What to see in Australia: 9 must-sees
Discover what to see in Australia: 9 must-see destinations, from Great Barrier Reef to Sydney. Predominantly natural heritage and city; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
Natural Heritage(3)
Head down from Cairns or Port Douglas to the reef, the largest coral system on the planet: 2,900 reefs and 600 islands stretch along the coast of Queensland. Swim with green turtles among table corals, snorkel over gardens home to 1,500 species of fish, and climb on deck to watch the turquoise shift to deep blue. Boats leave every morning, the water offers visibility of several meters, and guides point out clownfish, moray eels, and rays passing beneath your mask.
Cross the red desert of the Northern Territory to reach Uluru, the 348-meter monolith that shifts from ochre to violet with the changing light of day. Walk the trail around its base, look at the Anangu rock paintings, and learn about the sacred meaning this rock holds for its traditional owners. At sunset, watch from the marked viewpoints as the surface glows copper while the silence of the outback envelops everything.
Enter Kakadu National Park, in Australia's Northern Territory, and explore the rock art at Ubirr, where Aboriginal paintings cover the rock walls. Walk among ancient geological formations, head to the waterfalls, and observe the wildlife of the north: birds, reptiles, and mammals across floodplains and sandstone escarpments. Hiking and wildlife watching bring you closer to a landscape declared a natural heritage site.
City(3)
Admire the white sails of the Sydney Opera House from the Circular Quay ferry before climbing the Harbour Bridge, which has spanned the bay since 1932. In The Rocks, the old sandstone docks host a weekend arts and food market. Walk the six-kilometer coastal path linking Bondi to Coogee, between cliffs and rock pools. In the afternoon, the botanic gardens by Farm Cove fill the air with seagulls and joggers. End the day tasting fresh oysters at the Pyrmont fish market, open from morning.
Wander the laneways of central Melbourne, covered in street art and full of specialty coffee shops, and hop on the free City Circle tram to get your bearings. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria, the oldest in Australia, and the Queen Victoria Market, open since 1878, where you can sample cheeses, fresh seafood, and multicultural produce. In the afternoon, cross the Yarra River to Southbank, go up the Eureka Skydeck for views over Port Phillip Bay, and end the day at Federation Square, surrounded by museums, bars, and live music.
Follow the Brisbane River to South Bank, where the artificial lagoon and its tropical gardens stretch out facing the city center. Cross the Story Bridge, stroll through the City Botanic Gardens by the river, and browse the weekend markets. Queensland's capital combines historic sandstone buildings with modern towers, and its subtropical climate invites outdoor dining at Howard Smith Wharves. Head up to the Mount Coot-tha lookout for views over the whole city, and end the day at Eagle Street Pier, with views of the water and the ferries crossing from bank to bank.
Natural(2)
Camp along the Victoria coast and travel the 243 km of cliffs that make up the Great Ocean Road. Stop at the Twelve Apostles viewpoints, limestone columns the sea separated from the cliff, and continue to Kennett River, where koalas can be spotted in the eucalyptus trees along the roadside. Finish at Bells Beach, home of the Rip Curl Pro surfing championship, and take the chance to pass through fern forests and fishing villages like Lorne and Apollo Bay before returning to Melbourne.
Cruise the Daintree River from Port Douglas and watch crocodiles among the mangroves as the guide points out nests and tide marks. Continue to Cape Tribulation, where the world's oldest rainforest meets pristine beaches and signs warn of cassowary crossings. Walk the boardwalks among ferns and fan palms, listen to the insects at dusk, and head back before the night tide rises.
National Park(1)
Hike the trails from Katoomba to the Echo Point lookout, where the Three Sisters rise above the Jamison Valley, and breathe the air heavy with eucalyptus oil that tints the horizon blue. Descend the Giant Stairway, listen for cockatoos among the ferns of the temperate rainforest, and visit Wentworth Falls or the sandstone cliffs of Govetts Leap. Just two hours from Sydney by train, the park offers trails for all levels and the chance to cross the valley on the Scenic World cableway.
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