Responsible snorkel and whale-watching tours, from Coral Bay and Exmouth, are consciously designed not to disturb these majestic creatures, with carefully observed distances and practices. Instead, education is key. As marine biologists shed light on the environment and behavioural patterns, feel the energy rush through your body as you slip into the water for a once-in-a-lifetime swim with a whale shark or manta ray – or watch in awe as a humpback whale tail-slaps and breaches just a few metres away.

Across the border in Baird Bay, South Australia, visitors are invited to don a wetsuit, mask and snorkel to swim with resident Australian sealions and bottlenose dolphins. Watch in awe as the sealions blow bubbles around you; twirling and dancing among the seaweed as they glide seamlessly through the crystal-clear water. The dolphins often frolic at a distance as you watch underwater. One of the most biodiverse habitats in South Australia is Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island, where slow-moving echidna and playful tammar wallabies can be found under the thickets. Remember to look up to spot the elusive koala, usually found snoozing among the eucalypt tree leaves, while the long-nosed fur seals are anything but shy as they sunbathe on the granite rocks of the southwest coastline.

Travel Nation’s expert local guides and rangers are on-hand to share their vast knowledge of the land and wildlife, with the reassurance that all native species are protected by rigid conservation practices. Timing is key, however, when looking for the majestic western grey kangaroo. Most likely to be sighted at sunrise and sunset along the red-dirt roads that snake through the park, these skittish animals aren’t very traffic savvy – so be sure to drive carefully.

Over in South Australia, the wineries of the Adelaide Hills welcome visitors to bespoke cellar door and restaurant experiences – each one showcasing the best of this quaint and verdant region through fresh, seasonal produce. A stay at Sequoia Lodge offers a rare insight into the local land and its people through immersive onsite activities – including Indigenous dreamtime storytelling, sunrise yoga sessions, nature walks, and tastings with local artisan winemakers. From here, it is a short drive to the Riverland – where traditional paddle-steamers, decorated in royal red and white, tour the Murray River. Guests can even embark on a dinghy excursion to explore the narrow reed-fringed wetlands to sight ibis, pelicans and whistling kites.

At Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, local Rangers lead walking tours to Australia’s largest colony of endemic sealions – with talks focusing on sea lion behaviour and physiology. Meanwhile, wallabies, echidnas and goannas can be spotted scrambling through the bushland in Flinders Case National Park. Venturing deeper into the bush rewards visitors with secluded coves and pristine, white-sand beaches that lie beneath the park’s clifftops. Flinders Case National Park is also home to the Remarkable Rocks, granite boulders that took 500 million years to form from the natural elements.

The newly-renovated and ultra-luxurious Southern Ocean Lodge is unlike a lot of other luxury accommodation in Australia. Guests staying at Southern Ocean Lodge will enjoy a fine-dining, à la carte menu daily, which includes an open bar and carefully chosen local spirits and fine wines to choose from as well as a range of signature wildlife experiences throughout your stay. This is the perfect place to indulge your taste buds and wind down post safari.

As with all Travel Nation trips, luxury itineraries can be tailor-made to suit the specific interests of the guest – including the UK airport from which you travel.

With its sprawling white-sand beaches and crowd-free coves, the wild western coast of South Australia is a sight to behold. A morning boat ride and swim in the turquoise waters of Baird Bay is likely to bring you face-to-face with inquisitive Australian sea lions and playful bottlenose dolphins. Echidnas and Rosenberg goannas roam the roads of Coffin Bay National Park – while emus and western grey kangaroos are often seen feeding within the untamed public bushland.

Bidding farewell to the Eyre Peninsula, get ready to witness the changing landscapes of the Nullabor – the 90km stretch of road known as ‘Australia’s longest straight road’ that leads you into Western Australia. Watch as the scenery transforms from desert ochres and browns to the rusty reds of the Great Australian Bight.

Look out for breaching and tail-slapping southern right whales – sometimes visible in their scores – at the viewpoints along the way. The drive steers you along the southern coastline of Western Australia, taking in the picturesque Cape Le Grand National Park – where kangaroos sunbathe on the immaculate shores at Lucky Bay, boasting the whitest sand of any beach in Australia – and the towering 400-year-old red tingle eucalypt forests of Walpole. Inland, the wildflower meadows of the Stirling Ranges are a must-see during the spring months of October and November.

No privately guided road trip is complete without spending a day in the Margaret River Region, sampling delicious local produce – from wines and gins to platters of seafood, creamy cheeses, dates and figs. Over 200 wineries, breweries and eateries call this home – making it one of Australia’s most prized foodie regions.

Finally, to end this epic 18-day trip, a Welcome to Country ceremony, conducted by traditional custodians of the land, greets you in Perth and the Noongar lands – with the famed quokkas of Rottnest Island just a short ferry ride away.

On arrival in Adelaide, head north to the lush vineyards of the Barossa Valley – which offer an array of farm-to-table dining options – such as tastings and gourmet lunches. It’s a short flight from Adelaide to the wildlife haven of Kangaroo Island, where a homecooked meal and locally-produced wines await at the plush Stranraer Homestead.

Head down to Admiral’s Arch, a natural granite rock formation in the southwest corner of Flinders Chase National Park, to see previously-endangered long-nosed fur seal colonies that now thrive at over 20,000 individuals. Stop off at the park’s visitor’s centre to hear from the rangers involved in on-going conservation efforts that have reignited the species.

At Seal Bay Conservation Park, a similar story of positivity unfolds at one of the largest sea lion colonies in Australia. See males battle for dominance while females protect and ween their young pups – while marine biologists share tales of plight and recovery along this rugged coastline. At Lathami Conservation Park – guides will help you spot the endangered glossy black cockatoo among the drooping sheoak trees and koalas lazing on the branches of the eucalypts.