Australia attractions

Beneath the woodlands and bushland trails of the Kelly Hill Conservation Park lies one of the most impressive natural wonders on Kangaroo Island, formed from millions of years of erosion, sea level change, and weather patterns. Venture underground and discover an expanse of ancient limestone caves, where you'll see dramatic rock columns, multicolored shawl formations, and towering stalagmites and stalactites.

From the Sydney Opera House to the Melbourne Arts Centre, the Australian Ballet puts on shows all around the country, performing everything from contemporary ballets to classics such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Founded in 1962, it’s Australia’s leading ballet company, based along Melbourne’s Southbank.

Just south of the popular coastal town of Batemans Bay, the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden displays plants that grow naturally in this region of southeastern New South Wales. Along with admiring the flora, visitors can explore walking paths, relax at the café, and spot a range of Australian birds and animals, including kangaroos, bandicoots, and echidnas.

One of the vineyards and cellar door wineries of Perth’s Swan Valley, Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery is both an art gallery and cultural center. Aboriginal-owned and operated, Maalinup pays tribute to the region’s native Wadjuck people and is packed with art and handicrafts designed by local artists and craftsmen, plus Australian herbs, spices, and other specialties.

The entire town of Evandale is a National Trust site—a collection of late-Georgian and early-Victorian architecture that offers a glimpse into what Tasmania was like in centuries past. It’s one of the best-preserved historic towns in all of Australia, with some of the oldest structures dating back to 1809.

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 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.

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.

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.

The 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometer Esplanade Boardwalk is the heartbeat of Cairns. Running along the scenic coast in the Cairns CBD, the promenade features picturesque lawns and landscaped parklands along the palm-fringed waterfront. It’s the perfect place for joggers, cyclists, and travelers to stretch their legs and take in the sights.

In addition to being one of Australia’s most luxurious hotels, the Barossa Chateau sits on the country’s most well-known (and well-kept) rose garden, too. With some 25 acres (10 hectares) of estate land, including 22 acres (9 hectares) of gardens and 3 miles (5 kilometers) of scenic pathways, the Barossa Chateau offers travelers the perfect country escape.

From whale-watching cruises and spectacular coastal walks to colonial heritage sites and ANZAC war history, Albany has plenty to tempt travelers to the south coast. Albany Visitor Centre is the first port of call for visitors, offering up-to-date advice and information on the region’s many attractions.

No trip to Australia’s capital is complete without a visit to the National Carillon. The 164-foot (50 meter) architectural landmark originally gifted to Australia by the British government is touted for its’ unique design. In addition to its’ towering height, the structure is also a musical instrument! Have a picnic beneath the striking tower and listen to chimining of its’ 55 bronze bells each week at free concerts. The sheer height of the tower allows the musical melodies to drift across Lake Burley Griffin all the way to Kings and Commonwealth Parks. Visit at night when the structure is illuminated for an unforgettable view.

Erupting from Lake Burley Griffin just off Commonwealth Park, the Captain Cook Memorial jet commemorates the bicentenary of Captain James Cook's first sighting of Australia and landing at Botany Bay in 1770. The jet reaches a maximum height of 499 feet (152 meters), and its design is based on the Jet D'Eau in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mount Whitfield Conservation Park is a rainforest surrounded by the urban development of Cairns. Covering 741 acres (300 hectares), it’s a popular place for locals and visitors alike to escape the bustling city. As a forested range completely isolated from other natural vegetation, it’s incredibly delicate, consisting primarily of rainforest, with patches of both eucalyptus forests and grasslands with cycads.

With a mission statement to sustain, inspire, and create, Design Tasmania (formerly the Design Centre) was established to support high-quality Tasmanian craft and design. Today, only Tasmanian-created items are exhibited and sold here, including the work of emerging craftspeople and designers.

Set inside a white brick heritage building that was once the local jail, George Town Watch House is a small museum focused on the colonial history of George Town. While some rooms feature temporary exhibitions and a preserved jail cell, the main attraction is its model village which shows what the town was like in the early 1800s.

Whether you’re surfing, boogie boarding, stand-up paddleboarding, or kitesurfing, Trigg Beach is the place to catch some waves. Less than a half-hour from Perth, this local favorite is a beach of two halves separated by the rocky headland of Trigg Island, with miles of white sands and access to the reefs and lagoons of Marmion Marine Park.

Manta rays, dugongs, sea turtles, and whale sharks all call the Ningaloo Reef home, making it an epic spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. Stretching along the west coast of the Cape Range Peninsula, it’s one of the world’s largest fringing reefs, and the Ningaloo Marine Park protects an area more than three times the size of New York City.

Looming large off the tip of Wilsons Promontory—mainland Australia’s southernmost point—this massive skull-shaped rock is reminiscent of a movie villain’s lair. Sheer granite cliffs on all sides make it nearly impossible to access, but intrepid travelers can view its mysterious mass and enormous cave from the water on a day cruise.

On the site of the shop that launched the R.M. Williams leather goods brand in 1934, the R.M. Williams Outback Heritage Museum is both museum and retail outlet. More than simply a tribute to one of South Australia’s most successful sons, the museum tells the story of bush culture and a defining Outback brand through displays, panels, and machinery.

During the heyday of Broome's pearling industry, the pearlers (many from China, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Europe) would arrive back on shore cashed up and head to the opium dens, billiard halls, and brothels of Chinatown to let loose. The vibrant neighborhood remains the multicultural heart of Broome.

Known for its marine life, reefs, and diverse kelp forests, Tinderbox Marine Reserve in southern Tasmania is an off-shore area of protected waters across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel from Bruny Island. The reserve’s diverse marine ecosystem and proximity to shore make it an inviting destination for recreational diving.

Set on the banks of Tasmania’s South Esk River, Clarendon House is a stately 3-story Georgian house considered one of Australia’s finest heritage estates. It lies on over 17 acres (7 hectares) of parkland and has a walled garden, servants’ quarters, farm buildings, and the Australian Fly Fishing Museum.

Visiting Truganini Lookout is a highlight of Bruny Island, whether you’re climbing up the wooden staircase at sunset in hopes of glimpsing the island’s resident penguins, or just enjoying the panoramic views. The top of the island’s tall sand mound (known both as the Neck Lookout and the Truganini Lookout) offers spectacular 360-degree views of the island.

The National Automobile Museum of Tasmania has one of the country’s best collections of classic and historic cars and motorbikes, spanning more than a century of automobile design. Vintage cars are the star attraction here, though the super cars also impress. The 1969 Fiat Spider is a highlight for many visitors.

This market on the Heritage-listed gardens of the old Broome Courthouse brings together an exciting array of local vendors, including designers, jewelry makers, and food stalls serving everything from freshly brewed coffee and local mangoes to international cuisine. Live music provides a soundtrack to the shopping.

Fringed by ancient king ferns and lush rainforest, and with waters so clear that you can see the silvery sands rippling below; Wanggoolba Creek is one of the many natural wonders of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. Hidden away at the heart of the island, it’s an idyllic spot for strolling and wildlife watching.

Western Australia isn’t short of remote settlements, and the Aboriginal community of One Arm Point (Ardyaloon) is another beautiful spot to add to your off-the-beaten-path travel itinerary. On the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome, the village rewards intrepid travelers with great views of the Indian Ocean and the Buccaneer Archipelago, and an interesting hatchery.

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.