Australia Area Highlights

Sydney

Australia’s oldest city is also its largest and most cosmopolitan. Must-see-and-dos include the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, the Sydney Aquarium, the Australian Museum, the historic Rocks and Paddington districts, and Featherdale Animal Park.

Blue Mountains

Just 40 miles from Sydney, this World Heritage Area offers a variety of dramatic landscapes – impressive waterfalls, deep canyons and one of the most extensive cave networks in Australia.

Hunter Valley

Australia’s first commercial vineyards were established here in the 1830s, and it’s still one of the country’s premier wine-growing regions. Two hours from Sydney, it offers the state’s finest cuisine outside the capital, gorgeous scenery and, of course, wine tasting at some 120 cellar doors.

Snowy Mountains

This 310-mile-long range contains Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak, and the country’s only glacial lakes. With clear streams, major ski resorts and historic trails, the Snowies offer a wide variety of outdoor activities year-round.

Port Stephens

Not a town, but a region, this lovely seaside destination 100 miles north of Sydney features the largest marine park in New South Wales. Whale and dolphin-watching cruises are very popular – the 19 miles of sandy beach and spectacular wildlife habitats are also worth exploring.

Lord Howe Island

A two-hour flight from Sydney, this unspoiled island sanctuary is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just 7x1 miles in size, it offers great fishing, prime birdwatching, gorgeous beaches, and scenic roads perfect for biking. The surrounding reef houses a huge variety of tropical and sub-tropical fish, corals, turtles and other marine life — visitors can wade in and snorkel right off the beach.

Byron Bay

This attractive, upscale resort town is Australia’s most easterly mainland point. Located near the Queensland border, it’s much closer to Brisbane than to Sydney. Glorious beaches, an iconic lighthouse, and the surrounding rainforest make it a popular holiday destination.

Canberra

Australia’s capital city surrounds picturesque Lake Burley Griffin. The major sights and monuments – including the Parliament House and the excellent National Gallery and Science and Technology Centre – lie near the lake within the Parliamentary Triangle.

Namadgi National Park

Namadgi is the most northern of the Australian Alps national parks, and covers almost half of the ACT. Only 22 miles south of Canberra, this rugged and unspoiled park features a variety of terrain, impressive Aboriginal rock art, and stunning views.

Brisbane

Queensland’s capital and the third-largest city in Australia, Brisbane is scenic, relaxed and friendly, blessed with a balmy subtropical climate and boasting a thriving arts and restaurant scene. Many of the sights and activities are centered around the Brisbane River, which makes a lazy loop through downtown. Brisbane is also an excellent base for exploring the famous beaches of the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

Sunshine Coast

More restrained than the Gold Coast, its flashier southern neighbor, this stretch of coastline north of Brisbane features miles of golden beaches, excellent surf, and several splendid national parks. Just to the west lies a Queensland landmark, the fantastically shaped Glasshouse Mountains.

Fraser Island

Located off the Queensland coast near Maryborough, this is the largest sand island in the world, offering a mix of beaches, forested hills, clear lakes and striking sand formations.

Carnarvon Gorge

Hidden in the ranges of Queensland’s central highlands, 447 miles northwest of Brisbane, this stunning gorge features towering sandstone cliffs, vibrantly colored side gorges, diverse flora and fauna, and Aboriginal rock art.

Great Barrier Reef

The world’s largest reef system stretches over 1800 miles along the northern coast of Queensland. Sprinkled with hundreds of tropical islands, it’s blessed with an extraordinary diversity of corals, fish and other wildlife.

Whitsunday Islands

This archipelago of 74 islands within the Great Barrier Reef features some of the world’s most pristine and beautiful beaches. They are ideal destinations for travelers to the reef, though only a handful of islands offer accommodations.

Cairns

The main tourism center of Northern Queensland, it’s a popular base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.

Kuranda

With bird and butterfly aviaries, koala gardens, rainforest walks, craft markets and a skyrail, this picturesque mountain village 15 miles northwest of Cairns makes a great day trip.

Daintree Rainforest

A World Heritage Area, the Daintree is the oldest rainforest in the world, home to the world’s greatest diversity of plant and animal species. A visit here is an opportunity to see exotic wildlife, pristine forest, and spectacular beaches.

Cape York Peninsula

This remote area of Northern Queensland is one of the world’s last untouched wildernesses. A mix of coastal rainforest and dry savannah, it offers a rich variety of landscapes and wildlife.

Darwin

The smallest and most northern of the capital cities, Darwin is Australia’s gateway to Asia as well as the access point for Kakadu and other Top End destinations. In its short history, it has experienced a gold rush, a WWII air raid, and a devastating 1974 cyclone, but has been rebuilt as a relaxed modern town, multicultural and tropical, with a youthful population and an optimistic vibe.

Kakadu National Park

Australia’s largest national park is known for its diversity of wildlife, home to a third of all Australia’s bird species, as well as over 60 mammal species and 117 reptile species. The landscape is just as varied, featuring towering escarpments, lush wetlands, magnificent waterfalls, and two famed Aboriginal rock art sites.

Arnhemland

This region surrounding Kakadu is one of Australia’s largest Aboriginal reserves. Known for its remoteness, it’s the country’s premier bird-watching destination, home to an incredible variety of species.

Katherine Gorge

This string of 13 gorges was carved out of the cliffs over the course of a billion years. Spectacular and impressive, the gorges are best explored by boat or canoe.

Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta

The largest monolith in the world and an iconic symbol of Australia, Uluru is an awe-inspiring sight. Nearby are the 36 massive rock domes of Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas. Both deeply sacred to the local Aboriginals, they are among Australia’s most-visited sites.

Alice Springs

210 miles from Ayers Rock Airport, this is probably Australia’s most famous Outback town. Founded in the 1880s on the site of a waterhole, it’s now a very popular destination, with interesting historic sites and museums devoted to the intrepid heroes of the Outback.

Kings Canyon

Located 186 miles northeast of Uluru, this magnificent canyon towers 880 feet above Kings Creek. Take a scenic flight, an Aboriginal guided tour or walk the rim of the canyon, passing tropical pools and beehive-shaped rock formations.

The Kimberley

This vast, isolated region in the northern portion of Western Australia is filled with natural wonders, including the famous Bungle Bungle Range, the splendid Cockburn Range, and a number of magnificent gorges.

Broome

The gateway to the southern Kimberley, this historic pearling town on the coast is a thriving tourist center. Cable Beach, just outside the town, is famous for its 14 miles of pure white sand – nearby Roebuck Bay is an important seasonal stop for millions of migratory shorebirds.

Karijini National Park

The state’s second-largest national park is famous for its sheer gorges, impressive waterfalls and crystal-clear swimming holes. Centered on the Hamersley Range in the rugged Western Australian Outback, it’s an adventure-lovers’ paradise.

Kalbarri National Park

Renowned for its wildflowers, this park also features stunning red gorges and rock formations. The nearby coastline is equally spectacular, with white, sandy beaches and steep cliffs of multicolored sandstone.

Nambung National Park

The highlights of this park are the Pinnacles, thousands of extraordinary limestone formations that appear to jut up from the desert sand, creating a landscape right out of science fiction.

Ningaloo Reef Marine Park

Running for 162 miles along the Exmouth Peninsula, this park is home to the largest barrier reef in the state. Often lying very close to shore and teeming with marine life, the reef offers excellent snorkeling and diving, including encounters with sea turtles and the gentle whale shark.

Shark Bay Marine Park

This World Heritage Area is filled with hundreds of miles of spectacular landscapes and a wide range of rare and interesting species. Interact with wild dolphins at Monkey Mia beach, or visit the stromatolite columns, “living fossils” similar to the earliest life on earth, at Hamelin Pool.

Perth

The world’s most isolated capital city, Perth doesn’t have the bustle of Sydney or Melbourne, but there’s no lack of sophistication or culture here. Though largely rebuilt in the 1970s, a number of fine historic buildings remain, and you’ll find plenty of restaurants and entertainment venues to choose from. Perth is surrounded by beautiful parkland and beaches – and the splendors of Australia’s southwest are within easy reach.

Fremantle

Historic, creative and friendly, this busy port town offers great museums, superb 19th century buildings, and a wealth of cafés, galleries and pubs.

Rottnest Island

12 miles off the coast from Fremantle, this idyllic island was once used as a prison. Now a protected area, it’s known for rugged scenic beauty and a diversity of bird life. Private cars aren’t allowed on the island, so hop on a bike or a bus to see the sights.

Margaret River

This region is famous as a producer of world-class wines, but it’s also renowned for its gourmet restaurants, excellent surfing beaches, and fantastic caves along the nearby Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge.

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

Covering 40,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful coastline and woodlands, this park features an extensive system of astonishing underground caves, several of which can be explored by the public.

Valley of the Giants (Walpole-Nornalup National Park)

This popular tourist destination is named for the ancient tingle trees found here. Unique to the Walpole region, the trees can reach 52 feet in circumference and 260 feet in height. The Treetop Walk through the canopy 130 feet above the ground is an exhilarating experience.

Adelaide

Carefully planned and elegantly laid out, South Australia’s capital city is filled with parks and historic 19th-century buildings. Yet it’s a very modern city, focused on the tech industry and offering a wealth of fine restaurants and cafes. It’s considered the artistic capital of Australia, home to the acclaimed biennial Adelaide Festival of Arts.

The Barossa

Located about an hour northeast of Adelaide, this is Australia’s most famous wine region, known for world-class Shiraz and Riesling, gourmet regional food, and charming historic towns.

Flinders Ranges

South Australia’s largest mountain range stretches 250 miles from the Clare Valley to the Outback, and contains a huge diversity of wildlife and spectacular terrain. One of the best-known sights is Wilpena Pound, a magnificent natural amphitheater with 1600-foot-high outer walls.

Kangaroo Island

Australia’s third-largest island has been called one of the world’s last unspoiled refuges. One-third of the land is protected – a haven for wildlife. The dry interior offers great bushwalking, while the coast features intriguing rock formations, rugged cliffs and pristine beaches.

Coober Pedy

This legendary Outback town is known as the “Opal Capital of the World.” It’s home to numerous working opal mines, as well as homes and churches built underground to escape the searing heat. Visitors can fossick (or “noodle”) for their own opals.

Melbourne

Australia’s second-largest city is rich with elaborate Victorian buildings, many erected during the gold-mining boom of the 1850s, when Melbourne grew from a village to a major metropolis. Considered the cultural capital of Australia, it’s famous for its international cuisine, and host to a number of popular sporting and arts events.

Yarra Valley

Located an hour north of Melbourne, this famed wine region is home to some of the country’s best cool-climate wineries. It’s also Victoria’s most-visited wine region, and offers a wide range of art galleries, boutique hotels, restaurants, spas, markets and family attractions.

Great Ocean Road

One of the world’s most famous scenic drives, this road stretches along the southwest coast of Victoria, passing through charming seaside towns and offering gorgeous views around every corner. Highlights include the striking monoliths known as the Twelve Apostles, the lush rainforests of Otway National Park, and historic Port Fairy.

Phillip Island

This scenic island, rich with wildlife, is an easy day trip from Melbourne. It’s best known for the extraordinary penguin parade that happens every evening at sunset, when hundreds of resident fairy penguins come ashore and head for their burrows. The island is also home to Australia’s largest colony of fur seals.

Wilson's Promontory

The southernmost point of Australia’s mainland is one of Victoria’s best-loved national parks, and contains the largest coastal wilderness in the state. Known affectionately as “The Prom,” it features granite headlands, white sand beaches, fern gullies, and panoramic mountain views.

Grampians National Park

This park is a treasure trove of stunning rock formations, gorges, and waterfalls, including impressive MacKenzie Falls. It’s also sacred to the local Aboriginals, and contains 80 percent of Victoria’s rock art.

Victorian Alps

Part of the Great Dividing Range, these mountains have reliable snow cover in winter (Jun-Sep), and offer excellent skiing at a number of fashionable resorts. During the summer, the region is popular with climbers, hikers and fishermen.

Hobart

Tasmania’s capital and Australia’s second-oldest city, Hobart has an enviable waterfront location and a strong maritime heritage. The city is filled with graceful colonial buildings, many of which now house galleries, shops and cafes. Recently, Hobart became a major art destinaton with the 2011 opening of the eclectic and controversial Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). The museum has had a "MONA Effect" similar to Spain's "Bilbao Effect" – Hobart now enjoys a burgeoning cultural scene.

Port Arthur

Featuring a number of interesting, carefully restored historic buildings, this former prison settlement is one of Tasmania’s most popular tourist attractions.

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

This amazingly scenic World Heritage Wilderness Area is home to iconic, jagged-peaked Cradle Mountain (5,100 feet) as well as Mt. Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak (5,303 feet). Lake St Clair, at the park’s southern boundary, is the deepest fresh-water lake in Australia.

Freycinet National Park

This peninsula is known for its pink granite mountains and beautiful white sand beaches – most notably, Wineglass Bay, considered one of the top beaches in the world.

Hastings Caves

This awe-inspiring network of caves and thermal pools includes Newdegate Cave, the largest tourism cave in Australia.

Mole Creek Karst National Park

Best-known for the superb Marakoopa and King Solomons tourism caves, richly decorated with stalactites and columns, this park contains 300 limestone caves in all.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

This remote and spectacular region of waterfalls, cliffs and gorges gained fame as the subject of protests by conservationists in 1983. The rivers were saved from a damaging dam project, and the campaign led to a worldwide alteration of environmental policies.

Area Highlights

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