What are the 5 most important things to see in Australia?
 

We have a limited amount of time and are trying to pick out the points of interest we most want to visit. We will be traveling in October coming from the US. Thanks for helping us.

stpeterb: I think your query is a little too vague: How much limited time do you have? What are your interests?

As you probably know Australia is huge - roughly the size of the lower 48 US states - major attractions are far-flung across a vast island continent. Assuming what you mean by "points of interest" are regions of Australia to visit, I think that is stretching it a bit, again assuming you have 2 weeks or less, which is pretty typical.

The the most common and well traveled path for international travelers with limited time is the "golden triangle" of Sydney, Cairns (Barrier Reef) and Central Australia (Ayers Rock). Sticking to this will get you to Australia most famous and iconic attractions, but in my opinion, the experience will be pretty superficial, even allowing for the short duration of the trip. Unless you make a special effort, your exposure to non-commercialized, non-prepackaged Australia could be limited.

So that's why I always recommend deviations from the well worn path, and even spending some time driving from one region or city to another. Here are some other areas to consider:

The Top End (Darwin, Kakadu, and Litchfield Nat'l Park)

South Australia (Adelaide and surrounding wine districts, the Flinders Ranges, Coober Pedy)

Tasmania, Australia's island state (maybe still a bit cool in Oct)

Southeast Queensland (Lamington Nat' Park, Noosa, Byron Bay, Fraser Island, Heron Island)

The Great Ocean Rd (could be included in a drive from Melbourne to Adelaide)

The Kimberley Region, Western Australia (the Bungle Bungle Ranges, the Gibb River Rd...awesome!!!!)

On re-reading my post I see I left a key word out of a key sentence:

Assuming what you mean by "points of interest" are regions of Australia to visit, I think that FIVE is stretching it a bit, again assuming you have 2 weeks or less, which is pretty typical.

stperteb, you'll see the problem if you turn the question around and imagine trying to advise an Australian planning to visit the USA for a limited time. It's a hard ask without any idea of your interests, available time, budgetary considerations, preparedness to drive yourself, for a start.

Guidebooks tend to be good for this kind of question. In the front of most Lonely Planet books they have "Top Tens".

There's also a series of guidebooks specifically called "Top Ten." I used one for Vienna on a business trip when I didn't have much time to plan. They even listed the top ten cakes/tortes with pictures which was a huge selling point for me!

Everyone will have their own opinions on this, but my top 5 with the time available would be:

1. Sydney and the Blue Mountains
2. Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.
3. Uluru
4. Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road
5. Cradle Mountain and the Wilderness areas of Tasmania.

the territory is one of my favourite places on earth
the colours are incredible
its really different from anywhere else i have been in my travels

id go to cairns although the barrier reef is nowhere near as colourful as the postcards lol

sydney...well you gotta do sydney
try to do the bondi to coogee walk and get a gelato before you set off at the bondi pavilion

see palm beach and see if you can get up to the lighthouse there for a great view of the peninsula...one of the nicest outlooks on this planet i reckon
i like canberra the capital too...low rise and flanked by the brindabella ranges..get up to the telstra tower to have a good look at one of the nicest capitals in the world..the bush capital as it's known
good coffee shops there too! try to find manuka..nice place

i love the south coast of sydney ..anywhere south of kiama ( and thats a pretty place with its awesome blowhole..if its a rainy stormy day head out to watch the sea spray out metres above the rocky platform - people used to jump into it but thats banned now)

byron bay is nice on the north coast..get out to nimbin for a trip back to the 60s and commune living

Thank you for all of your help, I am sorry to be so slow in responding but have had computer problems. I understand how little information I gave you. We will have about two weeks, which I know is a very short time. We are not against going from place to place but like planes and nice hotels not long hikes and camp grounds. If I was asked about the 5 must see things in the US, four would be National Parks, we are not city people. We are great observers, and seasoned travelers, we are not adventurers. Thanks again for your halp.

Just for fun, and in answer to your original question;

Sydney Harbour
Chambers Pillar
Windjana Gorge
Ningaloo Reef
Stanley Nut.

Actually I just finished my trip to Australia and I travelled almost everywhere in this beautiful country. Except Darwin and the Kimberleys up north.

So what are the 5 most important things hey... There is so much to see in Australia it's hard to pick only 5! But if you are into nature and beautiful sceneries I would say

- Fraser Island
- The Whitsunday Islands
- Kakadu National Park
- The Kimberleys
- The Great Ocean Road

If you are into city, nightlife and entertainment:

- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Brisbane
- Surfers Paradise
- Gold Coast
- Byron Bay

You can find good videos and travel tips about Australia on this website:
www.adventure-videos.com

I went there and it's really helpful, you have a lot of videos from Australia.

Have a good travel!

probably should include the wonderful ozzies who give advice here:
for us it was alan; neil cammack; margo_oz; john_j; and mike and pat from cairns
we actually got to meet four of them whilst in australia and lured neil across the pacific!

cheers
AndrewDavid

ps ( also met nancy aka loveitaly now need to connect w/ melodie)

Re Cairns/Great Barrier Reef. Depends on what you are after, but I would recommend Port Douglas over Cairns. Personally find Cairns very touristy, crowded and somewhat tacky.

Also keep in mind that it takes at least an hour by boat to get to any good areas on the reef. Depending on your available time, how about Coral Bay in West Australia where there is a fringing reef and the coral is just a short swim from the beach. Serious snorkling and suba also a bit further out. Not very commercialised though and accommodation ok, but basic.

Hi everyone. I just got back from my trip and feel I have lived three lifetimes in 16 days. I am writing my trip report, but it is taking a long time. I may post just the first part of it tomorrow. But I do feel like I have someting to offer. Stpetereb, I recommend you stay somewhere in Port Douglas and contact Wavelength for a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling tour. This tour was the most extraordinary tour. At the moment, I can only find their phone number 61 7 4099 5031 on their hardcopy receipt, but their name is Wavelength. (I am such a weak uncoordinated swimmer that they ended up taking me gliding through the reef in tandem with a guide).If i leave Fodors to look something up it closes out on me, and I lose what i type. I also recommend Hartley's crocodile farm in Port Douglas. The crocodile shows are fun, and it is a significant wild life park. You can get Down- Under-Tours to pick you up.
In Sydney, I suggest you stay at the Taj Blue. It is the most reasonably priced of the five star hotels, and at $265./night (at least thats what I paid), is only about $50-$70 more than a two star apartment. It is visually unusual and striking, and the rooms are unbelievably comfortable. They have an extra half bath and skylights. It also has a nice swimming pool and jacuzzi on the premises. I stayed at three 5 star hotels in Sydney and loved them all, but the one I would most want to come back to was the Blue. I also recommend a backstage tour of the Sydney opera and the Taranga zoo. And If you can manage tickets to Billy Elliot ... (showbiz.com, I think).
Finally, you may have to choose between Uluru and Tasmania. If you choose Tasmania, do not miss the Port Arthur day Tour and night ghost tour. It is very creepy though, so you may not want to do it. For me it was a major highlight of my trip, almost trumping the great barrer reef. I can't even describe it. There is a tour guide in Hobart (Lets show you tasmania tours) who is very good. In Hobart, The Henry Jones Hotel is expensive, but well worth the price if you have the money. It has an engaging staff that are a cross between Hotel Babylon and Faulty Towers.

Tough question but here's my pick -

1. Kings Canyon
2. Uluru
3. Ningaloo Reef
4. Kakadu
5. Great Barrier Reef

Bungle Bungles
Uluru
Sydney Opera House
Great Barrier Reef

And one day I hope to visit Arnhem Land and Karijini National Park.

Swim with the whale sharks in Exmouth - North West Australi. Never, ever to be forgotten. They are the biggest animals in the world (size of a bus)and (fortunately) they are vegetarian (hence the swimming with...) An absolute once in a lifetime experience

Have you looked into the 3 Sisters? If you are interested in natural beauty, this may be something you'd like to do. Try googling it, you'll get some good information. Also, I found this informative video about the Blue Mountains on Tripfilms:

http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Vide...lia-Video.html

Have a fantastic trip!!

On my last trip to Australia I had an amazing experience of swimming with dolphins up near Brisbane. The day was something I will never forget and my boyfriend and I will do it again when we are back there. I can't remember the exact outfit we did it with, but it was something like: http://www.redballoondays.com.au/experience/DIW561

Stpetereb, our family just did a quick trip in March (2 weeks) and the 5 things I was most pleased that we did were:

1. Sydney (can be explored by foot and several other point of interest are ferry rides away such as aquariums or zoos).

2. Uluru (although I wish we had done kings canyon instead)

3. Great Barrier reef (divers in family)

4. Rain forest tour was an absoulte blast and must do

5. Port Douglas

Next time I go, my list will be:

1. Blue mountains

2. Wine region

3. Darwin

4. Somwhere on the west coast

5. Sydney again

I have no regrets about my trip. Plese feel free to read my trip report. Have a great time!

anita - which company did you use for your rainforest tour? Thanks!

I went with Pete Baxendell's Heritage and Interpretive Tours which is highly recommended in the Frommer's guide book. His website is www.nqhit.com.au and is absolutely marvelous!!! Best part of our trip, hands down.

Anita - thanks for the link. It looks really great, but is expensive.

Cairns is a must and more particular the Great Barrier Reef, it is absolutly amazing. Several years back we had 2 days of sailing and diving on the great barrier reef, it was an unforgettable experince. The link below will give in info on the tour that we did. http://www.godo.com.au/activity/REEF100

"If you want to see Australia
I know some things that you should do
Spend a night on Sydney Harbour
Spend a day at Uluru
Travel deep into the forests
Lie on beaches in the sun
But if you're really into Dada
I know attraction number one.

You should see the Big Banana
See it once before you die
Somewhere right up near Coffs Harbour
And I don't know the reason why
They had to build a Big Banana
It doesn't make much sense to me
But it's a very big banana
And that's a funny thing to see."

(Taken from the song 'Big Banana' by Casey Bennetto