Australia is one of the most beautiful and varied countries in the world. From incredible natural sights to cities full of buzz, vigour, energy and vibrancy, there’s something in Australia for everyone. If you’re making a once in a lifetime trip and want to check out the most important landmarks in the country, read on to find out where you should go.
Sydney Opera House
Making Sydney one of the most famous and distinctive skylines in the world, the Sydney Opera House was opened in 1973 and has since become one of the most common backdrops in tourists’ photographs of Australia. It takes up the whole of Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour and if you’re so inclined you could become one of the 350,000 people who take a tour of it every year – or you could go to see a production there. The resident companies, Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, will always put on an incredible show.
Image source
Purnululu National Park
A World Heritage site in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, it’s mostly formed of the Bungle Bungle range, a landform that’s made of quartz sandstone forming a series of beehive-shaped towers and cones that are marked by differently coloured grey bands, surrounded by savannah grasslands. Although it’s fairly hard to access, the National Park is known for its extraordinary natural beauty and soaring cliffs. You could even try Purnululu National Park camping, or stay at a wilderness lodge.
Image Source: Flickr
The Great Barrier Reef
One of the world’s best destinations for scuba divers, the Great Barrier Reef spans more than 13000 miles in length and is the second longest barrier reef in the world. It’s located off the coast of Queensland and has incredible marine life diversity coupled with one of the most interesting ecosystems in the world which is home to around 1625 species of fish and more unique species of animals and plants than anywhere else in the world.
Uluru/Ayers Rock
Uluru/Ayers Rock is one of the most famous and impressive sights in Australia, located 208 miles south west of Alice Springs, the nearest large town. It’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is sacred to the Aboriginal people of the area, surrounded by springs, waterholes and ancient cave paintings. Stay the night in the nearby town of Yulara before checking out majesty of the rock during sunrise and sunset.
The Whitsunday Islands
A popular destination for people visiting the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday islands are surrounded by still waters that are perfect for sailing in, along with gorgeous white sand beaches and quiet bays for sunbathing. Whitehaven Beach is particularly popular among tourists for its incredible natural beauty. If you love nature and you want to spend part of your Australian vacation hiking and enjoying the water and the sun, there’s nowhere better than the Whitsunday Islands. You can camp out if you wish to, but many of the islands also have large tourist resorts with a range of accommodation and activities to enjoy.
