Fodor's Essential Australia
Whether you want to snap photos of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, snorkel the Great Barrier...
A vast island continent, Australia teems with natural and cultural treasures. Relax on gorgeous beaches along the sprawling coastline, or plunge below the water in Queensland to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Nature enthusiasts revel in exciting adventures in the interior, from trekking around majestic Uluru to spotting wildlife in tropical rain forests. But there's more to life down under than outdoor activities. Cosmopolitan cities like Sydney and Melbourne entice with thriving dining and arts scenes, while world-class vineyards abound.
Fodor's Essential Australia
Whether you want to snap photos of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, snorkel the Great Barrier...
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New South Wales
For many travelers Sydney is New South Wales, and they look to the other, less-populous states for Australia's famous wilderness experiences. However, New South Wales...
Queensland
A fusion of Florida, Las Vegas, and the Caribbean, southern Queensland attracts crowd-lovers and escapists alike. Whether you want to surf or soak in the...
Victoria
Separated from New South Wales by the mighty Murray River and fronted by a beautiful coastline, Victoria boasts terrain as varied as any in Australia...
Sydney
Sydney belongs to the exclusive club of cities that generate excitement. At the end of a marathon flight there's renewed vitality in the cabin as...
Great Barrier Reef
A maze of 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 km (1,616 miles), the Great Barrier Reef is among the world's most spectacular...
Western Australia
Western Australia is a stunningly diverse place, with rugged interior deserts, endless, untrammeled white-sand beaches, a northern tropical wilderness, and a temperate forested south. The...
South Australia
Renowned for its celebrations of the arts, its multiple cultures, and its bountiful harvests from vines, land, and sea, South Australia is both diverse and...
Melbourne
Consistently rated among the "world's most livable cities" in quality-of-life surveys, Melbourne is built on a coastal plain at the top of the giant horseshoe...
Tasmania
Wild and dramatic landscapes, empty white beaches, heavenly food and wine—Tasmania's charms have been overlooked for too long by international travelers. Hikers have always known...
Perth
Buoyed by a history of mineral wealth and foreign investment, Perth has high-rise buildings dotting the skyline, and an influx of immigrants gives the city...
Adelaide
Australians think of Adelaide as a city of churches, but Adelaide has outgrown its reputation as a sleepy country town dotted with cathedrals and spires...
North Coast
The North Coast is one of the most glorious and seductive stretches of terrain in Australia, stretching almost 680 km (422 miles) from Newcastle up...
Brisbane
Founded in 1824 on the banks of the wide, meandering Brisbane River, the former penal colony of Brisbane was for many years regarded as just...
North of Cairns
The Captain Cook Highway runs from Cairns to Mossman, a relatively civilized stretch known mostly for the resort towns of Palm Cove and Port Douglas...
The Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsundays are a group of 74 islands situated within 161 km (100 miles) of each other and around 50 km (31 miles) from Shute...
Red Centre
The light in the Red Centre—named for the deep color of its desert soils—has a purity and vitality that photographs only begin to approach. For...
Hobart
Straddling the Derwent River at the foot of Mt. Wellington's forested slopes, Hobart was founded as a penal settlement in 1803. It's the second-oldest city...
The South West Wine Region
The South West—Western Australia's most popular destination, with 2.4 million visitors annually—should not be missed if you are coming to this state, a fact well...
Cairns
Tourism is the lifeblood of Cairns (pronounced Caans). The city makes a good base for exploring the wild top half of Queensland, and tens of...
Australian Capital Territory
The Australia Capital Territory encompasses the country's capital city, Canberra, along with several excellent parks. Canberra has excellent museums and monuments that speak to Australia's...
Canberra
As the nation's capital, Canberra is sometimes maligned by outsiders, who see the city as lacking the hipness of Melbourne or the glamour of Sydney...
The Blue Mountains
Sydneysiders have been doubly blessed by nature. Not only do they have a magnificent coastline right at their front door, but a 90-minute drive west...
The Gold Coast
Resorts, theme parks, and 300 days of sunshine a year ensure the Gold Coast, the most developed tourist destination and one of the fastest-growing regions...
Darwin
Darwin is Australia's most colorful, and exotic, capital city. Surrounded on three sides by the turquoise waters of the Timor Sea, the streets are lined...
The Kimberley
Perched on the northwestern hump of the loneliest Australian state, only half as far from Indonesia as it is from Sydney, the Kimberley remains a...
Murray River Region
From its birthplace in the folds of the Great Dividing Range in southern New South Wales, the Mighty Murray winds 2,574 km (1,596 miles) northwest...
Fremantle
The port city of Fremantle is a jewel in Western Australia's crown, largely because of its colonial architectural heritage and hippy vibe. Freo (as the...
Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road, which snakes along Victoria's rugged and windswept southwestern coast, is arguably Australia's most spectacular coastal drive. The road, built by returned...
The Gold Country
Victoria was changed forever in the early 1850s by the discovery of gold in the center of the state. News of fantastic gold deposits caused...
Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast is a 60-km (37-mile) stretch of white-sand beaches, inlets, lakes, and mountains that begins at the Glass House Mountains, an hour's drive...
Alice Springs
Once a ramshackle collection of buildings on dusty streets, Alice Springs—known colloquially as "the Alice" or just "Alice"—is today an incongruously suburban tourist center with...
The Barossa Wine Region
Some of Australia's most famous vineyards are in the Barossa, just over an hour's drive northeast of Adelaide. More than 200 wineries across the two...
The Hunter Valley Wine Region
To almost everyone in Sydney, the Hunter Valley conjures up visions of one thing: wine. The Hunter is the largest grape-growing area in the state...
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island, Australia's third largest (after Tasmania and Melville), is barely 16 km (10 miles) from the Australian mainland. Yet the island belongs to another...
Uluru and Kata Tjuta
It's easy to see why the Aborigines attach spiritual significance to Uluru (Ayers Rock). It rises magnificently above the plain and dramatically changes color throughout...
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula circles the southeastern half of Port Phillip Bay. A much larger piece of land than it first appears, the peninsula is lapped...
Fleurieu Peninsula
The Fleurieu has traditionally been seen as Adelaide's backyard. Generations of local families have vacationed in the string of beachside resorts between Victor Harbor and...
Katoomba
The largest and busiest town in the Blue Mountains, Katoomba developed in the early 1840s as a coal-mining settlement, turning its attention to tourism later...
Dunsborough
The attractive and fashionable seaside town of Dunsborough is perfect for a few days of swimming, sunning, and fishing—which is why it's become a popular...
Broome
Broome is the holiday capital of the Kimberley. It's the only town in the region with sandy beaches, and is the base from which most...
Launceston
Nestled in a fertile agricultural basin where the South Esk and North Esk rivers join to form the Tamar, the city of Launceston (pronounced Lon-sess-tun)...
Byron Bay
Byron Bay is the easternmost point on the Australian mainland, and perhaps earns Australia its nickname the "Lucky Country." Fabulous beaches, storms that spin rainbows...
Margaret River
The lovely town of Margaret River is considered the center of the South West's wine region, though vineyards and wineries stretch well beyond its pretty...
Yarra Valley and Healesville
The Yarra Valley spreads eastward from Melbourne's suburban fringe, and is a popular area with both locals and international visitors. Because Melburnians often use the...
Rottnest Island
An easy 30-minute cruise from Fremantle, or about one hour down the Swan River from Perth, sunny, quirky Rottnest Island makes an ideal day trip...
Phillip Island
South of Melbourne and just off the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island has long been a playground for Victorians. Both the coast and the interior are...
Sunshine Coast Hinterland
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland, extending from the Glass House Mountains just northwest of Brisbane to Eumundi and Yandina, west of the northern Sunshine Coast town...
Coober Pedy
Known as much for the way most of its 1,700 inhabitants live—underground in dugouts gouged into the hills to escape the relentless heat—as for its...
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, at 1,014 square km (391 square miles), is the largest of Queensland's islands and the most unusual. Fraser is the world's largest sand...
Kununurra
Kununurra is the eastern gateway to the Kimberley. With a population of around 6,000, it's a modern, planned town developed in the 1960s for the...
Townsville
This coastal city has little in the way of sandy beaches or surf, but it does have shady parks, charming colonial buildings, and a boardwalk-flanked...
Kakadu National Park
This national park is a jewel among the Top End parks, and many visitors come to the region just to experience this tropical wilderness. Beginning...
Bendigo
Gold was discovered in the Bendigo district in 1851, and its boom lasted well into the 1880s. The city's magnificent public buildings bear witness to...
Mackay–Capricorn Islands
Despite its name, this group of islands lying offshore between Bundaberg and Rockhampton is closer to the southern half of Queensland than it is to...
Newcastle
Once known as the Steel City, today Newcastle is one of Australia’s hippest cities. It’s flanked by the Pacific Ocean and six beaches on its...
North Coast Islands
...
The Dandenong Ranges
Melburnians come to the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, also known simply as the Dandenongs, for a breath of fresh air, especially in fall when the deciduous...
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie was founded as a convict settlement in 1821 and is the third-oldest settlement in Australia. Set at the mouth of the Hastings River...
The Clare Valley
Smaller and less well known than the Barossa, the Clare Valley nonetheless holds its own among Australia's wine-producing regions. Its robust reds and delicate whites...
Echuca
The name Echuca comes from a local Aboriginal word meaning "meeting of the waters," a reference to the town's location at the confluence of the...
The Grampians
About 93 km (79 miles) north of Port Fairy are the Grampians, sometimes referred to by their Aboriginal name Gariwerd. This 415,000-acre region combines stunning...
McLaren Vale
The nearest wine region to Adelaide, this area has a distinctly modern, upscale look, even though many of the more than 80 wineries in and...
Lord Howe Island
Fringed by the world’s southernmost coral reef as well as gorgeous, sheltered beaches, dominated by two dramatic peaks, and inhabited by just around 400 permanent...
The Adelaide Hills
With their secluded green slopes and flowery gardens, the Adelaide Hills are a pastoral vision in this desert state. The patchwork quilt of vast orchards...
East-Coast Resorts
From Hobart, the east-coast Tasman Highway travels cross country to Orford, then passes through beautiful coastal scenery with spectacular white-sand beaches, usually completely deserted, before...
Leeuwin–Naturaliste National Park
The 74.5-mile-long coast-hugging Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park faces the cobalt Indian Ocean with honey-hued sands and people-free swimming spots. It's ribboned by the Cape to Cape...
Rutherglen
The surrounding red-loam soil signifies the beginning of the Rutherglen wine district, the source of Australia's finest fortified wines. If the term conjures up visions...
Strahan
This lovely, lazy fishing port, once a major stop for mining companies, has one of the deepest harbors in the world. The brown color that...
The Huon Valley
En route to the vast wilderness of South West National Park is the tranquil Huon Valley. Sheltered coasts and sandy beaches are pocketed with thick...
Coffs Harbour
The area surrounding Coffs Harbour is the state's "banana belt," where long, neat rows of banana palms cover the hillsides. Set at the foot of...
Gold Coast Hinterland
No visit to the Gold Coast would be complete without an excursion to the region's verdant hinterland. The natural grandeur of the area lies in...
Beechworth
One of the prettiest towns in Victoria, Beechworth flourished during the gold rush. When gold ran out, the town of 30,000 was left with all...
Ballarat
In the local Aboriginal language, the name Ballarat means "resting place." In pre-gold-rush days, nearby Lake Wendouree provided the area with a plentiful supply of...
Noosa
Set along the calm waters of Laguna Bay at the northern tip of the Sunshine Coast, Noosa is one of Australia's most stylish resort areas...
Tanunda
The cultural heart of the Barossa, Tanunda is its most German settlement. The four Lutheran churches in the town testify to its heritage, and dozens...
Port Fairy
Port Fairy is widely considered to be the state's prettiest village. The second-oldest town in Victoria, it was originally known as Belfast, and there are...
Cradle Mountain–Lake St. Clair National Park
This expansive, remote park contains some of the most spectacular alpine scenery and mountain trails in Australia. Popular with hikers of all abilities, the park...
West MacDonnell Ranges
The West MacDonnell Ranges—stretching westward from just a few kilometers outside Alice Springs for around 200 km (125 miles)—are a spectacular series of red-rock mountains...
Stanley
Stanley is one of the prettiest villages in Tasmania, and a must for anyone traveling in the northwest. A gathering of historic cottages at the...
Southern Downs
If the Brisbane cityscape has given you a thirst for pastoral rolling hills—and fabulous wine—you're in luck, because some of Queensland's best viticultural regions lie...
Blackheath
Magnificent easterly views over the Grose Valley—which has outstanding hiking trails—delightful gardens, good restaurants, and antiques shops head the list of reasons to visit the...
Magnetic Island
More than half of Magnetic Island's 52 square km (20 square miles) is national parkland, laced with miles of walking trails and rising to 1,640...
Great Keppel Island
Positioned at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef near the Tropic of Capricorn, idyllic Great Keppel Island boasts crystal clear waters, palm-fringed white...
Norfolk Island
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Bellingen
In a river valley a few miles off the Pacific Highway, artsy Bellingen is one of the prettiest towns along the coast. Many of Bellingen's...
Mt. Lofty
There are splendid views of Adelaide from the lookout atop 2,300-foot Mt. Lofty, the coldest location in Adelaide, where snow is not uncommon in winter...
Victor Harbor
As famous for its natural beauty and wildlife as for its resorts, Victor Harbor is South Australia's favorite seaside getaway. In 1802 English and French...
Lorne
Located between sweeping Loutit Bay and the Otway Mountain Range, Lorne is one of the main towns on the Great Ocean Road, with a definite...
Devonport and Nearby
In the middle of the North Coast, Devonport is the Tasmanian port where ferries from Melbourne dock. Visitors often dash off to other parts of...
Alpine National Park
Alpine National Park is popular year-round, attracting campers and hikers in the warm months and skiers in the winter time. The High Country, as the...
Southport and Main Beach
South of Southport, look for the turnoff to the Spit, a natural peninsula that stretches 4 km (2½ miles) north, almost to the tip of...
Penneshaw
This tiny ferry port once had a huge population of penguins—locals would complain about the birds burrowing in their gardens and you'd often see them...
Broadbeach
With clean beaches, great cafés, and trendy nightspots, Broadbeach is one of the most popular areas on the Gold Coast, especially with locals. It's also...
Daylesford and Hepburn Springs
Nestled in the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, Daylesford and its nearby twin, Hepburn Springs, are a spa-lover's paradise. The water table here is...
Sevenhill
Sevenhill is the Clare Valley's geographic center, and the location of the region's first winery, established by Jesuit priests in 1851 to produce altar wine...
Leura
Leura, the prettiest and chicest of the mountain towns, is bordered by bush and lined with excellent cafés, restaurants, and gift shops. From the south...
Kingscote
Kangaroo Island's largest town, Kingscote is a good base for exploring. Reeves Point, at the town's northern end, is where South Australia's colonial history began...
Coomera and Oxenford
The biggest draws of these two northern Gold Coast suburbs are their family-oriented theme parks—Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet 'n' Wild Water World, Paradise...
Queenscliff
In the late 19th century Queenscliff was a favorite weekend destination for well-to-do Melburnians, who traveled by paddle steamer or train to stay at the...
Montville
This charming mountain village, settled in 1887, is known as the creative heart of the Sunshine Coast, as many artists live here. There are panoramic...
Apollo Bay
A small attractive town on a wide curving bay, Apollo Bay is a quieter alternative to busy Great Ocean Road towns like Lorne. There's enough...
Port Campbell National Park
It is possible to visit Port Campbell National Park on an organized day trip from Melbourne, but a better alternative is to stay overnight at...
Lyndoch
This pleasant little town surrounded by vineyards was established in 1840 and is the Barossa's oldest settlement site. It owes the spelling of its name...
Marananga
The tiny hamlet of Marananga inhabits one of the prettiest corners of the Barossa. This area's original name was Gnadenfrei, which means "freed by the...
Caloundra
This unassuming southern seaside town has nine beaches of its own, which include everything from placid wading beaches (King's Beach and Bulcock Beach are best...
Freycinet National Park
The road onto the Freycinet Peninsula ends just past the township of Coles Bay; from that point the Freycinet National Park begins and covers 24,700...
Mount Victoria
The settlement of Mount Victoria is the highest point in the Blue Mountains, and there's a Rip Van Winkle air about it—drowsy and only just...
Maroochydore
Maroochydore, at the mouth of the Maroochy River, has been a popular beach resort town for years, and has its fair share of high-rise towers...
Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula
When Governor George Arthur, lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), was looking for a site to dump his worst convict offenders in 1830, the...
Maleny
The Hinterland village of Maleny is a lively mix of rural life, the arts, wineries, cafés, and cooperative ventures. First settled around 1880, eclectic Maleny...
Clare
The bustling town of Clare is the Clare Valley's commercial center. Unusual for ultra-English South Australia, many of its early settlers were Irish—hence the valley's...
Angaston
Named after George Fife Angas, the Englishman who founded the town and sponsored many of the German and British immigrants who came here, Angaston is...
Peregian and Coolum
At the center of the Sunshine Coast, Coolum makes an ideal base for exploring the countryside. It has one of the finest beaches in the...
Bridgewater
Bridgewater came into existence in 1841 as a refreshment stop for bullock teams fording Cock's Creek. More English than German, with its flowing creek and...
Flinders Chase National Park
Some of Australia's most beautiful coastal scenery is in Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island...
Wentworth Falls
This attractive township is home to the Blue Mountains' most stunning natural waterfalls and bush walking trails. The Falls themselves straddle the highway, but most...
Heron Island
Most resort islands lie well inside the shelter of the distant reef, but Heron Island, some 72 km (45 miles) northeast of the mainland port...
Yandina, Eumundi, and Cooroy
Yandina and Eumundi, just 12 km (7½ miles) apart, are home to some of the most iconic attractions in the area. Don’t miss the Ginger...
Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba stretches along a lovely beach and riverbank, both an easy walk from town. The Esplanade has many casual cafés, upscale restaurants, and fashionable shops...
Seal Bay Conservation Park
There are no seals in Seal Bay, but a visit to Seal Bay is a highlight of most people's time on Kangaroo Island—it's one of...
Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Extending north from Spencer Gulf, the Flinders Ranges mountain chain includes one of Australia's most impressive Outback parks. These dry, folded, and cracked mountains, once...
Richmond
Twenty minutes' drive from Hobart and a century behind the big city, this colonial village in the Coal River valley is a major tourist magnet...
Lady Elliot Island
The closest Great Barrier Reef island to Brisbane, Lady Elliot Island is a highly protected coral cay approximately 85 km (53 miles) northeast of Bundaberg...
Glass House Mountains Area
More than 20 million years old, the Glass House Mountains consist of nine conical outcrops—the eroded remnants of volcanoes—that rise dramatically from a flattish landscape...
Nuriootpa
Long before it was the Barossa's commercial center, Nuriootpa was used as a bartering place by local Aboriginal tribes, hence its name: Nuriootpa means "meeting...
Lady Musgrave Island
This island sits at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, about 40 km (25 miles) north of Lady Elliot Island and...
Goolwa
Beautifully situated near the mouth of the mighty Murray River, which travels some 2,415 km (1,594 miles) from its source in New South Wales, Goolwa...
Katherine Gorge
Officially called Nitmiluk, the Aboriginal or Jawoyn name for the cicadas associated with the creation stories of the area, this stunning canyon formed by the...
The West Coast
The wildest and least explored countryside in Australia lies on Tasmania's west coast. Due to the region's remoteness from the major centers of Hobart and...
Geikie Gorge National Park
Halfway between Purnululu and Broome, Geikie Gorge, an ancient flooded reef, is one of the highlights of a trip through the Kimberley...
South Stradbroke Island
White-sand beaches, diverse flora and fauna, and a peaceful interior draw visitors to South Stradbroke Island, which is just 22 km (12 miles) long and...
Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park
This park covers nearly 3,120 square km (1,200 square miles) in the southeast corner of the Kimberley. Australians of European descent first "discovered" its great...
Sunshine Beach
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The Snowy Mountains
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Thredbo Village
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Perisher
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Jindabyne
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Sydney
Sydney belongs to the exclusive club of cities that generate excitement. At the end of a marathon flight there's renewed vitality in the cabin as...
Melbourne
Consistently rated among the "world's most livable cities" in quality-of-life surveys, Melbourne is built on a coastal plain at the top of the giant horseshoe...
Adelaide
Australians think of Adelaide as a city of churches, but Adelaide has outgrown its reputation as a sleepy country town dotted with cathedrals and spires...
Perth
Buoyed by a history of mineral wealth and foreign investment, Perth has high-rise buildings dotting the skyline, and an influx of immigrants gives the city...
Brisbane
Founded in 1824 on the banks of the wide, meandering Brisbane River, the former penal colony of Brisbane was for many years regarded as just...
Hobart
Straddling the Derwent River at the foot of Mt. Wellington's forested slopes, Hobart was founded as a penal settlement in 1803. It's the second-oldest city...
Cairns
Tourism is the lifeblood of Cairns (pronounced Caans). The city makes a good base for exploring the wild top half of Queensland, and tens of...
Canberra
As the nation's capital, Canberra is sometimes maligned by outsiders, who see the city as lacking the hipness of Melbourne or the glamour of Sydney...
Darwin
Darwin is Australia's most colorful, and exotic, capital city. Surrounded on three sides by the turquoise waters of the Timor Sea, the streets are lined...
Fremantle
The port city of Fremantle is a jewel in Western Australia's crown, largely because of its colonial architectural heritage and hippy vibe. Freo (as the...
Alice Springs
Once a ramshackle collection of buildings on dusty streets, Alice Springs—known colloquially as "the Alice" or just "Alice"—is today an incongruously suburban tourist center with...
Katoomba
The largest and busiest town in the Blue Mountains, Katoomba developed in the early 1840s as a coal-mining settlement, turning its attention to tourism later...
Dunsborough
The attractive and fashionable seaside town of Dunsborough is perfect for a few days of swimming, sunning, and fishing—which is why it's become a popular...
Launceston
Nestled in a fertile agricultural basin where the South Esk and North Esk rivers join to form the Tamar, the city of Launceston (pronounced Lon-sess-tun)...
Broome
Broome is the holiday capital of the Kimberley. It's the only town in the region with sandy beaches, and is the base from which most...
Byron Bay
Byron Bay is the easternmost point on the Australian mainland, and perhaps earns Australia its nickname the "Lucky Country." Fabulous beaches, storms that spin rainbows...
Margaret River
The lovely town of Margaret River is considered the center of the South West's wine region, though vineyards and wineries stretch well beyond its pretty...
Coober Pedy
Known as much for the way most of its 1,700 inhabitants live—underground in dugouts gouged into the hills to escape the relentless heat—as for its...
Kununurra
Kununurra is the eastern gateway to the Kimberley. With a population of around 6,000, it's a modern, planned town developed in the 1960s for the...
Townsville
This coastal city has little in the way of sandy beaches or surf, but it does have shady parks, charming colonial buildings, and a boardwalk-flanked...
Newcastle
Once known as the Steel City, today Newcastle is one of Australia’s hippest cities. It’s flanked by the Pacific Ocean and six beaches on its...
Bendigo
Gold was discovered in the Bendigo district in 1851, and its boom lasted well into the 1880s. The city's magnificent public buildings bear witness to...
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie was founded as a convict settlement in 1821 and is the third-oldest settlement in Australia. Set at the mouth of the Hastings River...
Echuca
The name Echuca comes from a local Aboriginal word meaning "meeting of the waters," a reference to the town's location at the confluence of the...
McLaren Vale
The nearest wine region to Adelaide, this area has a distinctly modern, upscale look, even though many of the more than 80 wineries in and...
Rutherglen
The surrounding red-loam soil signifies the beginning of the Rutherglen wine district, the source of Australia's finest fortified wines. If the term conjures up visions...
Ballarat
In the local Aboriginal language, the name Ballarat means "resting place." In pre-gold-rush days, nearby Lake Wendouree provided the area with a plentiful supply of...
Strahan
This lovely, lazy fishing port, once a major stop for mining companies, has one of the deepest harbors in the world. The brown color that...
Noosa
Set along the calm waters of Laguna Bay at the northern tip of the Sunshine Coast, Noosa is one of Australia's most stylish resort areas...
Beechworth
One of the prettiest towns in Victoria, Beechworth flourished during the gold rush. When gold ran out, the town of 30,000 was left with all...
Port Fairy
Port Fairy is widely considered to be the state's prettiest village. The second-oldest town in Victoria, it was originally known as Belfast, and there are...
Stanley
Stanley is one of the prettiest villages in Tasmania, and a must for anyone traveling in the northwest. A gathering of historic cottages at the...
Tanunda
The cultural heart of the Barossa, Tanunda is its most German settlement. The four Lutheran churches in the town testify to its heritage, and dozens...
Blackheath
Magnificent easterly views over the Grose Valley—which has outstanding hiking trails—delightful gardens, good restaurants, and antiques shops head the list of reasons to visit the...
Busselton
Busselton is the largest city in the Margaret River region and is considered the gateway to the region. The seaside municipality is rapidly increasing in...
Mt. Lofty
There are splendid views of Adelaide from the lookout atop 2,300-foot Mt. Lofty, the coldest location in Adelaide, where snow is not uncommon in winter...
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is the name of both the oceanic bay and the village that surrounds it, and it is the unrivaled white-sand oasis of the...
Victor Harbor
As famous for its natural beauty and wildlife as for its resorts, Victor Harbor is South Australia's favorite seaside getaway. In 1802 English and French...
Bellingen
In a river valley a few miles off the Pacific Highway, artsy Bellingen is one of the prettiest towns along the coast. Many of Bellingen's...
Devonport and Nearby
In the middle of the North Coast, Devonport is the Tasmanian port where ferries from Melbourne dock. Visitors often dash off to other parts of...
Lorne
Located between sweeping Loutit Bay and the Otway Mountain Range, Lorne is one of the main towns on the Great Ocean Road, with a definite...
Broadbeach
With clean beaches, great cafés, and trendy nightspots, Broadbeach is one of the most popular areas on the Gold Coast, especially with locals. It's also...
Leura
Leura, the prettiest and chicest of the mountain towns, is bordered by bush and lined with excellent cafés, restaurants, and gift shops. From the south...
Penneshaw
This tiny ferry port once had a huge population of penguins—locals would complain about the birds burrowing in their gardens and you'd often see them...
Daylesford and Hepburn Springs
Nestled in the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, Daylesford and its nearby twin, Hepburn Springs, are a spa-lover's paradise. The water table here is...
Sevenhill
Sevenhill is the Clare Valley's geographic center, and the location of the region's first winery, established by Jesuit priests in 1851 to produce altar wine...
Coomera and Oxenford
The biggest draws of these two northern Gold Coast suburbs are their family-oriented theme parks—Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet 'n' Wild Water World, Paradise...
Queenscliff
In the late 19th century Queenscliff was a favorite weekend destination for well-to-do Melburnians, who traveled by paddle steamer or train to stay at the...
Kingscote
Kangaroo Island's largest town, Kingscote is a good base for exploring. Reeves Point, at the town's northern end, is where South Australia's colonial history began...
Apollo Bay
A small attractive town on a wide curving bay, Apollo Bay is a quieter alternative to busy Great Ocean Road towns like Lorne. There's enough...
Montville
This charming mountain village, settled in 1887, is known as the creative heart of the Sunshine Coast, as many artists live here. There are panoramic...
Maroochydore
Maroochydore, at the mouth of the Maroochy River, has been a popular beach resort town for years, and has its fair share of high-rise towers...
Mount Victoria
The settlement of Mount Victoria is the highest point in the Blue Mountains, and there's a Rip Van Winkle air about it—drowsy and only just...
Caloundra
This unassuming southern seaside town has nine beaches of its own, which include everything from placid wading beaches (King's Beach and Bulcock Beach are best...
Marananga
The tiny hamlet of Marananga inhabits one of the prettiest corners of the Barossa. This area's original name was Gnadenfrei, which means "freed by the...
Lyndoch
This pleasant little town surrounded by vineyards was established in 1840 and is the Barossa's oldest settlement site. It owes the spelling of its name...
Berry
For the past decade, Sydneysiders have decamped to Berry for a weekend away from the city. There’s something incredibly relaxing about this small country village...
Wentworth Falls
This attractive township is home to the Blue Mountains' most stunning natural waterfalls and bush walking trails. The Falls themselves straddle the highway, but most...
Clare
The bustling town of Clare is the Clare Valley's commercial center. Unusual for ultra-English South Australia, many of its early settlers were Irish—hence the valley's...
Maleny
The Hinterland village of Maleny is a lively mix of rural life, the arts, wineries, cafés, and cooperative ventures. First settled around 1880, eclectic Maleny...
Angaston
Named after George Fife Angas, the Englishman who founded the town and sponsored many of the German and British immigrants who came here, Angaston is...
Peregian and Coolum
At the center of the Sunshine Coast, Coolum makes an ideal base for exploring the countryside. It has one of the finest beaches in the...
Bridgewater
Bridgewater came into existence in 1841 as a refreshment stop for bullock teams fording Cock's Creek. More English than German, with its flowing creek and...
Bunbury
Bunbury used to be just a place to stop en route to Busselton and other towns in the Margaret River region but the coastal city...
Yandina, Eumundi, and Cooroy
Yandina and Eumundi, just 12 km (7½ miles) apart, are home to some of the most iconic attractions in the area. Don’t miss the Ginger...
Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba stretches along a lovely beach and riverbank, both an easy walk from town. The Esplanade has many casual cafés, upscale restaurants, and fashionable shops...
Richmond
Twenty minutes' drive from Hobart and a century behind the big city, this colonial village in the Coal River valley is a major tourist magnet...
Augusta
...
Nuriootpa
Long before it was the Barossa's commercial center, Nuriootpa was used as a bartering place by local Aboriginal tribes, hence its name: Nuriootpa means "meeting...
Nannup
...
Goolwa
Beautifully situated near the mouth of the mighty Murray River, which travels some 2,415 km (1,594 miles) from its source in New South Wales, Goolwa...
Thredbo Village
...
Sunshine Beach
...
Perisher
...
Jindabyne
...
Great Barrier Reef
A maze of 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 km (1,616 miles), the Great Barrier Reef is among the world's most spectacular...
The Outback
Few visitors who explore Australia's remote Red Centre and wild Top End are left unmoved by the stark, expansive beauty of the landscape. The Outback's...
North Coast
The North Coast is one of the most glorious and seductive stretches of terrain in Australia, stretching almost 680 km (422 miles) from Newcastle up...
North of Cairns
The Captain Cook Highway runs from Cairns to Mossman, a relatively civilized stretch known mostly for the resort towns of Palm Cove and Port Douglas...
Red Centre
The light in the Red Centre—named for the deep color of its desert soils—has a purity and vitality that photographs only begin to approach. For...
The South West Wine Region
The South West—Western Australia's most popular destination, with 2.4 million visitors annually—should not be missed if you are coming to this state, a fact well...
The Blue Mountains
Sydneysiders have been doubly blessed by nature. Not only do they have a magnificent coastline right at their front door, but a 90-minute drive west...
The Gold Coast
Resorts, theme parks, and 300 days of sunshine a year ensure the Gold Coast, the most developed tourist destination and one of the fastest-growing regions...
The Kimberley
Perched on the northwestern hump of the loneliest Australian state, only half as far from Indonesia as it is from Sydney, the Kimberley remains a...
Murray River Region
From its birthplace in the folds of the Great Dividing Range in southern New South Wales, the Mighty Murray winds 2,574 km (1,596 miles) northwest...
Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road, which snakes along Victoria's rugged and windswept southwestern coast, is arguably Australia's most spectacular coastal drive. The road, built by returned...
The Gold Country
Victoria was changed forever in the early 1850s by the discovery of gold in the center of the state. News of fantastic gold deposits caused...
Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast is a 60-km (37-mile) stretch of white-sand beaches, inlets, lakes, and mountains that begins at the Glass House Mountains, an hour's drive...
The Barossa Wine Region
Some of Australia's most famous vineyards are in the Barossa, just over an hour's drive northeast of Adelaide. More than 200 wineries across the two...
The Hunter Valley Wine Region
To almost everyone in Sydney, the Hunter Valley conjures up visions of one thing: wine. The Hunter is the largest grape-growing area in the state...
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula circles the southeastern half of Port Phillip Bay. A much larger piece of land than it first appears, the peninsula is lapped...
Fleurieu Peninsula
The Fleurieu has traditionally been seen as Adelaide's backyard. Generations of local families have vacationed in the string of beachside resorts between Victor Harbor and...
Yarra Valley and Healesville
The Yarra Valley spreads eastward from Melbourne's suburban fringe, and is a popular area with both locals and international visitors. Because Melburnians often use the...
Sunshine Coast Hinterland
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland, extending from the Glass House Mountains just northwest of Brisbane to Eumundi and Yandina, west of the northern Sunshine Coast town...
The Dandenong Ranges
Melburnians come to the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, also known simply as the Dandenongs, for a breath of fresh air, especially in fall when the deciduous...
The Clare Valley
Smaller and less well known than the Barossa, the Clare Valley nonetheless holds its own among Australia's wine-producing regions. Its robust reds and delicate whites...
East-Coast Resorts
From Hobart, the east-coast Tasman Highway travels cross country to Orford, then passes through beautiful coastal scenery with spectacular white-sand beaches, usually completely deserted, before...
The Adelaide Hills
With their secluded green slopes and flowery gardens, the Adelaide Hills are a pastoral vision in this desert state. The patchwork quilt of vast orchards...
Coffs Harbour
The area surrounding Coffs Harbour is the state's "banana belt," where long, neat rows of banana palms cover the hillsides. Set at the foot of...
The Huon Valley
En route to the vast wilderness of South West National Park is the tranquil Huon Valley. Sheltered coasts and sandy beaches are pocketed with thick...
Gold Coast Hinterland
No visit to the Gold Coast would be complete without an excursion to the region's verdant hinterland. The natural grandeur of the area lies in...
West MacDonnell Ranges
The West MacDonnell Ranges—stretching westward from just a few kilometers outside Alice Springs for around 200 km (125 miles)—are a spectacular series of red-rock mountains...
Southern Downs
If the Brisbane cityscape has given you a thirst for pastoral rolling hills—and fabulous wine—you're in luck, because some of Queensland's best viticultural regions lie...
Norfolk Island
...
Southport and Main Beach
South of Southport, look for the turnoff to the Spit, a natural peninsula that stretches 4 km (2½ miles) north, almost to the tip of...
Burleigh Heads and Beyond
At the southern end of the Gold Coast, between Broadbeach and the New South Wales border, you'll find a burgeoning strip of funky restaurants, bars...
Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula
When Governor George Arthur, lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), was looking for a site to dump his worst convict offenders in 1830, the...
Glass House Mountains Area
More than 20 million years old, the Glass House Mountains consist of nine conical outcrops—the eroded remnants of volcanoes—that rise dramatically from a flattish landscape...
Katherine Gorge
Officially called Nitmiluk, the Aboriginal or Jawoyn name for the cicadas associated with the creation stories of the area, this stunning canyon formed by the...
The West Coast
The wildest and least explored countryside in Australia lies on Tasmania's west coast. Due to the region's remoteness from the major centers of Hobart and...
The Snowy Mountains
...
Uluru and Kata Tjuta
It's easy to see why the Aborigines attach spiritual significance to Uluru (Ayers Rock). It rises magnificently above the plain and dramatically changes color throughout...
Kakadu National Park
This national park is a jewel among the Top End parks, and many visitors come to the region just to experience this tropical wilderness. Beginning...
The Grampians
About 93 km (79 miles) north of Port Fairy are the Grampians, sometimes referred to by their Aboriginal name Gariwerd. This 415,000-acre region combines stunning...
Leeuwin–Naturaliste National Park
The 74.5-mile-long coast-hugging Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park faces the cobalt Indian Ocean with honey-hued sands and people-free swimming spots. It's ribboned by the Cape to Cape...
Cradle Mountain–Lake St. Clair National Park
This expansive, remote park contains some of the most spectacular alpine scenery and mountain trails in Australia. Popular with hikers of all abilities, the park...
Alpine National Park
Alpine National Park is popular year-round, attracting campers and hikers in the warm months and skiers in the winter time. The High Country, as the...
Port Campbell National Park
It is possible to visit Port Campbell National Park on an organized day trip from Melbourne, but a better alternative is to stay overnight at...
Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon)
Several impressive geological sights lie along the route from Alice Springs to Watarrka National Park along the Stuart and Lasseter highways, with the finale being...
Freycinet National Park
The road onto the Freycinet Peninsula ends just past the township of Coles Bay; from that point the Freycinet National Park begins and covers 24,700...
Flinders Chase National Park
Some of Australia's most beautiful coastal scenery is in Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island...
Seal Bay Conservation Park
There are no seals in Seal Bay, but a visit to Seal Bay is a highlight of most people's time on Kangaroo Island—it's one of...
Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Extending north from Spencer Gulf, the Flinders Ranges mountain chain includes one of Australia's most impressive Outback parks. These dry, folded, and cracked mountains, once...
Geikie Gorge National Park
Halfway between Purnululu and Broome, Geikie Gorge, an ancient flooded reef, is one of the highlights of a trip through the Kimberley...
Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park
This park covers nearly 3,120 square km (1,200 square miles) in the southeast corner of the Kimberley. Australians of European descent first "discovered" its great...
The Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsundays are a group of 74 islands situated within 161 km (100 miles) of each other and around 50 km (31 miles) from Shute...
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island, Australia's third largest (after Tasmania and Melville), is barely 16 km (10 miles) from the Australian mainland. Yet the island belongs to another...
Rottnest Island
An easy 30-minute cruise from Fremantle, or about one hour down the Swan River from Perth, sunny, quirky Rottnest Island makes an ideal day trip...
Phillip Island
South of Melbourne and just off the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island has long been a playground for Victorians. Both the coast and the interior are...
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, at 1,014 square km (391 square miles), is the largest of Queensland's islands and the most unusual. Fraser is the world's largest sand...
Mackay–Capricorn Islands
Despite its name, this group of islands lying offshore between Bundaberg and Rockhampton is closer to the southern half of Queensland than it is to...
North Coast Islands
...
Lord Howe Island
Fringed by the world’s southernmost coral reef as well as gorgeous, sheltered beaches, dominated by two dramatic peaks, and inhabited by just around 400 permanent...
Magnetic Island
More than half of Magnetic Island's 52 square km (20 square miles) is national parkland, laced with miles of walking trails and rising to 1,640...
Great Keppel Island
Positioned at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef near the Tropic of Capricorn, idyllic Great Keppel Island boasts crystal clear waters, palm-fringed white...
Heron Island
Most resort islands lie well inside the shelter of the distant reef, but Heron Island, some 72 km (45 miles) northeast of the mainland port...
Lady Elliot Island
The closest Great Barrier Reef island to Brisbane, Lady Elliot Island is a highly protected coral cay approximately 85 km (53 miles) northeast of Bundaberg...
Lady Musgrave Island
This island sits at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, about 40 km (25 miles) north of Lady Elliot Island and...
South Stradbroke Island
White-sand beaches, diverse flora and fauna, and a peaceful interior draw visitors to South Stradbroke Island, which is just 22 km (12 miles) long and...
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