I love being awed and inspired by nature. The bigger, more spectacular and powerful it is, the better. Whether it’s scuba diving the great reefs of the world, visiting the vast expanses of Antarctica or seeing the highest mountains, my travel bucket list probably has it.

I thought I’d ticked off the best waterfall when I went to the very photogenic Niagara several years back. But after seeing footage of Iguazu Falls in South America, I knew I just had to go.

Sitting across a 2.7-kilometre section of the Argentinian and Brazilian border, this awe-inspiring system of around 300 waterfalls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and stretches as far as the eye can see. In fact, Iguazu is the largest waterfall system in the world. Visiting these magnificent falls seemed like the perfect excuse for my first trip to South America.

So when I found premium cabin availability using Qantas Points to get from Sydney to Santiago, I jumped at the opportunity to experience this incredible spectacle for myself. A trip like this – including luxury flights and accommodation – would normally set you back between $15,000-$20,000. But for just 209,700 Qantas Points plus $3,420 per person twin share, I make one of my bucket list destinations a reality. And to top it off, I bring my dad along for the trip of a lifetime.

Keen to replicate this itinerary for yourself? Then check out my trip highlights below, including details of flights and accommodation, so you can get booking!

Flying to South America from Sydney

Our Business Class journey from Sydney to Santiago, the gateway to South America for Australians, begins in the sophisticated Qantas International First Lounge in Sydney. This is courtesy of my Platinum status with Qantas. The dining experience – which I’ve diligently been saving my stomach for – easily rivals that of a high-end establishment. But unlike a restaurant, everything on this Neil Perry-designed menu is free. My dad’s visiting the Qantas First Lounge for the first time. The look on his face is priceless.

Qantas flies its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, my favourite long-haul aircraft, on the Sydney to Santiago route. The Business Class cabin is excellent, with the 1-2-1 configuration landing everyone direct aisle access. I book both my dad and me a window seat. There’s no way we’re missing the descent into Santiago and our first glimpses of the enormous Andes Mountains. As we settle into the flight, I can’t help but send my mum a photo of my dad’s ear-to-ear grin. After all, it’s his first ever Business Class flight, and that’s certainly something worth smiling about!

Majestic Santiago

Santiago has long been on my bucket list for a single reason: the views of the majestic Andes Mountains. The Andes are the second-highest range of mountains in the world, and Santiago is built right up against some of the largest. The views as we fly in are spectacular. In fact, they’re matched only by the endless panorama from the San Cristóbal Hill in the centre of town. Happily, the hill’s a short walk from my hotel in the Lastarria neighbourhood. The outlook from the hotel’s rooftop bar is quite literally jaw-dropping.

I spend my only full day in Santiago on a trip to the nearby port city of Valparaiso and the stunning local wine region. The colourful city of Valparaiso has an electric energy. I’m captivated by the street art and steep narrow roads of its UNESCO-listed neighbourhoods. We stop by the spectacular Vinamar de Casablanca winery on our way home. This boozy visit opens my eyes to the quality and value of Chilean wines. What a great way to end the day.

Before long, we’re off on the next leg of our journey – a four-hour flight from Santiago to São Paulo. From there, it’s a short hop to the spectacular Iguazu Falls.

Incredible Iguazu Falls

As we descend into Foz d0 Iguacu, the city nearest to Iguazu Falls, the sunset illuminates the surrounding rainforest. The beauty of southern Brazil mesmerises me. It’s getting too dark to see the waterfalls, but this only builds my anticipation. The experience will be even more incredible when I finally lay my eyes on this wonder. I’m booked on a first-light tour in the morning.

Our base is the Hotel das Cataratas. Dubbing this the best hotel experience I’ve ever had is a huge claim. But the classic Portuguese colonial-style exterior set among a Brazilian rainforest makes this hotel well-deserving of the title. Luxury echoes throughout the hotel – I imagine this is what royalty feels like.

And the service is phenomenal. We have the same guide for every activity during our stay. This includes hotel pick-up, two tours of the falls and airport drop-off. He gets to know our likes, dislikes and interests, and tailors our experience accordingly. It’s almost like having our own personal host in Iguazu Falls.

The hotel is the only one located within Iguazu National Park, granting us access to the park outside of public opening hours. Uninterrupted sunrises, breathtaking sunsets, intimate encounters with South American wildlife – our stay is sublime and absolutely perfect.

Now, Iguazu Falls isn’t one of those places you simply visit once. The magic of these falls is that you can’t see their entire 2.7-kilometre body from one viewpoint – or one country, for that matter. The waterfalls transform throughout the day as various lighting conditions cast playful shadows.

Our First Light Experience walk captures the essence of Iguazu Falls long before the gates open to the public. Weaving our way through the paths with the sun rising in the distance, our friendly guide points out the local wildlife. There are toucans and vultures aplenty, though (un)fortunately no jaguars on today’s walk!

A hop across the border to the Argentinian side of the falls is a must. There are three main walking trails taking you along various parts of the falls. The Devil’s Throat lookout is one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my travelling life. Make sure this one’s on your itinerary.

But the only way to truly see the breadth and scope of this natural wonder is from above. A 10-minute helicopter ride takes us on a thrilling aerial journey, soaring over the cascades of the falls with unobstructed views.