Australia Guide
Things not to miss
1 Fraser Island (Qld)
• The giant dunes, freshwater lakes and sculpted, coloured sands of the world's largest sand island form the backdrop to exciting 4WD safaris.
2 The Franklin River (Tas)
• White-water rafting is the only way to explore the wild Franklin River, one of the great rivers of Australia.
3 Sailing in the Whitsundays (Qld)
• There's fantastic sailing and diving – and whale watching in season – in the idyllic white-sand Whitsunday Islands.
4 Atherton Tablelands (Qld)
• With its majestic rainforest, crater lakes and abundant wildlife, you could spend days exploring the Atherton Tablelands.
5 The Great Ocean Road (Vic)
• On two wheels or four, the 280-kilometre route along the rugged, surf-battered cliffs bordering the Great Ocean Road is perfect road-trip material, and can also be followed as a rewarding hike.
6 Aboriginal Dance Festival at Laura (Qld)
• This electrifying celebration of Aboriginal culture is held in June in odd-numbered years.
7 Wilpena Pound (SA)
• There are some fantastic hikes amid spectacular scenery at the elevated basin of Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges National Park.
8 Blue Mountains (NSW)
• World Heritage-listed, the Blue Mountains, just west of Sydney, get their name from the blue mist of fragrant eucalyptus oil hanging in the air all year round.
9 Climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge (NSW)
• Scale the bridge for adrenaline thrills and great views – or walk or cycle across it for free.
10 Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park (NT)
• The hike around the canyon's rim takes you past exposed lookouts, domed outcrops and a secluded waterhole that's great for a dip on a hot day.
11 Mutawintji National Park (NSW)
• Red, barren earth laced with ancient galleries of Aboriginal rock art, secluded gorges and quiet waterholes.
12 Bondi Beach (NSW)
• Beach, surf and café culture: Sydney's famous beach has something for everyone.
13 Overland Track in Cradle Mountain– Lake St Clair National Park (Tas)
• The eighty-kilometre Overland Track is Australia's greatest extended bushwalk, spread over five or more mud- and leech-filled days of physical, exhilarating exhaustion.
14 Watching a match at the MCG (Vic)
• Taking in a game of cricket or, even better, Aussie Rules football at the venerable Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a must for sports fans.
15 Tall Timber Country (WA)
• The primeval karri forests of the so-called Tall Timber Country are one of WA's greatest natural sights. Get a bird's-eye view from the Tree Top Walk.
16 Giant termite mounds (NT)
• These impressively huge towers – up to 4m tall – are a regular feature of the Top End.
17 Sydney Opera House (NSW)
• Take in a performance at one of the world's busiest performing-arts centres – interval drinks certainly don't have such spectacular harbour views anywhere else in the world.
18 Kakadu National Park (NT)
• Australia's largest national park is a spectacular World Heritage-listed wilderness with abundant wildlife and some fascinating Aboriginal rock art to explore.
19 Broken Hill (NSW)
• Pay a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air headquarters at NSW's historic Outback mining town and thriving arts centre.
20 Diving at the Great Barrier Reef (Qld)
• Come face to face with stunning coral and shoals of curious fish.
21 Kangaroo Island (SA)
• Unspoilt Kangaroo Island boasts fantastic coastal scenery and a huge variety of wildlife, from seals and sea lions to kangaroos, wallabies and koalas.
22 Hiking through Carnarvon Gorge (Qld)
• With its Aboriginal art sites and magical scenery, a day-hike into the Carnarvon Gorge takes some beating.
23 Uluru (NT)
• Uluru, otherwise known as Ayers Rock, is a sacred site for Aboriginal people, and a magnet for tourists the world over.
24 Manly Ferry (NSW)
• The short ferry trip from Circular Quay to the excellent surfing beaches at Manly takes in picture-postcard views of Sydney Harbour.
25 The Kimberley (WA)
• Regarded as Australia's last frontier, the Kimberley is a sparsely populated, untamed wilderness that contains some stunning landscapes.
26 Karijini National Park (WA)
• The water-carved gorges of the Karijini National Park make a dramatic backdrop for challenging canyoneering adventures.