Officially founded in 1901, Australia has the unique distinction of being a country and a continent. The massive diversity across the country means there are amazing outdoor locations to suit every taste – and that’s just the beginning of what the Land Down Under has to offer.
Whether you’re visiting the eastern coast to soak up Sydney’s cultural and architectural highlights or you want to head off the beaten path to explore the mysterious Outback, we’ve got you covered. This guide will introduce you to all the best places to visit in Australia so you can confidently explore.
Iconic Landmarks and Cities
While every part of Australia has its marvels, some of the most iconic cities and landmarks reside in South Australia thanks to its more temperate climate. Whether you want to visit Sydney to enjoy a cosmopolitan city or seek a wilder experience on the adventurous island of Tasmania, you have plentiful options to customize your stay.
Sydney
Nestled near the eastern coast of New South Wales, this city is most known for the iconic Sydney Opera House, a unique structure near the world’s largest natural harbor.
Photogenic Sydney Harbour is also the location of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which stretches from the Central Business District to North Park. Together, these three elements of Sydney are some of the most well-known symbols of Australia as a whole. However, there’s plenty more to enjoy, like the Darling Harbour recreation area and Bondi Beach.
As befits a city with one of the most well-known opera houses in the world, Sydney has a lively entertainment scene. Art galleries like the Art Gallery of New South Wales provide a window into Australia’s artistic heart. Enjoy amazing food in the many luxury hotels overlooking the harbor.
But Sydney is not the only incredible destination that New South Wales offers. From Sydney, you can venture to the peaceful Blue Mountains near Mount Victoria or visit Hunter Valley to sample fine wines.
Melbourne
Melbourne offers stiff competition to Sydney, but don’t worry: a one-hour, 45-minute domestic flight from Sydney Airport will get you to this lovely city in the southeastern area of Victoria. Melbourne is known as a cultural hub with a bustling expat community. This fact is reflected in its street art, which provides cheer and warmth to the relaxed coastal town.
One of the best things to do in Melbourne is take a self-guided tour through its laneways and arcades. Here, you can explore small galleries, quirky boutiques, and the city’s famous coffee culture.
Sports fanatics will love Melbourne, sometimes known as the City of Sport. It’s the best place to catch a game of Australian rules football, a cross between rugby and soccer. You can also admire the beautiful Australian coast by driving down the Great Ocean Road to Port Campbell National Park, which gives you an incredible view of the remarkable rock formations on the continent’s edge.
If you’ve ever wanted to see a penguin parade, nearby Phillip Island is home to the world’s largest colony of Little Penguins. Every night, these charismatic birds waddle home to their burrows after frolicking in the ocean all day, and you can watch their antics from special viewing platforms and boardwalks around sunset.
Brisbane
Brisbane, located on the Brisbane River in Southern Queensland, is a beloved East Coast treasure, renowned for the South Bank Parklands. This area includes plentiful recreation areas and attractions, including the Wheel of Brisbane, the Nepalese Peace Pagoda, and the riverfront promenade.
You don’t need to wander the Outback to see one of Australia’s most well-known marsupials. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane allows tourists to get up close and personal with these beautiful animals. Visitors can hold or feed a koala and learn more about conservation efforts to save the species.
Brisbane offers easy access to the stunning nearby Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast getaways if you need more beaches. Popular Gold Coast beaches include Surfers Paradise, Mermaid Beach, and Nobby Beach, but you can also visit the many theme parks, including Dreamworld.
As the name suggests, the Sunshine Coast is for sun, sand, and surf. Here, you can watch blue whales on the coast or visit Great Sandy National Park, which encompasses colorful dunes and shady mangrove forests.
Other Noteworthy Cities
Australia’s largest and most well-traveled cities are Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. However, you can also go off the beaten path and explore its smaller regions, which all have their special charm.
Perth’s remote location makes it a true hidden travel gem in Western Australia. People who visit Perth find the locals friendly and the culture laid-back, especially compared to larger cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
While in town, visit Kings Park, where Perth residents volunteer to teach tourists about Australia’s biodiversity. Nearby Rottnest Island is a protected nature preserve home to the quokka, a friendly marsupial sometimes called the happiest animal in the world.
Adelaide is where true wine enthusiasts go to sip and admire the lovely scenery of South Australia. Here, you can visit South Australia’s 18 wine regions and sample the signature Shiraz wine. Take a trip to Kangaroo Island, where you can see sea lions and penguins and the striking rock formations of the Remarkable Rocks.
Hobart, Tasmania, is known as the gateway city to East Antarctica, allowing visitors to experience animals found nowhere else on the planet. While in the capital city of this island territory, visit the MONA Museum, a subversive art gallery that displays pieces no other museum would dare to. If you’re in Hobart on a Saturday, head to the Salamanca Market to purchase one-of-a-kind art from local artisans, such as glassblowers and leatherworkers.
Canberra, Australia’s capital city, is located in the Australian Capital Territory and reflects the country’s history. Here, you can visit the National Gallery of Australia to marvel at over 166,000 pieces of art or check out the immaculate architecture of Parliament House.
Another popular destination near Canberra is the Australian War Memorial, situated in the nearby town of Campbell. This museum and memorial honors the brave Australians who have died in combat and provides peaceful areas for contemplation.
Natural Wonders
Australia has gained a worldwide reputation as an outdoorsy paradise, and it’s not hard to see why. Natural beauty is everywhere, from the spectacular coral reefs to the rugged glory of the Outback. Once you’ve gotten your fill of manmade marvels, consider this list of the best places to visit in Australia for nature lovers.
Great Barrier Reef
Stretching around far north Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system and the only living structure seen from space. It is a paradise for those who love diving, snorkeling, or simply admiring the open water from a boat tour.
While here, you can visit the quiet towns of Cairns or Port Douglas, known for their wonderful beach resorts. A quick boat ride away, the Whitsunday Islands are a group of mostly uninhabited islands teeming with marine life and waterfowl. Well-maintained hiking trails make you feel like you’re truly at the world’s edge.
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Uluru is a sacred aboriginal site known as Ayers Rock, located in the sweeping Red Centre of the Northern Territory. This glorious monolith is best seen at sunrise or sunset when the rays transform its surface into a glowing orange.
Nearby Kata Tjuta, or The Olgas, is another selection of domed rock formations in Central Australia that are central to the local Aboriginal mythology. These structures are said to be the home of the snake god Wanambi, who can transform gentle breezes into hurricanes.
Uluru and Kata Tjuta are quite remote, located approximately 220 miles from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
While in Central Australia, do the Rim Walk at Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park. This stunning canyon is a living plant museum home to over 60 rare plant species.
Please note that the Garden of Eden, a permanent waterhole, is sacred to the Luritja people, and swimming is prohibited.
The Outback
The Outback’s major city is Alice Springs, a sleepy town that serves tourists ready to tackle Australia’s Red Centre. This area serves as a jumping-off point to visit places like Kata Tjuta National Park, home of The Olgas, and explore the vast desert landscapes that comprise approximately 70% of the Australian landmass.
Brave tourists can see some of the planet’s most unique flora and fauna. These include the hardy kangaroo, the speedy emu, and the wily dingoes featured in Aboriginal culture for thousands of years. You may even be lucky enough to spot a delicate pink rock orchid, an epiphyte that clings to the red rocks of the Outback.
Other Natural Attractions
If you’re in Brisbane, don’t miss K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island. This World Heritage Site is part of Great Sandy National Park and was formed approximately 20,000 years ago. Here, you can also see elusive creatures like swamp wallabies, bandicoots, potoroos, and flying foxes.
A list of the best places to visit in Australia would be remiss without the Daintree Rainforest, a region on the northeastern coast of Queensland. Just north of Cairns, you’ll find the largest contiguous area of tropical rainforest on the continent, also known as the Wet Tropics of Queensland.
Daintree is one of the oldest rainforest communities in the world. The Daintree Rainforest is a shocking 10 million years older than the Amazon.
Moving westward, Kakadu National Park shelters over 2,000 animal and plant species, including saltwater crocodiles and flatback turtles. You can also glimpse Aboriginal rock paintings that date back thousands of years, reminding you of the long history of this continent.
The Twelve Apostles Marine National Park in Victoria protects the remarkable rock formations from the ocean along the Great Ocean Road. You can see a stunning array of bird species from the pristine beaches.
Ningaloo Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Western Australia. Visitors can see peaceful whale sharks and other species, such as manta rays and dugongs. The short-nosed sea snake, considered extinct, was rediscovered in Ningaloo Reef in 2015.
All other national parks are overshadowed by the newest: Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert National Park in South Australia. This park is four times larger than Yellowstone and encompasses a pristine wilderness home to more than 900 species of plants and animals.
Unique Experiences
With so many great places to visit in Australia, you’d be remiss if you stayed in your hotel room for the whole trip. Thankfully, there are many ways to experience everything this country offers, from guided tours to art galleries.
Wildlife Encounters
Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide, is home to the eponymous kangaroo, but you can also see sea lions, seals, koalas, and the southern brown bandicoot. Much of the island has been set aside for conservation, ensuring these creatures thrive for centuries.
Tasmania is known for the enigmatic Tasmanian Devils, a small and aggressive creature with a hallmark territorial scream. You can also see wombats, a stubby-legged marsupial that, most interestingly, has a cube-shaped scat.
Phillip Island, off the coast of Melbourne, is known for its adorable Little Penguins. This small island has the largest Penguin colony in the world. At the nightly Penguin Parade, you can watch these adorable animals as they head home after a long day of fishing.
If you’d like to see humpback whales breaching, head out to Byron Bay in New South Wales, which is the easternmost part of the continent. There’s also a wildlife park which contains a variety of native animals, including wallabies.
Aboriginal Culture
Though the country was founded in 1901, Australia has been home to the Aboriginal peoples for approximately 20,000 years. This diverse community of tribes has a deep cultural heritage, and you can be lucky enough to experience it firsthand at places like the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, which seeks to inform people about Aboriginal history and mythology.
The Kate Owen Gallery in Sydney is one of the leading Aboriginal art galleries, displaying work from the original people found across the continent. However, their work can also be found in the great outdoors at places like Kakadu National Park, Burrup Peninsula, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and Kimberley.
Food and Wine
Margaret River in Western Australia is beloved by food lovers worldwide for its many wineries, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Australia’s signature Shiraz. Many wineries also have top-rated restaurants, but you can also check out the local Farmers Market, which is considered one of the best in the country.
Barossa Valley in South Australia is also known for its incredible wines. This region grows 40 grape varieties, so you will enjoy the diverse flavors.
Hunter Valley in NSW is the country’s oldest wine region, known for its distinctive dry wine, the Semillon. While here, don’t miss the delicious local produce, particularly the many citrus fruits.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations
If you want to experience authentic Australia, there are even more places to visit that offer a more exclusive look at the country’s many charms.
The Kimberley (Western Australia)
Near the west coast of Western Australia is the Kimberley, a remote wilderness home to the incredible Mitchell Waterfall. You can best view this four-tier behemoth by helicopter. Aboriginal rock art is one of the continent’s most detailed and arresting art pieces. Adrenaline lovers can indulge in high-spirited four-wheel drive adventures. However, you can also take a more low-key approach and try a luxury cruise around the coast.
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island is a secluded paradise in the sea between Australia and New Zealand. With 44% of the flora endemic to the island, you’ll see flowers that don’t grow elsewhere. The island also has 14 species of seabirds, including the iconic sooty tern. Whether you’re hiking or diving, you’re in for a treat!
Flinders Ranges (South Australia)
Flinders Ranges is a collection of ancient mountain ranges that emerged 540 million years ago. Aboriginal people have inhabited the area for at least 10,000 years, meaning there are abundant cultural artifacts to explore as you gaze upon the untamed Outback landscape. Keep your eyes peeled for the yellow-footed rock wallaby, a rare creature that almost came to the brink of extinction.
Tasmania’s Wilderness
Tasmania provides a shot of adventure in an idyllic Indian Ocean setting. Carefully maintained hiking trails allow you to soak in the natural beauty of this quiet escape, and pristine beaches encourage you to dive to your heart’s content. Visit one or more of the 19 parks, including Ben Lomond, which allows for skiing in the winter, or Tasman National Park, with its stunning cliffs.
Craft Your Perfect Australian Itinerary
The best places to visit in Australia are subjective, but the only way to form your opinion is to head off to the Land Down Under. Whether you’d like to experience the serene Blue Mountains or take a heart-pounding trip to the Outback, you’ll never be bored when you come to one of the world’s most fascinating countries.
As many others are clamoring to visit Australia, book your experiences well in advance and prepare for changing weather conditions if traveling more broadly across the continent.
The country is vast, so taking advantage of the trains between the major cities and domestic flights is more enjoyable. This ensures you can take in everything available in this enormous, diverse landscape that, though new in political terms, has a history that stretches back thousands of years.