Australia

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Why visit Australia?

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Australia is dazzlingly diverse: a sing-along medley of mountains, deserts, reefs, forests, beaches and multicultural melting-pot cities. No matter which city you are wheeling into, you will never go wanting for an offbeat theatre production, a rocking live band, lofty art-gallery opening, movie launch or a music festival.
Australia plates up a multicultural fusion of European techniques and fresh Pacific-rim ingredients (Modern Australian). Seafood plays a starring role: from succulent Moreton Bay Bugs to delicate King George Whiting, there is a variety in the ocean's prize. And of course, beer in hand, you will still find beef, lamb and chicken at Aussie barbecues. Not too much beer because Australian wines are world-renown. Need a caffeine hit? You will find cafes everywhere, coffee machines in pubs and petrol stations, and baristas in downtown coffee carts.

What does Australia bring in mind?

Sydney Opera House

Regarded as a 20 century architectural masterpiece, the Sydney Opera House was designed and built by architect, Jørn Utzon, to reflect the image of a huge sailing ship. It houses multiple venues that together host more than 1,500 performances each year. Surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Sydney Harbor and the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Sydney Opera House is one of Australia’s most famous landmarks.

Great Barrier Reef One of the top destinations for underwater explorers and scuba divers, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest barrier reef system. Located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia’s state of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef encompasses a huge area of more than 2900 coral reefs and hundreds of islands and cays. The Reef is now one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and of the best places to visit in Australia.

Uluru/Ayers Rock One of the world’s largest monoliths, Ayers Rock is also one of the top tourist attractions in Australia. Located within the Uluru- Kata Tjuta National Park of the Northern Territory, this large sandstone formation stands more than 340 meters high. One of the rock’s peculiarities is that it changes colors dramatically at sunset from terra cotta to blue, violet and red. The local Aboriginal tribe, known as Anangu, call the rock Uluru and regard it as a sacred site.

Kakadu National Park

Located in Australia’s Northern Territory, about three hours north of Darwin, Kakadu is the country’s largest national park. There is a lot to see including a large concentration of Aboriginal rock art; some of which are estimated to be up to 20,000 years old. This park is also home to many different species of wildlife, including wallabies, dingoes and crocodiles. In addition, Kakadu National Park, which is home to one-third of Australia’s bird species, is a birdwatcher’s dream.

Cable Beach

Cable Beach is located in Broome in Western Australia and is considered by some to be this state’s most popular destination. It is a stunning beach, known for its white sands, beautiful sunsets and the brilliant blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Cable Beach is also famous for its camel rides on the beach. Those who prefer motorized transportation can choose to cross the sands in a four-wheel- drive vehicle instead.

The Blue Mountains National Park Located in New South Wales, its proximity to the biggest city in Australia has made this scenic park a popular day trip for both tourists and locals alike. The park is probably best known for the Three Sisters, a rock formation that towers 900 meter above the Jamison Valley. The Blue Mountains National Park features miles of trails for hikers and mountain bikers, and it is also a popular natural playground for adventurers who enjoy adrenaline sports such as rock climbing and abseiling. Visitors who prefer a more docile way to enjoy the Blue Mountains National Park can climb aboard the glass-roofed carriages of the Katoomba Scenic Railway, which is the steepest passenger railway in the world.

Purnululu National Park

Located in Western Australia, Purnululu National Park is home to one of Australia’s most unique tourist attractions known as the Bungle Bungle Range, striking orange-and-black-striped sandstone domes that resemble huge beehives. Surprisingly, the site was known only to local Aboriginal Australians and farmers until recently. The park is also home to Cathedral Gorge.

Things NOT TO MISS in Australia

• Horseback riding: Snowy Mountains

• Dance with horses: Perth

• Ride a mechanical dolphin: Byron Bay

• Swim with dolphins: Rockingham Bay

• Take in a concert in the vines: Hunter Valley

• Swim at a fake beach: Brisbane

• Kayak from the ocean to a mountain: Gold Coast

• Photograph the world’s smallest penguins in a really big parade: Phillip Island

• Taste pinot noirs: Mornington Peninsula

• Shower in a 104-meter-high waterfall: Nightcap National Park

• Learn to sail in the world’s best harbor: Darling Harbor

• Bogan Pub Crawl: Surfers Paradise

• Take a Great Barrier Reef trip: from Cairns

• Jump out of an airplane: Gold Coast

• Watch one of the world's oldest regattas: Sydney Harbor

• Commemorate “Invasion Day” at Victoria Park: Sydney

• Take a ghost tour through The Rocks: Sydney

Top Tourist Destinations in Australia

Sydney

Located on Australia’s southeastern coast, Sydney is the capital of New South Wales. A modern city with a long history, Sydney is defined by its scenic harbor. The region’s first inhabitants lived along the harbor’s bank for thousands of years. The harbor was also the landing site for convicts sent to Australia during the 1780s. Today, ferries take visitors for cruises under the famed Sydney Harbor Bridge and past the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Alice Springs

Located in the heart of Australia about 1500 km from the nearest major city, Alice Springs is comprised of cavernous gorges, boundless desert landscapes, remote Aboriginal communities and a charming pioneering history. It embodies the hardy outback of the Red Centre, and is a travel hub for sights and hikes in the region, such as Uluru/Ayers Rock, Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and Kings Canyon.

Cairns

For its tropical climate, easy-going ambiance and close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is one of Australia’s most popular vacation destinations. Located on the northwest corner of Australia, Cairns is a provincial but stylish city with a population of around 150,000 people. Few coastal destinations feature more wildlife diversity and more opportunities for travel adventures than pretty Cairns.

Melbourne

The capital of the state of Victoria, Melbourne is Australia’s second most populated city. Located near the southeastern tip of Australia on the large natural bay of Port Phillip, Melbourne is considered the nation’s cultural capital as well as an important port. A well- planned city known for its shopping, fine restaurants and sports venues, Melbourne is the ideal destination for travelers who appreciate the good life.

Perth

Located on Australia’s southwestern coastline, Perth is the country’s fourth-largest city and the capital of Western Australia. Isolated from other major cities in Australia, Perth has developed its own unique character. Although the area has been inhabited for thousands of years, there is a youthful atmosphere and a fun-loving attitude in this city of nearly two million people.

Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital of the state of Queensland. It has a population of about 2 million people, making it the third-largest city in Australia, after Sydney and Melbourne. Brisbane’s year-round warm climate, spectacular scenery and pleasant locals have been the draw-cards for many domestic and international visitors, making Brisbane the fastest-growing city in Australia.

Hobart

Hobart is the capital city of the Australian island of Tasmania, as well as Australia’s second oldest city after Sydney. With a population of about 250,000 Hobart is small and intimate compared to larger mainland Australian cities, reflecting the small size of the state. There are many fine examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture in Hobart, such as Salamanca Place, which has a terrace of warehouses dating back to the whaling days of the 1830s. It has a mild temperate oceanic climate, with four distinct seasons.