Oh yes. The famous Down Under. But what are the top 10 places to visit in Australia?
Well, I’ve got you covered. I spent one year traveling through this amazing country and will share the places you just have to visit when coming here.
Australia is such a vast country, that you can simply get lost in it and miss out on so many amazing spots. Luckily, you’ve found me, so make sure to follow along on a journey you won’t ever forget.
1. Sydney – The Opera House And More
Of course, Sydney is first on this list. How could it be any different? Sydney is one of the few places on this Earth I truly call “home”. While I only lived and worked there for a few months, I have so many fond memories. And every time we go back there, it just feels like coming home.
Just like with Taipei City in my article about Taiwan, there are way too many things you can do in Sydney, so I will only mention a few here and write a more detailed article later.
Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
It won’t surprise you that you find those iconic landmarks on my list. There’s no way you come to Sydney and don’t visit them. Stroll down to the Opera House, enjoy the view of the Harbour Bridge (maybe even climb it), and relax in one of the cafes in the area.
There’s also the great botanical garden nearby, which is always worth a visit
The Rocks
The rocks are a lovely area near the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay. There’s a famous market with many small stalls and loads of small shops and restaurants. The perfect place to spend some time after visiting the Opera House.
Darling Harbour
This used to be my favorite place when I lived in Sydney. Darling Harbour is, as the name suggests, a small harbor not too far from George Street and the CBD. There’s so much you can do at Darling Harbour.
Visit one of the tourist attractions, like the Sea Life Aquarium. Start a cruise, sit down in one of the restaurants or cafes, and much more.
It’s a bustling city hub of activities and you can party there too, of course
Bondi Beach
Of course, you know Bondi Beach. The famous beach is around one kilometer long and it takes roughly 40 minutes to get there from the city center.
Meet the stars from the show Bondi Rescue, jump into the refreshing waters, or just work on your tan.
Bondi Beach is its very own community with shops, restaurants, and more. I’d actually recommend staying in a hotel or hostel at Bondi to drink in the vibes.
2. Gold Coast
Let’s move up the eastern coast of Australia. While it looks quite close to Sydney, when looking at a map of Australia, it is a 9-hour drive from Sydney to Gold Coast. (That just shows how big Australia is.)
There are many places worth a visit on the way to Gold Coast (Byron Bay is a must), or you just hop on a plane to get there faster.
Once there, you probably don’t want to leave. It reminded me quite a bit of Miami, with the nice beaches, perfect climate, and “sunshine flair”.
4. Whitsundays
The Whitsundays (or Whitsunday Islands) is a group of islands and you usually take a boat or water plane from Airlie Beach to get there.
You definitely have to visit Whitehaven Beach when you go there. Its sand is made up of 98% silica beads. It’s dazzling white and makes a funny “screeching” sound when walking on it.
While you are there, don’t miss out on the perfect diving or snorkeling conditions. You’ll be welcomed by amazing reefs and sea life in abundance.
3. K’gari (Fraser Island)
K’gari is the biggest sand island in the world. It is home to a quite large population of Dingos (a wild dog species) and you should never forget that when going there.
I highly recommend booking a guided group tour. Not only is that the safest way to travel there, but it is also super fun. We were able to drive 4WD vehicles on the beach and through the forests.
There are amazing lakes and the nature there is just beautiful!
At night we stayed at a campsite. It was great fun but the nights were a bit creepy, indeed. When shining our flashlights into the darkness we often spotted Dingos stalking through the shadows.
Dingo attacks are quite common, so you should never walk around alone (at night), and be sure to keep your kids close!
5. Cairns
Now we have arrived in a lovely town in the northeastern part of Queensland. Cairns is a town where many travelers either start or end their trips to the Outback.
In my case, I drove from Darwin to Cairns, it marked the end of my first trip to the Outback and it felt great to be around more people again. I also enjoyed the seaside and the pubs.
You shouldn’t miss out on the “Flying Fox Trees” while you are there. Well, actually, it is hard to miss them. At sunset, you will see dark clouds rising from massive trees in the town. Those are huge flying foxes starting their “day”. It’s such an amazing sight.
Most people, however, know Cairns because it is an access point to the Great Barrier Reef. Make sure to book either a snorkeling or diving tour to the Great Barrier Reef, while you are here.
6. Uluru (Ayers Rock)
It takes around 5 hours from the nearest town (Alice Springs) but visiting Uluru is always worth the trip. Some might say that it is “just a rock” but it is such an impressive sight. Especially when you consider that it’s a holy rock for the Aborigines. They have worshipped it for centuries.
Loads of people still climb the rock but I didn’t want to disrespect the Aborigines, which don’t want people to climb Uluru.
Don’t miss out on the sunset or sunrise when visiting Uluru. There’s also a campsite at and near Uluru, so you might want to stay overnight.
Nights at Uluru, and in the Outback in general, are something you have to put on your to-do list. I’ve never seen so many stars before, even in rural areas of my home country.
7. Adelaide
I only had a short stop in Adelaide. Mostly to fix our van and to prepare for our trip through the Outback.
But it’s a lovely city and has a very different vibe compared to Sydney. It’s also quite a bit cheaper than Sydney, so if you planning to stay somewhere for a bit longer, Adelaide could be the right place for you.
There are loads of activities in Adelaide, and the national parks around Adelaide are stunning. Of course, there are beaches, bars, and clubs. But also art museums, festivals, and so much more.
The city is small, compared to Sydney, but you won’t have to be afraid of getting bored there.
8. Great Ocean Road
If you are driving from Adelaide to Melbourne, I highly recommend taking this very famous detour.
The Great Ocean Road is about 243 km long and is the most scenic road in Australia. Take in stunning views while driving along the sometimes curvy roads close to the magnificent ocean.
There are the 12 Apostles, of course. Famous huge stone sculptures in the oceans, but also many other beautiful spots where you, when you come at the right time, for example, watch whales and other wildlife.
9. Melbourne
I wish I had more time to stay in Melbourne longer. It might have very well become my favorite city in Australia. It is not a huge metropolis like Sydney but it is a lovely city. It seemed very relaxed, considering that it is still a big city and you can practically feel the artistic vibe.
Art plays a big role in Melbourne but you can find activities for everybody’s taste.
One of the cutest things you can see in Melbourne are the penguins! Yes, there’s an island not far off of Melbourne that is home to a massive penguin colony. And, of course, those little birds pay a visit to Melbourne’s coast regularly.
10. Tasmania
The main reasons why you should visit Tasmania are nature and wine!
The national parks in Tasmania are just unbelievable. Compared to Australia, or even New Zealand, Tasmania is rather small but there’s a lot to discover.
Visit the Cradle Mountains, take a ride on the steam train, and dive into the waters at the Bay of Fires.
And then there’s a wine, of course. If you’re a wine connoisseur, make sure to travel along the Valley Wine Route. There a dozens of little wineries that are waiting for you to stop by for some wine tasting.
Welcome To Australia
Australia is a huge country. And everybody who visits it for a longer time will have different experiences.
I hope that my article about the top 10 places to visit in Australia helped you to get some good ideas of what to expect and what you should do when coming to this wonderful place.
If you have been to Australia before, don’t hesitate to share your favorite spots in the comments. I can’t wait to go back to Australia to visit some new places.