Escape plan: Australia's best sunny spots to visit this winter

Here's your chance to drive or ride in one of those massive freight trucks that transport goods around the country. At 50 metres long and 1000 tonnes, the 600-horsepower road train is a monster. Sit behind the wheel or in the passenger seat on this highway tour from Darwin. The professional driver will share fascinating information about these legendary vehicles and the local routes, while you enjoy the two-hour Road Train Experience. roadtrainexperiencent.com.au

If you don't have time for a multi-night Kimberley cruise, one-day or overnight stays are now available. Departing from Broome or Cygnet Bay, Kimberley Day Cruises' boat tour passes the Buccaneer Archipelago, Hidden Island and Silica Beach on the way to Talbot Bay, where you board a faster boat to zoom through the Horizontal Falls.

To spend the night, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures has launched a 24-hour experience aboard Jetwave Pearl, a 20-guest floating hotel. See the famous falls by helicopter and powerboat, join a guided fishing charter, watch a resident shark show, swim in the marine viewing enclosure and enjoy dinner onboard before a peaceful sleep in the bay. kimberleydaycruise.com; horizontalfallsadventures.com.au

A snappy four-hour return trip from Darwin takes travellers to the famous Jumping Croc Tour. Onboard the new 24-seater Croc Bus, learn about saltwater crocodiles before seeing the real thing (possibly jumping for food dangled off the side of the boat) on a cruise on the Adelaide River. Stop at Humpty Doo for a photo with the 13-metre-tall Boxing Croc statue, and visit Fogg Dam to spot falcons and buffalo. thecrocbus.com.au

Stay at the NT's new Jabiru Retreat at Bamurru Plains, a luxury lodge with exclusive access to 300 kilometres of wilderness on the Mary River. Built on stilts overlooking floodplains, the bungalows have a private plunge-pool and semi-transparent mesh screen walls. Rates include airboat safaris, open-top safari drives, crocodile-spotting river cruises, guided walks, poolside meals and unlimited drinks. bamurruplains.com

An upgraded four-star resort is taking shape, integrating the Mercure and Novotel hotels adjacent to Darwin International Airport. Redevelopment of the two properties has already transformed the accommodation options with 14 luxury villas open for bookings. Each villa has its own private pool and deck. When fully complete in mid-2023, the refurbished property will have a caravan park, lagoon pool, children's play area, bars and restaurants. Cossies Bar at the Mercure and the renovated Novotel Poolside Restaurant are also available for a tropical dining experience. darwinairporthotels.com.au

Camping with Custodians has opened a new site to the public, Djarindjin Campground, owned and operated by the Indigenous community. Located 190 kilometres north of Broome, on the Dampier Peninsula, Djarindjin has 37 powered and 10 unpowered sites, an outdoor kitchen and barbecue, a communal firepit and a roadhouse. Visitors can meet the local Aboriginal people and learn about their culture on tours with Bardi and Jawi guides. Camping with Custodians also manages other sites at Imintji, Mimbi, Peedamulla, Violet Valley and Doon Doon in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. djarindjin.com.au

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More than a decade since Cyclone Yasi destroyed Dunk Island, the ferry service from Mission Beach in north Queensland has restarted. Although the resort remains closed, the tropical island is open for day trips and camping in the national park. A seven-kilometre hike up Mt Kootaloo explores ancient fern forests and the ruins of a World War II radar station, leading to panoramic views. On the way back down, follow the track to Muggy Muggy Beach for a refreshing swim. The 10-minute ferry operates five times a week, and a bus service from Cairns also connects with the new ferry. The operator, QuickCoast by Myroo Adventures, will start another coastal expedition from Townsville to Orpheus and Magnetic islands in July. quickcoast.com.au

Australian Cycle Tours has introduced a seven-day journey around Townsville and neighbouring Magnetic Island. This active holiday starts with a 35-kilometre loop ride around the Ross River area, stopping for a quick dip in the Riverway Lagoons. The next day sees a mix of biking and hiking in the World Heritage Paluma National Park. After cycling to the Pallarenda Wetlands, take the ferry to "Maggie" for three days of bushwalks, guided and self-guided cycling, while spotting wildlife and World War II forts. Accommodation is provided in motels along the way. australiancycletours.com.au

Ocean lovers are invited to participate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Eye on the Reef Rapid Monitoring Survey. Passions of Paradise's eco tour enables confident snorkellers to join conservationists assessing the health of the reef, using an underwater slate to record the different types of fish and coral. Certified divers can go deeper to observe the crew planting pieces of coral. Each expedition is supervised by a Master Reef Guide and limited to 12 people. Departing from Cairns on a catamaran, this educational day includes lunch and equipment. passions.com.au