204 Best Sights in Australia

There's been a chairlift climbing up to Arthurs Seat since 1960. Now, the new Eagle's gondolas take 14 minutes to drift slowly above the eucalyptus forests up to Arthurs Seat, at 1,030 feet above sea level. The gondolas are surprisingly quiet, so you'll hear the birdcall among the trees: keep an eye out for the wedge-tailed eagle, after which the Eagle chairlift is named. You can travel one way or return, starting from either the base station, or down from the summit station at Arthur's Seat. It's not a mountain, but the peak affords magnificent views back to Melbourne and across Port Phillip Bay. Take coffee or lunch at the café at the top before your return journey. There is plenty of parking at the base, as well as a small café, but limited parking at the peak, and the entire facility is wheelchair-friendly. From the summit, take the 1.8-km (1.1-mile) circuit walk, which passes several scenic viewing points.

Both as a moving memorial to Australians who served their country in wartime and as a military museum, this is a shrine of great national importance and the most popular attraction in the capital. The museum explores Australian military involvement from the late 19th century through the 1970s and Vietnam up to Iraq and Afghanistan today. Displays include a Lancaster bomber, a Spitfire, tanks, landing barges, and sections of two of the Japanese midget submarines that infiltrated Sydney Harbour during World War II, as well as more interactive displays in the Anzac Hall. Anzac is an acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, formed during World War I. One of the most moving places is the domed Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that stands above the Pool of Reflection and the Roll of Honour, which are two walls of names honoring the thousands of Australians who have died in all military conflicts. There are a range of free guided tours, led by volunteers, throughout the day. You can best appreciate the impressive facade of the War Memorial from the broad avenue of Anzac Parade. The avenue is flanked by several memorials commemorating the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Nursing Corps, as well as some of the campaigns in which Australian troops have fought, including the Vietnam War.

At closing time a bugler or bagpiper plays the emotive Last Post outside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

About 25 km (16 miles) north of Hobart on the highway toward Launceston, this sanctuary hosts a diverse selection of Australian species—many of which have been rescued—including koalas, wombats, quolls, and the adorable Tasmanian devil. The private dusk tours are highly recommended and provide a rare opportunity to experience Tassie's beautiful nocturnal animals at their most active.

Booderee is the Aboriginal word meaning "bay of plenty" and there really is plenty to see and do at this incredibly beautiful national park, located at the southernmost part of Jervis Bay. Camping sites are available throughout the park. Cave Beach has on-site showers and a small walk down to a vast beach that’s a safe spot for swimming. Green Patch Beach is a good location for snorkelers with its bounty of interesting fish on its tranquil shores. The historic Cape St George Lighthouse is the perfect location for whale- and bird-watching.

The busy waterfront at Brooke Street Pier is the city's key departure point for harbor and MONA cruises. The translucent building has an excellent cocktail bar and restaurant as well as plenty of tourist information and a trading space for Tasmanian artisans.

Like the main Kakadu escarpment, Burrungkuy, also known as Nourlangie Rock, is a remnant of an ancient plateau that is slowly eroding, leaving sheer cliffs rising high above the floodplains. The main attraction is the Anbangbang Gallery, an excellent frieze of Aboriginal rock paintings.

This is the beach for loads of family fun in the sun. The calm, translucent, and turquoise waters of Geographe Bay are perfect for swimming, stand-up paddling, kayaking, fishing, and relaxing. From mid-December until the end of January, an inflatable water park (aquatastic.net) is set up and available to the public for an hourly or daily fee. The City of Busselton has invested millions of development dollars into foreshore infrastructure that includes an amazing kids' adventure park, skate park, amphitheater, plenty of bench seating, and free-to-use barbecues—a favorite Aussie dinner is fish-and-chips on the beach at sunset. Amenities: food and drink; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

Calling all cheese lovers and connoisseurs to this family-operated sheep and dairy farm located on the outskirts of Nannup. Stop in to the farmhouse and sample the award-winning sheep cheese (in season) and flavor-punching dairy cheeses that are skillfully handmade on-site by the clever Wilde family.

Bring a picnic blanket and a bottle of wine to enjoy with a cheese near the grazing sheep.

The view from the top of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia and only a 10-minute drive south of Augusta, allows you to witness the meeting of the Southern and the Indian oceans. In some places this alliance results in giant swells that crash against the rocks; in others, you'll spot whales surfacing (May through September). The lighthouse precinct is open daily and offers guided tours, which includes climbing 176 stairs to the top and a trek around the outside balcony. Bring your camera, and wear a windproof jacket—gusts of 156 kmph (97 mph) have been recorded at ground level here.

Order lunch from the café and watch the rock parrots graze on the grass.

These glorious gardens are divided into 25 "garden rooms" that include the Maple Court, the Azalea Steps, and 100-year-old European beech trees. They were first established in the late 1890s as commercial and cut-flower gardens by the Woolrich family. The internationally famous gardens are dotted with artworks by local artists and the Diggers Garden Shop hosts workshops and sells seeds, plants, and books. A central terraced area, with manicured hedges and a sculpture of a huge vase, is stunning, as is the view across the mountain ranges from the garden café. The Seasons café serves breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea daily, with some ingredients coming from its own kitchen garden. A popular dish is the "Chatter Platter," a selection of cheeses, terrine, dips, garlic prawns, and salad (A$30 per person).

Yachts competing in the annual Sydney-to-Hobart race moor at this colorful marina dock from the end of December through the first week of January. Buildings fronting the dock are century-old reminders of Hobart's trading history. Nearby Hunter Street is the original spot where British ships anchored at the time of colonization. There's a multitude of eateries, from fish punts to five star.

Perth's poster beach is as beguiling as it is relaxing, what with its soft cream sand, transparent blue waters, and strip of beachy pubs and restaurants. Naturally, it's very popular, particularly on Sunday, when people of all ages picnic on the grass beneath the row of Norfolk pines that also hosts masses of squawking birds. The water is fairly calm, though punchy waves can roll through, crashing mainly in shallow depths. "Sunday sessions"—afternoon beer drinking in two local pubs at the Ocean Beach Hotel and the swanky Cottesloe Beach Hotel, both of which have good, ocean-facing accommodations—are also held here. South of the Cottesloe groyne is a reasonable reef surf break, but it's often crowded. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; surfing; snorkeling; sunset; walking.

The Cradle Mountain section of the park lies in the north. The southern section of the park, centered on Lake St. Clair, is popular for boating and hiking. Many walking trails lead from the settlement at the southern end of the lake, which is surrounded by mountain peaks and dense forest. Visitors are advised to park their cars in the free lot and then make use of the shuttle bus that runs from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and makes stops at all the trails. 

One of the most famous trails in Australia, the Overland Track traverses 65 km (40 miles) between the park's northern and southern boundaries. The walk usually takes six days, depending on the weather, and on clear days the mountain scenery seems to stretch forever. Hikers are charged A$200 to do the Overland during peak walking season (October to May). 

The expansive gardens contain the largest collection of rhododendrons in the southern hemisphere, with around 15,000 rhododendrons, and thousands more azaleas and camellias; the garden's premier season is spring, when they put on a show of spectacular white, mauve, yellow, and pink blooms. Several miles of walking trails lead to vistas over the Yarra Valley, and the gardens are a short stroll from Olinda village. Otherwise, jump on board the Garden Explorer minibus for a short, guided tour. For a perfect afternoon, combine your visit with tea and scones in the park's garden's café or back down in the village.

As Bunbury's favorite attraction, this not-for-profit conservation-first organization welcomes 80,000 visitors each year. Get up close to wild dolphins at the Dolphin Discovery Centre. Upward of 200 dolphins have been identified in Koombana Bay—swim with them, book an eco-cruise, or stay on the beach and wade into the interaction zone. Enjoy a unique, immersive experience at the discovery center, which enjoyed a A$2 million refurbishment in 2018, with its digital 360-degree dolphinarium, interpretive panels, theater, aquariums, dolphin displays, on-site café, gift shop, and a rooftop bar perfect for cocktails at sunset.

Call first to book the weather-dependent swim and eco-cruises. Dolphin encounters are not guaranteed, but the chances are higher in the warmer months.

Established by French champagne house Moët & Chandon, this vineyard has one of the most spectacular settings in the Yarra Valley; its Chandon tasting bar has enormous floor-to-ceiling windows providing fantastic views over the vineyards and the Yarra Ranges. Apart from sparkling wines, the winery produces Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay. Take a free self-guided tour of the winery's history and production methods from 10:30 to 4:30 daily, or sign up for a wine discovery class on Sunday with a maximum of 12 people (bookings essential) to get a closer look at wine appreciation. The restaurant's three-course gathering-style menu is designed to share, and changes seasonally (A$85 per person).  The French-inspired menu starts with charcuterie and dips, then onto small bites followed by heartier mains including market fish and a lamb rump. A vegetarian option is available. Otherwise, the lounge menu has build-your-own platters of pâtés, olives, dips, and cured fish and meats, A$8 per item. 

On the south side of Perth's Central Business District lies the ever-expanding Elizabeth Quay, a public area brimful with restaurants, cafés, playgrounds, ice-cream parlors, boat excursions, larger-than-life artworks, and the swanky Ritz-Carlton hotel. Although construction is ongoing, EQ is a bustling hub and a great meeting spot. Transperth also has a bus depot, train station, and ferry crossing here making access without a car easy. 

Tip: Feel like a kid again and take a spin on the classic carousel.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is the main reason to visit Strahan. This is the best-known section of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, with its mountain peaks, untouched rain forest, and deep gorges and valleys that wind through the wilderness. In the late 1970s and early 1980s this area was the focus of one of Australia's most bitter conservation battles, when a hydroelectric power scheme was proposed that called for damming the Franklin River and flooding the river valley. Conservationists eventually defeated the proposal, but tensions remained high in the community for years.

About 50 km (31 miles) of the Lyell Highway, which stretches from Hobart to Queenstown, winds through the heart of the park to the west of Derwent Bridge. Making this drive is a great way to appreciate the area's natural beauty; there are several well-signposted walks along the way that let you do some easy exploring. The Franklin River Nature Trail is a 1-km (½-mile) wheelchair-accessible route through the rain forest; the Nelson Falls Nature Trail is a pleasant 20-minute stroll that takes you to the waterfall of the same name. The more challenging Donaghys Hill Wilderness Lookout Walk (40 minutes round-trip) is one you should bring your camera for; it brings you to a beautiful panoramic lookout dominated by the peak called Frenchmans Cap but with wilderness all around..

The park is also accessible by boat from the town of Strahan; cruises from there take you across Macquarie Harbour and into the early reaches of the Gordon River, where you can stop for a short walk in the rain forest. Some cruises include a stop at Sarah Island, once one of the harshest penal settlements in Tasmania, and venture out through the narrow entrance to Macquarie Harbour, known as Hell's Gates, for a glimpse of the tempestuous ocean beyond. Half- and full-day cruises run daily; some include a smorgasbord lunch and other refreshments.

The eclectic, artsy, and always bustling Fremantle Markets have been housed in this huge Victorian building since 1897 and sell everything from WA landscape photographs to incense, freshly roasted coffee, toys, clothing, and fruit and vegetables. You can also get a delicious array of street food, such as Turkish gözleme, German sausages, doughnuts, chocolate cake, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Around 150 stalls attract a colorful mix of locals and tourists. 

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the state, prison day tours illustrate convict life—including (successful) escapes and the art cell, where a superb collection of drawings by prisoner James Walsh decorates his former quarters. The jail was built by convicts in the 1850s and is an important part of the region's history. Choose from a variety of tours, including a goosebump-inducing one by flashlight or a thrilling underground tour for which visitors are provided with hard hats, boots, and headlamps before descending 65 feet into the labyrinthine tunnels. Climbing (and a sense of adventure) is a must!

Highlights of the dramatic scenery here include the mountain-size granite formations known as the Hazards. On the ocean side of the peninsula there are also sheer cliffs that drop into the deep-blue ocean; views from the lighthouse at Cape Tourville are unforgettable. A series of tiny coves, one called Honeymoon Bay, provide a quieter perspective on the Great Oyster Bay side. Wineglass Bay, a perfect crescent of dazzling white sand, is best viewed from the lookout platform, about a 30-minute walk up a gentle hill from the parking lot; if you're feeling energetic, though, the view from the top of Mt. Amos, one of the Hazards, is worth the effort. A round-trip walk from the parking lot to Wineglass Bay takes about 2½ hours, and there are longer hiking options in the park. The park's many trails are well signposted. Daily entry to the park costs A$20 per person and A$40 per vehicle.

Comprising four mountain ranges—Mt. Difficult, Mt. William, Serra, and Victoria—the impressive Grampians National Park spills over 413,000 acres. Its rugged peaks, towering trees, waterfalls, creeks, and plethora of wildlife attract bushwalkers, rock climbers, and nature lovers. Spectacular wildflowers carpet the region in spring, while a number of significant Aboriginal rock art sites make it an ideal place to learn about Victoria's Indigenous history. The township of Halls Creek (population 600) sits within the national park, and with its 10,000 tourist beds it becomes quite a busy place in summer and at Easter. If you're staying in a self-catering accommodation, it's wise to stock up on groceries and wine in the big towns of Ballarat, Ararat, Hamilton, or Horsham, since prices at the Halls Gap general store are inflated. One of the most picturesque drives in the park is the 60-km-stretch (37-mile-stretch) from Halls Gap to Dunkeld.

Some areas in the park can be affected by fire and flood from year to year, so check with Parks Victoria for current road and camping conditions.

To astronauts who've seen it from space, the Great Barrier Reef resembles a vast, snaking wall—like a moat running parallel to Australia's entire northeastern coast. Up close, what looks like a barrier is in fact a labyrinthine complex with millions of points of entry. Mind-boggling in size and scope, encompassing more than 4,000 separate reefs, cays, and islands, the Reef could rightly be called its own subaqeous country.

The Great Barrier Reef is a living animal. However, it's hard to imagine that the reef, which covers an area about half the size of Texas, is so fragile that even human sweat can cause damage. Despite its size, the reef is a finely balanced ecosystem sustaining billions of tiny polyps, which have been building on top of each other for thousands of years. So industrious are these critters that the reef is more than 1640 feet thick in some places. The polyps are also fussy about their living conditions and survive only in clear, salty water around 18°C (64°F) and less than 98 feet deep.

An undersea enthusiast could spend a lifetime exploring this terrain—which ranges from dizzying chasms to sepulchral coral caves, and from lush underwater "gardens" to sandy sun-dappled shallows—without ever mapping all its resident wonders. Not only is the Reef system home to thousands upon thousands of sea-life species, the populations are changing all the time. Here, divers can swim with more than 2,000 species of fish, dolphins, dugongs, sea urchins, and turtles; and marvel at hundreds of species of hard and soft coral.

The Great Barrier Reef begins south of the tropic of Capricorn around Gladstone and ends in the Torres Strait below Papua New Guinea, making it about 2,000 km (1,240 miles) long and 356,000 square km (137,452 square miles) in area.

Running parallel to Murray Street and linked by numerous arcades, the Hay Street Mall is an extensive, mainstream shopping area teeming with intriguing places. The mall is also a brilliant place to people-watch and support local buskers. Make sure you wander through the arcades and malls that connect Hay and Murray Streets, such as the Carillion City and Piccadilly Arcade, which have many more shops. Also, look for the monument dedicated to Percy Button, Perth's original street performer.

The opulent His Majesty's Theatre, which opened on Christmas Eve 1904, is admired for its Federation Free Classical style on the outside and by those who step inside (think red velour). His Maj, as it's locally known, is home to the West Australian Opera company and the West Australian Ballet, and hosts most theatrical productions in Perth; there's also a comedy lounge downstairs called The Maj. 

Tardiness is frowned upon—you will not be permitted inside until a break in the performance.

Of the 22 km (14 miles) of beautiful beaches that Jervis Bay has to offer, Hyams Beach is the most famous. The white sands are apparently the whitest in the world (per Guinness World Records), and while such hype can often lead to disappointment, this beach lives up to expectations. The sands are magnificently white, the waters are crystal clear turquoise, and the combination is paradise found. In the summer months, it can get a little busy here but nothing like the Sydney beaches. In the spring and autumn months, there’s a little more room to breathe. Amenities: showers; toilets; food and drink. Best for: swimming; water sports.

Numerous trails, some of them quite steep, make the Flinders Ranges ideal for bushwalking even though the park has few amenities. Water in this region is scarce, and should be carried at all times. The best time for walking is during the relatively cool months between April and October. This is also the wettest time of year, so you should be prepared for rain. Wildflowers, including the spectacular Stuart's desert pea, can sometimes be found in early spring when male emus look after clutches of cute striped chicks. 
The park's most spectacular (and strenuous) walking trail leads to the summit of 3,840-foot St. Mary's Peak, the highest point on the Pound's rim and South Australia's second-tallest peak. Visitors are asked not to climb all the way up because of its great spiritual significance to Adnyamathanha traditional owners; fortunately the views from nearby Tanderra Saddle are just as spectacular, stretching far over the surrounding landscape towards vast glittering salt pans in the distance. Give yourself a full day to get up and back.

The superb gathering of Aboriginal rock art is one of Kakadu National Park's major highlights. Two main types of artwork can be seen here—the Mimi style, which is the oldest, is believed to be up to 20,000 years old. Aboriginal people believe that Mimi spirits created the red-ochre stick figures to depict hunting scenes and other pictures of life at the time. The more recent artwork, known as X-ray painting, dates back fewer than 9,000 years and depicts freshwater animals—especially fish, turtles, and geese—living in floodplains created after the last ice age.

As the dry season progresses, billabongs (waterholes) become increasingly important to the more than 280 species of birds that inhabit the park. Huge flocks often gather at Yellow Water, South Alligator River, and Magela Creek. Scenic flights over the wetlands and Arnhem Land escarpment provide unforgettable moments in the wet season.

Inside Watarrka National Park, Kings Canyon is one of the most spectacular sights in central Australia. Sprawling in scope, the canyon's sheer cliff walls shelter a world of ferns and woodlands, permanent springs, and rock pools. The main path is the 6-km (4-mile) Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which starts with a short but steep 15-minute climb straight up from the parking lot to the top of the escarpment; the view 886 feet down to the base of the canyon is amazing. Steep stairs mark your arrival into the scenic Garden of Eden—the only way out along the main trail is via another round of intense stair-climbing back up to the top of the canyon wall, so make sure you're carrying plenty of water for the hike. An easier walk, called the Creek Walk, which starts at the parking lot and winds through the base of the canyon, is just as worthwhile. Alternatively, Kings Canyon Resort offers 8-, 15-, and 30-minute helicopter rides so you can view it all from above (from A$95, A$150, and A$285, respectively).

Locals boast that this is one of the few inner-city parks to dwarf New York City's Central Park; it covers 1,000 acres and grants eye-popping views of downtown Perth and its riverfront at sunrise, sunset, and all times in between. Once a gathering place for Aboriginal people, and established as a public space in 1890, it's favored for picnics, parties, and weddings, as well as regular musical and theater presentations, plus the excellent summer Moonlight Cinema (in Synergy Parkland, on the western side). Each September, when spring arrives, the park holds a wildflower festival and the gardens blaze with orchids, kangaroo paw, banksias, and other native wildflowers, making it ideal for a walk in the curated bushland. The steel-and-glass Lotterywest Federation Walkway takes you into the treetops and the 17-acre botanic garden of Australian flora. The Lotterywest Family Area has a shaded playground for youngsters ages one to five, and a café for parents. The Rio Tinto Naturescape is fun for bigger kids who enjoy climbing and exploring in nature. Free 90-minute walking tours depart from Aspects Gift Shop on Fraser Avenue daily.