Australia & the Pacific attractions

Marked by a squat lighthouse and a gnarled 800-year-old pohutukawa tree, Cape Reinga is the northernmost point of New Zealand that’s open to the public, and the site where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea come together. The area is popular for its coastal views, which you can enjoy from a series of windswept nature walks.

Lush greenery and rolling vine-clad hills provide a picturesque backdrop for sipping some of Yarra Valley's finest wines at Rochford Wines. Just an hour's drive from Melbourne, this family-owned winery offers wine-tasting and fine-dining experiences with panoramic views of the iconic Great Dividing Ranges.

Near the Western Australian city of Perth, Hillarys Boat Harbour is a seaside destination popular with locals and travelers alike. Not only a boat transport hub for trips off the coast, it’s also home to Hillarys Yacht Club, the Aquarium of Western Australia, the Sorrento Quay Boardwalk, and a calm, safe cove for ocean swimmers.

Australia might be famous for its kangaroos and koalas, but the Werribee Open Range Zoo offers all the excitement of an African safari on Aussie shores. Lions, rhinoceros, giraffes, and gorillas all roam freely in the park’s 494-acre (200-hectare) grasslands, affording visitors some incredible wildlife-watching opportunities.

Located on the grounds of the Cedar Creek Estate Winery on Mt. Tamborine, the Glow Worm Caves Tamborine Mountain are one of the best spots on the Gold Coast to view glowworms. See thousands of these creatures during the daytime in a darkened, controlled environment designed to mimic their natural habitat.

With national park information, wetland walks, and an award-winning cultural center devoted to the Jadawadjali and Djab Wurrung people, Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre is a great place to start your journey through Grampians National Park. There’s a gift shop, a café, a theater, an art room, and displays.

Visiting Mammoth Cave is a mesmerizing experience. This limestone cave in an ancient marri forest and dripping with stalactites and stalagmites. It's one of the largest in the Margaret River region, located in Western Australia’s Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.

The Routeburn Track, with its hidden lakes, dramatic waterfalls, and rugged alpine scenery, has been heralded as one of the world's best hikes in one of the world's best settings. The 20-mile (33-kilometer) trail is fittingly listed as a New Zealand Great Walk; it is truly something special.

Covering more than 124 acres (50 hectares) between the North Terrace and Botanic Park, the Adelaide Botanic Garden are among the city’s most stunning green spaces. With tree-lined walkways, water lily and lotus ponds, and flower gardens blooming with roses and dahlias, this is an idyllic place for a walking tour.

Hovering above Brisbane to its west, Mt Coot-tha offers a natural lookout point with views across the city and the winding Brisbane River all the way to Moreton Bay and the Glass House Mountains on the horizon. At the foot of the mountain, the lush Brisbane Botanic Gardens provide a leafy escape.

Mt. Victoria Reserve(Takarunga) is located on a volcanic hill in Devonport, a seaside town on Auckland’s North Shore. The climb to the top is quite quick and manageable for active travelers, and the views are impressive, as you can look back to the central Auckland skyline with its skyscrapers and sailboats bobbing in front.

On Sydney’s North Shore, the harborside village of Balmoral is a less-crowded alternative to the blockbuster beaches of Bondi, Manly, and Coogee. Home to cafés and restaurants specializing in fresh seafood, Balmoral also offers calm waters ideal for swimming.

The National Wine Centre of Australia introduces visitors to Australian wine, with a focus on South Australia. The outer shell of the building resembles wine barrels. Inside, visitors can take a wine discovery journey or an educational class, or indulge in food, a wealth of tastings, and one of the southern hemisphere’s best cellars.

Waitemata Harbour (Auckland Harbour) is a complete sight unto itself. After all, in the so-called “City of Sails,” a simple stroll around the yachts anchored at the docks is a legitimate form of sightseeing. Auckland’s Ferry Terminal Building, a five-story structure that was built in 1912, is a city landmark not to be missed.

Dating back to the 1920s, Australia’s largest Chinatown is brimming with Asian restaurants, shops, and markets. Bookended by two lion-guarded gateways, pedestrianized Dixon Street sits at the heart of the action and hosts a weekly Friday night market.

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) showcases a collection of more than 1.2 million natural history specimens and 30,000 art and cultural works. In addition to its seven galleries, MAGNT has a family-friendly Discovery Centre, providing visitors of all ages with fascinating insight into Australia’s history and heritage.

Enjoy a bird’s-eye view from more than 1,640 feet (500 meters) above sea level on the Christchurch Gondola. Take in 360-degree views of the Christchurch cityscape set against a scenic backdrop of the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, and Banks Peninsula. It’s a not-to-be-missed experience for visitors of all ages.

The TranzAlpine Train is probably New Zealand’s most spectacular train journey, one which winds its way through the dramatic gorges and alpine forests of the Southern Alps, over staggering viaducts and dizzying mountain passes. From Christchurch on the East Coast to Greymouth on the West Coast, this almost 5-hour trip serves up endless photo opportunities as it runs through the heart of the South Island.

There are plenty of places in Rotorua to find bubbling mud and steam vents, but the geothermal activity at Hell's Gate Geothermal Park is the most pronounced. Explore the landscape in this valley and you’ll notice that the steam is a bit thicker; the mud gurgles, a bit louder. The earth here is powerfully raw, which is precisely what makes the attraction so alluring.

Situated in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley wine region, the Hunter Valley Gardens boast more than 60 acres (24 hectares) of horticultural displays, comprising thousands of trees, flowers, and shrubs in a range of colors and fragrances. There are also 10 feature gardens, each individually planned and planted.

Pristine white-sand beaches, 500 acres (200 hectares) of unspoiled coral reef, and ample space to relax make this isle—part of the Mamanuca Islands—a true hidden getaway. Only a limited number of visitors are allowed on the island each day, so the beaches stay uncrowded and quiet. Visits to the island are typically offered as a full-day trip from Nadi.

Located on the western side of Opunohu Bay, Papetoai (Papeto'ai) is frequented by visitors who want to explore the village's art and shopping center, with plenty of shops, restaurants, and art galleries along with historic attractions. The beaches here are also worth checking out, with calm, crystal clear waters, ideal for snorkeling.

With its sandy shores fringed by verdant bushlands, rocky headlands, and turquoise ocean, 75 Mile Beach is the star attraction of Fraser Island. Stretching 75 miles (121 kilometers along the eastern shore of the island, the natural wonder is also an official highway—the 75 Mile Beach Road—as well as an airplane landing strip.

An elegant Victorian homestead presides over 9.9 acres (4 hectares) of gardens and landscaped lawns in this Christchurch park. With blooming flowers, walking paths, and manicured garden beds, Mona Vale is primarily used for weddings and events. The gardens, however, are open to all, with an on-site restaurant serving light meals.

Covering three floors of a stunning neo-Gothic building in heart of Christchurch, the Canterbury Museum tells the stories of the region and the world around us. Walk down a re-created 19th-century Christchurch street, see the skeletons of dinosaurs and extinct native birds, and marvel at the vehicles Antarctic explorers once used to get to the South Pole.

Brisbane’s Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has been devoted to wildlife conservation since 1927, and is one of the best places in the country to see native Australian fauna. The world’s oldest koala sanctuary, the park is home to the planet’s largest collection of koalas in captivity: more than 100, in fact. Other residents from 70 native species include kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, and platypuses.

One of Australia’s oldest and most impressive cave systems, Jenolan Caves are a highlight of any visit to the Blue Mountains. The caves serve up some spectacular scenery, with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites, underground rivers, and unusual limestone and crystal formations.

One of Australia’s biggest marine parks, Sea World Gold Coast is home to dolphins, rays, sharks, polar bears, and seals. The family attraction has thrilling rides, educational exhibits, and daily live shows, and it’s also involved in marine life rescue and rehabilitation efforts along the Gold Coast.

Get a taste of life during Australia’s gold rush era with a visit to Sovereign Hill. A reproduction of an 1850s mining town, this outdoor museum is perched on the site of the Red Hill Mine. The mine shaft you see—as well as much of the equipment—is original.

Tongariro National Park earned dual UNESCO World Heritage status for its combination of Maori cultural and natural features. Located on the central North Island, the park offers visitors several options for exploring the volcanic terrain. If you want to shorten the multi-day Tongariro Northern Circuit, a New Zealand Great Walk, then consider the popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing day hike.