Australia is a sizeable place. You know, continent-sized. The entire centre of this place is desert, inhabited only by the hardiest souls (camels, mostly), with around 85% of Australia’s population ringed around its massive coastline. If all of that gives the impression that finding stuff to do here is difficult, we’ve got news for you.
Of course, this isn’t strictly news, as Australia has long been one of the most popular destinations on the planet. Millions head here every year to gawp at nature, admire the cities and try not to be killed by the quite incredible range of wild beasts in this place. Australia is a tourist’s dream, with stunning beach towns nestled up to rugged national parks, wild green islands, culture-heavy cities, and more charm than most places can even dream up. The best things to do in Australia? Look no further.
Best places to visit in Australia
All the stereotypes about Melbourne are true: everyone wears black, everyone is coffee obsessed, and there are far too many rooftop bars for a city with such temperamental weather. But the best thing about Melbourne is that it’s full of secrets to discover. Whether it’s a hidden laneway bar, a ten-storey shopping adventure or an underground theatre space, most things worth visiting are within easy reach (and cheap as chips to get to, thanks to the city-wide free tram zone).
Uluru
The landscapes are simply spectacular in Australia’s red centre, especially when you’re marvelling at the great sandstone monolith that is Uluru. You can fly directly there from Sydney, Darwin or Cairns, with the airport located only a few kilometres north of Uluru itself. When you get a glimpse of it IRL, it’s easy to understand how Uluru became such an important symbol of local Indigenous culture and Australian culture as a whole. The local Anangu people will share stories of its spiritual significance, and you’ll soon understand why climbing Uluru, which was finally prohibited in 2019, is a huge no-no. Walking around the base and admiring it from afar, as you observe the different colours it turns as the sunlight hits it, is still a humbling experience.
Tasmania
It’s easy to understand the allure of Australia’s southernmost state. For one thing, 40 per cent of Tasmania is preserved as national parks and world heritage wilderness. Drive 20 minutes outside the state’s major cities (Hobart and Launceston) and you can walk in the bush, bike down a spectacular mountain trail or lounge on the beach. But Tasmania isn’t just for nature fans. There’s extraordinary food, gin and whisky distilleries, wildlife sanctuaries (where you’ll meet endangered Tasmanian devils), cool-climate wineries, fabulous festivals and a world-class art museum in the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), which is one of the best things to do in the world right now.
Kakadu
A certified UNESCO World Heritage site, Kakadu National Park is certainly one of Australia’s most incredible national parks. The fringe of the park is about a two-hour drive from Darwin, where it sits on the traditional lands of the Bininj/Mungguy people. Pro tip: Kakadu is best explored at your own pace by car. It’s actually Australia’s largest national park (it covers more than 20,000 square kilometres), so you’ll need some time to discover it all properly. Take a peek at the 200-metre Jim Jim Falls waterfall; go for a swim at Gunlom, the crystal-clear infinity rock pool made famous in Crocodile Dundee; hike your way through the 30-odd walking trails that sweep across Kakadu; or take your 4WD out for a spin towards the crown of the park, Jarrangbarnmi (also known as the stunning Koolpin Gorge).
Sapphire Coast
Located nearly 500 kilometres from central Sydney on New South Wales’ south-eastern border, this quiet corner of the state on the edge of Green Cape is something of a hidden gem, off the radar of mass tourism. In part, this is because it’s not the easiest place to reach; only the minute regional airport at Merimbula offers a faster alternative to driving here. However, if you’re willing to go those extra miles, unspoiled nature is your reward along this ruggedly beautiful stretch of sea from Bermagui to Disaster Bay, a place of other-worldly crimson cliffs, dramatic waves and vibrant, shifting landscapes. The vistas here, notable for their rust-red Devonian rock, are a proverbial feast for the eyes, but there’s plenty of actual feasting to be done here too. Expect succulent seafood caught off the docks at Eden, cheeses galore from Bega and Tilba’s famous dairies, beef and lamb reared on the grassy slopes near Pambula, and of course, the regions most popular export, succulent Sydney rock oysters reared in some of the most fertile estuaries anywhere in the country.
Everyone knows Sydney packs a punch when it comes to spectacular views and thrilling activities. She’s a rather pretty city too, with architecturally beautiful buildings – including two of the most iconic structures in the world, the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge – and sparkling harbours interrupted only by island sanctuaries. If you’re coming for the beautiful beaches, we recommend sticking around for the restaurants, the culture and the good vibes (but also the beaches). Sydney is all that and more – especially if you like getting a little active in your free time.
Kangaroo Island
It’s Australia’s third-largest island, but not many people have made the ferry trip over from the mainland to windswept Kangaroo Island. As far as nature triple threats go, it’s hard to beat this place: there are sugar-white beaches to explore, plenty of native wildlife to find and even a national park right at your doorstep. The Remarkable Rocks, which sit high about the sea in Flinders Chase National Park, live up to their name. This cluster of eroded, orange-tinged granite boulders have been chilling here for over 500 million years.
Far North Queensland
Up north the weather is fine, you’re surrounded by UNESCO World Heritage icons, and tropical weather means tropical produce. Use Cairns as your base to explore Far North Queensland, which is situated right next to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef. Whether you’re a hardcore scuba diver, novice snorkeller or want to see the GBR via a fancy glass-bottomed boat, there are multiple ways to explore it. Don’t miss a trip to the Daintree Rainforest, either; this verdant paradise features movie-cool waterfalls, clear blue lakes, sunlight shimmering through the trees, tropical vegetation and exotic wildlife. Plus, FNQ is also home to a stunning amount of big things, including the Big Crab in Cardwell, the Big Barra in Daintree and the Big Marlin in Cairns.
Whitsundays
Think you have to go to the Maldives for a slice of paradise? Australia’s got its very own paradise ready and waiting in the Whitsundays. This collection of 74 islands is located right next to the northeast coast of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. Most of the islands are uninhabited, and you’ve probably seen secluded, long white stretches of beach and gorgeous landmarks like Heart Reef on your Instagram feed. If that’s not enough to entice you to pay a visit, the average daily temperature is 27 degrees Celsius. Enough said.
Broken Hill
There are few places in Australia, or indeed the world, as fascinating, complex and unexpected as Broken Hill. Founded on the richest lead, zinc and silver orebody ever discovered, a mining rush in the 1880s made it one of the most prosperous settlements in Australia’s early colonial days. In more recent years, blockbuster movies have been filmed here, including Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Mad Max 2, making it a tourism hotspot for a diverse range of travellers, from dystopian movie buffs to drag aficionados. If you long to see the brutally beautiful sun-scorched plains of Australia's desert interior, while keeping one foot in civilisation, there are excellent accommodations in and around the town, such as the luxe Broken Hill Outback Resort.
Byron Bay
This coastal town in northern New South Wales has completed its transformation from hippie town to a boho-luxe getaway destination of late, but we’re not mad about it. Casual dining standards in the region have hit the stratosphere (the Farm, which houses a provedore, a bakery, a classroom and the eponymous farm, is a must-visit). Three major music festivals (Bluesfest in April; Splendour in the Grass in July; and Falls Festival over New Year’s) and a year-round holiday feel have encouraged enterprising locals from all over the region to set up side-gigs as AirBnB hosts so there are plenty of places to stay, no matter your budget.
Great Ocean Road
Justifiably one of Victoria’s most popular tourist destinations, the Great Ocean Road snakes all along the southwest coast of the state, starting in Torquay (1.5 hours from Melbourne) and finishing just before Warrnambool. This winding stretch of road is about a four-hour drive without stops, but heed our warning: you’ll definitely want to stop. There’s too much happening along the coast not to, including ample swimming and surfing spots, upmarket dining options, adventure playgrounds (Live Wire Action Park), gorgeous waterfalls (Beauchamp Falls), picturesque limestone stacks (the Twelve Apostles) and plenty of spots to stop and eat some fish and chips on the beach.
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s premier wine-producing regions, so if you’re a fan of vino, this is the place to visit. You’ll find it 50 minutes northeast of Adelaide, and there are more than 150 wineries and 80 or so cellar doors to explore. The region primarily focuses on big reds (mostly shiraz and cab sav), but you’ll also find a healthy selection of grenache, riesling and chardonnay. Big Australian wineries like Penfolds, Yalumba and Jacob’s Creek are located here, but we’d recommend visiting smaller producers like Charles Melton and Rockford Wines if you’re after true Aussie hospitality.
Exmouth
The sleepy coastal town of Exmouth is adjacent to the Cape Range National Park and the 300-kilometre Ningaloo Reef – a region that is drop-dead gorgeous and brimming with vitality. Located about 1,270 kilometres north of Perth (around a 15-hour drive or two-hour flight to nearby Learmouth), Exmouth a nature lover’s playground with one of the longest fringing reefs on the planet, meaning in many places the coral comes right up to the beach. You can swim with whale sharks (don’t worry, they’re harmless filter feeders that can grow up to 18 metres in length), spot a black-footed rock wallaby at Yardie Creek or take a guided walk through the fossil-crusted Mandu Mandu Gorge, which has been inhabited by humans for about 30,000 years.
Southern Highlands
Feel like harking back to simpler times? The Southern Highlands is the ultimate genteel getaway: full of quaint villages, winding walking trails, and Federation-era pubs for a drink along the way. Explore the lush Kangaroo Valley and take in the sprawling Minnamurra rainforest centre on the way. For lunch, the village of Bowral punches well above its weight when it comes to the region's culinary scene. For country coziness just a stone's throw from Sydney, wander up to the Highlands for a cuppa.