A highlight of any visit to Australia’s Red Centre, the Sounds of Silence is an unforgettable way to discover Uluru (Ayers Rock). From watching a romantic sunset over this nature's made landmark to dining beneath the desert's bright stars—it’s an outback experience like no other.
The Horizontal Falls were once described by David Attenborough as one of the “greatest wonders of the natural world.” Located in Talbot Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago, the waterfalls are caused by the shifting of ocean tides through the rocks, and are one of Western Australia’s most spectacular sights.
Winding through ancient rainforests, dramatic gorges, and the UNESCO-listed landscapes of Queensland’s tropical north, Kuranda Scenic Railway is a dreamy Australian train journey. The route runs from Cairns to the quiet town of Kuranda, with its eco-lodges and artisan shops. Along the way, you’ll relax in comfort in a classic wood-panelled carriage while enjoying the natural scenery.
With more than 74 acres (30 hectares) of natural bushlands and hundreds of animal residents, Healesville Sanctuary is one of the best places in Victoria to spot native Australian animals. Kangaroos, koalas, dingoes, platypus, emus, and Tasmanian devils are just some of the many creatures that call the sanctuary home.
Queen Victoria Market is Melbourne’s premier farmers market. It’s filled with fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers, regional meats and cheeses, gourmet items, handicrafts, and much more. Since 1878, the market has been a gathering place for locals and tourists to peruse the stalls and relish delicious treats from stallholders.
Built for the 2000 Olympic Games, this world-class facility still draws travelers and locals looking to experience the Olympic spirit. The park is made up of several venues, including the ANZ Stadium, the Sydney Showground, the Athletic Centre, the Aquatic Centre (which is also open to the public for swimming, and even a skatepark.
One of Brisbane’s most memorable landmarks, Story Bridge soars over the Brisbane River at the heart of the city. Walk, cycle, or drive across, but the most adventurous way to experience the bridge is the Story Bridge Adventure Climb, affording 360-degree panoramic views of the city below.
Boasting a prime location in the heart of Melbourne CBD, the Block Arcade is a heritage shopping arcade that dates back to the 1800s. The arcade offers a boutique shopping experience that’s enhanced by carved-stone ceilings, a glass canopy, and mosaic-tile flooring. Highlights include Haigh’s Chocolates and Hopetoun Tearooms, renowned for its window display.
Fitzroy Island is a small forest-covered island fringed by white-sand beaches that lies in the sheltered Great Barrier Reef. Easily accessible from Cairns, it’s a popular day-trip destination and you can also stay there overnight at the resort or campground. Most of the island is protected as part of the Fitzroy Island National Park.
Boasting the title of Australia’s oldest park, Sydney Hyde Park is home to the ANZAC Memorial and themed gardens brimming with water features and public art. In addition to almost 600 mature trees, the park also hosts the Archibald Fountain, crowned by a sculpture of Apollo; a Captain Cook statue; and the poignant Pool of Reflection.
With its miles of sun-bleached sandy beaches, towering dunes, shimmering lagoons, and pockets of wild bushland, Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) feels a world away from nearby Brisbane. A national park and among the largest sand island in the world, Moreton Island makes for a perfect day trip when you want to get in touch with nature.
The SEA LIFE® Sydney Aquarium encapsulates the diversity of Australia’s aquatic life. Wander exhibits that showcase everything from saltwater crocs and Southern Ocean penguins to turtles from the Great Barrier Reef and jellyfish. Plus, its prime Darling Harbour location lets you combine the aquarium with other family-friendly stops.
As Hobart’s favorite regular market, Salamanca Market brings a sea of people and several hundred stalls to the streets of Battery Point on Saturdays. Among the long rows of kiosks and stalls, market-goers will find local produce, handicrafts, coffee, and food for sale—plus the cheerful, social atmosphere of mingling people.
The Melbourne Zoo has been open since 1862, making it Australia's oldest zoo. Modeled after the London Zoo, the Melbourne Zoo houses more than 300 species from around the world, from elephants and lions to Aussie natives like kangaroos and koalas. The zoo is also a conservation center dedicated to fighting wildlife extinction.
Nitmiluk National Park (formerly Katherine Gorge National Park) offers vast sandstone cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and a series of 13 gorges carved out by the mighty Katherine River. All of this dramatic scenery is located on the ancient lands of the Jawoyn people and is home to some impressive Aboriginal rock art sites.
From the electric blue Ulysses to the vibrant Cairns Birdwing, more than 2,000 tropical butterflies call the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary home. Located in Kuranda village, the aviary–which opened in 1987–teaches visitors about the fluttery critters through immersive exhibits and a breeding lab where you can watch scientists at work.
The Agincourt Reefs are part of the larger Great Barrier Reef, sitting toward the northern end of the reef system and at its outer edge. Off the coast of Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation in Northern Queensland, the Agincourt Reefs are popular with divers, and there are around 16 different dive sites.
Grampians National Park offers more than 646 square miles (1,673 square kilometers) of rugged sandstone peaks, with wildflowers, waterfalls, fern gullies, and vineyards. The park is known for its stunning natural landscape and many ancient Aboriginal rock art sites.
The Koala Reserve on Phillip Island is a fun and informative place to learn more about the popular Australian marsupial. Stroll elevated boardwalks through eucalypt woodland as you observe koalas in their natural habitat.
Opened in 1892, the Royal Arcade is Melbourne’s oldest shopping arcade. It’s a visual feast, with a lofty glass ceiling that streams natural light onto the delicate Victorian metalwork, and home to a choice selection of boutiques, jewelers, chocolatiers, and cafes.
For those road-tripping up the coast of Western Australia, perhaps from Perth to Exmouth, a stop in Lancelin is easy and convenient. Visiting Lancelin from Perth on an organized day trip often includes additional attractions such as Caversham Wildlife Park, the Pinnacles Desert, or the Swan Valley wine region. Once there, sandboards can be rented in town for your own sandboarding enjoyment.
The largest of Noosa’s six lakes—about 6 miles (10 kilometers) long—Lake Cootharaba sits on the southern cusp of the Noosa Everglades and the Great Sandy National Park. A popular vacation spot, the lake offers bushwalking trails, water sports, and other activities centered around the water.
In Tropical North Queensland, Birdworld Kuranda offers visitors the chance to surround themselves with the color and beauty of birds from all corners of the world. Dotted with waterfalls, ponds, and plants, the rainforest habitat is home to nearly 60 species of the feathered variety, making this one of the largest collections of free-flying birds in Australia.
The Central Park of Perth, Kings Park & Botanic Garden boasts a hilltop perch with views of the Swan River and city skyline. Locals and visitors flock here for picnics and walks amid wildflowers, bushland, landscaped gardens, and historic memorials.
A seaside suburb of Melbourne, St. Kilda draws both locals and visitors with its wide stretch of sand beach on Port Phillip Bay as well as its shopping centers, eateries, and relaxing vibe. The suburb dates back to the Victorian era, when it was a destination for the city’s affluent residents.
At more than a mile (1.8 kilometers) in length, the Busselton Jetty is the longest timber-piled jetty found anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. Ships no longer dock here, and instead the historic jetty draws visitors to the Western Australia coast to stroll its length and take in the views both above and below the water.
Take selfies with all your favorite celebrities, right on Darling Harbour. Opened in 2012, the Sydney outpost of the Madame Tussauds museum features incredibly lifelike wax replicas of famous figures—from Australian pop idols to sports heroes, movie stars, and politicians.
Melbourne’s laneways—narrow, pedestrian-friendly alleys that divide up the central business district (CBD)—are a city signature. One of the first laneways in Melbourne, Degraves Street links the city’s fashion precinct with Flinders Street Station. Stop by for coffee, wine, snacks, meals, and shopping, or listen to the performers who line the bluestone cobbles.
Russell Falls is among the most popular waterfalls in Tasmania, if not the whole of Australia. Located in the Mt. Field National Park, in south-central Tasmania, the three-tiered falls are easily accessible from Hobart. They’re reached after a pleasant short walk on wheelchair-accessible paths through a mossy, fern-filled forest.
Backed by the pink-tinged granite outcrops known as the Hazards, Freycinet National Park protects pristine white-sand beaches, sheer sea cliffs, azure bays, abundant birdlife, and a lighthouse with stellar views over the ocean. Take in one of Australia’s most photographed views from the lookout over Wineglass Bay.
