Australia & the Pacific attractions

As an island state, Tasmania’s history is inextricably bound to the water, and the Maritime Museum of Tasmania dives deep into this heritage. Its collections explore how the sea has impacted the populations who have lived here throughout history, from Aboriginal peoples to European whalers to modern-day residents.

Powder-soft white sands, gleaming turquoise waters, and rippling waves make Vivonne Bay one of the photographed spots of Kangaroo Island. Throw in some epic sand dunes, magnificent sunsets, and wildlife-watching opportunities, and it’s easy to see how this was once voted Australia’s Best Beach.

The Sydney Observatory is part of the Sydney Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. Built in 1858, the observatory is one of the most important places in Australian scientific history. Visitors can check out exhibits related to astronomy, meteorology, and timekeeping, as well as the planetarium and the oldest working telescope in Australia.

Soaring peaks dive into lush forests on the 4-day Milford Track, New Zealand’s most famous hiking trail. Often called the “finest walk in the world,” the Milford Track travels through the UNESCO-listed Fiordlands, a dramatic setting crisscrossed by a network of suspension bridges, winding waterways, narrow trails, and open valleys.

Get a glimpse into the lives of early Australian settlers and pioneer farming practices at Churchill Island. Located just off the coast of Phillip Island, Churchill Island was the first European agricultural site in Victoria. Today, it’s home to a historic working farm, the Churchill Island Heritage Farm.

Open since 2000, Marvel Stadium—traditionally known as Docklands Stadium—is mainly used for Australian Football League (AFL) games, but also hosts other sporting events such as soccer and rugby under its retractable roof. Non-sports fans can catch a concert by major musical acts; past performers have included AC/DC, Bon Jovi, and Taylor Swift.

Sydney’s Parliament House is a complex of buildings that has housed the Parliament of New South Wales since 1829. Listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, the site consists of the north wing of the Rum Hospital building (which was built in 1816 as part of the country’s first hospital) flanked by two Neo-gothic buildings.

Western Australia’s Kalbarri National Park is an impressive area of cliffs and gorges, not far inland. It’s based around the lower reaches of the Murchison River, which has cut a 50-mile (80-kilometer) gorge through red and white sandstone. Visitors come to hike or to enjoy the views from the Kalbarri Skywalk, which stretches over the gorge.

Since 1991, Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art has showcased the works of today’s Australian artists in a gallery on the Circular Quay. Boundary-pushing solo exhibitions are the focus, while the permanent collection includes work from contemporary Aboriginal artists. The museum’s rooftop cafe boasts a fresh menu and harbor views.

Established in 1951 to provide educational resources for children living in remote areas of Central Australia, the School of the Air broadcasts lessons across an area of half a million square miles (1.3 million square kilometers), allowing students to study in a virtual classroom.

Surrounded by golden beaches, scenic waterways, and mountainous hinterlands, Mooloolaba enjoys a stunning setting along Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Perched at the mouth of Mooloolaba River, the town has a reputation as one of the coolest on the Sunny Coast, known for its great surf, lively markets, and buzzing nightlife.

Telling the story of Australia’s whaling industry and the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company—the last of the country’s whaling stations to close its doors, back in 1978— Albany's Historic Whaling Station offers insight into whale hunting, as well as the chance to explore onboard a real whale-chaser ship.

One of New Zealand’s oldest gardens, Wellington Botanic Garden is an escape from the clamor of the city, in the city. Right behind the Wellington CBD in Thorndon, this 62-acre (25-hectare) garden is full of native and exotic plants. Stroll along one of the many calm, tranquil paths and take some relaxing time away from the urban jungle.

To learn more about the Aboriginal inhabitants of Kakadu, visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre in the heart of the park. It was developed by the traditional owners of Kakadu and shares local stories through multimedia exhibits, artifacts, images, and videos. You can also browse the attached Aboriginal art gallery.

Opened in 1826 in Sydney, the State Library of New South Wales is the oldest library in Australia. In addition to holding a huge and diverse collection of books, the building is also home to over 1 million photos, maps, and manuscripts. Though it’s grand and austere on the outside, the library has a modern, bright and attractive interior.

Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin is at the heart of the capital, providing the focal point around which much of the city’s official and recreational life revolves. Formed by the damming of the Molonglo River in 1963—about half a century after Canberra’s founding—it’s now difficult to imagine the city without the defining body of water.

Bordering the Derwent River just east of downtown Hobart, the historic docklands of Sullivan’s Cove were the site of the original British settlement in Tasmania. Boats from around the globe still dock at the bustling port and the waterfront district offers a cluster of attractions to tempt visitors to the riverside.

In an unassuming hangar off the South Island’s Kapiti Expressway is one of the southern hemisphere’s largest collections of vintage cars. The Southward Car Museum displays more than 400 vehicles, ranging from turn-of-the-century models and slick 1960s luxury cars to million-dollar Bugattis and immaculately-preserved family sedans.

Many people visit Phillip Island to see the penguins, but fewer people know about Churchill Island, just off the northern coast of southeastern Phillip Island. The 140-acre (57-hectare) Churchill Island Heritage Farm is a historic working farm with demonstrations and activities such as sheep shearing, cow milking, blacksmithing, and more.

If you have a question about Australia, you’ll find an answer here. The National Library of Australia holds the world’s largest collection of “Australiana,” with more than 10 million items—from books, photographs, and newspapers to unpublished manuscripts and oral histories—in aid of its mission to document the Australian experience.

Meandering from the majestic Southern Alps through the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean, the Waimakariri River is known for its scenic beauty. It is also the hub for a number of popular water sports and outdoor activities, from beech forest–lined canyon hikes to jet boat rides that take you spinning around rugged Waimakariri Gorge.

Indulge in some retail therapy and fine dining with a view at Marina Mirage, a luxury waterfront shopping and dining destination on the Gold Coast. Located on the Southport Spit, Marina Mirage features over 70 designer boutiques and award-winning waterfront restaurants, and also offers a marina and helicopter services.

Home to some of Sydney’s best shopping, Oxford Street is an edgy thoroughfare that runs east from Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD) toward Bondi Junction. Lined with trendy shops and boutiques, it has become a central hub of Sydney’s late-night club scene, as well as the unofficial center of Sydney’s LGBT community.

Australia’s longest river and a sacred place to indigenous communities, the mighty Murray River winds its way 1,558 miles (2,508 kilometers) through three Australian states. There are multiple ways—both on and off the water—to experience the river that runs through several Victoria towns and past striking South Australia landscapes.

Jagged cliffs tower almost 1,000 feet (300 meters) high over the Lennard River at Windjana Gorge, providing a dramatic backdrop for hikers, campers, and day-trippers. Once part of a Devonian-era reef system, the unique landscapes are the centerpiece of the Bandilngan/Windjana Gorge National Park and a sacred site of the Bunuba people.

Go underground at Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) National Park in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Compared to other national parks in the area, Dimalurru is small, covering just 225 acres (91 hectares) of the Napier Mountain Range. But it has a popular main attraction: Western Australia’s oldest cave system.

The Art Gallery of South Australia showcases around 45,000 works of art spanning 2,000 years. Expect to see works by Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and a diverse array of art from around the world, including Rodin bronzes and contemporary pieces. The museum occupies a landmark neoclassical building in the heart of Adelaide.

Concerts, theater, weddings, and more grace Melbourne Town Hall, which has welcomed everyone from the late Queen Elizabeth II to The Beatles. Completed in 1870, this grand neoclassical building is at the heart of Melbourne’s city and cultural life. Although a working town hall, it opens to the public for prebooked tours several days a week.

Around 79 miles (137 kilometers) west of Alice Springs, the settlement of Hermannsburg (Ntaria in the local language) is more than just the gateway to Finke Gorge National Park. Historic whitewashed buildings date from the 19th century, artist Albert Namatjira’s home invites visitors, and Hermannsburg potters craft unique terra-cotta.

One of Perth’s oldest colonial landmarks, the Old Mill dates back to 1835 and operated as a flour mill until 1859. It has gone through many other lives since then, from a wine saloon to a hotel to a poultry farm, and is today a National Trust landmark.