Australia is an amazing country to visit and there has never been a better time to explore everything the country has to offer.
From the amazing beaches to the diverse wildlife that calls Australia home, it is truly a magical place to visit and no matter where you go, you are guaranteed a once in a lifetime experience.
Whether you head to one of the major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, or Brisbane, or you choose to hit the beach towns of the Sunshine or Gold Coast, Australia has so much to offer that choosing where to visit can be the biggest challenge.
In this post, we take a closer look at three of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations and give you the lowdown on some of the best things to do in these amazing places.
Sydney
Kicking things off with the big one – Sydney. For many overseas visitors, Sydney is the ultimate destination to visit in Australia and for good reason. The obvious highlights include the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge and there is no doubt that this offers one of the most spectacular backdrops of any city in the world.
Sydney, of course, offers so much more than just this amazing vista. From rooftop bars to global theatre productions to some of the most amazing beaches in the world, Sydney really does have it all. Here are some of the highlights of a stay in Sydney:
Sydney highlights
- Bondi Beach
- The Rocks
- Darling Harbour
- Harbour Bridge Climb
- Opera House
- Sealife Centre
The Taronga Zoo is another popular destination for tourists and here, you can see some of Australia’s most popular wildlife including kangaroos, wombats, and the Tasmanian Devil.
Melbourne
Another hugely popular destination for visitors to Australia is Melbourne. Melbourne is considered to be Australia’s cultural capital and is also home to some of the country’s most iconic sporting teams and events.
Every year, Melbourne plays host to the Australian Open tennis, the Australian Grand Prix, and the Melbourne Cup as well as countless games of Australian Rules Football (AFL), cricket and rugby. Melbourne is home to a number of AFL teams so if you have never seen a game before, it’s a great place to give it a try, especially at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Melbourne Demons are the favourites with Betway Sports to lift the AFL Grand Final this year so see if you can squeeze one of their games in.
Melbourne highlights
- Royal Botanic Gardens
- National Gallery of Victoria
- MCG Tour/Game
- City Centre Tram Tour
- Yarra River Cruise
- Parliament Tour
As Australia’s capital of culture, a trip to the Arts Centre Melbourne is also a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with regular shows and visiting exhibitions.
Brisbane
Brisbane is a very cool city in itself, however, for many visitors, it is also the gateway to both the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast – two of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations.
Sitting south of Brisbane is the Gold Coast, home to popular holiday spots including Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Coolangatta, and Surfers Paradise.
North of Brisbane is the Sunshine Coast and this encompasses the cities and towns of Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Noosa Heads, and Rainbow Beach.
Whether you fancy a weekend break to the city or an escape to the beach, Brisbane is a fun place to fly into and from there, you have so many options to choose from.
Brisbane highlights
- Cuddle a koala at Lone Planet Koala Sanctuary
- River Cruise
- Visit the beaches of the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast
- Ride the Wheel of Brisbane
- Day trip to Moreton Island
- Spend a day at Wet ‘n’ Wild water park
Brisbane is also the home to Australia Zoo, established by the late Steve Irwin and now run by his children including his wife Terri, daughter Bindi, and son Robert. A bucket list tourist attraction to tick off your list.
Other popular destinations in Australia
Whilst these are three of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia, both for Australians and international visitors, there are so many amazing places to visit throughout the country that it is hard to fit everything into one post!
Other popular cities to visit include:
- Adelaide – located in South Australia, Adelaide is a famous wine-growing region in Australia, most recognised for its world-leading Barossa Valley Shiraz that is sold throughout the world.
- Cairns – located in the far north of Queensland, Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands. It is a great place to base yourself for exploring the water and the Daintree Rainforest is another big drawcard.
- Perth – located in Western Australia, Perth enjoys almost year-round warm weather and is a popular destination for beach-goers and surfers. Perth has a super-laid back vibe and is also home to some of Australia’s best wines from the Swan Valley.
