Australia & the Pacific attractions

Far less crowded than popular Uluru/Ayers Rock, Kata Tjuta (the Olgas is where the Aboriginal Anangu people still practice cultural ceremonies. Walpa Gorge offers visitors the shortest and easiest trail in Kata Tjuta. For what it lacks in length, however, it makes up for in dramatic views overlooking some three dozen sandstone domes.

Yacht-filled Cullen Bay attracts landlubbers with its collection of shops, restaurants, bars, and day spas in one of Darwin’s sleekest neighborhoods. The marina has space for 250 vessels, as well as an assortment of upmarket accommodations where visitors enjoy sea views and easy access to the ferry terminal.

Adelaide Zoo is home to almost 2,500 animals, with around 250 different species from all around the world. Along with Aussie favorites like kangaroos, koalas, and Tasmanian devils, the zoo is famous for its pair of Giant Pandas, Wang Wang and Funi, the only animals of their kind in Australia.

Short but spectacular, North Stradbroke Island’s Gorge Walk loops around a rugged headland with views of clear blue ocean and golden sands. The bush is home to koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies, while the ocean hosts migrating humpback whales (in season), dolphins, manta rays, and sea turtles. A blowhole sometimes emits howling sprays of mist and water.

Along the banks of the River Derwent, just south of downtown Hobart, Battery Point is one of the city’s oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods. Named after the battery of guns that once guarded its coastline; Battery Point still feels like a 19th-century fishing village, lined with weatherboard houses, cute cottages, and cozy cafés.

Thousands of yellow limestone rocks emerge from the desert, and dune viewpoints look out over the Indian Ocean in the Pinnacles Desert of Namburg National Park. One of Western Australia’s most popular attractions, this national park on the Coral Coast is a must for photographers, stargazers, and fans of unusual, otherworldly landscapes. Wildlife seekers should also keep their eyes peeled for more kangaroos.

One of Australia's most stunning stretches of coastline, Cape Leveque, located on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, has been home to Aboriginal communities for some 7,000 years. Visit to see the area’s brick-red cliffs, pearl-white sand, and clear blue water, explore the remote landscape, and learn about the local Aboriginal communities.

Jutting out into the ocean at the southwestern tip of Kangaroo Island, the windswept Cape du Couedic is among the many highlights of the Flinders Chase National Park. The rocky headland is famous for its landmark Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse, its colony of fur seals, and the natural wonder of Admirals Arch.

The largest inhabited island in the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island has some of the best beach resorts in the Pacific, right on the cusp of the Great Barrier Reef. Famed for its luxury resorts and water sports, stunning views await at every turn—pristine white sands, lush rain forest, and an endless expanse of glittering ocean.

Mengler Hill Lookout is a popular stop during Barossa Valley wine tasting excursions, providing a scenic panorama of the famed valley below. Mengler Hill Lookout was named for one of the area's early wine growers, and since 1988 has the added attraction of large granite and marble sculptures at the adjacent Barossa Sculpture Park.

At the southernmost tip of Darwin, fronting the Beagle Gulf, Darwin Waterfront Precinct is the first port-of-call for cruise ships and a buzzing hub of city life. Seafront parks, a swimming lagoon, and a man-made beach draw city-dwellers to the waterside, while the many bars and restaurants tempt visitors to stick around after sunset.

A light, modern, tropical building with an airy, ocean-view setting, Darwin’s Parliament House is quite the contrast to the heavy, neoclassical style of so many state legislatures. The seat of government of the Northern Territory, Darwin’s answer to a state capitol, it opened in 1994 on the site of a famous World War II Japanese bombing attack.

Spa-lovers may find it hard to leave Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. The standout attractions are the nine open-air geothermal pools, ranging in temperatures from 91°F to 107°F (33°C to 42°C). There are also three sulphur pools, six private indoor thermal pools, and a sauna. Anyone who wants to relax will search for reasons to linger.

Devils @ Cradle is a wildlife sanctuary dedicated to the preservation of Tasmanian devils (though they also have a large number of quolls and other local creatures). See Tasmanian devils up close and personal, and learn about these mysterious marsupials and the current threats to their survival with ranger-led talks and tours.

See the planned city of Canberra from above from the top of Mt. Ainslie, which you can visit by hiking or driving. Reaching a height of 2,766 feet (843 meters), this small mountain in the northeast of Canberra hosts a popular tourist lookout with unparalleled views of the city and its deliberate, geometric layout.

Phillip Island is famed for its free-roaming penguins and Australia’s largest colony of fur seals, but those are not the only types of wildlife you can see there. The Phillip Island Wildlife Park is home to more than 100 different species of native Australian animals. Visitors can see and interact with the wildlife living in the park.

Take a short drive out of Rotorua and explore a village trapped in time. The Buried Village of Te Wairoa is a remarkable relic of Victorian-era New Zealand, preserved by volcanic ash from the 1886 Mt. Tarawera eruption. Walk around the village and marvel at this portal to the past, nestled in the Bay of Plenty forest.

The craggy, volcanic cliffs of Indian Head (or Tukkee Wurroo in the Badtjala language) form a castle-like outcropping on the eastern side of K'gari (Fraser Island.) The headland is backed by smooth white sand and surrounded by clear turquoise waters, making for a dramatic contrast. As you look out to sea, you might spot whales, dolphins, or manta rays.

Known as the “River of Mirrors,” the Noosa Everglades is one of Queensland’s most stunning natural landscapes and one of only two everglades systems on Earth. This stretch of wetlands, mangrove forests, and lakes is part of Cooloola National Park and harbors a rich diversity of flora and birdlife.

Established in 1848, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is Sydney's primary venue for cricket and Australian rules football. It also serves as the home stadium for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Australian Football League’s Sydney Swans. The SCG holds just over 47,000 spectators.

A port town at the mouth of the Yarra River, Williamstown brims with colonial and maritime history. Its heritage landmarks have endured more than 150 years on the salty edge of Hobsons Bay and Port Phillip Bay; the bluestone Old Morgue was built by convicts in 1859, while the 19th-century Timeball Tower at Point Gellibrand continues to keep time today.

Located in the Old Customs House, which dates back to the 19th century, the Immigration Museum reveals the multicultural customs that immigrants have contributed to life in Australia. In addition to learning about the lives of the first settlers in Australia, you can discover your family history by searching the museum’s archive of immigrant details.

The Avon River (Otakaro) flows from its source in the western suburbs of Christchurch and through the central city, making it a focal point for recreation. Leaving the central city, the Avon flows west and out to the Avon Heathcote Estuary. A popular destination with locals and tourists alike, you can walk along the Avon’s banks, relax in Hagley Park or the Botanic Gardens with a view of the river, or go on an English-style punt boat.

Nicknamed the Lighthouse of the Pacific, Vanuatu’s Mt. Yasur has been continuously erupting for what's believed to be 800 years. Legend has it that the light from lava at the summit was noticed by Captain Cook, who then decided to explore the islands while mapping the South Pacific.

Get a lesson in history with a visit to Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), established in 1843 by the Royal Society of Tasmania. The collection at Australia’s second-oldest museum includes archaeological and colonial relics, Aboriginal artifacts, old photographs, ephemera, and fine examples of colonial decorative arts.

Known to locals as “the Royal” or “the Nasho,” Australia’s Royal National Park has been a favorite nature escape for Sydney locals since 1879—and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its diverse landscapes range from eucalyptus forests and ancient sandstone cliffs to wildlife-rich wetlands and sandy beaches beckoning for a swim.

The National Gallery of Australia has a stunning permanent collection of art focusing on four areas: Australian art, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, Asian and Pacific art, and European and American Art. Highlights include works by Australian artists Sidney Nolan, Tom Roberts, and Arthur Streeton.

More than a dozen full-size aircraft are on display at the Darwin Aviation Museum (formerly the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre, including a rare Boeing B52 bomber and Japanese planes that crashed in Darwin during WWII. A must for anyone with a passion for planes, it’s one of the city’s most visited museums.

Just a half-hour ferry ride from Auckland, Rangitoto Island offers active travelers an adventurous escape from the city. This 600-year-old dormant volcano boasts stunning panoramic views of Auckland and a selection of rugged walks both up and around the island, most of them suitable for people of all fitness levels.

From rocky canyons to unspoiled beaches to limestone cliffs, Cape Range National Park on the northwest tip of Western Australia boasts a rugged and diverse environment right next to the Indian Ocean. The park is one of the natural highlights of this region, known as the Coral Coast.