru

How many Australians can say they’ve journeyed to the sunburnt heart of our country? A passage often left until the golden years, Uluru is a sacred Aboriginal site that’s also a natural wonder of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Marvel at this spectacular red rock formation in this ancient landscape on a scenic flight, or get up close and trace around it on foot, discovering hidden caves, ridges and waterholes. The iconic symbol of our harsh Aussie outback, it’s not the only highlight. Once the dusky colours of a desert sunset spring to life on the horizon and fade away to black, turn your attention upwards. You’ll witness one of the most amazing starry night skies in the world.

Cruise the Danube

There’s no better way to witness Europe’s kaleidoscope of colourful history, natural beauty and vibrant cities than from the water. While there are many outstanding river journeys to choose from, the Danube is iconic. Meander through Germany’s mystical Black Forest, Austria’s gorgeous mountain scenery and the Transylvanian haunts of Romania. Between days and nights spent soaking up the exquisite facilities and atmosphere on board, jump off to explore quaint towns and bustling cities. Catch an orchestral performance in Salzburg, stand atop a historic fort in Belgrade, and wander the baroque and medieval cobblestone streets of Prague. From the cosmopolitan luxuries of Cologne to the local encounters of Hungary, every stop along a Danube river cruise is its own magical highlight.

Glimpse the Northern Lights

One of nature’s most spectacular displays is without doubt the atmospheric and fluorescent dance of lights in the northern skies, known as Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights. Astronomically fascinating, it’s a rainbow fusion of colourful illuminations and shapes that literally twists and twirls in the night sky above, a purely natural phenomenon. The beauty of this rare sight is that it allows you to pick from a handful of special destinations to glimpse it. The auroral zone – home to the most likely spotting destinations – spans the polar reaches of northern Scandinavia and Canada, as well as the southern tip of Greenland. Make sure you’re there in the winter months to see the colours come to life against the black skies (while they’re still there in summer, you can’t necessarily see them). While cloudy skies can hinder your view and sightings are never guaranteed, that’s half the thrill.

Go on an African Safari

The only way to soak up the glory of Africa is on safari. An incredible continent of legendary landscapes and unique wilderness encounters, there are many countries to explore and animals to spot, from South Africa to the Congo. Kruger National Park is a classic choice, your best bet to spot the Big Five and home to some of Africa’s best game reserves. But you could also track mountain gorillas in the misty mountain landscapes of Rwanda, which beautifully intertwine with volcanoes, waterfalls and dramatic valleys. For an alternative to your typical safari style, take a water safari along the Chobe River Delta to glimpse game from a unique perspective, or go all out with a flight safari to glimpse pink flamingos down below. Africa is home to some of the most luxurious accommodation on the planet, so don’t make the mistake of thinking a safari equals a hard yakka travel style.

Have you ticked off any of these destinations already? What have you got on your bucket list?

This article is sponsored by Escape Travel and they have written the story with us, specifically for over 60 travellers. We bring you this article to share insights into what we feel is relevant and interesting to our community. Consider Escape Travel for your next holiday.  Click here for more information.