Virgin Australia’s co-founder Brett Godfrey on his favourite international airline
Brett Godfrey co-founded Virgin Australia in 2003 and the Tasmanian Walking Company in 2012. The tourism and aviation veteran shares his favourite international carrier and his packing tips.
As the co-founder of Virgin Australia and a 28-year veteran of the aviation industry, Brett Godfrey has spent plenty of time in the air. These days, however, you’re more likely to find him with his feet in hiking boots and very firmly on the ground. One of three founders of the Tasmanian Walking Company, established in 2012, Godfrey has been able to pursue his long-held passion for nature-based tourism.
In fact, it was while hiking in Nepal that the idea for the guided trekking operation took shape. Godfrey had been in the hot seat as chief executive officer of Virgin Australia for 10 years when he stepped away in 2010 and headed for the Himalayas in desperate need of a break from corporate life. He admits it was a life-changing experience.
“I was simply cooked and needed a rest,” he says. “I came home recharged and thought, ‘Well, that was epic. Why don’t we do that in Australia?’ I guess that seeded the idea for the Tasmanian Walking Company.”
Godfrey has been an active traveller for much of his life, embarking on hikes in Australia and overseas as well as long-distance cycle rides. He took up kitesurfing a decade ago and plans to tackle Bass Strait in the next year or so. Meanwhile, the azure waters and reliable winds of the Cocos Islands, four hours west of Perth, are his Mecca for the sport.
The corporate world still plays a significant role in his life and he has served on the boards of airlines and airports, Tourism Australia and Rugby Australia. He was a key player in Tasmania’s bid to secure a licence for a football club to join the AFL league, a campaign that will come to fruition in 2028. He also remains a strong advocate for the airline industry while also considering its impact on the environment. Since the Jet Age took off in the 1960s, “fuel burn” per seat has been halved, Godfrey points out.
“Fuel accounts for one-third of airline operating costs and so the industry works incredibly hard to reduce the per-passenger-carried environmental impact,” he says.
“The industry continues to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to mitigate its exposure to carbon, and frankly it does a way better job than most other tourism-related transport industries.”
Tasmanian Walking Company recently announced a new addition to its repertoire, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk, the company’s second offering in the Northern Territory after its Larapinta outings. The five-day fully guided trek is set to launch in April 2026 and will take participants between two of Australia’s most recognisable natural wonders, staying overnight at a private lodge and luxury eco-camp.
What’s so special about the new walk?
It promises to be one of the world’s greatest journeys ever by foot … It’s a 54km long desert trek straight into the sacred heart of Australia. We hope people will leave as advocates of this spiritual Aboriginal place.
My favourite Tassie itinerary
That’s like picking a favourite child … but it’s the Cradle Mountain Overland Track. I first did that walk in 2013 and it was the catalyst to me buying the company. It covers so many of Tasmania’s natural wonders – rainforests, button grass plains, 2000-year-old King Billy Pines, and of course, wombats. And when you go with the Tasmanian Walking Company there are also a few human rewards: world-class guides, a comfortable bed, a hot shower, chef-inspired meals and a glass of wine or two.
The hike I want to do
I have a long-held desire to walk the Scottish Highlands. So much so, I asked our Guided By Nature walking team to put a 10-day itinerary together, just so I can join a small group tour. There’s a few departures next year I’m keen on. Any takers?
My no.1 city to visit
London. The first thing I do after a long-haul flight is to throw on my runners and seek out my favourite (Australian-style) coffee haunt, then get active. Typically, our flights from home land in the morning, so I set out to work off the jet lag. I’m never bored given London is blessed with an abundance of parks, greens and gardens, the Thames, beautiful bridges and history around every corner.
My favourite suitcase
I always travel with a Rimowa carry-on. The bag is the biggest allowed in the overhead lockers on domestic flights but I find it can keep me suited up with casual gear and accessories to last a week or more. If it needs to be checked on a smaller aircraft, it is tough enough to beat the “baggage handler” test. Also, I always buy newspapers as internet connection can be sketchy and I get bored super quickly.
My favourite overseas airline
We are very lucky in Australia to have a couple of high-quality domestic airlines, but when it comes to long haul it is hard to beat Singapore Airlines. The suites on its A380s (pictured) are a cut above the rest and the cabin service is exceptional. It is also hard to refuse their signature satay skewers.
What makes a great hotel
Like cruise ships, the smaller the better. I’ve found the more boutique they are, the more tailored the effort and intimate the service. Smaller hotels tend to have owners who are more connected, and that can mean all the difference in a tricky situation. In Brisbane where I live, the Spicers Balfour Hotel (pictured), is one such example.
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