Australia attractions

Couples book months in advance to tie the knot at the quaint, nondenominational chapel of St Mary’s by the Sea in Port Douglas, and it’s easy to see why. Surrounded by palm trees and manicured lawns, the white timber chapel was built in 1914 with picturesque stained-glass windows and views of the sea.

With a huge range of resident critters, from native Australian animals to exotic species, the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra has plenty for wildlife lovers to get excited about. In addition to housing Australia’s most extensive collection of big cats, it also has the largest inland saltwater tank in the country.

The oldest continuously occupied building in Brisbane and the second-oldest building in the state of Queensland, the Commissariat Store Museum dates back to 1829. Built by convicts in what was then the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, it’s now a museum devoted to Queensland’s convict and colonial history.

Visitors to Beaconsfield, Tasmania, can learn about the area’s gold mining history at the Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre. More than simply a museum, the center includes ruins of buildings and machinery used during the gold rush era. As well as 19th-century mining history, visitors can learn about the dramatic 2006 Beaconsfield Mine collapse.

Open since 1898, the Perth Zoo is a top family destination in the city, home to all the Australian animals that visitors love to see, as well as species from Africa, Asia, and South America. Go from the bush to the rain forest to the savannah in one day, and learn about the zoo’s breeding for conservation program.

Perched on the north coast of the Dudley Peninsula, the port town of Penneshaw is the gateway to Kangaroo Island. If you’re arriving on the island by ferry from Cape Jervis, this will be your first port-of-call, but the lively seaside town is more than just a travel thoroughfare—it’s also renowned for its beachside colony of Little Penguins.

Australia’s only rain forest dining experience invites travelers for an evening of food and entertainment under the stars in one of the world’s oldest rain forests. The multi-course meal, highlighting ingredients from the rain forest, is served by candlelight to the sounds of live acoustic guitar or Aboriginal music and storytelling.

Take to the trees of Queensland, Australia, in a thrilling eco-walk. Set among 30 acres (12 hectares) of private rain forest next to Cedar Creek on Mt. Tamborine, the 0.9-mile (1.5-kilometer) Skywalk features forest-floor trails, high-tech elevated steel walkways, and a cantilever bridge 98 feet (30 meters) above the rain forest floor.

The UNESCO-listed Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, is filled with natural wonders. While Lake McKenzie is a more popular lake, in-the-know travelers say that Birrabeen is one of the island’s top spots. Its clear blue waters and sandy beaches are rarely crowded, offering visitors a secluded beach experience.

The 1,014-foot (309-meter) Sydney Tower is one of the most prominent buildings on the Sydney skyline and a city favorite for its panoramic views. The revolving SkyFeast restaurant on the 82nd floor provides slowly changing views alongside an extensive buffet of Australian and international fare. Locals visit for special occasions, while it's also a popular stop on Sydney sightseeing itineraries.

Framed by soaring red cliffs and strewn with rocky outcrops, Reddell Beach is one of Broome’s most photographed natural wonders. Named after Captain Reddell, who was killed on the beach by his mutinous crew during a pearling trip to Broome, the beach’s golden sands provide an idyllic escape, just minutes from the town.

With 21st-century art, Australian craft, dinosaur bones, a planetarium, convict memorabilia—Launceston’s Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery is a cornucopia of Tasmanian art, history, and design. The museum first opened in 1981 and today it’s one of Australia’s largest regional museums.

One of the country’s largest water parks, Wet’n’Wild is the ideal way to cool off from the blazing Australian sun. Colorful water slides rise around you, lazy rivers flow, and private cabanas offer a respite from the action. It’s the ideal destination for anything from a fun family vacation to a first date or a summer day with friends. Whether you crave the rush of a plunging water slide or just want to bob in the wave pool, the park caters to everyone.

One of many wineries on the Bellarine Peninsula raising the Geelong wine region’s promising reputation, Bennetts on Bellarine combines a casual atmosphere with stunning bay views. On a large open-air deck, you can enjoy wine tastings of shiraz, sauvignon blanc, and sémillon, paired with a menu crafted around local produce and woodfired pizzas, plus occasional live music.

Right on Perth’s doorstep, the Swan Valley is Western Australia’s oldest wine region with a winemaking history stretching back nearly two centuries. Vineyards flank the Swan River, and there are more than 40 wineries to choose from, where you can sample the region’s award-winning shiraz, cabernet, and verdelho wines. But it’s not just wine: The Swan Valley is also dotted with breweries, distilleries, and artisan producers.

History chugs to life at the Workshops Rail Museum—affectionately known as The Workshops—in Ipswich, Queensland. As the site from which the state’s first train ran over 145 years ago, the museum celebrates the social, technical, and cultural impacts of rail transport and travel on Australia. Exhibits cover the introduction of diesel trains, great Australian rail journeys, and more.

Perth’s only theme park, Adventure World is home to all you would expect from a large water and amusement park. You’ll find everything from water slides to kid-friendly rides to thrilling roller coasters and swing rides, plus the Aussie Wildlife Experience to provide some local flair.

With an elevated walkway, a cantilevered viewing platform, and a 121-foot (37-meter) high observation tower, the Mamu Tropical Skywalk is a highlight of Wooroonooran National Park in Queensland, Australia. Enjoy dramatic views over the North Johnstone River gorge and the surrounding rainforest as you walk across the 33-foot (10-meter) cantilever and get an up-close look at the park’s wildlife and foliage.

Located only 1.5 hours from the teeming streets of modern, fast-paced Melbourne—Phillip Island is known for its wildlife and rural, undeveloped shores. The fact that the island has remained so wild is in large part due to the Phillip Island Nature Parks—a group of five family-friendly attractions, plus conservation areas that preserve and promote the island’s wildlife wealth.

Despite its name, Muddy’s Playground is a modern water playground that isn’t really that messy. Incorporating active, passive, educational, and interactive elements in its play equipment, Muddy’s is hugely popular with Cairns locals. Themed around the waterfront it sits on, the park includes a range of equipment for kids of all ages, including splash areas, a rope bridge, multiple slides, and puzzle games.

Found on Queensland’s Gold Coast, this 9,000-square-foot gallery is filled with exhibits that are equal part fascinating and head-scratching. Whether you attempt to navigate the expansive mirror maze, dive into an immersive experience at the 7D Moving Theatre (which blends movies and video games), or check out the many Australia-themed exhibits, visiting Ripley’s will help you get to know the weirder side of Australia.

Trinity Beach offers a tropical getaway within easy access of the city of Cairns. Popular with locals from the suburban community of the same name, the laid-back Trinity Beach features crystal clear waters, a sandy stretch of beach, paved walkways that wind past lush gardens, and almond trees cast shade from the strong sun.

Part of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Botany Bay holds great historical significance for Sydney—it was where Captain James Cook first stepped onto Australia after exploring New Zealand in 1770. The heritage-listed spot is now home to a monument marking the meeting of European and Aboriginal cultures here.

Also known as the Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections, Ballarat’s Gold Museum is an excellent resource for understanding life and culture during the Victorian Gold Rush. There is a focus on the Ballarat region, so you can conceptualize the area’s diversity before, during, and after the Great Gold Rush.

In the eastern reaches of the Yarra Valley, the Blue Lotus Water Garden has 14 acres (5.5 hectares) of gardens, lakes, and wetlands, blooming with colorful lotus flowers and water lilies. A fun attraction for the whole family, it’s also home to horticultural marvels such as the golden lotus and a 2000-year-old Japanese flower.

The Sydney Jewish Museum serves as a moving tribute to Australia’s Jewish community. It’s devoted to telling the story of the city’s Jewish history and heritage, from the population’s first arrivals in 1788 to the almost 30,000 survivors who started new lives in Australia after World War II and the Holocaust.

A collaboration between the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, the Australian Museum, and Sydney Living Museums, the Museums Discovery Centre is one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets. There are hundreds of displays to explore and plenty of opportunities to learn about museum collecting, conservation, and research practices.

The historic Tamar Hotel, built in 1826, today houses the beer fans' haven known as Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers (Boag’s Brewery). The experience takes visitors through the history of the brewing company, founded by James Boag and his son in 1883, while offering a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process.

Australia’s oldest steel-railed railway line has been running since 1887, when a horse-drawn train would carry passengers down to the seashore to collect cockles. Today, the Cockle Train keeps its original nickname and still chugs along the same historic route between Goolwa at the mouth of the Murray River, and Victor Harbor on the south coast.

The tall ships of Sydney Harbour offer a traditional way to see the iconic sights of the Harbour City. The ships, which are characterized by their billowing sails and wooden helms, let you escape the crowds on land and give you unobstructed views of Sydney Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, and the Sydney Opera House.