Map view
South Bank Parklands, Brisbane
Best time to visit: March-May
- South Bank Parklands is a recreational area located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River in Brisbane
- Established on the site of the World Expo 88, it is a major attraction known for its lush landscapes
- A notable attraction in the park includes Streets Beach, a man-made swimming area
Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk, Cape Byron State Conservation Area
Walk difficulty: moderate
- Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk is a hiking trail near Byron Bay
- The walk is the easternmost point of land on the Australian Continent, through the Cape Byron State Conservation Area
- The hike is along a rocky shore and leads to the Cape Byron Lightstation, an active lighthouse and tourist attraction
Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park
- Lucky bay is a bay located in the Cape Le Grand National Park, southeast of Esperance
- In 2023, Lucky Bay was voted as the best beach in the world in a study based on the votes of over 750 travel professionals
- The beach is ideal for swimming, snorkelling, fishing, surfing, launching small boats and also for camping and whale watching
Lake Hillier, Goldfields–Esperance
- Lake Hillier is a saline lake located on Middle Island, which is the largest island in the Recherche Archipelago
- The lake is renowned for its bubblegum pink color, which is attributed to the presence of certain algae and bacteria in the water, although the exact cause remains somewhat unclear
- The lake is bordered by eucalyptus and paperbark trees, creating a contrast with the blue waters of the Southern Ocean
- Due to its location on an island, access to Lake Hillier typically involves boat tours or scenic flights
Wave Rock, Hyden
- Wave Rock is a natural rock formation that is shaped like a tall breaking ocean wave
- It is about 15 m (50 ft) high and forms the north side of a solitary hill, which is known as "Hyden Rock"
- Wave Rock and Hyden Rock are part of a 160 ha (395-acre) nature reserve, Hyden Wildlife Park
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne is a significant botanical institution that plays a crucial role in plant conservation and research
- Established in 1846, it features a diverse collection of more than 10,000 plant species from around the world, including many rare and threatened species
- The gardens include unique features like the Arid Garden, which showcases over 3,000 cacti and succulents, and programs such as the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, which educates visitors about Indigenous plants and culture
City Circle Tram, Melbourne
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The City Circle is a zero-fare tram running around the Melbourne central business district
- Running along the city centre's outermost thoroughfares the route passes many Melbourne attractions including Parliament House, the Old Treasury Building and the developing Docklands waterfront precinct
The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park
- The Pinnacles are weathered limestone formations within Nambung National Park
- The Pinnacles remained unknown to most Australians until 1967 when the area was gazetted as a reserve
- The raw material for the limestone of the Pinnacles came from seashells in an earlier era that was rich in marine life
- No lodging or camping areas are available within Nambung National Park but accommodations can be found in Cervantes
Uluru, Northern Territory
- Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone monolith
- It crops out near the centre of Australia in the southern part of the Northern Territory
- Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area, known as the Aṉangu
- It is also one of the most important indigenous sites in Australia
- The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings
Kings Park, Perth
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- Kings Park is a park located in Perth, renowned for its views overlooking the Swan River and the central business district
- The park is one of the largest inner-city parks globally, and features a variety of attractions, including botanic gardens, walking trails, and picnic areas
- It is home to a rich diversity of native flora and fauna, including trees that can live for over 2000 years
Griffiths Island, Port Fairy
- Griffiths Island lies next to, and within the bounds of, the town of Port Fairy
- It is an important site in the context of the history of European settlement of western Victoria
- Griffiths Island holds a breeding colony of the short-tailed shearwater or Australian muttonbird
- The shearwater colony is a tourist attraction in spring and summer, with a viewing platform constructed to facilitate watching the birds as they return in a swarm to their burrows at dusk
Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park
Walk difficulty: moderate
- The Bungle Bungle Range is a major landform and the main feature of the Purnululu National Park
- The distinctive beehive-shaped towers are made up of sandstones and rocks composed mainly of pebbles and boulders and cemented together by finer material
- The combined effects of wind from the Tanami Desert and rainfall over millions of years shaped the domes
Sydney Harbour
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Also known as Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour is the location of the first European settlement and colony on the Australian mainland
- Many recreational events are based on or around the harbour itself, particularly Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations
- Sydney Harbour National Park protects a number of islands and foreshore areas, swimming spots, bushwalking tracks and picnic areas
Manly Beach, Sydney
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Manly Beach is a beach situated in the suburb of Manly, part of the Northern Beaches region of Sydney
- It is famous for hosting the world's first surfing contest in 1964, marking it as a significant location in surfing history
- One of the most enjoyable ways to reach Manly Beach is by taking a ferry across Sydney Harbour, which provides views of the city
- Manly Beach is popular for surfing, sunbathing, and beach sports. It also offers scenic walking paths, such as the Manly to Spit Bridge Walk
Sydney Opera House
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts center, located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour
- It is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture
- The building also houses a recording studio, retail shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars
- Guided tours are available, including a frequent tour of the front-of-house spaces, and a daily backstage tour that takes visitors backstage to see areas normally reserved for performers and crew members
Sydney Ferries
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Sydney Ferries is a public transport service that operates ferry routes across Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River
- The ferries connect various points in Sydney, including popular destinations like Circular Quay, Manly, and Darling Harbour
- Beyond public transportation, the ferries also offer views of Sydney's landmarks, such as the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, making them a popular choice for sightseeing
Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is a botanical garden located in Sydney, established in 1816
- The garden is home to around 5,000 species of plants, with a strong emphasis on native Australian species
- It is recognized as the oldest botanic garden in Australia
Twelve Apostles Marine National Park, Victoria
- The Twelve Apostles are a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria
- The marine park is named after the scenic Twelve Apostles rock stacks, and contains the wreck of the clipper Loch Ard, wrecked on Mutton Bird Island in 1878
- Though the view never included twelve stacks, additional stacks—not considered part of the Apostles group—are located to the west within the national park
- Eight of the original nine stacks remain standing at the Twelve Apostles' viewpoint, after one collapsed in 2005
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island
- Whitehaven Beach is a renowned beach located on Whitsunday Island, which is part of the Whitsunday Islands group in Queensland
- It is often listed among the world's best beaches and is part of the Whitsunday Islands National Park
- Visitors can enjoy various activities, including swimming, sunbathing, and exploring the nearby Hill Inlet Lookout, which offers views of the beach and surrounding waters
- Whitehaven Beach can be accessed by boat, seaplane, or helicopter from nearby locations like Airlie Beach