Do you have a pile of Frequent Flyer points clogging up on your card? Well, Qantas has just released a handy guide that tells you where you can go for fewer than 60,000 points.
Yep, for less than 60,000 points and a few bob here and there, you can visit some of the most breathtaking places in the world. So, forget buying that slow-cooker that’ll just sit at the back of your cupboard, and put off that business class upgrade when flying from Sydney to Brisbane, save those points and maximise their value with these top four trips.
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Rudyard Kipling reckons that Milford Sound is the eighth wonder of the world. One look at this picture and you can see why. It’s an awesome place – in the true sense of the word ‘awesome’.
From spectacular waterfalls to landscapes straight out of a fantasy film, Milford Sound is truly one of the most dazzling places on the planet.
It’s a four-hour drive from Queenstown, or a tour operator such as Milford Flights can fly you from Queenstown on a scenic light-plane tour where you’ll really see the stunning scenery below.
At the time of publication, you can fly economy from Perth to Queenstown for 22,500 points plus $172.74.
Zion National Park, United States
When you speak to the PR manager for Zion National Park, you’d almost be forgiven for thinking she’s promoting some sort of heaven. And again, when you see a show reel of all that Zion has to offer, you have to pinch yourself to remind you that it’s real.
Zion has it all. Think remarkable terrain perfectly suited to hikers, climbers and outdoor enthusiasts of any ability, as well as rivers and rapids ripe for white-water rafting enthusiasts and colourful canyons, peaks and impressive deserts that are almost alien in appearance. You can spend weeks exploring Zion’s expansive topography.
Fly economy from Brisbane to Los Angeles for 45,000 points plus $249.59, then transfer to Salt Lake City for an exhilarating escape with a difference.
Blue Mountains, Australia
For a holiday a little closer to home, the mesmerising Blue Mountains in New South Wales are an ideal place for a short – or longer – getaway.
The Blue Mountains are home to hundreds of thousands of eucalypts, which perfectly perfume the region with a refreshing ‘Australian’ aroma. The air is fresh and invigorating. The bushwalking is divine, punctuated by classic sites such as Hanging Rock and Echo Point, the wonderful wafts of wildflowers and pinnacles of a scale that is truly humbling.
It’s just 90 minutes’ drive from Sydney Airport, and offers luxury accommodation for the ‘high-end’ type right down to basic campsites for intrepid travellers.
Fly economy from Perth to Sydney for 18,000 points plus $40.07.
Patagonia, Chile
Evidently, Charles Darwin (you know that natural selection guy?) called Patagonia a “trembling mirage”, which is probably a good description of this desolate yet strangely beautiful region at the southern-most tip of Chile.
It’s more a destination for the adventurous type, or for travellers looking for a trip they can truly boast about to their friends and family. From the icy, iridescent waters of Lake Pehoé to the craggy peaks of the Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia offers an incredible opportunity to call yourself ‘intrepid’.
Fly economy from Sydney to Santiago International Airport for 45,000 points plus $205.51.
And there are more places you can visit for fewer than 60,000 points. To see them, visit Travel Insider.
Have you been to any of these places? Do you have a pile of points you would use to visit any of these four destinations?
