One of the largest privately owned gardens in Western Australia, Wanneroo Botanic Gardens delights visitors with its kaleidoscope of colors and peaceful trails. In addition to the many flowers displays, rockeries, and waterfalls, the gardens’ on-site miniature golf and billiard golf courses make it a popular destination for families.
Founded in 1960 by Italian immigrant Claudio Alcorso, Moorilla was among the first wineries to be established on the island of Tasmania. It was acquired in 1995 by gambler and art collector David Walsh, best known as the founder of the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), which sits on the same property north of Hobart.
One of the most accessible parks in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park is a popular day trip from Fitzroy Crossing. The gorge for which it is named was carved out by the Fitzroy River, which flows between the massive limestone walls, over 98 feet (30 meters of which have been exposed by the river.
Spanning almost 47,000 square miles (121,100 square kilometers) of Far North Queensland, the Cape York Peninsula includes Australia’s northernmost point, Cape York, and is sometimes called simply “The Tip.” Travel up here is not to be taken lightly, but adventurers are rewarded with white-sand beaches, pristine rain forests, wetlands, eucalyptus, coral reef, rock art, and more.
Dating back to 1859 and nicknamed "The Heath" after its original bushland race track, Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne’s most legendary horse racing venues. Hosting prestigious events such as the Caulfield Cup—the precursor to the world-famous Melbourne Cup—it’s a top destination for a festive day at the races or a fun family outing.
Standing proud beside the Brisbane River, Brisbane’s Customs House is a landmark piece of neoclassical architecture, complete with colonnades, portico, and a grand copper dome. Today it serves mainly as an events venue, but you can soak up the atmosphere at the farm-to-table Patina Restaurant or seasonal pop-ups, or view the limited public areas as a walk-in.
Come face to face with saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat at Whitsunday Crocodile Safari. This unique wildlife tour takes guests on a journey through the estuaries and wetlands between the coast and the Proserpine River, which, with around 150 crocodiles, has the highest concentration of ‘salties’ on Australia’s east coast.
Part of eastern Australia’s UNESCO-listed Gondwanaland Rainforest World Heritage Area, Nightcap National Park is an ancient subtropical rainforest with great hiking, wildlife-watching, and waterfall-chasing. Visitors come to check out the 330-foot (100-meter) high Minyon Falls, hike the various walking and mountain biking tracks, and see the birds, lizards, and rare frogs that call the park home.
Located in the Q1 building in Surfers Paradise, Skypoint Observation Deck is Australia’s only beachside observation deck. Take in expansive views of the Gold Coast coastline, the Gold Coast Hinterlands, and the Pacific Ocean from Australia’s tallest building. For added excitement, try the external Skypoint Climb at the top of the building.
During the 1950s, a resident of Doctors Gully began tossing breadcrumbs into the water at high tide, and fish started turning up for the free meal. Today hundreds of fish, including mullet, batfish, catfish, and milkfish, come near to shore for the daily feeding frenzy that disrupts the typically tranquil waters of the Gully.
Among the city’s most recognizable landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge links the North Shore with the central business district. For a serious adrenaline rush with fantastic views, don a harness and head out on a guided bridge climb.
Like a vein through the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park, the rugged Valley of the Winds trail is a scenic, mind-bending journey. It’s a spot where the silence can often seem deafening—even in busier times of year—and the sun bathes the rocky Olgas in a deep, reddish hue.
Surrounded by sugar cane and tropical fruit plantations, Bundaberg is best known for its namesake exports: Bundaberg Rum and Bundaberg Ginger Beer. However, this riverside city has more to offer than beverages—it’s well situated for exploring the Coral Sea coast, with tropical parks, coral cays, and wildlife-filled islands on its doorstep.
When it comes to wildlife, the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia got greedy. More than half the continent’s plant species, a third of its mammals and birds, and more than 200 rare and endangered species are packed into an area totaling less than 1% of Australia. Discover their biodiversity in more than 50 UNESCO-protected national parks, forests, and reserves.
Also known as the Tower Mill, the Old Windmill is Brisbane’s oldest building. Long deprived of its sails and topped with a radio mast, it’s been a site of public executions, a signal tower, a public observatory, and a broadcasting station. It was even briefly home to the Queensland Museum. While closed to visitors, it remains a local landmark.
Located in the Timor Sea, 50 miles (80 kilometers off the north coast of the Australian mainland, the Tiwi Islands are part of the Northern Territory, and offer rich Aboriginal culture and beautiful landscapes. Melville Island and Bathurst Island are the largest of the 11 islands and the ones that most travelers visit.
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm is Australia’s oldest operating pearl farm and one of the few open to the public. Touring the farm gives visitors insights into the evolution of pearl farming in Australia, from its Indigenous beginnings through the four generations of the Brown family, who have been running the business since 1946.
If you’ve ever wondered what it was like inside a 19th-century prison, this is your chance to see for yourself. Dating back to 1883, Darwin’s Fannie Bay Gaol served as the city’s principal jail for almost 100 years. The historic site is now a museum, where visitors can see the prison cells, maximum security compound, and gallows.
One of Victoria’s most popular ski resorts, Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is a year-round recreation destination at Lake Mountain in Yarra Ranges National Park. Despite its name, there is no lake at Lake Mountain, but what you will find there are cross-country skiing trails, toboggan runs, a mountain bike track, and lots of wildflowers.
Built in 1934, this former aircraft hangar was once owned by Qantas, Australia’s largest airline—aka the “Flying Kangaroo.” After withstanding Japanese bombing during World War II and Cyclone Tracy, the historic hangar is now a museum. Run by the Northern Territory’s Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club, it is home to an impressive yet little-known collection of automobiles, locomotives, and other vehicles.
With over 245 acres (100 hectares) of coastal trails, bushlands, and eucalyptus forests to explore, Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places on Kangaroo Island to spot native Australian wildlife. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and echidnas are among the possible sightings, all free-roaming within the reserve’s natural habitats.
This cattle station (ranch in Australia’s “Red Centre” is bigger than the state of Rhode Island. Curtin Springs is a welcome, comfortable stop on the road leading west toward Uluru/Ayers Rock. Most travelers who stay here use it as a base for exploring Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon, ,thereby escaping higher prices and crowds found near the rock.
Extending between Richmond and Port Arthur, the Convict Trail traces the history of Australia— which was initially founded as a convict settlement—back to its origin. Learn about how convicts developed the country’s infrastructure as you pass some of the tallest and most-scenic sea cliffs on the planet.
Infinity is an immersive multimedia experience that engages all of the senses. Experience its surreal atmosphere as you walk through maze-like environments of special effects and illusions. Sound fields, lights, music, and visual trickery challenge the mind and may ignite your imagination when navigating this Surfers Paradise funhouse.
Set amid the natural wonders and wildlife reserves of Phillip Island, A Maze'N Things offers a fun alternative for a family day out. The small-scale theme park is packed with interactive exhibitions and activities, including mind-bending illusions, a gigantic maze, a minigolf course, and plenty of games, puzzles, and challenges to keep all ages entertained.
Offering more than 50 rides and attractions, Dreamworld is Australia’s largest theme park and one of the most popular Gold Coast family attractions. With big-thrill rides, live shows, the adjoining WhiteWater World water park, and animal residents—including tigers, koalas, and crocodiles—there’s something to entertain all ages.
Run by volunteers, this museum aims to preserve Broome’s heritage and history by giving sweeping overviews of life in the area, from the Australian Aboriginal era to World War II and beyond. Exhibits here include information on Broome’s pearling industry, a history of domestic life in the isolated town, and the impact and effects of cyclones in the region.
Established in 1844, Penfolds is perhaps Australia’s defining wine brand, and these Adelaide Hills vineyards are where it all began. Besides cellars, wine-making operations, and tasting rooms, the site is home to the original Grange cottage where the founders lived, an award-winning fine-dining restaurant, and an informal eatery.
Part of Walpole-Nornalup National Park, the Valley of the Giants is a forest of towering tingle trees that are unique to this southwestern region of Western Australia. The forest draws visitors with its Tree Top Walk, an elevated walkway that provides bird’s-eye views of the lush landscape.
Covering more than 3,700 acres (1,500 hectares) and featuring more than 500 free-roaming animals, Monarto Zoo is Australia’s largest open-range zoo. Along with Aussie favorites such as wallabies and Tasmanian Devils, the zoo is home to Australia’s largest herd of giraffes, as well as lions, rhinos, cheetah, and meerkats.
