“I wish the world was twice as big,” David Attenborough once wrote, “and that half of it was still unexplored.”
For travelers looking to Australia, we have the key to exploring one of the world’s most mysterious, barely charted places. While our on-the-ground experts have a wealth of land access, from the secrets of Uluru Rock to the white sails of Sydney Harbor (not to mention the best spot for a flat white in Melbourne), a wonderland beckons off the country’s eastern coast.
We’re talking, of course, about the Great Barrier Reef. In a span of blue called the Coral Sea, more than 1,400 miles of islands, reefs, and hidden coves await, only able to be reached, and truly understood, by water.
This is where our approach at Rothschild Beyond diverges from the ordinary. Our travel designers build journeys around bespoke, private yacht charters—moving you fluidly between islands, snorkel sites, and secluded anchorages that no land-based itinerary could ever string together.
Which would you choose: the Aroona, a refined explorer of the Great Barrier Reef, or the G3, a superyacht for those who want all of Oceania at their fingertips?
Here’s a look.
The Aroona: Deep Into the Reef
This 70-foot private yacht built specifically for the Great Barrier Reef, and it shows. The Aroona carries up to eight guests along with a dedicated crew—skipper, mate, host, chef, and guide who’s with you in the water for every dive and paddle. This is not a ship that hugs the tourist routes: instead, the Aroona navigates through remote reaches of the Ribbon Reefs, Cod Hole, Lizard Island, and Steve’s Bommie, alongside quieter island stops that most travelers never see.
As we settle in onboard, each sunrise might find us in a glassy lagoon, or anchored by a white-sand beach. In the afternoons, we’ll snorkel over soft coral gardens looking for sea turtles or rays, or swim (in June and July) with inquisitive dwarf minke whales. Passionate anglers can chase some of the world’s most storied fishing grounds, home of giant barramundis, while other travelers can try kiteboarding, paddleboarding, or gliding through the reef on an underwater scooter. In the evenings, we return to the dining table set with locally sourced ingredients prepared by our onboard chef, for the kind of unhurried dinner that always tastes richer after a day at sea.
The G3: The Feel of a Superyacht
With a sprawling sundeck, master suite, jacuzzi, rooftop cinema, gym, and a below-deck locker full of water toys, the G3 vessel welcomes larger groups (up to 12 travelers) into its six cabins. This 144-foot pleasure craft was built for freedom: its captains sail all of Oceania with the flexibility to incorporate private jet and helicopter travel to fabulous stays in Sydney, Melbourne, and Noosa.
Here, the crew includes not only a captain and chef, but also a masseuse and diving instructor. From full-throttle jet ski runs to lazy swims off the back deck, whatever you wish in the Coral Sea is in reach. We’ll cast off from Cairns in search of perfect waters, stopping at St. Crispin Reef to see huge schools of fusiliers and sergeant major fish, snorkeling amid anemones, colorful corals, and maybe even reef sharks. For the culturally curious, we can dock at Cooktown to visit the Rainbow Serpent cave, learning about customs of an ancient Aboriginal community. Dinner takes place at a beloved local restaurant or back on board, relishing the meal from our alfresco deck as the sunset turns from gold to red. We have the feeling, here on our private, bobbing paradise, that a sailing like this is just the beginning.
Curious what island-hopping around Australia could look like for you? Get in touch with the Rothschild Beyond team to begin brainstorming.
