Australia attractions

Isolated on a peninsula facing the Tasman Sea, the once-feared Port Arthur Penitentiary was where Britain’s most-condemned convicts were sent to endure harsh conditions. Today, the UNESCO-listed site has been restored and preserved to remember Australia’s past; a visit here sheds light on the darker days of Port Arthur.

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.

Tobruk Sheep Station is a scenic 50-acre working sheep farm about 45 miles (70 kilometers) north of Sydney. Visitors to the farm get a peek into what life is like for an Australian sheep farmer. From “mustering” (herding) sheep with the help of some hard-working dogs to enjoying an authentic outback BBQ lunch with can-brewed “Billy Tea,” visitors can observe and take part in all aspects of life on the farm.

Located just downriver from Launceston, the Tamar Island Wetlands is a protected area of mudflats, lagoons, and islands. Although converted to farmland in the 1800s, the river estuary has been slowly reclaiming the wetlands since the 1950s, allowing for the return of birds, frogs, fish, invertebrates, and threatened species.

From fashion boutiques and vintage shops to art galleries and cozy cafés, plus a vibrant nightlife scene, the Chapel Street Precinct is where locals come to eat, drink, and shop. Stretching through four different Melbourne neighborhoods, the legendary street is full of character and abuzz with activity at all hours.

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.

Despite its prime location on Perth’s coast, City Beach is less visited than other beaches such as Cottesloe and Scarborough. Those who do venture here are rewarded with unspoiled white sand, good waves for surfing and kitesurfing, and a selection of waterfront eateries.

Part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Sherbrooke Forest is known for its wildlife—its most famous resident is the lyrebird, which can mimic dozens of sounds, including other bird songs, car alarms, and camera shutters. It’s also well known for its abundance of tree ferns and mountain ash, the tallest flowering tree in the world.

Garrison Church isn’t the largest church in Sydney—nor its most popular or famous—but it's significant to the city’s military families. Established back in 1840, Garrison Church (officially known as Holy Trinity Church) was the first military church in Australia. Today, it hosts Sunday services and houses a small museum displaying early Australian military and historical items.

The Kangaroo Sanctuary near Alice Springs shot to fame in 2013 when the Kangaroo Dundee BBC/National Geographic TV documentary series aired in the UK and US. Showing the daily life of sanctuary owner Chris “Brolga” Barnes, the series depicts the ins and outs of running this wildlife sanctuary and rescue center for baby kangaroos.

The Museum of Brisbane is at the heart of the “Brissie-ism” cultural and social movement—a newly-coined descriptor that aims to highlight Brisbane’s rich past and exciting future. Housed in the city center, the museum hosts a collection that began in 1859 and extends across various mediums to reflect the city's vibrancy today.

Located on the waterfront, The District Docklands is an indoor/outdoor shopping destination in the Docklands suburb of Melbourne. The urban, modernized mall features a transparent all-weather roof and offers an array of retail, dining, and entertainment options alongside immersive experiences and events. Shop The District Market for fresh food vendors, or stock up on supplies with locals at the country’s first Costco.

Home Hill is a timber house with a unique heritage; it was the home to the only Prime Minister of Australia from Tasmania, Joseph Lyons. Visit the gardens outside and then tour inside this Devonport house to learn about the personal and political life of Joseph Lyons, his wife, Dame Enid Lyons, and their 12 children.

Brisbane’s Tinchi Tamba Wetlands provides access to bird watching, kayaking, walking, and spotting wildlife, including dugongs, turtles, and kangaroos. The reserve spans more than 940 acres (380 hectares) of wetland on the fringes of Moreton Bay. Habitats run the gamut from mangrove-clad estuaries to salt marshes, intertidal flats, wetlands, grasslands, and forests.

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.

As an island nation, Australia and its people have a long history with the ocean. At the Queensland Maritime Museum, the shining hull of Ella’s Pink Lady is a testament to the unstoppable willpower of the youngest-ever solo circumnavigator, the Australian Jessica Watson. Explore dozens of boats, exhibits, and incredibly detailed model ships as you delve into the stories of adventurous Australian sailors and seafarers.

Located in Victoria’s Great Dividing Range, Mount Macedon is one of the highest peaks in the Macedon Ranges at 3,284 feet (1,001 meters). It forms a part of the 5,878-acre (2,379-hectare) Macedon Regional Park, which offers scenic hikes and drives, wonderful views, a range of wildlife, and both natural and cultural points of interest.

The craggy mountain of Ben Lomond looms over the national park that shares its name. A haven for skiiers in the wintertime, as well as hikers and rock climbers in other seasons, Ben Lomond National Park’s treeless plateau stretches for around 8.5 miles (14 kilometeres) and soars more than 4,265 feet (1,300 meters). Keep your eyes out for year-round Tasmanian wildlife in the park.

If you have eclectic tastes, Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum is for you. It spans arts, design, science, and technology. With around half a million objects in its collection, the Powerhouse Museum is Australia's largest group of museums. There are four venues—Powerhouse Ultimo, Parramatta, Castle Hill, and the Sydney Observatory—with Ultimo being the main branch most commonly associated with the Powerhouse Museum.

Located on the south side of Darling Harbor, Cockle Bay is home to Cockle Bay Wharf, a popular waterfront entertainment complex full of lively cafés, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Experience Sydney’s iconic harbor while enjoying stunning views, whimsical sculptures, and alfresco fine dining and entertainment.

A short hop from Melbourne, Adventure Park Geelong is Victoria’s biggest water park and a popular spot to cool off from the summer sun. The park’s 24 attractions offer something to suit all ages, from thrilling waterslides and carnival rides to a lazy river and splash pools.

Just north of Surfers Paradise, Southport is a bustling business, entertainment, and luxury residential hub overlooking the Broadwater and the Pacific Ocean. A fashionable seaside resort destination with plenty of activities for the whole family, Southport also offers easy access to popular theme parks like Sea World and Dreamworld.

Built in 1846 for Scottish settlers Patrick and Catherine Leslie, Newstead House is Brisbane's oldest colonial residence and remains one of its most renowned heritage properties. Set on the banks of the Brisbane River, the historic home is now a house museum, beautifully recreated in late Victorian style. Visitors can step back in time as they explore Newstead House, admiring the vast collection of period furnishings and marvelling over unique artefacts like a signal cannon, Sir Thomas Brisbane’s pipe and a model of the HMS Beagle ship sailed by Royal Navy captain John Wickham, a former resident. The house also hosts a number of special events and educational programs including the chance to experience Victorian-style cooking, washing and games.

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.

The Australian National Aviation Museum (also called the Moorabbin Air Museum) is home to a collection of aircraft, engines, models, uniforms, and other memorabilia from Australia’s aviation heritage. With more than 30 aircraft on display—and many allowing hands-on exploration—aviation and history enthusiasts, school groups and kids, can get to know a diverse collection of all things that take to the sky, from gliders to historical commercial aircraft, and much more.

Northern Queensland’s Billabong Sanctuary replicates a natural Australian billabong, or watering hole, where a range of native Australian animals live. Visitors see koalas, wombats, crocodiles, snakes, parrots, and more on a tour of the park and also enjoy wildlife talks and animal feedings.

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.

One of only four 19th-century barques that can still sail the open ocean, the Tall Ship James Craig dates back to 1874 and boasts an impressive 21 sails. The iron ship is Sydney’s only 19th-century square rigger and took almost 40 years and A$30 million to restore. It can hold up to 80 passengers when it goes to sea.

A remote natural wonderland in Northwestern Australia, Karijini National Park is home to red cliffs, dramatic gorges, and waterfalls that cascade into fern-fringed swimming holes. While reaching Karijini can be an adventure in itself, the epic views, 2.5 billion-year-old landscapes, and majestic night skies are well worth the effort.

Watching over the mouth of the Tamar River, a collection of colonial cottages houses the Low Head Pilot Station Maritime Museum. Family-friendly exhibits at this pilot station tell the history of shipping on the Tamar and the arrival of the telegram in Tasmania. Animal lovers can try to spot Little Penguins up at the point.