Things to do in  Australia & the Pacific

The star attraction of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles showcase the power of nature with the raw coastal scenery of rock formations separated from their nearby cliffs. While you won’t see 12 sea stacks—there are only seven limestone pillars now, and there weren’t even 12 to begin with—what remains is one of the most iconic views in Australia that people rarely miss when coming to Melbourne.

Fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films won’t want to miss a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set—the real-life recreation of The Shire, one of the primary settings from the movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novels. Set amid the lush hills of Matamata on New Zealand’s North Island, the purpose-built set features the original Hobbit Holes™, sets, and props from the movies.

With the iconic silhouette of the Sydney Opera House and the dramatic arch of Sydney Harbour Bridge etched against a backdrop of glittering ocean and soaring skyscrapers, Port Jackson (aka Sydney Harbour) is Australia’s quintessential postcard image. It is the natural heart of Sydney, featuring more than 150 miles (240 kilometers) of coastline lined with golden beaches, lush gardens, and vibrant neighborhoods.

Encompassing almost 3,000 individual reefs and dotted with 900 islands and coral cays (small sandy isles), Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most unforgettable natural treasures. Snorkelers and certified divers flock here from all over to see the unparalleled array of marine life.

A world-class performing arts venue and famed Australian sight, the Sydney Opera House—with its distinctive design by Danish architect Jørn Utzon—defines the Sydney Harbour district. Distinguished by soaring halls with a white ceramic–tiled exterior shaped to evoke sails, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must-see Sydney attraction and a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture.

A highlight of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, Loch Ard Gorge is a golden sand beach, almost entirely encased by crumbling ochre cliffs that form a tear-shaped oceanic chasm. It was the site of the Shipwreck Coast’s most famous shipwreck—the 1878 wreck of the Loch Ard—and is a popular stop on Great Ocean Road tours.

Sprawling along New Zealand’s southwest coast, Fiordland National Park represents the country at its most photogenic: jagged mountains, rugged glacial valleys, and glittering fjords. This UNESCO World Heritage Site harbors some of New Zealand’s most impressive natural wonders, including Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Lake Te Anau, as well as rare Fiordland penguins, dolphins, seals, and sea lions.

Few Australian sights are as instantly recognizable as the Sydney Harbour Bridge: the grand centerpiece of Sydney Harbour and one of the country’s most photographed landmarks. The historic structure opened in 1932 as the largest steel arch bridge in the world. It’s also an important transportation hub, linking downtown with the north shore, Manly Beach, and other northern beaches.

With its jagged sea cliffs, plunging glacial valleys, and thundering waterfalls, it’s easy to see why Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most visited natural wonders. The headline act of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park is a vast coastal wilderness, fringed by ancient forests and home to fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, rare black coral, and Fiordland crested penguins.

Located just outside Sydney, Featherdale Wildlife Park is home to one of the largest collections of Australian wildlife anywhere in the world. Visitors can see and learn about the park’s 1,700 native Aussie critters, including koalas, kangaroos, echidnas, saltwater crocodiles, emus, and some of the world’s most venomous snakes.

Phillip Island is brimming with memorable wildlife experiences, but its headline act is the nightly Penguin Parade. Each night at dusk, thousands of little penguins—the largest colony in Australia of the world’s smallest penguin breed—can be seen along the shores of Summerland Beach, waddling back to their beachside burrows after a day at sea.

The Mirror Lakes are a collection of small lakes in South Island’s Fiordland National Park. As the name suggests, when the air is still their surface acts somewhat like a mirror, reflecting the Earl Mountains surrounding them. The short walk to the lakes is a popular way to break the journey between Te Anau and Milford Sound.

Victoria’s Great Ocean Road offers scenic surprises at every turn. In signature Australian style, dense pockets of rainforest, charming coastal towns, and canopies populated by koalas flank endless stretches of white, sandy beaches. While driving yourself grants you more independence, it does mean you can’t spend as much time gazing at the scenery. Organized tours let you focus on the sights rather than the road.

With dramatic limestone formations, towering stalactites and stalagmites, and an underground river, New Zealand's Waitomo Caves offer a memorable experience for the whole family. This underground cave system is one of the best places in New Zealand to spot glowworms, whose shimmering lights create a magical atmosphere. Visitors can explore by boat, join cave walking tours, or even opt for a more adventurous activity such as abseiling or tubing.

Fringed with rocky coves, white sandy beaches, and sun-soaked shores, Rottnest Island’s natural pleasures are numerous—whale-watching, snorkeling, hiking and wildlife spotting along the coast, and taking in the ocean sunsets. At less than an hour from Perth, Rottnest Island, or “Rotto,” makes for an idyllic retreat from the city.