Romancing Australia - the next best thing

With Baz Luhrmann's sweeping new movie Australia, the tourism spotlight has turned on the Outback, making it shine like never before. But beyond the usual outback adventures, there are plenty of other ways you can capture the movie's unique spirit.

Whitsundays exploration in Queensland

In Queensland, do as Nicole Kidman did and chart your own adventure sailing the Whitsundays. Long before Nicole saddled-up for Australia, she set sail on the Whitsundays with Sam Neill in the movie Dead Calm — the Australian-made thriller which launched her into the Hollywood stratosphere. The stunningly, beautiful group of 74, mostly uninhabited, tropical islands in the Great Barrier Reef, stretch from the beautiful beaches of Bowen southwards to gorgeous Laguna Whitsunday's. They're ideal to explore by boat. You can walk on a deserted beach, snorkel the reef, go swimming or lie on the deck under the stars. From fully-crewed trips to sail-your-own adventures there are plenty of ways to put the wind in your sails.

See the Sailing Whitsundays website - www.sailingwhitsundays.com

WWII history in the Australian Capital Territory

One of the most dramatic scene's in Australia is the bombing of Darwin during World War II. In the ACT you can discover the relics of the country's wartime past at the Australian War Memorial (www.awm.gov.au). Opened in 1941, the memorial commemorates Australia's more than 100,000 war dead and has one of the world's best collections of war relics. There are some 20 galleries including ANZAC Hall which features a Japanese submarine which attacked Sydney Harbour in 1942 and the Lancaster bomber G for George. After wandering around the exhibits, be sure to spend time reflecting at the Roll of Honour.

History tours in Tasmania

Dig a little further into Australia's past at Port Arthur (www.portarthur.org.au) in Tasmania. Located on the Tasman Peninsula, it evokes a powerful sense of Australia's convict and early settlement history. Established as a prison in 1833, by the time it ceased operating in 1877 more than 12,000 men had passed through what was known as "Hell on Earth"; a place where prisoners suffered hard labour working on timber and coal mining gangs. For a unique insight, join the lantern-lit Historic Ghost Tour on which you'll hear spine-chilling stories about the strange occurrences documented at the site.

Horse riding in Victoria

There's certainly a lot of horsing around in Australia. While Nicole looked at home in the saddle in her role as Lady Sarah Ashley, Hugh had to buff-up and learn to ride a horse like a pro. Before Hugh and Nicole, there was Tom and Sigrid and The Man from Snowy River. You can re-live the movies on a horseback tour through the Victoria Alps with Bogong Horseback Adventures (www.bogonghorse.com.au). On one of their multi-day packhorse trips you'll follow historic cattle trails through tall mountain forests, fern gullies and gentle river crossings up the foothills of Mount Bogong. For the less adventurous the company also offers a three-hour trail ride on the lower tracks of the Alpine National Park.

Bushwalking in South Australia

A great way to get up-close-and-personal with the country's spectacular landscape is on foot with South Australia's 1200km Heysen Trail (www.heysentrail.asn.au). One of the world's great long-distance walks, it starts on the coastal beaches of Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula, crosses the gum-clad Mount Lofty Ranges, passes the world-renowned wineries of the Barossa Valley and then climbs into the magnificent Flinders Ranges to end deep in outback country at Parachilna Gorge. The walk can be done in sections, so if your time is limited, just hike the section to Wilpena Pound, a natural amphitheatre, to experience soaring cliffs, plunging gorges and incredible wildlife.

Aboriginal culture in the Northern Territory

It's not only the grand panoramas of the Great Outback that Luhrmann has captured in Australia, it's also spirit of the continent's first inhabitants. In the Northern Territory you can go on a journey 50,000 years in the making, as you discover the living history of Australia's Aboriginal people who are the custodians of the one of the world's oldest, continuous cultures. Here you can explore Aboriginal songlines with Desert Tracks (www.deserttracks.com.au), based in the Pitjantjatjara Lands south-west of Alice Springs, or go walkabout with an Aboriginal elder in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park with Kakadu Culture Camp (www.kakaduculturecamp.com).

4WD in WA

In Western Australia the 14-day Broome to Kununurra 4WD route (www.westernaustralia.com/au/Things_to_See_and_Do/Suggested_Itineraries/Pages/Rugged_4WD_Adventures.aspx) takes in all of the regions so vividly brought to life in the movie. Starting in Broome, you'll explore the stunning coastal regions of Cape Leveque before tuning inland to discover the treasures of the Eastern Kimberley including Windjana National Park and El Questro Wilderness Park where sections of the movie were filmed (most notably an impressive cattle stampede) to finally arrive in the dusty town of Kununurra which served as a base for the crew while filming.

Bush romance in New South Wales

While Australia may be a larger-than-life action adventure, it's also deeply romantic. In New South Wales, you can get a taste of the wild beauty and romance of the movie with a romantic bush escape at Paperbark Camp (www.paperbarkcamp.com.au) on the south coast. Here you'll wake each morning to a chorus of singing birds from the comfort of your bed in a luxury safari-style tent. There are 12 tents in all (eight originals and four deluxe), with the deluxe tents featuring divinely-deep traditional claw-foot bathtubs complete with stunning views, as well as the camp's renowned Gunya restaurant. Camping has never looked so good!