Australia is a wonderful country for kids, with endless outdoor recreation opportunities, child-centred museums and plenty of interesting wildlife to gawk at. The beaches and water sports alone should keep children of all ages enthralled, but for urban activities you can spend some time at the Australian Museum, Sydney Aquarium or Taronga Zoo. Best of all, the locals are so friendly that everywhere you go you’ll find a welcoming smile.

Australian Museum
When you are in Sydney, take a break from the beach and check out this fascinating museum covering just about every topic imaginable. The second floor is probably where the kids will find the most fun, as it’s full of child-friendly exhibits catering to interesting subjects like dinosaurs and anthropology. Phone: +61 2 9320 6000; website: www.austmus.gov.au/.

Beaches
Australia is literally covered with beaches, and most of the towns and even major cities like Sydney have excellent beaches right in their midst. Being such a water sports, surf and beach culture, there are plenty of equipment rental shops, facilities and some of the best lifeguards on the planet to ensure your kids safely have fun in the sun.

Sydney Aquarium
More than 5,000 fascinating sea creatures can be observed in some 50 huge glass tanks in this state-of-the-art aquarium in Sydney. There are dozens of highlights at this popular site, but the glass floors of the Walk on Water exhibit offer the most unique way to experience the Seal Sanctuary. A crocodile pool, special Great Barrier Reef display and many other wonders await visitors. Phone: +61 2 8251 7800; website: www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/.

Taronga Zoo
One of the oldest zoos in the world is still capturing the imaginations of kids in Sydney. Recent renovations have brought some great new habitats such as the Asian Rainforest area where wonderful creatures like gibbons, Asian turtles and Asian elephants roam in natural environments. Of course, there is also plenty of local wildlife like kangaroos and koalas to enjoy. Phone: +61 2 9969 2777.

Australia may have a fairly short history, but it certainly isn’t short on culture. This massive country is home to a wide range of European and Asian immigrant cultures as well as fascinating aboriginals, whose own culture predates most of humanity. There are world-class museums to put this heritage in perspective, excellent performance art venues in every city to showcase the talents of the locals, and some wonderful towns and cities scattered around its incredibly long coastline.

Barossa Valley
Australia’s most famous wine-growing region boasts over 100 wineries, many of which encourage visitors to drop by for a tasting and tour. This lovely valley was originally settled by German immigrants, and these roots are still very apparent. Australia’s wines are fast becoming recognised around the world for their quality, so don’t miss a chance to drive through this magical region. March through May is the harvest season and a fun time to visit. The valley is located an hour’s drive southwest of Adelaide.

Broome
One of the hippest spots in Australia is this Asian-flavoured city in the far flung northwest of the country. Simply getting to Broome is a task, but once you’re here the chilled-out atmosphere, alternative urban scene and trendy cafés and bars make it all worth while. Major highlights in Broome include its authentic Chinatown, the vintage Sun Pictures Cinema and the dinosaur footprints of Gantheaume Point. Naturally Broome has beaches, and neighbouring Cable Beach is regarded as one of Australia’s most scenic.

Cairns
This booming town is one of the most vibrant and festive of all the cities in Australia, making it an ideal destination to experience the contemporary flavour of this country. Its main draw is its access to the Great Barrier Reef, but it also makes the perfect base for exploring attractions like Cape Tribulation, Atherton Tableland and Port Douglas. Cairn’s seaside atmosphere is complemented by some of the best dining, wining, shopping and culture options in the country.

Kakadu National Park
There are many reasons why Kakadu was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. This amazingly diverse and precious area in the tropical north of Australia is home to both a wide range of natural environments and some of the country’s most impressive aboriginal rock art. The aboriginals have been living in Kakadu for 40,000 years, making this a rare oasis of uninterrupted culture. With a vast area of river flood plains, sandstone plateaus, forests and tidal wetlands, Kakadu’s nature provides the perfect complement to its cultural importance. The park is located in the Northern Territory. Phone: +61 8 8939 1121.

Margaret River
Surfing and Australia go hand in hand, and one of the country’s most legendary surf spots is Margaret River. Not only does this quaint seaside town have some of the best surf, but it’s also a major centre for wine production and leisurely consumption. The coastal scenery here is wild and dramatic, the town surprisingly sophisticated and the wines top notch.

National Gallery of Australia
Many of Australia’s finest collections of art are displayed here, as well as one of the best exhibitions of indigenous aboriginal artwork. The permanent collection alone boasts some 100,000 pieces of art and with the steady influx of international touring exhibits and photography displays, visitors can be assured of seeing some great art. Its lakeside location and pleasant sculpture garden are also highlights. The gallery is located in Canberra. Phone: +61 2 6240 6502.

Port Arthur
Started with convicts from Britain, the former penal colony of Port Arthur is one of the best sites in the country to learn more about the origins of modern Australia. This prison was notorious as one of the worst in the country, but today it’s open for visitors to wander around, take a guided tour or a harbour cruise. The gallery of former convicts is particularly interesting.

Thanks to its temperate climate and ethnic diversity, Australia has a wonderfully well-rounded dining scene. In all the major cities, visitors will find a thriving restaurant environment ranging from simple but fresh barbecues to a wealth of global cuisine. Asian restaurants have a particularly strong presence in Australia, and with its massive coastline, seafood is a particular highlight.

Australians love to eat, and they love to keep things relaxed and casual. Outdoor dining can be found virtually everywhere you go thanks to the country’s pleasantly warm weather. For something different, try a bit of bush tucker (food from the outback). Kangaroo meat has become a popular option, as well as emu. Australia is one of the few places on earth where you can try these specialties in a range of styles. Other unusual dishes which are worth a try are the shellfish called Moreton Bay bugs, the freshwater fish barramundi and Sydney rock oysters.

Be sure and wash your food down with one of the country’s excellent wines. The largest wine growing region is the Barossa Valley, but great reds and whites also come from local vineyards outside Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart. Some restaurants in Australia have a BYO policy, which means that guests can bring their own wine and drink it in house. Tipping is not as prevalent as in North America or Europe, but an average 10 per cent tip is standard.

Australia isn’t known for its native handicrafts, but it does produce a few things which are well worth taking home. Besides its excellent wines, some of which can only be bought in Australia, the country makes some high-quality wool and sheepskin products. Indigenous artefacts such as didgeridoos and boomerangs are also popular souvenirs.

If you are an art fan, be sure and investigate some of the stunning indigenous artwork which is created by the aboriginals. Their traditional art is fast becoming one of the hottest styles in the global art world. Just check that it’s authentic artwork before buying.

Other interesting buys which are native to Australia include opals and pearls. Mining towns like Coober Pedy in the south of the country produce some stunning opals at very good prices, while the western Australian town of Broome has long been a centre for pearl diving. Otherwise, expect to find the usual range of Australian-flavoured souvenirs adorned with kangaroos, koalas and the like.

Australia is an outdoor sports paradise, and its residents take daily advantage of the wealth of recreational opportunities available. Most people connect Australia to surfing, but few know that you can also ski in the Snowy Mountains during the winter. Snorkelling and scuba diving are world-class around the Great Barrier Reef, while the scenic hiking and biking is seemingly endless. Beaches, warm water, rugged mountains and tropical rainforests complement the vast desert outback which provides an altogether different environment to explore.

Adventurous sports
Australia offers the outdoor enthusiast every kind of adventure imaginable. The sea kayaking off Queensland and Western Australia is unsurpassed, as is the white water rafting on the Tully River. Four-wheel drive along the beaches of Fraser Island or through the desert outback, then hit the slopes for some skiing in the Victorian Alps.

Beaches
Australia is world famous for its stunning beaches, and visitors can find a good one just about anywhere on the coast. Even the major cities like Sydney have incredible beaches right at the edge of the pavement, but for real gems head upcoast to Queensland. Four Mile Beach, Mission Beach, and Surfers Paradise Beach prove why locals named this stretch the Gold Coast. The sand is so clean that it actually squeaks when you walk on it. Even more pristine are the beaches of Western Australia. Broome’s Cable Beach and Perth’s Cottesloe Beach are considered among the planet’s finest.

Hiking
Hiking, or bushwalking as it’s called in Australia, is one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of this diverse country. The Blue Mountains are within easy reach of Sydney, while Lamington National Park is just 90 minutes inland from the Gold Coast. The truly dedicated can attempt the 155 mile Larapinta Trail which runs through the heart of the desert outback, but Kakadu provides the widest range of environments to walk through. Even the Whitsunday Islands off the Outer Reef have some amazing rainforest hikes.

Snorkelling and scuba diving
You could write an entire guide about the pristine dive sites in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef and the 74 Whitsunday Islands off the Outer Reef are a good place to start your underwater explorations. Some of the planet’s most diverse, colourful and expansive coral gardens are here, as well as thousands of species of marine life. See sharks feeding at Coral Sea’s Predator’s Playground, or head over to the neighbouring Yongala shipwreck for something different. Heron Island is widely regarded as Australia’s premier dive and snorkelling site, but more intrepid divers will want to see Ningaloo Reef off the western coast.

Surfing
Australia is one of the original sources of legendary surf and surfers. There are simply dozens of world class surf breaks. A good place to start your Aussie experience is at Margaret River. Newcomers can take lessons just about anywhere there’s a beach, while experienced surfers will be faced with the daunting task of choosing which break to hit first.