Australia Sightseeing

Australia has the quantity and quality of world-class attractions you’d expect to find on a continent. The spectacular range of natural environments is only challenged by the incredibly festive and engaging towns and cities which line its vast coastline. As Australia is simply huge, many visitors choose to focus on one city or region during their trip. Most Australians haven’t seen half of their own amazing country since it’s so vast, so pick a region or two and delve into it.

Blue Mountains
Deep in the Great Dividing Range is this exquisite example of Australian bush. The Blue Mountains are named for the sublime blue mist created by the eucalyptus trees which grow all over the region. Katoomba is the main tourist hub here, and makes a great base for bushwalking and exploring amazing rock formations such as Three Sisters and Echo Point.

Darwin
Northern Australia’s capital is just a hop away from Indonesia, giving it a uniquely Asian feel and quick access to hot destinations like Bali. Being located in the tropical north, Darwin has a different vibe than Australia’s other main cities. It is relaxed and languid, yet decidedly cosmopolitan with one of the most vibrant ethnic communities in the country. Darwin is the launching point for excursions into Kakadu National Park and other highlights of this part of Australia.

Great Barrier Reef
The only living entity visible from space is deservedly one of earth’s greatest treasures. More than 1,240 miles of colourful coral beds stretch along the eastern coast off Queensland. It’s the largest UNESCO World Heritage site on the planet and home to some 400 different species of coral, 1,500 species of fish and more than 30 historic shipwrecks. The snorkelling and scuba diving here is unparalleled due to the quality and diversity of the dive sites. If sea temperatures continue to rise, the reef may become little more than a memory making it a good idea to get here quick.

Melbourne
In many ways, Melbourne epitomises Australia and its inhabitants. This bayside city is just as passionate for its rugby, cricket and Aussie rules football as it is for its theatre and cultural arts. If you want a destination that is cosmopolitan, cutting-edge and crazy for sports all at the same time, Melbourne is your place. Victorian arcades, renovated docklands and a riverfront area teeming with swanky bars and restaurants make this one of Australia’s hottest spots. A packed social calendar ensures there’s always something going on.

Perth
One of the coolest and most remote cities in Australia sits contentedly isolated on the west coast of the country. Its hip, relaxed mood and retro preservation has created one of the most enjoyable urban hubs in Australia. Perth is also the ideal base for exploring some of Australia’s finest beaches, the Great Western Desert and other natural highlights virtually untouched by tourism.

Sydney
Most trips to Australia begin in the country’s oldest city, Sydney. Its buzzing urban scene is arguably the hottest around, and with the wealth of superb dining, drinking and shopping venues it’s easy to see why. Sydney’s natural harbour with its iconic opera house is an attraction in its own right, as is the remarkable Harbour Bridge. But the real fun lies in exploring the trendy cafés and sunning yourself on one of the city’s beaches which are drenched with sun nearly every day of the year.

Uluru (Ayer’s Rock)
The most famous image of the Australian outback is this surreal rock which rises mysteriously from the flat scrubby desert floor right in the heart of the country. Uluru has deep spiritual meaning to the aboriginals, and it’s easy to understand why. At dawn and dusk the brilliant desert sun casts spectacular hues of red and orange on the rock. The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park protects this cultural treasure, providing good bush walks and information about the rock art and sacredness of the site.

Climb the iconic Harbour Bridge for killer views over Sydney and its waterfront. This guided walk takes adventurous travellers 50 storeys up and over the buzz of cars and trains below. At the foot of the bridge is The Rocks, the first landing spot of the British in 1788. Today The Rocks is a hotspot for cafés, art galleries, museums and shops. But the real thrill is the panoramic views from the top of the bridge which are simply unbeatable.

Discover the last frontier in Australia’s most untapped region, Kimberley. An endless expanse of wilderness awaits travellers adventurous enough to reach Western Australia and drop into the unexplored realm of Kimberley. This incredibly scenic and romantic part of Australia is home to red ranges of mountains, turquoise seas, waterfalls, aboriginal rock art and crocodiles. Outfitters in Broome can set you up for a safari by four-wheel drive, horseback or foot deep into this virgin land.

Drive one of the planet’s most scenic routes on the Great Ocean Road. Cutting along the dramatic coastline between Torquay and Warrnambool is this incredibly scenic road which leaves most travellers with a serious neck ache from trying to catch all the scenery. The fantastic seascapes of Shipwreck Coast inspire ideas of pirates and ghosts, while the lush Otway Ranges and limestone cliffs of Port Campbell create more sublime feelings.

Explore one of the planet’s finest rainforests in the Daintree. This part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area is lush, thick and extremely diverse. The Daintree is the most accessible section of this expansive rainforest. Visitors can hike through it, motor along it on four-wheel drive tracks or sail over the trees in the Skyrail gondola. Dripping ferns, neon butterflies, and countless exotic creatures make this a major destination for nature lovers due to its proximity to Cairns.

Go bushwalking through the quintessential Australian outback in the Flinders Ranges. In the southeastern region of the country is this region which is a classic example of outback environment. At the heart of the range is a massive natural basin enclosed by 1,000 foot cliffs called Wilpena Pound. Mount Remarkable’s Alligator Gorge and Brachina Gorge are other natural highlights in this vast area with a well-established trail system ideal for walking and camping. Winter is the best season for a visit to the Flinders Range when the desert is green and the wildflowers in bloom.

Lose yourself in a sea of sand on Fraser Island, the world’s largest stretch of beach. UNESCO listed this sand island as a World Heritage site in 1992 to protect the amazing 75 miles of sandy beach off the coast of Queensland. Inland, visitors will find lush rainforests, freshwater lakes, sand cliffs and other natural attractions. Fraser Island attracts adventurous travellers looking to venture off on four-wheel drive camping trips along the sands and drop out for a few days. A cluster of eco-lodges have also appeared to offer more comfortable sleeping alternatives.

Make one of the world’s epic rail journeys on the Indian Pacific Train. It will take you three days to cross through the heart of Australia’s outback from Sydney to Perth, but the scenery and serenity is well worth it. The overpowering emptiness of the desert is what strikes most travellers, especially across the Nullarbor Plain. If you’re a fan of train routes, use this opportunity to cross Australia in classic style.