Oceania
A continent-sized country of harbour cities, red desert, coral reef, tropical rainforest and the world's oldest living cultures, where the distances are vast and the outdoors is the main attraction.
Photo: JJ Harrison · CC BY-SA 3.0
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, roughly the size of the contiguous United States, but with a population of only about 27 million, most of them living in a handful of cities on the coast. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived here for at least 60,000 years, making theirs the oldest continuous living cultures on earth, and their art, stories and connection to Country are increasingly part of the visitor experience. European settlement began in 1788 at Sydney, and the country became a federation in 1901.
For visitors, the country has some of the most varied natural attractions anywhere: the Great Barrier Reef, the tropical rainforest of the Daintree, the red centre around Uluru, the wildernesses of Tasmania and Kakadu, and thousands of kilometres of beaches. The cities are equally appealing, with Sydney's harbour, Melbourne's cafés and laneways and Perth's beaches and sunshine. Australians are relaxed, friendly and outdoorsy, and the infrastructure is excellent.
The main challenge is distance. Sydney to Perth is about as far as London to Baghdad, and Sydney to Cairns is a three-hour flight. It is best to choose a few regions and fly between them, rather than trying to see everything. Prices are also high by international standards, and seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere, so summer runs from December to February.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend each for a first visit. Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and Melbourne are the classic four; the Great Ocean Road and Blue Mountains are easy additions, and Tasmania, the Whitsundays, Perth and Kakadu reward those with more time.
New South Wales, east coast
Australia's largest city: the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, the Botanic Garden, Bondi and Manly beaches, cliff walks, ferries and a lively food and café scene.
Don't miss A ferry across the harbour at sunset, with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge lit gold behind you.
Explore Destination — SydneyFar North Queensland
Two UNESCO World Heritage wonders in one: reef trips from Cairns and Port Douglas, and the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation, plus the scenic railway to Kuranda.
Don't miss Floating over a coral garden on the outer reef, with turtles and shoals of fish drifting past.
Explore Destination — Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef and the DaintreeNorthern Territory, central Australia
A UNESCO-listed desert landscape of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, owned by the Anangu people, with base walks, sunsets, cultural experiences and Kings Canyon within a day's drive.
Don't miss Uluru at sunrise, as the rock turns from purple to orange to red.
Explore Destination — Uluru and the Red CentreVictoria, south-east Australia
A sophisticated city of coffee culture, street art, grand Victorian architecture, galleries, markets and sport, with day trips to the Yarra Valley, Phillip Island and the Great Ocean Road.
Don't miss Wandering the laneways with a flat white in hand, from Hosier Lane's murals to the hidden cafés behind Flinders Street.
Explore Destination — MelbourneVictoria, south-west coast
A war memorial road built by returned soldiers, winding past Bells Beach, Lorne, Apollo Bay, the Otway rainforest and the Twelve Apostles, with wildlife, waterfalls and shipwreck history.
Don't miss The Twelve Apostles at sunset, as the limestone stacks glow gold in the surf.
Explore Destination — The Great Ocean RoadTasmania, island state south of the mainland
Australia's island state: Hobart and MONA, Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and Wineglass Bay, Port Arthur, Bruny Island and a wilderness of national parks, with a superb food scene.
Don't miss The view of Wineglass Bay from the lookout, a perfect white crescent of sand between pink granite peaks.
Explore Destination — TasmaniaQueensland, central coast
A group of tropical islands on the Great Barrier Reef, with Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, sailing, snorkelling, reef trips and the resort island of Hamilton.
Don't miss Hill Inlet at low tide, where swirling sand and turquoise water form patterns you can see from the lookout.
Explore Destination — The WhitsundaysNew South Wales, west of Sydney
A UNESCO-listed wilderness two hours from Sydney, with Katoomba's Three Sisters, Scenic World, Wentworth Falls, cliff walks, Leura's gardens and the Jenolan Caves.
Don't miss The Three Sisters at sunset from Echo Point, as the valley turns blue and the cliffs glow orange.
Explore Destination — The Blue MountainsWestern Australia, south-west
Perth's Kings Park, Fremantle and Cottesloe Beach, the quokkas of Rottnest Island and the wineries, caves, surf and forests of Margaret River, in Australia's remote west.
Don't miss Sunset over the Indian Ocean from Cottesloe Beach, or a glass of cabernet in the Margaret River vines.
Explore Destination — Perth and Margaret RiverNorthern Territory, tropical north
Australia's largest national park, a UNESCO site for both nature and culture, with Ubirr and Nourlangie rock art, Yellow Water cruises, Jim Jim Falls and Litchfield, reached from Darwin.
Don't miss Sunset from Ubirr, looking over the floodplains after a walk past thousands of years of rock art.
Explore Destination — Kakadu and the Top EndExperiences
The experiences that recur across the country and make an Australian trip feel like one.
The world's largest coral reef system is a marvel, with colourful fish, turtles and coral gardens, reached by boat from Cairns, Port Douglas or the Whitsundays. See Cairns and the Reef.
Tip Choose an eco-certified operator, and a trip to the outer reef, where the coral is healthiest.
Kangaroos, wallabies and koalas are common in national parks, on golf courses and along the coast, especially at dawn and dusk. Wildlife sanctuaries offer close encounters.
Tip Drive slowly at dusk, when animals cross roads.
Australia is made for road trips, from the Great Ocean Road to the Pacific Highway and the west coast. See the Great Ocean Road.
Tip Drive on the left, take breaks every two hours and never drive tired.
There are more than 10,000 beaches, from Bondi's surf to Whitehaven's white sand. See Sydney and the Whitsundays.
Tip Swim between the red and yellow flags, patrolled by lifesavers.
The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin) and the Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth) are among the world's great rail journeys, crossing the continent in comfort.
Tip Book months ahead, and allow several days.
Melbourne and Sydney's cafés, laneways and food markets are among the best in the world, and Australian coffee culture has spread across the globe. See Melbourne.
Tip Order a flat white or a long black.
Food and drink
Modern Australian cooking is a mix of British roots, Mediterranean and Asian influence and excellent local produce, from seafood and beef to wine and coffee. Each region has its specialities.
A flaky pastry filled with minced beef and gravy, and the classic Aussie snack, often with tomato sauce. Bakeries in small towns compete for the best.
Where to try it Bakeries and footy stadiums, especially in Melbourne.
Squares of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut, a national sweet often filled with cream and jam.
Where to try it Bakeries and cafés across the country.
A crisp meringue with a soft centre, topped with cream and fresh fruit, a summer and Christmas dessert.
Where to try it Cafés and family tables, especially at Christmas.
Barramundi from the tropical north, Moreton Bay bugs, Tasmanian oysters and Western Australian rock lobster are among the many local specialities.
Where to try it Waterfront restaurants in the Top End, Tasmania and Sydney.
Australia produces excellent wine, from Barossa shiraz to Margaret River cabernet and Yarra Valley pinot noir. Many regions offer tastings within easy reach of cities.
Where to try it Wineries in Margaret River and near Melbourne.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Australia is very easy to visit, though distances, sun and prices need planning.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
Australia's climate ranges from tropical in the north to temperate in the south, and the seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere. The north has a dry season from May to October and a wet season from November to April.
Hot in the south and warm on the beaches, but wet, humid and stinger-prone in the tropical north, and very hot in the centre. Peak domestic holidays.
Warm and settled in the south, with fewer crowds. The north dries out from April.
Mild and sunny in the north and centre, the best time for the reef, Uluru and Kakadu. Cool in the south, with snow in the mountains.
Warm, sunny and green in the south, with wildflowers in Western Australia.
Worth planning around: The tropical north from January to March (cyclones, floods and stingers), and the Red Centre in summer, when temperatures often exceed 40°C.
Trip length
Australia is enormous, and flights eat time. Two weeks allow for three or four bases, and three weeks add a slower pace or a road trip.
Getting around
Distances mean that most visitors combine domestic flights with hire cars, and use public transport within the cities.
Sample route
Sydney and the Blue Mountains, the reef and rainforest of the north, the red centre and Melbourne with the Great Ocean Road, with four domestic flights. Covers six of the ten destinations in this guide.
Culture
Australia is a multicultural, egalitarian and informal country. People are direct and friendly, use first names and expect good humour. Respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and awareness of the land's history, is an important part of modern Australian life.
Australians value informality and a sense of humour. Chat with people and do not stand on ceremony.
Follow local rules about sacred sites and ask before photographing people. Choose Aboriginal-led tours where possible.
Queuing is taken seriously, in shops, bars and at bus stops.
In pubs, people take turns buying rounds of drinks for the group. Join in.
Follow the lifesavers' advice, wear sunscreen, and take signs about wildlife seriously.
Take your rubbish with you, do not feed wildlife and stay on marked tracks.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in Australia, several of which are specific to how the country works.
FAQ
Yes, it is very safe for visitors. The biggest risks are the sun, the surf, driving and the outdoors, which is best handled with common sense and local advice.
Two weeks for a first trip, and three if you can. A week lets you do Sydney and one other place.
It depends where. Spring and autumn suit the south, and May to October suits the north and the Red Centre.
Most visitors need an ETA or eVisitor, applied for online before travel. Check the official government site.
Yes, by many standards, particularly for accommodation, food and internal flights. Camping, self-catering and off-peak travel help.
Some are, but attacks are rare. Take care with crocodiles in the north, marine stingers in summer and snakes and spiders in the bush, and follow local advice.
No. The climb was closed permanently in October 2019, at the request of the Anangu traditional owners. You can walk around the base.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
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