1. Uluru, NT
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a massive sandstone rock formation in the Northern Territory. It’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and highly sacred in the local indigenous culture (who do request that you do not climb it). The rock appears to change colors at different times of day, and it’s a spectacular backdrop for photographs of your Australian roadtrip. The area surrounding the rock is also very interesting: walking tours led by the traditional inhabitants of the area, the Aṉangu, will leave you well-informed about local bush-tucker (indigenous cuisine), dreamtime stories, flora and fauna. You can also see archaeological evidence of 10,000 years of human habitation in the area. Uluru is part of the Uluru–Kata Tjuṯa National Park, and the flora found here is quite a comprehensive sample of that which is found in Central Australia. There’s also a diverse range of native wildlife, so it’s a great chance to encounter marsupials and other Australian mammals in their natural habitat.
2. Whitsunday Islands, QLD
The Whitsundays are made up of 74 Island Wonders, on the beautiful tropical coast of Queensland, Australia. Right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, a visit to the Whitsundays is a feast for the senses. The stunning natural landscapes of coast and islands are dotted with secluded beaches and friendly towns. Whether you choose to base yourself on the coast or on the islands, there's so much to do, you'll have to work out how to fit it all in!
3. Margaret River, WA
Although tourists usually outnumber locals, Margaret River still feels like a country town. The advantage of basing yourself here is that after 5pm, once the wineries shut up shop, it's one of the few places with any vital signs. Plus, it's close to the incredible surf of Margaret River Mouth and Southside, and the swimming beaches at Prevelly and Gracetown.
4. Sydney, NSW
Perhaps Australia’s best-known tourist destination, Sydney is the gateway city for many tourists, as well as being the largest city in Australia. A vibrant metropolis of over 4 million, Sydney is famous for its excellent cuisine, nightlife, shopping, and cultural attractions; and, of course, the Sydney Opera House! You’ll want to spend at least a few days here, but if you’re in a rush, some of the best inner-city attractions are the Powerhouse Museum, Manly, Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, Paddington Markets, Taronga Zoo, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Or, catch the hop-on, hop-off bus – with 34 designated stops, and insightful commentary, you’ll see some of Sydney’s most popular sites and have a great time!
Sydney Opera House
Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, this World Heritage–listed building is Australia's most famous landmark. Visually referencing a yacht's sails, it's a soaring, commanding presence. The complex comprises five performance spaces for dance, concerts, opera and theatre. The best way to experience the building is to attend a performance, but you can also take a one-hour guided tour.
Bondi Beach
Definitively Sydney, Bondi is one of the world’s great beaches: ocean and land collide, the Pacific arrives in great foaming swells, and all people are equal, as democratic as sand. It’s the closest ocean beach to the city centre (8km away), has consistently good (though crowded) waves, and is great for a rough-and-tumble swim. If the sea’s angry, try the child-friendly saltwater sea baths at either end of the beach.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydneysiders love their giant 'coathanger', opened in 1932. The best way to experience this majestic structure is on foot. Stairs climb up the bridge from both shores, leading to a footpath on the eastern side (the western side is a bike path). Climb the southeastern pylon to the Pylon Lookout or ascend the arc on the popular but expensive BridgeClimb.
Circular Quay
What many consider to be Sydney's best restaurant matches a peerless Bridge view with brilliant food. Chef Peter Gilmore never rests on his laurels, consistently delivering exquisitely crafted, adventurous cuisine. The menu and dining experience were set to be shaken up in 2018; you can rely on amazing creations. Book online in advance, but it's worth phoning just in case.
5. Melbourne, VIC
Melbourne is a buzzing metropolis famed for its exceptional café culture – its coffee has been voted the best in the world, beating out Rome and Vienna – as well as its vibrant cultural scene, exciting nightlife, delicious dining options and boutique shopping. Different neighbourhoods have their own culture, and it’s particularly worth visiting Fitzroy, Richmond Road and Chinatown for a taste of what makes Melbourne so special! The Crown Casino complex is also a treat; far more than just a casino, the complex boasts an excellent range of up-market shopping options, 5-star dining, nightclubs and much more. Docklands is also a great place for a coffee or a meal. The state art gallery and museum are both excellent, and the Queen Victoria Markets is a bustling, exciting and delicious attraction. You can also enjoy a stunning view of the city from the Eureka Skydeck, but perhaps the most fun to be had in Melbourne is just wandering through the many laneways and arcades in the city and experiencing its unique atmosphere.
6. Great Ocean Road, VIC
Starting at the cute township of Torquay (famous for its surf beaches, including the world-famous Bells Beach), this Australian Heritage-listed, 243km stretch of road boasts gorgeous coastal and mountain views, pristine white-sand beaches, a collection of small Australian towns that are fascinating in their own right, and the iconic Twelve Apostles, a series of limestone formations standing tall in the ocean. Stop in a few towns on your way, and make sure to take the time to explore the Great Otway National Park.
7. Adelaide, SA
The city of Adelaide and the nearby Barossa Valley are popular tourist destinations; Adelaide is known for its funky atmosphere, beautiful scenery, excellent museums and galleries, and Rundle Mall (Australia’s first pedestrian mall). There’s plenty of examples of classic Australian architecture to enjoy, and more forest parks and walking trails than you can shake a stick at. The Big Rocking Horse, just under an hour from the city centre, is an adorably quirky photo opportunity. Once you’ve finished your Adelaide adventures, the Barossa Valley is an internationally renowned winery region, specializing in Shiraz grapes. Winery tours and cellar-door tastings are widely available, and there’s plenty of exceptional restaurants to enjoy here, as well as farmer’s markets, artisanal goods, and many fascinating cultural and heritage sites. The area was heavily settled by German-Australians, and boasts delicious gourmet meats, breads and pastries in the German style.
8. Hobart, TAS
No doubt about it, Hobart’s future is looking rosy. Tourism is booming and the old town is brimming with new-found self-confidence. Hobart is a harbour town – a port city, where the world rushes in on the tide and ebbs away again, bringing with it influences from afar and leaving the locals buzzing with global zeitgeist. Or so the theory goes. And these days, Hobart’s waterfront precinct is certainly buzzing, with old pubs alongside new craft-beer bars, myriad restaurants and cafes, museums, festivals, ferries, accommodation…and all of it washed with sea-salty charm and a sense of history. On a sunny afternoon there are few more pleasant places in Australia to find yourself.
Kunanyi
Riding high above the city is Kunanyi or Mt. Wellington, a craggy basalt beast seemingly made for mountain biking and bushwalking. Kunanyi to local Aboriginal people, and just 'the mountain' to everybody else, this 1270m-high monolith both defines the city below and shelters it. Drive to the summit in any season – you're assured of either a show-stopping view or an out-of-time, lunar, cloud-shrouded experience, wandering around between snowdrifts, lichen-dappled boulders and the stunted plants that somehow survive in these lofty skies. Then, barrel back down to the waterfront on a mountain-bike tour like no other.
Salamanca Place
This picturesque row of three- and four-storey sandstone warehouses is a classic example of Australian colonial architecture. Dating back to the whaling days of the 1830s, Salamanca was the hub of Hobart’s trade and commerce. By the mid-20th century many of the warehouses had fallen into ruin, before restorations began in the 1970s. These days Salamanca hosts myriad restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, and the unmissable Saturday morning Salamanca Market.
9. Cradle Mountain, TAS
Cradle Mountain is Tasmania’s fifth-highest mountain, and its beauty makes it one of Tasmania’s most popular destinations. The mountain rises around the crystal-clear blue waters of Dove Lake, and the (strenuous!) trail from Dove Lake carpark, around the mountain and back takes 6-7 hours: if you’re athletic, this hike is well worth it for the beautiful summit view. The area is rich in flora and fauna, and also noteworthy for its diverse fungi. Even if you’re not the mountain-hiking type, Cradle Mountain is iconic, beautiful and well worth a visit.
10. Broome, WA
Like a paste jewel set in a tiara of natural splendours, Broome clings to a narrow strip of red pindan on the Kimberley's far-western edge, at the base of the pristine Dampier Peninsula. Surrounded by the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean and the creeks, mangroves and mudflats of Roebuck Bay, this Yawuru country is a good 2000km from the nearest capital city. Cable Beach, with its luxury resorts, hauls in the tourists during high season (April to October), with romantic notions of camels, surf and sunsets. Magnificent, sure, but there's a lot more to Broome than postcards, and tourists are sometimes surprised when they scratch the surface and find pindan just below. Each evening, the whole town collectively pauses, drinks in mid-air, while the sun slinks slowly towards Madagascar.
11. Kakadu National Park, NT
Kakadu is more than a national park. It's also a vibrant, living acknowledgement of the elemental link between the Aboriginal custodians and the country they have nurtured, endured and respected for thousands of generations. Encompassing almost 20,000 square km (about 200km north–south and 100km east–west), it holds within its boundaries a spectacular ecosystem, periodically scorched and flooded, and mind-blowing ancient rock art. In just a few days you can cruise on billabongs bursting with wildlife, examine 25,000-year-old rock paintings with the help of an Indigenous guide, swim in pools at the foot of tumbling waterfalls and hike through ancient sandstone escarpment country. If Kakadu has a downside it's that it's very popular – in the Dry at least. Resorts, camping grounds and rock-art sites can be very crowded. But this is a vast park and with a little adventurous spirit you can easily leave the crowds behind.
12. Coral Bay, WA
If you’re visiting Western Australia, Coral Bay is a must-see, if you’re up to the 11-hour drive from Perth or 13-hour drive from Broome to get there! On the upside, it’s an interesting journey if you’re traveling up from Perth: Geraldtown, Kalbarri, the UNESCO-listed Hamelin Pool, or the famous dolphins of Monkey Mia are all short and easy detours. Ningaloo Reef is the highlight of Coral Bay; it’s Australia’s only fringing reef, and the coral starts right at the seashore. The fish and coral are very easy to get to, even for the kids, and it’s a great spot for snorkelling or diving. If you’re lucky, you might also spot Solo the Kangaroo (a roo who loves swimming and has become quite a favorite with the townspeople) or some nesting turtles. Whale-watching tours are also available.
13. Kangaroo Island, SA
From Cape Jervis, car ferries chug across the swells of the Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island (KI). Long devoid of tourist trappings, the island these days is a booming destination for wilderness and wildlife fans − it's a veritable zoo of seals, birds, dolphins, echidnas and (of course) kangaroos. Still, the island remains rurally paced and underdeveloped − the kind of place where kids ride bikes to school and farmers advertise for wives on noticeboards. Island wine and produce is a highlight.
14. Perth, WA
Laid-back, liveable Perth has wonderful weather, beautiful beaches and an easygoing character. About as close to Bali as to some of Australia's eastern state capitals, Perth combines big-city attractions and relaxed, informal surrounds, providing an appealing lifestyle for locals and lots to do for visitors. It's a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city, with myriad bars, restaurants and cultural activities all vying for attention. When you want to chill out, it's easy to do so. Perth's pristine parkland, nearby bush, and river and ocean beaches – along with a good public-transport system – allow its inhabitants to spread out and enjoy what's on offer.
Basking under a near-permanent canopy of blue sky, Perth is a modern-day boom town, stoking Australia's economy from its glitzy central business district. Anchored by the broad Swan River flowing past skyscrapers and out to the Indian Ocean, the city boasts recent developments like Elizabeth Quay and Perth Stadium, which have added a more cosmopolitan sheen to this traditionally laid-back town.But Perth's heart is still down at the beach, tossing in clear surf and relaxing on the sand. The city's beaches trace the western edge of Australia for around 40km, and on any given day you can often have one all to yourself.Perth has sprawled to enfold Fremantle within in its suburbs, but the raffish port town with a great food and arts scene maintains its own distinct personality – immensely proud of its nautical ties, working-class roots and bohemian reputation.
15. Gold Coast, QLD
Just under 100km from Brisbane, this tourist mecca is glitzy, exciting and fun: it’s Australia’s answer to Las Vegas. This beach resort town is best known for Surfers Paradise (home of the famous bikini-clad meter maids, the futuristic Infinity attraction and an excellent Madam Tussauds), as well as its theme parks (Sea World, Dream World, Warner Bros Movie World and Wet’n’Wild), but if glitz, kitsch and rollercoasters aren’t your thing, then you’ll love the stunning, unspoiled rainforest vistas of Springbook & Lamington National Parks, and the very charming Mount Tamborine with its handicrafts, wines and cheeses.
16. Byron Bay, NSW
The intense popularity of Byron Bay can be, at first, a mystery. Sure, the beaches are sublime, but there are spectacular beaches all along this coast. Its locals have come to symbolise an Australian haute-boho lifestyle, yet much of the town is a squat, architectural mishmash and has a traffic problem. So why the legions of global fans? As they say in Byron, it's the vibe. Come to surf epic breaks at dawn, paddle through hazy beach afternoons and sigh at the enchanting sunsets. Come to do reiki, refine your yoga practice, do a raw fast and hang with the fire-twirlers by the beach at sunset. Idle with the striped T-shirt set at the town's excellent restaurant tables, then kick on with backpackers, musicians, models, young entrepreneurs, ageing hippies and property developers at one of its beery, shouty pubs. Or, because it's Byron, do all of the above, then repeat.
17. Karijini National Park, WA
The narrow, breathtaking gorges, hidden pools and spectacular waterfalls of Karijini National Park form one of WA's most impressive attractions. Adventurers and nature lovers flock to the rocky red ranges and deep, dark chasms, home to abundant wildlife and over 800 different plant species. Kangaroos, snappy gums and wildflowers dot the spinifex plains, rock wallabies cling to sheer cliffs and endangered olive pythons lurk in giant figs above quiet pools. The park also contains WA's three highest peaks: Mt. Meharry, Punurrunha (Mt. Bruce) and Mt. Frederick.
18. Wilsons Promontory National Park, VIC
If you like wilderness bushwalking, stunning coastal scenery and secluded white-sand beaches, you’ll absolutely love this place. The Prom, as it’s affectionately known, is one of the most popular national parks in Australia. Hardly surprising, given its accessibility from Melbourne, its network of more than 80km of walking tracks, its swimming and surf beaches and the abundant wildlife. The southernmost part of mainland Australia, the Prom once formed part of a land bridge that allowed people to walk to Tasmania.
19. Brisbane, QLD
Brisbane is particularly popular with Australian tourists, but also beloved by travelers from abroad. It’s a charming city that criss-crosses the Brisbane River, and its boutique shopping, friendly atmosphere and delicious restaurants can’t be beat. It’s quieter than Sydney and Melbourne, but not sleepy: there’s always plenty to see and do. West End is a popular nightlife spot, with the Lychee Lounge’s famous craft cocktails, and South Bank is a beautiful sightseeing spot that boasts everything from an authentic Nepalese Pagoda to an artificial inner-city beach. Try to visit during South Bank’s Collective Markets for some gorgeous handmade, artisanal objects by local creatives.
20. Fraser Island, QLD
The local Butchulla people call it K’Gari – paradise – and for good reason. Sculpted from wind, sand and surf, the striking blue freshwater lakes, crystalline creeks, giant dunes and lush rainforests of this gigantic sandbar form an enigmatic island paradise unlike anywhere else. Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world (measuring 120km by 15km), and is the only known place where rainforest grows on sand. Inland, the vegetation varies from dense tropical rainforest and wild heath to wetlands and wallum scrub, with sandblows, mineral streams and freshwater lakes opening onto long sandy beaches. The island, most of which is protected as part of the Great Sandy National Park, is home to a profusion of bird life and wildlife, including the famous dingo, while offshore waters teem with dugong, dolphins, manta rays, sharks and migrating humpback whales.
21. Rottnest Island, WA
Rottnest Island has long been the family-holiday playground of choice for Perth locals. Although it's only about 19km offshore from Fremantle, this car-free, off-the-grid slice of paradise, ringed by secluded beaches and bays, feels a million miles away. Cycling around the 11km-long, 4.5km-wide island is a real pleasure, and it's easy to discover your own sandy beach. You're bound to spot quokkas, the island's only native land mammals. Also relatively common are New Zealand fur seals off magical West End, dolphins, and – in season – whales. King skinks are also regularly seen sunning themselves on the roads. Snorkelling, fishing, surfing and diving are also all excellent on the island. There's not a lot to do here that's not outdoors, so postpone your day trip if the weather is bad. It can be quite unpleasant when the wind really kicks up.
22. Great Barrier Reef, QLD
As one of the original Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef holds a spot on every traveler's bucket list. Hugging the east coast of Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef extends from Cape York in the north all the way to Bundaberg in the south – more than 1,800 miles. With roughly 2,900 coral reefs, 600 islands and 1,500-plus species of fish, the reef leaves its 2 million annual visitors enchanted. But before diving in, it's important to get your bearings. The northern part of the reef runs from the Cape York Peninsula to Cairns, a popular home base for many reef visitors. Not only does Cairns provide the closest reef access from the mainland, but it also boasts a few attractions of its own, such as the Kuranda Scenic Railway and the Cairns Botanic Gardens. Other sights like Hartley's Crocodile Adventures and the Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas are also situated by the reef's northernmost section. Travel farther down the coast and you'll run into the central part of the reef, which includes Townsville and the Whitsunday Islands, where Hamilton Island and Whitehaven Beach reside. And between the Capricorn Coast (along the Tropic of Capricorn) and Fraser Island, you'll find Airlie Beach and the only section of reef that has not been impacted by severe coral bleaching events. Wherever you decide to hang your hat, the Great Barrier Reef is a treasure trove of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Whether you're gazing at marine life through a scuba mask, letting the tropical breeze unfurl your sail or taking in the reef from a plane, the possibilities for exploration are nearly limitless.
Source: The Crazy Tourist; Lonely Planet; US News - Travel
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