WHAT ARE THE BEST PLACES TO SEE IN AUSTRALIA?

Even though most of the interesting places are located on the coast, the vastness of the territory makes it difficult to plan a trip to Australia, especially if your time there is limited.

You will have to take into account the distances, your budget and how much time you can spend there, but this list should help you in your travel planning.

Some facts you should know :

• Australia is the 6th largest country in the world, with a surface area of 7,669,551 km².
• The largest monolith in the world is Mount Augustus, located in Western Australia about 852 km north of the city of Perth. About 1.7 billion years old, this monolith of 860 m is twice the size of Uluru and covers an area of 47.95 km².
• The southernmost point is SouthPoint, in Wilson’s Promontory National Park, south of Melbourne.
• The highest mountain on the continent is Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m), located in New South Wales.
• The largest river is the Murray River. With a length of 2,530 km, it flows from the Australian Cordillera to the Indian Ocean.
• Australia is the lowest continent in the world with an average altitude of only 330m. The lowest place is Lake Eyre in South Australia, 15 m below sea level. Less than 125 millimeters of water falls there every year.

Here are 15 places to see in Australia:

1. The Red Center

Located in the heart of Australia, there are three sites not to be missed: Uluru, King’s Canyon and the Olgas. If Uluru (also called Ayer’s Rock) is a well-known symbol of Australia, my favorite place in the Red Center is King’s Canyon.

2. Sydney

If you only need to visit one Australian city, go to Sydney: walk to Circular Quay to see the opera and Harbour Bridge, go to the botanical gardens and walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach. If you can go for the New Year, don’t hesitate for a second, it’s really worth it.

3. The Kimberley

Located in the northwest, it is Australia’s least populated region and is home to Purnululu National Park (or Bungle Bungles) where amazing geological formations can be seen.

Crédit photo: Flickr

4. The Great Barrier Reef

One of the three most famous Australian tourist attractions in the world with Uluru/Ayer’s Rock and the Sydney Opera House. It is located off Queensland and is home to a wide variety of fish and corals.

5. The Top End

Visit Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Kakadu is the largest national park in the country and is located about 200 km southeast of Darwin.

photo: Flickr

6. Ningaloo Reef

The unknown equivalent of the Great Barrier Reef on Australia’s west coast: it is best known for the whale sharks that come here every year, but you can also see manta rays, dugong, sharks…

7. Queensland Rainforest

Located about 110 km north of Cairns, the rainforest is home to a large number of animals: watch out for crocodiles and keep your eyes wide open, you may be able to meet a Casoar (as in the picture).

 

Crédit photo: Flickr

8. The Whitsundays

Beautiful islands near the Great Barrier Reef. Many cruises are organized for tourists and last two or three days.

9. Mac Kenzy Lake on Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the largest sandy island in the world and is home to a lake with surprisingly white sand and perfectly blue water. The most popular way to visit the island is by 4×4. You can also see dingoes (wild dogs).

10. The Great Ocean Road

A 250 km route along Victoria’s south coast, with breathtaking views and many beaches (more info here).

11. The Blue Mountains

Located one hour from Sydney is Blue Mountains National Park, known for its beautiful scenery. It is possible to go canyoning in claustral canyoning.

12. Tasmania

Often forgotten by travellers, Tasmania offers beautiful landscapes, especially Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay, located in Freycinet National Park.

13. Kangaroo Island

An island south of Adelaide where you can see and approach many animals: sea lions, sea lions, sea lions, koalas, many birds, and of course kangaroos. There are even platypus that were introduced there in 1928. It is the third largest island in Australia.

Crédit photo: Flickr

14. Karijini National Park

A superb national park located in the north of Western Australia State (see link). Spectacular landscapes of natural swimming pools and waterfalls in impressive gorges.

15. The West Coast

Finally, I strongly encourage you to visit the Australian West Coast, much wilder and less touristic than the East Coast but much more beautiful for my taste. The must is to rent a vehicle in good condition (more info here) and drive up the coast through the beaches and national parks.

Crédit photo: Flickr