You may be thinking of moving to Australia. Or you might already be in the process of moving. Alternatively, you may have recently emigrated.
Regardless of where you are in your journey, alongside the financial arrangements, your planning should include listing some of the many attractions that you want to see.
Australia is a land of extraordinary geographical contrasts, and the active lifestyle means there’s always something to do and see, wherever you are.
While the distances between major cities and attractions can be vast, there are good transport links and a comprehensive road network to help you move around.
Here’s a bucket list of 10 of the best things to see and do in Australia.
1. Exploring the Great Barrier Reef
As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, consisting of 2,300 kilometres of coral reefs off the coast of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef is an attraction your simply cannot pass up the chance to visit.
The incredible colours and marine life are best experienced by scuba diving or snorkelling. However, the waters are so clear that non-swimmers can get a good idea of how extraordinary it is from a glass-bottom boat.
The main gateway to the Reef is the lively seaside town of Cairns, which has a busy airport to enable you to reach it easily from other Australian cities.
2. Walking through the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland
If you’re planning a trip to see the Great Barrier Reef, you could combine it with a visit to an often-overlooked attraction just a couple of hours’ drive north of Cairns.
Daintree is the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, estimated to be 180 million years old.
It contains an incredible range of living creatures and, as you would expect, some of the oldest trees and plants in the world.
Take time to wander around and look at the ancient landscapes and lush scenery – but keep a careful lookout for crocodiles!
3. Driving along the Great Ocean Road
As an illustration of the vastness of the Australian continent, to drive from the Daintree Rainforest to the next attraction on your list – the Great Ocean Road – would take you around 35 hours!
Stretching 240 kilometres along the rugged coast of Victoria between the small towns of Torquay and Allansford, the Great Ocean Road is well worth driving down.
It’s best known for its dramatic cliffs, mixed with lush rainforests, and the magnificent Twelve Apostles rock formations.
4. Spending time in Sydney
As Australia’s largest city in terms of population, Sydney offers a huge range of sights and activities for visitors, as well as being a vibrant place to live and work.
The centrepiece is the stunning harbour, containing two instantly recognisable constructions: the world-renowned Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Climbing the latter should be on your “to-do” list if you have a head for heights, as it offers stunning views of the city.
As you’d expect in a city as cosmopolitan and active as Sydney, there are many fine restaurants and bars for you to enjoy.
There’s also the added attraction of great beaches just kilometres from the city centre. Enjoy the vibe, practise your surfing, and take the coastal walks to lovely seaside suburbs such as Coogee for spectacular ocean views.
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5. Sampling the produce in one (or more) of the famous wine regions
The Australian climate lends itself to wine growing, and there are a variety of wine regions to choose from.
Handily, four of the main Australian cities have vineyards and wineries in relatively close proximity.
For example, the Barossa Valley is only a short drive from Adelaide. Likewise, the Yarra Valley is close to Melbourne, while the Hunter Valley is three hours’ drive north of Sydney.
Meanwhile, on the west coast, there are vineyards north and south of Perth, taking advantage of the perfect weather conditions.
6. Visiting the iconic Uluru
Previously known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is often referred to as the “spiritual heart of Australia” and is sacred to the Aboriginal peoples who have lived here for over 65,000 years.
It’s a stunning experience that takes time to fully absorb. You can walk around the base or take a helicopter trip to appreciate the scale and vastness.
Ideally, you should try to time your visit to see the rock change colours at sunrise or sunset.
Uluru is surrounded by a huge expanse of outback desert, so if you have time, you may want to consider camping out under the stars.
7. Soaking up the culinary and sporting highlights of Melbourne
The long-standing rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne means that we can’t produce a list like this for you without including both.
While Melbourne is slightly quieter than Sydney, it should still be on your list of places to visit, as it consistently ranks among the most liveable cities in the world.
It has a great food scene, coffee shops that rank with the best in the world, and a range of bars and pubs.
It’s also something of a sporting mecca, with the Australian Open Tennis, the Grand Prix, the Melbourne Cup, cricket at the MCG, and Aussie Rules football to enjoy.
8. Cruising around the Whitsunday Islands
Set off the coast of Queensland between the mainland and the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands are made up of 74 islands.
The area is most famous for the turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and thriving marine life, which makes it an ideal holiday destination.
They offer you the opportunity to either relax on one of the many beaches, island hop, or be more active with scuba diving and other water activities.
9. Being charmed by the quokkas on Rottnest Island
If you are on the west coast of Australia, high on your must-do list is a visit to Rottnest Island.
With picturesque beaches and bays that provide excellent spots for snorkelling, kayaking, and other water sports, it’s a great place for a day trip from Perth.
It’s also one of the best places in Australia to see quokkas, cuddly little animals native to Australia, which are sadly endangered.
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10. Make the most of the 300 days of sunshine on the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is where many of the features that Australia is famous for all come together.
There are fantastic beaches, sunshine for most of the year, and a vast range of top-class restaurants and bars, as well as plenty of great walking routes inland.
It’s primarily recognised as a great place to holiday with your family, with plenty of theme parks and attractions to keep children of all ages busy and active.
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Please note
This article is for information only, it does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs.