Australia is a continent, an enormous country with an almost infinite number of places to visit. The best way to discover Australia is by using the major cities as a guide and then exploring the hidden treasures around each of them.
SYDNEY
Sydney is the capital of the state of New South Wales, and the largest and most populous city in Australia. Sydney has many sights to see, and we can highlight the impressive Opera House, The Harbor Bridge and Sydney Harbour. You will find all this at the main port, called Circular Quay, located between The Rocks and the CBD. From the port, you can take the ferry to visit Manly, Watsons Bay, Mosman or Taronga Zoo, just to name a few places.
Darling Harbour is another beautiful port adjacent to the city centre. It is a recreational and pedestrian-friendly area and apart from the amazing harbour, there is also a large park, shopping centre, hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants. This area has a very lively and entertaining nightlife.
Sydney is surrounded by spectacular beaches, the most famous being Bondi Beach, with its cafes, restaurants and stylish inhabitants. You can walk all the way from Bondi to Coogee Beach via an amazing coastal walk. This is the perfect way get to know the area while taking in the breathtaking views.
Heading south you will come across the famous surfing beaches of Maroubra and Cronulla.
To the west of Sydney, you have the stunning Blue Mountains, known for their views as well as the forests of Eucalyptus trees, waterfalls and cliffs.
Driving an hour north, between Sydney and Newcastle, you will find the Central Coast region, which begins at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River and stretches all the way to the southern end of Lake Macquarie. With a number of delightful villages, as well as an alluring mix of bays, beaches, inlets, lakes and hinterland areas, there’s plenty to see and do on the NSW Central Coast.
An hour drive north of Central Coast you will find yourself in the Hunter Valley, known for its amazing wine and gourmet food. It is also a great place to get to know some of Australia’s beautiful countryside and wildlife.
CAIRNS
Cairns is a small city in northern Queensland, famous for its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, around 1200 square kilometres of national park land call the Daintree Rainforest, and Cape Tribulation.
Cairns adapted to the tourist boom experienced years ago with the introduction of cafes, restaurants, hotels, lodges and the famous Esplanade, an artificial saltwater lake of more than 4,000 square meters, next to a man-made beach.
You can take the Skyrail from Cairns. This is a cable car overhanging the extraordinary tropical rainforest that is the Daintree.
BRISBANE
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland. It is a modern city that is split by the snaking Brisbane river. In the area called Southbank, you will find an amazing man-made beach constructed for residents and visitors due to the fact that the centre of Brisbane is about 20km from the coast.
In around 70 minutes from Brisbane by ferry you will find Moreton Island, and in only 40 minutes you have the wonderful Stradbroke Island.
North of Brisbane you will find the natural wonderland Fraser Island, the biggest sand island in the world. Fraser Island boasts trees of breathtaking heights, dunes, white sandy beaches and lakes. The most popular lake is Lake McKenzie with a stunning range of blue colours.
If we travel south of Brisbane we can find the spectacular Gold Coast, famous for its beaches and theme parks. Surfers Paradise is its most popular suburb and it is known for its long line of skyscrapers that travel the length of the beach. It is also well known for its shopping, family activities and nightlife.
MELBOURNE
Melbourne is the capital of Victoria. It is a cosmopolitan city with a unique combination of world-class dining, art galleries, homegrown fashion and a packed sports calendar. Explore its cobbled lanes, galleries, theatres and many parks and gardens.
The Great Ocean Road is a 90-minute drive from the centre of Melbourne. It is a majestic road along the south coast of Victoria from the town of Torquay to Nelson on the South Australian border. During the journey, you will find coast, cliffs and rocks of extraordinary shapes due to the erosion caused by the sea and wind. Some of the most famous sights are the Twelve Apostles and the famous Bells Beach.
Another popular place to visit is the famous Phillip Island. There you will find penguin colonies, koalas, kangaroos, and seals, all set on the backdrop of beautiful white sand beaches.
ADELAIDE
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is a city that has been known as the “City of Churches”. It is home to many parks and gardens, countless small bars and is an important cultural stop on your tour of Australia due to the number of festivals held here, and the world-class music and art to take in.
Only a couple of hours drive from the centre of Adelaide you can take the ferry that goes to Kangaroo Island. You can also take a plane if you prefer.
Kangaroo Island is one of the best places to see the characteristic wildlife of Australia. Kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, pelicans, seals, and many other kinds of animals can be found here. Combined with landscapes that will make your jaw drop, it is certainly a must see and will leave you wanting more!
If we head north of Adelaide, about 200km, we will find ourselves at the foot of the Flinders Ranges, stretching more than 430km.
PERTH
Perth is the capital of Western Australia. Perth is the most isolated city in the world, the nearest city is Adelaide, which is 2,780km away! The perfect place to completely disconnect.
Perth, a relatively new, modern city, located on the Swan River. It’s a city with large parks, cafes and restaurants. Its port is mainly devoted to the export of nickel, gold, iron and aluminium.
Between Perth and Broome to the north, there is 2348.5 km of coast, desert, nature reserves and lakes, meaning there is almost an infinite number of places to explore. Among them, we will highlight the Pinnacles Desert, a huge sandbank full of dunes inside the Nambung National Park. Further north you will also find Monkey Mia, a perfect place to enjoy swimming with dolphins and exploring Coral Bay (Ningaloo Reef), an oasis of palm trees surrounded by desert and a beautiful beach for snorkelling and maybe even swimming with a whale shark! Don’t worry, they don’t bite!
If we continue our trip, we will find spectacular beaches near Broome and remote landscapes in the Kimberley region. Relatively near the Kimberley (only 800km!), We can explore the Cathedral Gorge, an amazing natural red rock amphitheatre.
To the west of Perth, just over 300km away, we find what is called Wave Rock. It is a rock in the form of a wave that stands about 14m in height and about 110m in length. An amazing natural rock formation!
DARWIN
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory. It has spectacular views of the harbour and is home to the naval base of the Australian navy. Due to its dry tropical climate, there are plenty of outdoor activities, festivals and markets. If you want an adrenaline-pumping experience, Darwin offers the possibility of swimming with crocodiles! What an adventure, and completely safe!
Darwin is privileged to have such an exquisite natural environment on its doorstep. Surrounded by wonderful beaches and natural enclaves such as Kakadu National Park or Litchfield, which are just a few hours drive away.
ALICE SPRINGS
Alice Springs is the starting point for exploring the inland desert area of the country, the Red Center, surrounded by the MacDonnell Ranges.
450 kilometres from Alice Springs you will come across the natural wonder that is Uluru, which is its aboriginal name, otherwise known as Ayers Rock. This huge stone monolith is sacred to Australian Aboriginals. Within the Uluru-kata Tjuta National Park, you will also find the famous rock formation called Kata Tjuta, otherwise known as the Olgas.
Some other sites to see in the area include; the Watarrka National Park which houses Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell National Park (Tjoitja is its Aboriginal name) where you can take a long hike along the desert track known as Larapinta Trail and see the famous Standley Chasm, or visit Simpsons Gap. A little further away there is the wonderful Devils Marbles rock formation.
HOBART
Hobart is the capital of the state of Tasmania. Tasmania is an island state off the south coast of Victoria in Australia. It is known for its fabulous heritage and wild natural environment.
The Tasmanian Bridge is a bridge that crosses the River Derwent from the financial centre to the east bank of the city of Hobart. It is 1,396 meters in length!
On the east bank is Kangaroo Point, or Bellerive as it was called later.
From the city of Hobart you can see Mount Wellington, only half an hour by car if you want to explore the hidden treasures it has to offer.
About two hours drive south of Hobart we can see the Bruny Island Neck. The Neck is an isthmus, a narrow strip of land with banks on both sides that connects the north with the south of Bruny Island.