Australia is a magical place with an incredible history. It’s a land of dreams, where the Aborigines conjured up the coral reefs, rainforests, and red deserts. The smallest continent and the largest island, Australia is almost the same size as the US, but with a population the size of New York State. The country is home to some of the quirkiest wildlife on earth.
In Australia, many tourists flock to popular spots. If you’re a tourist, you should also visit these less well-known but equally impressive attractions.
Tourist Attractions in Australia
With a laid-back feel and friendly people, it’s no wonder that Australia is constantly at the top of the bucket list for travelers around the world. If you’re planning a trip to Australia, we’ve got you covered with our top attractions.
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1. Horizontal Falls & the Kimberley Region
The Kimberley is a remote and rugged region of red rocks, gaping gorges, scorched deserts, and cliff-fringed coast. It’s ripe for exploring.
One of the most exciting adventures in the Kimberley is jet boating across Horizontal Falls. This majestic phenomenon occurs because of the powerful tides that gush through narrow gorges. You can zoom across the sea through the seething falls on a jet boat.
The gateway to Broome is the gateway to the Kimberley region. If you’re not afraid of heights, you can visit the Buccaneer Archipelago, which features red cliffs and more than 800 islands. Fly north to Cape Leveque, where you can visit pearl farms and Aboriginal communities. Travel by 4WD along the Gibb River Road, a famous track in Australia.
2. Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a booming tourist town and the gateway to the spectacular Kimberley region, which was once the pearl capital of the world.
Cable Beach is Broome’s star tourist attraction. It’s a seemingly endless stretch of white sand and turquoise water. Cable beach is one of the best beaches in Australia, and riding camels at sunset is one of the most popular things to do there.
It’s a tourist attraction. It’s a natural phenomenon. The Staircase to the Moon is a sight people visit the beach to see. It happens between March and October during certain weather conditions. Everyone talks about the moon, but no one ever mentions the illusion created by the light from the moon.
And now, a few more highlights from the town of Broome. During your time here, you can walk the red cliffs of Gantheaume Point or visit the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park, where you can see Australian reptiles up close. In town, learn about local history at the Broome Historical Museum or relax with a movie under a starry sky at Sun Pictures.
3. Great Ocean Road, Victoria
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s top scenic drives. It winds along 300 kilometers of rugged coast, providing employment during the Great Depression. The road stretches from Torquay to Allansford, near Warrnambool.
One of the main reasons to visit Great Ocean Road is Port Campbell National Park. This is where you can see the rock formations known as the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge, the Arch, and Loch Ard Gorge. From above, these rock formations look like giant puzzle pieces adrift along the coast, lashed by the pounding surf of the Southern Ocean.
Head to Great Ocean Road for its natural beauty. Hike the trails, go surfing, or simply enjoy the beaches. The Australian National Surfing Museum is located in Torquay, Bells Beach is a famous surfing spot, Lorne is a seaside resort town, and Warrnambool is where you can watch whales. Nature lovers will enjoy Otway National Park with its forests, fern forests, waterfalls, and hiking trails.
4. Sydney Opera House, New South Wales
Sydney, Australia is the city of the famous Opera House. It’s an architectural icon that looks like a huge shell or a billowing sail. This famous building on Sydney’s Bennelong Point is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This incredible waterfront property boasts a beautiful view of the water. The Royal Botanic Gardens are next to it to the south.
An architecture competition was held to create the Sydney Opera House, but the winner had to withdraw. The project was delayed for decades because of technical and financial problems. It finally opened in 1973, 10 times over budget. The original designer never returned to see his masterpiece.
The Sydney Opera House is the most famous building in Sydney. It is a must-see for visitors to the city. On a guided tour, you can see the highlights and go behind the scenes. There are restaurants, theaters, and concert halls. It is located on Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbor.
Hop on a harbor cruise or ferry and take a photo of the Sydney Opera House from the water. This will be a great way to capture this top Sydney tourist attraction. Alternatively, you can sit in Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens and snap a picture. Both options will ensure that you get a great shot of this striking site.
5. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living structure. It’s so large, you can see it from outer space. If you’re a diving, snorkeling, island-loving, nature-enthusiastic person, you must see this natural wonder before you die.
To protect the delicate ecosystems, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established in 1975. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, and it’s experiencing a dire situation.
On the east coast of Australia, one of the seven natural wonders of the world stretches for over 2,300 kilometers. Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef is a vast reef system stretching from Queensland to Papua New Guinea.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations. The reef is home to an amazing array of marine life, including soft corals, hard corals, tropical fish, sharks, dugongs, dolphins, turtles, rays, and giant clams. You can even go diving or snorkeling in the reef. And if you’re not into the water, you can still see the reef from underwater viewing stations and glass bottom boats.
There are many ways to visit the Great Barrier Reef. You can jet around the islands, take short sightseeing flights, cruise for day trips, or snorkel and dive the reefs. The three main launching points for tours are Cairns, Port Douglas, and Airlie Beach.
6. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory
A striking red monolith in the heart of Australia’s Red Centre, Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock), is one of the country’s most photographed natural wonders. The monolith is the centerpiece of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a World Heritage Site jointly managed by Parks Australia and the traditional landowners, the Aṉangu people.
A gigantic sandstone mountain named Uluru stands tall in the middle of the Australian desert. Part of Uluru is visible above the surface, but most of it exists under the ground. Another famous rock formation in the park is Kata Tjuta (“many heads”), which is composed of hundreds of red sandstone domes.
The sun is setting. Sightseers are flocking to see the changing colors of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Join an Aboriginal guide on a tour of the sacred sites.
7. Sydney Harbour Bridge, New South Wales
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia’s top architectural icons. It’s affectionately called “the Coathanger,” and it was completed in 1932, 40 years before the Sydney Opera House. It is the largest steel arch bridge in the world.
There is one of the top things to do in Sydney. It’s a guided ascent to the top of the Bridge, which is 134 meters high. It is 500 meters in length and connects Sydney’s North Shore to the central business district. The bridge also has two railway lines and eight roads for cars. The direction of each lane can be switched to accommodate traffic flow.
8. Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, beautiful Blue Mountains National Park is a hiker’s paradise with plenty of trails to explore. It lies an easy 81-kilometer drive west of Sydney.
Named for the swirling blue haze of eucalyptus trees, Blue Mountains National Park protects more than 664,000 acres of wilderness. It’s a place where you can discover Aboriginal rock paintings, trek on 140 kilometers of trails, and enjoy dells and waterfalls.
The Three Sisters are the most famous sandstone rock formations in Blue Mountains National Park. A new tourist attraction in Australia is the Katoomba Scenic Railway, which is the steepest railway in the world. It takes tourists into a cliff-side tunnel into an ancient rainforest. There are also other ways to get views of the dense forests, including the Skyway, Scenic Cableway, and Scenic Walkway.
If you are an adrenaline junkie who loves the thrill of the outdoors, there are plenty of activities in this park for you. Hiking, cycling, mountaineering, skydiving, and bungee jumping are all popular pastimes in the park.
9. Melbourne’s Culture, Victoria
Melbourne is a sophisticated city in Australia with lots of culture. Galleries, theaters, and restaurants are the main draws of this green city on the Yarra River. It is also a big city with lots of parks, gardens, and open spaces.
Melbourne is a city of art and culture. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria to see artworks from artists around the world. Watch a play at Arts Centre Melbourne and learn about Australian and international films at the Ian Potter Gallery and Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).
If you’re into nature, you’ll love the Aboriginal Heritage Walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens. And if sports is what you’re all about, check out the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In summer, cricket is the game to watch; in winter, it’s Australian Rules football.
Melbourne is a historical city. You can see this history in the grand Victorian buildings, built with money from the gold rush, and you can feel it as you shop in the elegant arcades and the Queen Victoria Market, which has been selling goods for more than a century.
10. Bondi Beach, New South Wales
Bondi Beach is one of the world’s most famous beaches. Located only 15 minutes by car from Sydney’s city center, the beach is a great place for beach culture. Grab your sunscreen, your board shorts, and your flip-flops. The perfect summer day for you might include snorkeling or swimming near the beach, or simply relaxing on the sand.
One of the best beaches in the world is just a short distance from Sydney. Bondi Beach is truly mesmerizing, featuring an incredibly inviting stretch of sand and sea. The beach also features some history. It’s home to one of the world’s oldest surf life saving clubs, which dates back to 1907.
When you’re not at the beach, you can still enjoy the sea. The Bondi to Bronte coastal walk is a spectacular six-kilometer stroll along the coast. It begins at the southern end of the beach and runs along sandstone cliffs for a truly breathtaking experience. To work up an appetite, you can eat at one of the local cafés or restaurants. You can also try your luck with the local farmers’ market or swim laps in the ocean pool.
Bondi is also known for its wild side. It’s a favorite spot for travelers to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s.
A word to the wise: If you’re going to Bondi Beach, make sure you swim between the red and yellow flags. Riptides often sweep swimmers out to sea. This is especially true at the southern end of this kilometer-long beach. That’s why the Australians created a reality TV show called Bondi Rescue.