Australia: 8 Outstanding Places to Visit in Australia

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            Australia is the smallest continent in the world. It could also be regarded as the world’s largest island owing to its unique geographic location at the end of the southern hemisphere. The Land Down Under covers approximately the same surface area as the United States of America, however, the human population is about the size of New York interspersed with all kinds of quirky flora and fauna to be found only in Australia. Australia offers great contrast among the landscapes it features. Beautiful islands, exhilarating sandy beaches, red desserts, rugged national parks, and one of the world’s most majestic natural wonders- the Great Barrier Reef, are to be found in Australia. So, we have come up with a list of the most stunning places to visit in Australia!

New South Wales

The Australian state of New South Wales is located along the South Eastern region of the continent and features a stunning coastline, vibrant National Parks, and several impressive structures. Notable among the giant structures are the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, both situated in Sydney, the capital city of New South Wales. The Sydney Opera House is a world-famous site and listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This iconic structure shaped in the form of billowing sails has been represented in movies, artworks, literature, and the world relates it to Australia! Regular performances are held in the opera house that you can enjoy. There are also many restaurants within the complex and you could dine in one of them. The entire structure could be easily photographed from Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge on the other hand happens to be the largest such arch bridge structure constructed entirely from steel the world has to offer. Its construction was completed 40 years before the construction of the Opera House in 1932. This bridge connects the North Shore area in Sydney to the business center of the capital. It spans over a length of 500m and is built to a height of 134m over the harbor.

Among the National Parks that you will find in New South Wales, Blue Mountains National Park happens to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one that you just cannot miss! It could be explored as a day trip away from Sydney (being only 81 km away from the city) and is an especially wonderful place for adventurers and hikers. The name of the park comes from the amazing blue hue that often emanates from the forests of Eucalyptus trees in the region. There is about 140 km of hiking trails carved throughout the park covering an area of about 664,000 acres. The Three Sisters, a towering sandstone formation in the region is of special significance. Other than hiking, adventure enthusiasts could also go for rock climbing, abseiling, horseback riding, and mountain biking activities could also be done in this region.

A 15-minute drive from Sydney will take you to the Bondi Beach area of New South Wales. This is one of the most enticing beaches that you will ever set foot on. The golden-hued sands washed by the electric blue water are a refreshing sight and one that you are not likely to forget. The coastal walkway from Bondi up to Bronte is an alluring one and worth your time. There are several cafes and restaurants along the way, serving delectable delicacies to satiate your hunger. Just be sure to stay within the area demarcated by the red flags as you take a dip in the refreshing waters in Bondi- the current is tough and swimmers who are not used to it could be washed away by them!

The Great Barrier Reef

Just like the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef is another significant, awe-inspiring location in Australia whose name is enough to bring about recognition. One of the most magnificent natural features of the world, the Great Barrier is an entire living, breathing, organism of breathtaking beauty. In fact, it is so “Great” that it is even visible from outer space. The Marine Park was established in 1975 in this region in an attempt to enhance the protection of this delicate ecosystem. There are more than 3,000 coral reefs in the region clubbed together with 600 islands and 300 coral cays.

The Great Barrier Reef is situated in Queensland and the park stretches for approximately 2,300 km along with the state. You will also get to see other maritime fauna in this region including more than 1,600 species of fish, dugongs, dolphins, sharks, giant clams, and turtles. You could even immerse yourself in the fresh waters in the region and go snorkeling to explore the area at closer contact.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park  

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of Australia, situated in the Red Centre. Uluru, formerly known as the Ayers Rock is one of the most photographed places in the entire world. This singular, monolithic rock formation is one of the most striking and prominent features of the national park and brings thousands of tourists from all around the world all year round. The national park area is maintained by Parks Australia jointly with the locals in the region, called the Aṉangu people.

In the Aboriginal dialect, the word Uluru refers to a “shadowy place”. Though the rock formation stands tall at a height of 348 m, much of it is hidden underneath the earth’s surface. The Olgas or the Kata Juta are dome-shaped rock formations prevalent in the park.

Both the formations show vibrantly changing contrasting colors with the moving sun and have been inspiring onlookers for millennia.  You could also opt for a guided tour of the region conducted by Aboriginal guides to get a better taste of the Australian culture at its best.

Melbourne

Melbourne is the second-largest city on the Australian continent and has a European feel to it. There are shopping venues, galleries, theatres, cafes and restaurants, and an impressive walkway along the Yarra River. There are also many parks and greeneries and an all-about openness in the atmosphere in the city. There are many cultural hotspots in the city and you have to visit places like the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, and Federation Square. Various displays of Australian artwork could be found at the Ian Potter Gallery and a visit to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image is also worthwhile.

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne has a peculiar Aboriginal Walk which will help you to be one with nature. Cricket is a hip and happening thing in Australia and a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground is a must. A walk through the splendid arcades of Queen Victoria Market will show you that the city also has a rich history to look for.

Daintree National Park

The Daintree National Park is one of the most unique locations in the world that you could visit. It is located in the Far North in the state of Queensland. Port Douglas is a resort based down towards the southern region of the national park and is a great place to plan your stay while you are on a spree to explore the Park region. It is regarded as a Wet Tropics World Heritage Site and is maintained by the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people of the region. There are many natural features within the park that even hold a spiritual significance among the people.

There are two particular sections within the park- the Mossman Gorge and the Cape Tribulation, the latter being one of the most beautiful locations to visit n Australia. This park is unique since it features an amazing convergence of the marine ecosystem comprising of coral reefs with the rainforest ecosystem of the land. It is only one of the very few places in the world which shows such a convergence. As a result, there are over 18,000 different species of plants available in this region. Many animal species also abound in this region and you should be on the lookout for exotic species such as the cassowary, crocodile, Bennett's tree kangaroo, and the giant blue Ulysses.

Kakadu National Park

The Kakadu National Park covers an area of about 19,840 km2 and could be regarded as one of the best places in Australia to witness Australian wildlife. It is situated in the Northern Territory state of Australia and features a plethora of wildlife such as rainforests, swamps, mangrove forests, river gorges, wetlands, waterfalls, and even cave paintings. There are also so many species of mammals, reptiles, and fish to be found in this region. More than 300 different species of birds find their way here every year and you could also find freshwater as well as saltwater species of crocodiles frolicking the wetlands.

Reaching Kakadu is easy and it will take you about 3 hours by road from the capital of Northern Territory. The dry seasons are the best times to visit the national park. You could explore the place on boats or through the making trails laid down in the park. During the monsoons between November to April, there is rampant flooding in the region and a lot of roads and other attractions might get blocked!

The Great Ocean Road in Victoria

Spanning over a length of 300 km and connecting Torquay to Allansford, the Great Ocean Road is one of the most magnificent waterside driveways in the world. This was constructed in the era of Depressions as a means to provide income to the many affected families and you could get some of the most scenic shots of Australia that you can think of.

While traveling on this stunning road, make it a point to visit Port Campbell National Park. You will find many rock formations in this region which have been sculpted by the wind and the ocean waters for millions of years and are popularly known as the Twelve Apostles, the Arch, the Loch Ard Gorge, and the London Bridge. You could also go to the Otway National Park to witness fern rainforests and eucalyptus forests, waterfalls, and hiking trails. The Australian Surfing Museum is also a great place to check out while on the route or you could look out for whales in Warrnambool.

Broome

Broome is situated in the northern region of Western Australia and was regarded as the pearl capital of earth. This impressive place is also the gateway into the beautiful Kimberly region of Australia and welcomes tons of tourists every year. The best place to look out for while in Broome is Cable Beach. Cable Beach has pristine white sands washed by the most stunningly blue water and could be easily regarded as one of the best beaches to visit in Australia. Riding camels around the evenings is a popular activity of this region. The Town Beach is another interesting haunt in this region. Within March and October, the moonlight plays tricks on the eyes of the onlookers giving an optical illusion of stairs leading up to the moon- this phenomenon is regarded as the "Staircase to the Moon"!

There are other notable places to look out for while you are traveling through Broome. The Gantheaume Point and the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park are major highlights of a tour to Broome. You could also opt for one of the pearl farm tours to see the exciting ways in which pearl is collected while in Broome!