Australia is at the top of the traveller’s list of choices. The country has a number of places to visit. Along with the natural scenery, there are several traditional attractions. Today’s arrangement with five such popular sightseeing cities-
1. Melbourne
A place renowned for its vibrant arts and culture scene. The city has parks, gardens, theaters, live music venues, street art murals and graffiti. This city is the cultural capital of Australia, is a popular destination for tourists from whole world. Also hailed as Australia’s capital of sports, the city has stadiums, pools, tracks and fields. It is recognized as the best liveable city in the world. Eureka Skydeck 88 offers an amazing view of the city and its surroundings from the vantage point on the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower. It showcases Australia’s social history, Aboriginal culture, science and environment. Visit Melbourne Zoo, Australia’s oldest zoo, which houses around 320 species, including giraffes and zebras, in open-air enclosures.
Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, spanning 36 hectares, has 50,000 plants. The garden is divided into different zones including herb garden, fern alley, a glasshouse and a water conservation garden. No art lover can miss the National Gallery of Victoria with over 70,000 works of art ranging from European paintings and sculptures to Aboriginal artefacts and contemporary pieces of textiles, ceramics and metalwork.
How to reach Melbourne
Melbourne has two airports which are well connected to all major cities of the world. The highway connects Melbourne to other major cities in Australia. Nine o’clock is the nearest hour to Adelaide by road. Southern Cross railway station is well connected to Sydney and Adelaide by train.
2. Great Barrier Reef
A heritage listed natural wonder and one of the largest living structures on the planet. It can also be seen from space. One of Australia’s most beloved attractions, it has more than 100 beautiful islands, 600 continental islands, 300 small coral reefs and about 150 inland mangrove islands. The snorkeling and diving opportunities here are among the best in the world, with rainbow colored corals and fascinating marine life. The Great Barrier Reef consists of many separate reef systems and hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with coral reefs and sun-drenched, golden beaches.
A tourist can enjoy whale watching, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, scuba diving, a helicopter tour, glass bottom boat tours and cruise ship tours. The Whitsunday Group consists of 74 tropical islands that line the Great Barrier Reef beautifully, and the reef’s wonders are great for exploring. Six national parks protect fragile ecosystems. One of the most popular beaches in Australia is Whitehaven Beach on the Whitsundays. These seven kilometers of sparkling white sand and soothing blue sea are the top places to visit on the Great Barrier Reef.
How to reach the Great Barrier Reef
Cairns International Airport in northern Queensland is the closest to the Great Barrier Reef. You can take a direct international flight to Cairns or take a domestic flight from Sydney, Perth or Melbourne. Daydream Island with the Whitsundays can be reached via Hamilton Island, 1.5hour flight from Brisbane. You can also take reef boat day trips from Cairns to various islands in the reef. Boat services are available from Townsville and Mission Island.
3. Gold Coast
With rainforest retreats and plenty of dining options, the Gold Coast is Australia’s favorite holiday destination. The Gold Coast’s main attraction is the famous stretch of sand at Surfers Paradise. The Gold Coast lures beach lovers for its water-based activities, especially surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling with Australia’s beautiful marine life. There are 4 theme parks like 1. Sea World, 2. Dream World, 3. Warner Bros Movie World and 4. Wet’n’ Wild.
The Gold Coast’s waterways stretch hundreds of kilometers of canals and rivers to enhance its beauty. The Nerang River is the main waterway. The Gold Coast has over 70 kilometers of beaches. Kids can cuddle with adorable koalas and feed kangaroos. The Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk has beautiful and lush vegetation. The length of the walkway is about 200 meters and 15 meters above the ground. Flowering trees and plants and lush orchids enhance the natural beauty. There are observation decks, one of which is 30 meters high.
How to reach Gold Coast
Gold Coast Airport spans the states of New South Wales and Queensland and The only Australian airport shared by two states. Many international and domestic flights operate from this airport and it is only 29 km from the center of Gold Coast.
4. Canberra
The city is located between Melbourne and Sydney. It has prominent monuments, buildings, structures and fantastic cultural. Canberra has Australia’s only combined zoo and aquarium facility. The Parliament Building is a beautiful building located on top of Capitol Hill. It is crossed by two axes, north-south and east-west, representing the historical and legal progression of Australian democracy. Don’t miss the National Museum of Australia, the Museum of Australian Democracy and the National Dinosaur Museum.
Art lovers must visit the National Gallery of Australia, which houses 1,66,000 works of art, including the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal Australian artefacts. Australia is a sports-loving country. Explore the Australian Institute of Sport to learn about the contribution of Australians to sport with a 90-minute tour of the past, present and future of Australian sport. Lake Barley Griffin, Canberra’s man-made lake, is an ideal place to bike, canoe, kayak or paddle boat and explore the Western Basin at your leisure. You can enjoy Canberra from the water by booking one of the many cruises available.
How to reach Canberra
Canberra International Airport is well connected to all cities in Australia. Canberra is also accessible by train and road. There are taxi and regular bus services to Canberra from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and beyond.
5. Adelaide
Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, attracts a large number of tourists. The River Torrens flows through the city and the city is located between the beautiful beaches to the west and the Adelaide Plains to the east with the Mount Lofty Range. It has many local vineyards to explore. Famous wine regions such as the Barossa Valley and the McLaren Valley are present here, each offering a distinct fine wine tasting experience. The National Wine Center provides great knowledge about wine and tasting. You can also watch the wine making process.
Opened in 1857, the Adelaide Botanic Gardens is one of Australia’s premier scientific gardens and is in the heart of the city. It has a sprawling 130-acre expanse of greenery filled with native and exotic plants along with rare specimens of Olemi pine trees and bottle trees. Known for its art scene and bohemian vibe, Adelaide is home to numerous museums, including the Art Gallery of South Australia with its impressive collection of national art. Australia’s second oldest zoo is a must visit Adelaide Zoo. It is home land to Australia’s only big giant pandas. Spread over a 20-acre reserve, the zoo is home to over 3,000 animals of over 300 native and exotic species.
Here you can have a unique experience walking through the tropical jungle with orangutans. Night walks are also organized here. Adelaide has several beaches. Brighton, Glenelg, Grange, Henley, Seacliff, Semaphore and West Beach are some of the most frequented swimming beaches. Kangaroo Island is a must-see for its wildlife and home to wallabies, sea lions, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, platypus and seals. Admiral Arch is a spectacular sight on the southwest tip of Kangaroo Island and is formed by the jagged arches of an ancient cave, carved out of the sea cliffs by centuries of pummeling surf. The vast blue ocean at sunset is simply magical.
How to reach Adelaide
Adelaide International Airport is located four miles from the city centre. There are regular domestic flights from Sydney to Perth to Melbourne. Long-distance trains run between Adelaide and other parts of Australia. You can fly to Adelaide from Melbourne, Brisbane or Sydney. The drive to Adelaide from most major cities takes at least a day to complete but the fantastic sights make it worth it.
6. Perth
Perth, Western Australia’s sunniest capital, is a modern, friendly and spectacular tourist destination. It has huge of restaurants, bars, lush parks and sandy beaches also that are ideal for outdoor activities. Perth’s largest park, Kings Park is also the largest inner city park in the world. It has a vast area of 990 acres of greenery. Apart from a large variety of native Australian flora and birds, it is also home to the Perth State War Memorial and other important landmarks, making it 1 of the most visited tourist destinations in Australia’s Western side.
The Swan Bell Tower, a musical instrument, like a rocket, is home to 14th-century bells that make it one of the largest musical instruments in the world. It overlooks the serene Swan River and is known for its striking design and historical legacy. The Perth Mint offers a fascinating glimpse into Western Australia’s gold history. The gold exhibition features the world’s largest coin, weighing one ton, as well as gold nuggets and bullion. The Swan Valley is the oldest winery land in Western Australia and has over 40 wineries. Fremantle Jail is a prison spread over 15 acres, which has been converted into a tourist attraction and World Heritage Site.
Sun lovers can choose any of the beautiful beaches in and around Perth. With five themed areas that showcase the distinctive features of the Australian coastline, the Aquarium of Western Australia is among the most popular places to visit in Perth. Enjoy a snorkeling session, take a dip at the Shipwreck Coast and don’t miss the journey through the underwater tunnels and colorful coral reefs. One of the best places to visit Penguin Island Apart from having the largest colony of penguins in Perth, it is home to other animal species, plants and beautiful scenery.
How to reach Perth
Perth Airport is connected to domestic and international cities. Fly to any major city in Australia and take a ferry to Fremantle, Perth. Rail runs from Perth to Sydney. Perth is well connected to all major cities in Australia.
7. Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
One of the major tourist attractions in Australia. It is in the heart of the Central Australian Desert, about 450 kilometers from Alice Springs. Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, formerly known as Uluru (Ayers Rock – Mount Olga) National Park, is a spectacular geological formation on the Great Red Sand Plain of Central Australia. The sandstone rock of Uluru has been sacred to the Anangu type of people for 1k+ years. A magnificent sandstone monolith, it is more than 340 meters high and bright red. This UNESCO World Heritage site has deep ties to Australia’s Aboriginal culture.
Kata Tjuta, 16 km away, is made up of 36 conglomerate rock domes that are 500 million years old. Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park spans 1,300 square kilometers of dryland ecosystems. Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta are spectacular when the first and last rays of the sun of the day touch their surfaces, and this real-time color transformation is one of the main reasons for the spectacle. You can explore Uluru by camel or helicopter, depending on your interests. You must visit the Uluru-Kata Juta Cultural Center near the Ayers Rock premises.
For the past few years, tourists (and locals) have been banned from climbing Uluru. Besides being sacred, locals fear for the safety of visitors. At night see British artist, Bruce Munro’s ‘Field of Spectacular Light’ installation. 50,000 solar powered lights dazzle in front of Uluru at sunset.
How to reach Uluru
Fly direct to Uluru from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide and Alice Springs. Choose a car rental from Alice Springs Airport to reach Uluru. Bus shuttle services are offered by the resorts at fixed intervals.
8. Fraser Island
Technically a sand island off the coast of Queensland, Fraser Island (known as K’Gari, meaning paradise) stretches over 123 km. It is the world’s largest sand island and the only place where rainforest grows on dunes at an altitude of 200 meters (656 ft). It has more than 100 lakes; In fact, it is known to host half of the world’s perched lakes. It is also a sighting spot for humpback whales.
Opt for a four-wheel drive to explore 75 miles of Fraser’s most popular beaches. It has tranquil ocean views and is an amazing beach road. One of the beautiful Fraser Island destinations is the stunning Ely Creek. It is a popular swimming spot on the eastern side of Fraser Island.
- With crystal-clear water
- soft sand
- shady spots
to relax under pandanus trees, it’s perfect for swimming and picnicking. Stop for sunset at Indian Head and enjoy panoramic views and spot whales. Lake Mackenzie is a freshwater lake with crystal clear water and an important tourist attraction of the island.
Fraser Island has an estimated 28 shipwrecks, most of which date from the 1800s and early 1900s. One of the most well-known ruins is Maheno, located near Happy Valley. The sandstone peaks spread over a kilometer and the sand in different colors adds to its beauty. Champagne Pools, a series of shallow, sandy swimming holes on Fraser Island, filled with fresh seawater that bubbles and fizzes over lava rocks, creating a unique natural phenomenon. A short boat ride to the island from Harvey Bay presents plenty of opportunities to experience the South Pacific’s exotic marine life, from dolphins to dugongs to manta rays.
How to reach Fraser Island
Since Fraser Island has no bridge from the mainland, it can be reached by boat or air. Light air services are operated by chartered operators. You can fly into Sydney or Brisbane, drive to River Heads and take a ferry to reach the island. The only way to enter the city is by ferry. There are ferries to Wangoolba Creek from Rainbow Beach and Riverheads. Ferries also transport your vehicle across the coast
Conclusion
The Sydney Opera House is the most famous place in Australia. Shaped like giant shells or billowing sails, this famous building on Sydney’s Bennelong Point is one of the world’s great architectural icons and one of the world’s most photographed buildings. The Sydney Opera House is a favorite tourist attraction, attracting more than 10.9 million people annually.
Checkout this article about Travel to the city of love Sydney