Australia is one of the most unique countries in the world. With beautiful landscapes, and animals found nowhere else on Earth, it makes a pretty incredible place to visit. Australia is my home, yet I have only visited four of the six states! There is so much to see here, you’d definitely need more than one trip. Or at least one very long one! Last week, Australia finally opened back up to the world after two years of lockdowns, closed borders, and hotel quarantine. So what better time to plan a trip to this amazing country! Especially if it will be your first visit! In this post, I will share the best places to visit when you come to Australia.
Sydney and Blue Mountains, New South Wales
Sydney may not be the capital of Australia (that’s Canberra, for anyone who’s wondering) but it is the first stop in many tourists’ trip to Australia. The airport is the largest in the country, so it’s no surprise that this is the case. Not only that, but Sydney is home to some quintessential Australian sights that no tourist should miss, like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge in Circular Quay. It is super easy to spend a few days here just exploring the city. You can check out my 48 hour guide to Sydney here.
But a visit to Sydney can be so much more than just a city trip. Located just an hour and a half drive from Sydney city is the town of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains is genuinely one of the most incredible landscapes I have ever seen, from the famous Three Sisters to impressive waterfalls and deep forested canyons. You could easily spend a week or more here; even after multiple weekend and day visits, I have so much more I’d love to explore! With day tours available from Sydney, the Blue Mountains is accessible to anyone. However, to really get the most of it, I recommend hiring a car and spending a few nights in Katoomba or one of the other nearby towns. You can check out my weekend guide to Katoomba here.
Gold Coast, Queensland
Heading north now, the Gold Coast is definitely the gateway to Queensland. Home to beautiful beaches, Australia’s best theme parks, and even beautiful hinterland getaways, there really is something for everyone here. I personally prefer the southern end of the Gold Coast, home to the city of Coolangatta and the famous Burleigh Heads. But if city vibes are more your thing, then Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach are great areas to stay with plenty of hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs to choose from. And beautiful beaches in their own right too! Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach are also significantly closer to the theme parks, which are a must-do if you are into rides, wildlife (Dreamworld and SeaWorld are home to a variety of native and exotic animals!), or have young kids.
Queensland is also one of the only states in Australia where you are able to hold a koala. Koala photos are available at most zoos in Queensland, one of which is Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the southern Gold Coast. Worried about the koalas’ welfare? There’s no need to be! For more information on this topic, check out my post about Brisbane! At Currumbin Sanctuary, you are also able to feed kangaroos and lorikeets (lorikeet feeding is free every morning and afternoon!), and see a variety of both native and exotic animals.
Interested in a trip to the Gold Coast? I have a number of more in-depth posts about this region! You can check them out through the links below:
Gold Coast & Northern NSW Day Trips
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
If you didn’t visit the Great Barrier Reef, did you even visit Australia? Listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage area, this is a beautiful area of Queensland that you really shouldn’t miss. The reef stretches from Bundaberg in the south up into far north Queensland. In total, the Great Barrier Reef covers 348,700 square kilometres and is home to over 900 islands. Given the huge area it covers, you can access the Great Barrier Reef from a variety of points.
Cairns
Cairns is considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and is where most people choose to base their explorations of the reef. From Cairns, it is possible to take day trips to areas of the outer reef. Alternatively, if you would like to spend more time on the reef, you can base yourself on one of the nearby islands. The closest and most accessible islands are Green Island and Fitzroy Island. It is possible to snorkel directly off either island to see beautiful corals and other animals of the reef. There are also plenty of other things to do, like scuba diving or hikes through the rainforest. Fitzroy Island is also home to a turtle rehabilitation centre, where you can see rescued sea turtles.
Whitsundays
Two of the most famous sites in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are both based in the Whitsundays region. These are Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach. Heart Reef is located in the outer reef, and can only be seen by flying over. Flights over this part of the reef leave from Arlie Beach, and can be combined with a seaplane day trip to Whitehaven Beach. The best way to explore the Whitsundays, in my opinion, is by sailboat. This allows you to explore a variety of islands in the Whitsunday Island Group, not just the most touristy ones. It’s great fun to jump right off the boat to snorkel and spot all sorts of sea life! Make sure you bring seasickness tablets if you are prone to such illnesses, though, because you are almost constantly on the water. Sailboat tours are available leaving from Airlie Beach.
Southern Great Barrier Reef
Don’t have time to go as far north as Cairns or the Whitsundays? From Brisbane, it is possible to take day or overnight trips to the Great Barrier Reef! Yes, really! Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands are the two southern-most islands in the Great Barrier Reef and are accessible from Brisbane by plane. These two islands are located outside of the most touristy areas of the Great Barrier Reef, and therefore the corals and sea life are much more pristine. Whilst I haven’t personally visited either of these islands, I have heard great things and would love to explore them one day!
Uluru, Northern Territory
Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site not only for its natural value, but also for its cultural value. A visit to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park allows you to experience two incredible natural wonders of the Australian Outback as well as learn about some of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. The best way to explore this beautiful area is to take one of the many short tours available. One company, Anangu Tours, is run by the local Indigenous people, so you know you are getting an authentic cultural experience. I also highly recommend a scenic helicopter flight over Uluru and/or Kata Tjuta for a unique perspective on these incredible sites.
There are plenty of accommodation options within the Ayres Rock resort for a range of budgets. If you’re staying a few days, you will be able to spend an evening at the Field of Light exhibition. Tours are run from the resort every evening. This is such a unique experience and something I would love to experience for myself one day!
Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Heading south again, no trip to Australia is complete without a visit to Melbourne. There is plenty to do in Australia’s second-largest city, from exploring little laneways filled with street art and cafes, to learning about history in one of the many museums. Here’s how I would spend 48 hours in Melbourne.
If you have more time, Melbourne makes a great base for day trips or even short road trips! One such day or overnight trip you absolutely must do while in Melbourne is to Phillip Island. Located only 2 hours drive from Melbourne CBD and connected to the mainland by bridge, it is quite easily accessible. Phillip Island is famous for its population of Little Penguins, who march up the beach every evening in a “parade” after a long day of fishing. Beyond the Penguin Parade, there is lots of other wildlife and natural wonders to see on the island, including seals, koalas and spectacular coastlines.
Another essential road trip is to see the 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. There are only actually 7 Apostles left, which is a bit sad I guess, but the view is still spectacular! Whilst the Apostles are the most famous attraction, the Great Ocean Road is actually home to a number of coastal features, all created as the ocean slowly erodes away at the limestone cliffs. There’s also plenty of beaches, forests, and waterfalls to explore in the area to make the trip well worth your while!
After some further inspiration?
Of course, there are so many other beautiful areas of Australia to explore if you have more time or you’ve visited these places before! Just because they haven’t made my list of best places to visit here in Australia, doesn’t mean they aren’t incredible! For example, Tasmania is my favourite place in the entire world, and a road trip up the coast of Western Australia is at the very top of my bucket list. If you would like some more inspiration, you can check out the rest of my Australia posts here. Wherever you choose to visit, Australia is looking forward to welcoming you back!
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