If Australia is on your bucket list then you are definitely not alone. Every year over 6 million people visit Australia to take in its natural wonders and explore its undeniable beauty. Before we discuss the best things to do in Australia, it is important to address some of the questions which create silly Australian stereotypes:
- Aussies don’t throw shrimps on the ‘Barbie’, they throw prawns.
- They don’t drink Fosters, it is actually exported to other countries and they keep the ‘good stuff’ for themselves.
- Nobody has pet koalas or kangaroos, unless they are an animal rescue worker and they only get to keep them while the animals recover from injury or illness.
- Australians do eat kangaroo as it is a very lean, high-protein, high-mineral meat.
- Only die-hard surfers who live right on the coast surf every day, it is quite an exceptional skill to learn and not everyone has the natural balance and strength to master it.
Corey Leopold/Flickr
What are the best things to do in Australia? Australia is so large!
Australia is an eclectic mix of natural vistas, urban highlights and outback spectaculars. Depending on your personal interests there are a plethora of choices to keep your Australian visit full of excitement.
If the coastline and iconic beaches have been calling you be sure to check out:
Fraser Island – The world’s biggest sand island is phenomenal offering visitors unbeatable beaches, white sand shores and lush rainforest.
Whitsundays – Made up of 74 stunning islands that are the home of the iconic teal blue beach pictures which adorn many Australian tourist brochures.
Surfers Paradise – An iconic beach on the Gold Coast famous for its surfing treasures and typical Aussie beachside locals.
Perhaps the natural sights and sounds of Australia and its fantastic wildlife have peaked your interest:
Ayres Rock – An indigenous landmark cloaked in dreamtime mystery which serves up breathtaking sunrises and sunsets that beam beautifully off its stunning red rock face and surrounding red earth.
Blue Mountains – A mountainous region bordering Sydney in NSW featuring 760 metre high sandstone bedrock gorges which wind for over 50 kilometres around the most stunning landscape.
Daintree Rainforest – A world heritage listed location that covers an unbelievable 1200 square kilometres and is home to 30% of Australia’s frog species population, 20% of bird species and 65% of the bat and butterfly species.
For most visitors a trip to Australia’s capital cities and their landmarks is still a wonderful way to experience the country. Essential places to visit include:
- Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Melbourne’s CBD laneways
- Cairns and Airlie Beach
- Gold Coast’s ‘The Strip’ and beaches
When should I visit?
Australia is lucky enough to have temperate weather most of the year. You do get intense weather systems such as summer storms and snowfalls during winter in the southern parts of the country. For northern states such as QLD you can go all year round and enjoy amazing weather. Take a look at weather forecasts before you book in case you are expecting beach worthy weather in winter in Melbourne or aren’t prepared for 30 degree + days in certain parts of the country in summer.
With all these places to visit – What do I Bring?
It does all depend on what you want to do and the kind of person you are. Australians are laid back and so is the dress code of many. There are restaurants which require a high level of dress but it all depends on the experience you wish to have. If you are keen to fit in with the locals you can always adopt their fashion sense with a pair of boardies (shorts), a wife-beater (singlet or vest) and some thongs (flip-flops). You would also be well advised to bring insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat and a list of all the things you plan to do.
Australia also has strong border protection laws so brush up on what you can and cannot bring into the country before you get here to avoid a nasty surprise and a pat down by Australia’s border protection police in customs. Also, if you are thinking of bringing your darling Rover with you consider an alternative as quarantine in Australia is at least 10 days, even with new lax laws which started in February 2014.
Sorted? Bonza!
Do you have any tips about the best things to do in Australia? Â Please share them below in the comments!
Mary Ann Keeling is – without a doubt – just a girl who likes to write and share her traveling experience that brought her to Australia, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. She has had plenty of unforgettable adventures there, met lots of welcoming people, and seen some pretty amazing scenery. In her free time she loves to listen to loud music, and iritate the neighbours with her fantastic voice!
A cute little guide to one of my all-time favourite countries 🙂 I’d add the Great Barrier Reef for snorkelling/diving, a few days in the hippy surfer paradise of Byron Bay and a road trip down the Great Ocean Road!
I can’t wait to visit Australia someday myself! I am sure that I will love it!
This is such a helpful post for those planning a trip to Australia. There is so much to do there. Thanks for sharing all of this useful information!
I’ve been to Australia twice and loved it both times. It is so big that it is hard to determine where the best places to go are. For me, it’s all about the Outback and the wildlife, but I’m sure that’s not for everyone!
Yeah, I am more about nature and wildlife than cities and people, and I would love to visit the outback!
We’re just dying to go to Australia! It is such a big country and first up on our Aussie bucket list is Queensland. It just seems to have everything we want out of our first Aussie experience – adventure, Great Barrier Reef, beautiful beaches, and wildlife.
Yup, I think that Queensland and the Great Barrier reef sounds like a great starting point, too!