Australia's Top 10 Tourist Destinations
Australia is a traveller's paradise, carving its spot on every travel lover's bucket list. From its sugar-white sandy beaches with picturesque turquoise waters, lush forests and national parks, multicultural cities, pristine sun-baked islands, and quirkiest of wildlife, Australia will provide you with an unforgettable adventure. With the land down under oozing enchanting beauty everywhere you lay your eyes on, it has proven very hard to narrow down to only 10 tourist attractions. Nonetheless, we have listed below the top 10 tourist destinations you can't miss on your trip to Australia.
Sydney
Yes, it might sound predictable but Sydney truly is an amazing city to visit. This vibrant, ever-evolving city has diverse destinations at its doorsteps and houses two architectural marvels, The Sydney Opera House and The Harbour Bridge. From Sydney, you can also visit the infamous Bondi Beach and Three Sisters within the UNESCO World Heritage Site Blue Mountains National Park.
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Melbourne
Melbourne is probably the second name that comes to your mind when you hear the word "Australia". It is a melting pot of great food, culture, arts, entertainment, and sports. The city has also been named the most liveable city on earth 7 years in a row from 2011 to 2017 and has been in the top 10 till 2022. Melbourne is considered the coolest city in Australia. Additionally, it is a great gateway destination to other popular attractions such as Yarra Valley, Philips Island, Great Ocean Road, and many more.
The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is considered to be one of the most scenic drives in the world. A 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne, you definitely do not want to miss out on this 243 km driveway along the coast. Port Campbell is the most sought-after destination on the GOR as this is where you can see the awe-inspiring rock formations of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and London Bridge. If you want to truly soak up the beauty of the Great Ocean Road, be daring enough to take the 8-day long, 100 km Great Ocean Walk. You will experience and see more than you ever will by driving.
Great Barrier Reef
Australia's most iconic destination, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland is one of the 7 wonders of the natural world and the largest coral reef system on Earth. There is no dearth of activities to do on the reef, starting from snorkelling, scuba diving, scenic helicopter rides, whale watching, cruise ship tours, and swimming with dolphins. Cairns is regarded as the gateway to the reef, but you can also reach the reef through Whitsunday and Bundaberg.
Byron Bay
The balmy sun kissed town on the North Coast of New South Wales is known for its resident hippies, laidback culture, and more recently as the A-List celebrity destination, with the Hemsworth Brothers living there and Zac Efron spending his lockdown days during 2020. Cape Byron Lighthouse is the easternmost point of mainland Australia and offers some of the most breath-taking views of the ocean waters you'll ever come across. Stroll around town trying gelatos, fish and chips and shopping for bohemian-style goodies before soaking in the cool blue waters of Wategos Beach.
Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy is a town that gives off post-apocalyptic vibes, an otherworldly experience. It is a town that lives underground. Located in the South Australian outback, it is referred to as the "opal capital" of the world. Due to the sweltering heat of the sun, the temperature can reach up to 48° Celsius, hence the underground living situation. The homes have cave-like exteriors but once you reach underground, it does feel pretty homely. There is also a church located 55 feet below the earth's surface.
Lake Hillier
Remember that pink lake photo you stumbled across on Instagram and thought was photoshopped? It's real. Lake Hillier is one of the many pink lakes in Australia with Hillier having the most saturated shade of bubble-gum pink. The lake is at the edge of Middle Island, in the Recherche Archipelago in Western Australia. The saline pink waters border the dark blue waters of the Indian Ocean, with a lush green forest separating the two. You can cruise around the lake or take an air ride to marvel at the unmatched beauty of this surreal natural wonder.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island is a World Heritage Site and the largest sand island in the world. The island offers the most unique four-wheel-drive adventures as there are no sealed roads except for pure sand. Even the highway is a 75-mile beach. The island abounds with over 100 freshwater lakes and creeks, spectacular sandstone cliffs, shipwrecks and if you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of baby humpback whales. You should definitely swim at Lake McKenzie, float through Eli's Creek and marvel at the crystal blue waters of Champagne Pools.
Uluru
Uluru is a massive sandstone monolith at the heart of the red centre of the Northern Territory. It is a wonderful way of visiting the majestic desert outback of Australia. This 500-million-year natural wonder is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As the sunlight hits it, you'll observe the colours transform. Uluru is of special spiritual significance to the local Anangu people. From 2019, people are not allowed to climb the rocks, however, admiring it from afar makes up for a humbling experience.
Australia is a magnificent travel destination offering something for every kind of traveller. And if you are planning to travel to the land down under anytime soon, these places could be great starting points to design your itinerary. With so much to see and do, you will not regret it.
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