Australia is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. It’s known as a major backpacking, camping, road trip, and diving destination, but no matter your travel style, there is something to draw you here.
The country is filled with incredible natural beauty from Uluru to the Outback, rainforests to pristine white sand beaches, and of course, the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney’s Harbor Bridge and Opera House are iconic man-made wonders, and Melbourne’s café culture will make you feel like you are in Europe.
Sydney
Australia’s largest city has a range of activities to keep you busy. Climb the Sydney Harbor bridge, surf in Bondi Beach, party in King’s Cross, sail across the harbor, visit the Opera House, and take in world-class innovation in Darling Harbor. Sydney is a bustling big city that still has a laid back, beach vibe to it.
Melbourne
Melbourne is much more relaxed than Sydney (and, personally, I like it more). There are more cafes and restaurants with fewer clubs, crowds, and better music. This is the place to relax by the river, walk through the gigantic city gardens, eat amazing food, enjoy the art, and party in St. Kilda.
Alice Springs: Uluru
Uluru is one of the best attractions in the country. Make sure you are there for both sunset and sunrise because both are equally as spectacular. It’s a pretty breathtaking sight considering it’s just a big rock! Make sure to visit the Aboriginal centre to learn about the local population.
The Great Barrier Reef
Even if you don’t dive, you can still take a boat to the reef and go snorkeling. Try to one that has a permit to visit sites further from the shore to avoid the onslaught of other boats and divers that inundate dive sites closer to shore. Trips start around 180 AUD for the day.
Cairns
Cairns is Australia’s gateway to northern Queensland. From here you can visit the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree rainforest, the Atherton tablelands, Cape Tribulation, and much more. Cairns is a pretty typical tropical city, and life here focuses on taking the time to smell the roses. With so much to see, the city deserves a longer stay than most people give it. I would stay 3-4 days, which will give you enough time to explore the area, plus spend some time lounging by the pool. This Australian town may be small, but it will leave you wanting more and this travel guide to Cairns can help you plan your trip.
