Tourist Attractions in Australia

Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef needs no introduction and occupies pride of place at the top of most visitors’ must-see list. The amazing reef (the largest in the world) is made up of over 3,000 separate reef systems and dozens of beautiful, inviting tropical islands surrounded by azure waters teeming with marine life. You can access this wonderland from several coastal cities, including Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, and Mackay. Activities at the Great Barrier Reef are generally centered on the amazing marine life, which draws snorkelers and scuba divers – if you prefer to keep your feet dry, you can join a tour on a glass-bottomed boat instead. Boating, sailing, scenic helicopter flips, and simply relaxing on the beach complete the picture.

The Blue Mountains region is located is New South Wales, bordering the Sydney metropolitan area, and offers locals and visitors an ideal escape from the city. The region comprises beautiful landscapes dotted with charming small towns and villages and the chance to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor pursuits, including scenic drives, hiking and cycling, horseback riding, and several adventure sports such as abseiling and canyoning. There is also an extremely high scenic cable-car ride and a scenic railway to enjoy. You can explore 29 of the regions’ attractions on the hop-on-hop-off Blue Mountains Trolley Tour or take a self-guided drive. In addition to all the above attractions, there are caves to explore, relaxing spa experiences, and antiques and crafts to be uncovered.

Everyone has heard of Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach, which welcomes over one million visitors annually. The famous beach forms a golden crescent of soft sand surrounding the clear azure waters of the Pacific Ocean and is the ideal place to spend a surf and sun vacation. The protected waters of the bay are great for surfing and beginners can take lessons with Let’s go Surfing. If ocean bathing is not quite your thing, you can swim in two wonderful surf-side pools or enjoy walking along the 2.5-mile Bondi to Bronte coastal walk, which meanders along the cliff tops overlooking the beach. The entire Bondi Beach area is packed with excellent restaurants and shopping, and the Saturday Bondi Farmer’s Market should not be missed.

Towering over 900 feet over the brilliant waters of the Pacific, the Cape Pillar Sea Cliffs are a must-see attraction for all visitors to Tasmania, which lies off the coast of mainland Australia. These dramatic sea cliffs are the tallest of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere and are protected within the Tasman National Park. You can visit the spectacular cliffs on a boat tour out of historic Port Arthur, or do it the hard way and hike to the cliffs along the 25-mile Cape Pillar Circuit (a 4-day adventure), which will reward you with unsurpassed views of not only the Cape Pillar Sea Cliffs but also Cape Hauy, Monument Lookout and Tasman Island.

Daintree Rainforest invites visitors to indulge in some genuine ecotourism as they seize the unique opportunity to visit the World’s oldest surviving rainforest, located 100km northwest of Cairns on the east coast of Australia. The pristine and completely natural old-growth rainforest is a privately owned conservation initiative run by long-term inhabitants who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and their rainforest with nature lovers. You can choose from several guided interpretive tours, which range from 2 to 5 hours, some of which include a cruise through the mangrove swamps, lunch, and afternoon tea. Along the way you will meet some of the very special animals, plants, and insects who inhabit this heritage site.

Sydney’s amazing Darling Harbour is more than just a dockyard – this waterfront area is home to many of Sydney’s prime attractions and is where locals come to be entertained, educated, wined, dined, and rejuvenated; it is an absolute must-see attraction for all visitors to the city. You have a wide range of activities and attractions to choose from, including cinemas, harbor cruises, the Australian National Maritime Museum, Madame Tussauds, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, and the amazing Powerhouse Museum, which showcases science and technology. If all this is not enough, you can also visit several theaters and galleries, dine at numerous waterfront restaurants, and shop until you drop – the Hello Sydney! Shopper Hopper will take you from one great shopping area to the next.

If you are planning to visit Melbourne, you need to put Federation Square on your list of must-see attractions. This 3-hectare city development includes St. Paul’s Court, The Square, and The Atrium and is the entertainment, cultural and artistic hub of the city. An ideal way to get your bearings and learn all about the Federation Square history and attractions is to join the free tour (Mon-Sat). Highlights of your visit will include ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), and the NGV Design Studio, the Ian Potter Centre (Australian Art). You can rent a bike to tour the area or hop aboard a Yarra River Cruise to explore the city from a different perspective.

The Gippsland Lakes are an enormous network of beautiful inland lagoons, marches, and lakes which cover an area of over 230 square miles located between Ninety Mile Beach and the ocean. In this tranquil environment you will have an astonishing variety of beach activities to keep you occupied, including boating, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, wind-surfing, fishing, and sailing. The calm waters of the lagoons are perfect for children and the entire area is a popular summer vacation destination. Nature lovers will be able to view a wide variety of birds and other wildlife, including lagoon dolphins, and you can visit Rotamah Island by boat to see wallabies and kangaroos in their natural environment, while Raymond Island is home to a koala colony. When conditions are perfect you may be able to witness blue glowing waters at night caused by bioluminescent organisms.

The Great Ocean Road region of Victoria is where you can embark on the famous Great Ocean Road Scenic Drive, a brilliant 413-mile adventure along the magnificent coastline of southern Australia. The route stretches from the town of Torquay (90 minutes from Melbourne) to Nelson, on the south Australian border. You can complete the route in 3 days, but allowing yourself 5 or even 7 days will give you more time to enjoy the wide variety of exciting activities available en route. Highlights of your tour could include renting a bike and cycling along the rugged seashore, donning hiking boots and exploring waterfalls and forests, going on a zip-line tour or simply enjoying the incredible coastal scenery and the wonderful restaurants along the way.

Nestled in the heart of West Perth, Kings Park is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, offering locals and visitors an oasis of green within close proximity to the city. The park is filled with outdoor attractions for all ages, including several children’s playgrounds, picnic areas, outdoor cinemas, and theaters. You can visit the excellent West Australian Botanical Garden to see thousands of species of endemic Australian plants – children will particularly enjoy the Rio Tinto Naturescape. A large section of the park has been reserved as native bushland and you can explore on foot along various hiking trails. You can easily reach Kings Park using public transport from the CBD, and the visitors center offers free walking tours and information.