With its jagged dolerite peaks standing watch over a trio of glacial lakes, Cradle Mountain is the grand centerpiece of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tasmania Wilderness, the natural landmark also marks the north end of the famous Overland Track.
As Sydney’s tallest structure, the Sydney Tower Eye is an integral part of the city’s skyline. At twice the height of Sydney Harbour Bridge, the 1,000-foot-high (309-meter) tower provides panoramic views that take in the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach; on a clear day, you can even see as far as the Blue Mountains.
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.
Tucked away in the Adelaide Hills, the tree-lined lanes and historic taverns of Hahndorf have a distinctly Bavarian feel; so much so that the village has dubbed itself “Australia’s oldest German town.” Founded by German settlers in the early 19th century, Hahndorf displays its heritage in its culture, architecture, and cuisine.
This spectacular national park, covering an area of some 15 square miles (40 square kilometers), beckons visitors away from the surf and sunshine of Noosa Heads, offering miles of coastal walking trails, secluded beaches, a rugged coastline, and the chance to spot dolphins to one side and koalas to the other.
Offering welcome relief from the sweltering temperatures of Queensland’s tropical north, the sweeping plateaus of the Atherton Tablelands lie within easy day-trip distance of Cairns. Covering an area of 20,000 square miles (32,000 square kilometers), the lush landscapes also provide scenic terrain for bush walking and bird-watching.
Cascades Female Factory Historic Site is where Hobart’s female convicts were imprisoned and put to work back when Tasmania was a penal colony known as Van Diemen’s Land. Visitors today can explore the haunting site, which, at its peak, held even more prisoners than the much-feared Port Arthur.
Located on Gadigal Country—just a 15-minute walk from the city center—the Art Gallery of New South Wales is one of Australia’s premier cultural attractions. The unique art campus features two stunning buildings, Naala Nura and Naala Badu, and an art garden with Harbour views. Spend a day browsing historical and contemporary art (including the Yiribana Gallery, a permanent space showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art), then book one of the museum’s tours or check out dining experiences from renowned Australian chefs. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in Australian culture and stories within one of the world’s most beautiful cultural precincts.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fraser Island (K’gari, the largest sand island in the world, is filled with natural wonders and Lake McKenzie is one of its most wonderful. Also known as Boorangoora, the strikingly blue water of Lake McKenzie makes it the most visited of the island’s freshwater lakes and its most popular swimming location.
The best-known shipwreck around the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, the once-luxurious liner SS Maheno was driven ashore just north of Happy Valley during a cyclone in 1935. The shipwreck continues to deteriorate in the harsh environment, making for an impressive and haunting site.
Floating down the shallow, fast-flowing waters of Eli Creek beneath a twisted canopy of trees is a highlight of a visit to Fraser Island. One of the largest freshwater creeks on the island, its cool waters provide welcome relief from the sunny shores of neighboring 75 Mile Beach.
Dating back more than 150 years, Fitzroy Gardens is an historic addition to Melbourne’s green spaces. The park is conveniently located near Melbourne CBD and features notable attractions such as Captain’s Cook Cottage, which was transported from England, the richly decorated Fairy Tree, and a model tudor village.
One of the world’s most scenic arenas, the Adelaide Oval dates back to 1871. Best known for cricket, the defining sport of British colonies, it also hosts concerts, rugby, Australian rules football, and more. Besides a cafe, fine dining restaurant, and corporate events spaces, it offers a museum devoted to cricket legend Donald Bradman.
As the island’s largest town and main commercial hub, Kingscote is a historic gateway to Kangaroo Island. Perched on the northeast coast, it’s a lively town with a rich history—founded in 1836, it was the first European settlement in South Australia—and it's a starting point for many island tours, some specializing in food and wine.
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Gondwana Rainforests, the startling landscapes of Springbrook National Park are among the many highlights of Queensland’s Gold Coast Hinterlands. Carved out by an ancient volcano, the rugged plateau is now a natural wonderland of forested gorges, jagged cliffs, and cascading waterfalls.
With its lush wetlands, limestone caves, and wildflower-filled plains, Yanchep National Park makes an attractive retreat from nearby Perth, and at less than an hour’s drive from the city, it’s a popular choice for a day trip. Established in 1957, Yanchep is also one of Australia’s oldest national parks.
Located in the village of Kuranda, this compact wildlife park gives you the chance to have close encounters with native Australian wildlife. Free-range enclosures are surrounded by lush rainforest and play host to kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and koalas, while freshwater crocodiles glide through a tropical lagoon.
Witness the ocean’s force as it pushes water up through the rocks, creating the spout of the Kiama Blowhole—the biggest natural blowhole in the world. Kiarama-a is believed to be the Aboriginal term, meaning “the noise of the sea.” Explosions of water can reach up to 80 feet (25 meters), which makes for quite the natural spectacle.
A favorite of campers, hikers, and nature lovers, Ku-ring-gai Chase is Australia’s second-oldest national park. The lush rain forest landscape, quiet creeks, and mountain passes just might make you forget you’re still within Sydney city limits.
Ubirr is one of the most famous and significant Aboriginal rock art sites in the Kakadu National Park. A 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) circuit track leads visitors past the rock art galleries, where local people painted fish, turtles, goanna, and other essential food animals up to 20,000 years ago. Ubirr is especially popular at sunset.
The oldest of Tasmania’s 19 national parks, Mount Field offers a nature-filled getaway that’s easy to reach from Hobart. The park is known for its waterfalls, backcountry hiking trails, and abundant wildlife that includes platypus, wombat, and the famed Tasmanian devil.
First opened in 1912, Luna Park Melbourne is a slice of theme park history. Enter through the mouth of Mr. Moon and ride historic attractions, including the Great Scenic Railway wooden roller coaster. Old-time favorites, such as a ghost train and hall of mirrors, offer thrills to kids, as do bumper cars, carousels, and modern rides.
Located just outside of Broome, Gantheaume Point is one of the region’s most impressive natural landmarks and serves as an important paleontological site. The red-rock cliffs contrast with the waters of the Indian Ocean below and offer spectacular photo opportunities.
A popular day hike from Sydney, the Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk also may be one of the world’s most scenic coastal walkways. Stretching 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) south from the famed Bondi Beach, the route follows the cliffs via Tamarama, Bronte, and Clovelly, providing panoramic views and beach pop-offs along the way.
Cape Bruny Lighthouse towers over the dolerite cliffs of Cape Bruny, Tasmania. First lit in 1838, it’s the second-oldest lighthouse in the state. Its lights have been dimmed for more than 25 years, but visitors can now enter the lighthouse on a guided tour, which offers panoramic views of the rugged South Bruny coastline.
Nestled between two prominent headlands on the Bondi to Coogee Walk, this slight stretch of golden sand has such a glamorous reputation that it is affectionately known as “Glamarama.” While trendsetters flock to Tamarama simply to be seen, the Sydney beach is also a significant draw for surfers and sunbathers.
Dating back to the 14th century, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a recognizable feature of Melbourne’s skyline. As well as being hailed as one of the finest examples of Gothic-Revival architecture in the world, the cathedral is the tallest and largest Christian structure in Australia. It’s also home to an organ that boasts 4,500 pipes.
The State Library Victoria is an iconic Melbourne landmark and an important community resource. It is Australia's oldest public library and one of the world’s first free public libraries. Dominating an entire city block, on the corner of Swanston and La Trobe Streets, the library is worth exploring for its heritage architecture alone, which includes tiled floors, grand marble staircases, stained glass, and bluestone walls.
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.
A large granite rock formation shaped like an ocean wave, Wave Rock is located in Western Australia’s Golden Outback region and situated in a bushland environment. Standing nearly 50 feet (15 meters) tall and 360 feet (110 meters) long, the formation is part of a geological area dating back more than 2.5 billion years.
