Australia

Overview

Australia is home to sacred Uluru, aka Ayers Rock, located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park; the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system; the red-earthed Outback, comprised of a vastness that’s almost incomprehensible, as well as ancient Aboriginal culture; lush rainforest, such as Daintree, one of the planet’s oldest tropical rainforests; some of Oceania’s most beautiful beaches, including Whitehaven Beach, located on Whitsunday Island, Bells Beach, a mecca for surfing, and Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which draws visitors from around the globe; and the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts towering sandstone rock formations, deep gorges, Aboriginal rock paintings, and more than 660,000 acres of wilderness. Australia also contains a cornucopia of cosmopolitan cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, and Hobart, capital of the island state of Tasmania.

What to See

Adelaide – This cosmopolitan coastal city is the capital of South Australia and is renowned for its award-winning restaurants and is the gateway to Australia’s wine country.

Brisbane – The capital of Queensland, Brisbane is known for its subtropical climate and classic Queenslander architecture. 

Cairns – Queensland’s tropical Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.

Canberra – The nation’s capital city lies on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, where you will find the iconic Australian Parliament House.

Darwin – The capital of Australia’s Northern Territory is where ancient Aboriginal culture mixes with modern city life and is the gateway to Kakadu National Park. 

Hobart – Capital of the island state of Tasmania, Hobart boasts an enviable farm-to-table food and wine scene and is surrounded by scenic wilderness and water, including the world’s second-deepest natural port.

Melbourne – Considered the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne is revered for its eclectic restaurants, arts, events, parks, and historic architecture.

Perth – Western Australia’s Perth is the country’s sunniest and most remote capital city and a bastion of white-sand beaches, scenic parks, culture, global restaurants, and vibrant nightlife.

Sydney – Australia’s most popular city is home to some of the country’s most famous beaches, including Bondi, and iconic structures, such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. 

What to Do

Great Barrier Reef – One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef is the planet’s largest coral reef system, contains more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, and stretches more than 1,400 miles. In fact, it is the largest living structure on Earth. 

Uluru – Also known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is a sacred sandstone monolith rising 1,142 feet in the heart of the country’s Red Centre within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It is Australia’s, and one of the world’s, most famous natural landmarks. 

Daintree Rainforest – One of the planet’s oldest rainforests, Daintree Rainforest is located within Daintree National Park and boasts unique plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. In addition to ancient rainforests, here you will find picturesque valleys, scenic beaches, and serene streams and rivers.