Arriving in Australia, you may only know a little bit of jargon, like “g’day Mate” or “throw a shrimp on the barbie (Paul Hogan),” or perhaps you came to see the Sydney Opera House and a Kangaroo or maybe the Idyllic Gold Coast.
Australian Cities Exposed
There is so much to uncover in the many charming cities of this continent, each with its distinctive charm.
Some people prefer the “outback” experience, scouting for dingos and roos over bumpy terrain, while others prefer a soaking wet and wild journey under the sea, scuba diving down to the Great Barrier Reef. No matter what your idea of Australia entails, you can anticipate one of the most enjoyable trips imaginable!
Queensland is a territory in the Southeast corner of Australia that encompasses cities such as Brisbane, Cairns, Port Douglas, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, the lower Great Barrier Reef and some outback regions such as Roma and Charleville. The 70 kilometre stretch of Gold Coast City is sometimes called “the theme park capital of Australia,” with Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World, WhiteWater World and the Wet N’ Wild Water Park.
Additionally, you can hang at Surfers Paradise, visit the behemoth Q1 tower, shop the Bohemian Markets, visit Australian wineries and eat delicious fresh seafood.
Australia’s Far North Tropical City of Cairns
In the friendly city of Cairns the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, you can snorkel, relax on the beach, shop, hike through lush tropical rainforests. See national parks of Green and Fitzroy Islands, ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or Kuranda Scenic Railway, experience flora and fauna at the Flecker Botanic Gardens, or take a stroll along the Esplanade, which is bordered by cafes and the Coral Sea.
Romantic Port Douglas
Located right on the Coral Sea in tropical Far North Queensland, with majestic views of the Great Barrier Reef, shop at Macrossan Street or the Sunday Markets in Anzac Park, visit the sugar cane farms of Mossman, or hike through the Daintree Rainforest, where impressive flora and fauna prosper.
Brisbane the Capital of Queensland
Here, you’ll want to catch some local music, since Brisbane was hailed by Billboard as one of the “Top 5 International Music Hotspots” in 2007, it’s only got better since then. If art and culture are your cup o’ tea, then you can also visit The Queensland Museum, The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), The Queensland Performing Arts Complex, The Brisbane Powerhouse, the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts and the war memorials in Anzac Square.
Sydney
Sydney is one of the most popular cities in the New South Wales region of Australia. Famous for its recognisable Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, Sydney attracts more than 7.8 million domestic visitors and 2.5 million international visitors each year. In Sydney, you can shop opulent boutiques like Versace, Gucci and Chanel along Castlereagh Street, Oxford Street or Crown Street; or you can find alternative artsy items on Newtown Street and Enmore Street. Big malls and shopping centres make Sydney a consumer epicentre.
Additionally, Sydney is a “must” for art-lovers! Some of the biggest attractions are the Australian Museum (natural history and anthropology), the Powerhouse Museum (science, technology and design), the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Australian National Maritime Museum. Depending on the time of year you visit Australia, you may be lucky enough to catch “The Big Day Out” rock festival, the Sydney Film Festival, Australian Idol or the Australian Fashion Week celebrations.
Adelaide the Cosmopolitan City
Adelaide is a highly esteemed cosmopolitan coastal city in South Australia, known for its history of British Lutheran colonisation.
Adelaide has miles of green space, Rundle Street restaurants, Hindley Street nightlife, the Festival of Arts and the Fringe Festival, Barossa Valley Australian wine, the South Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Central Market, and the Tandanya Aboriginal Cultural Institute. This epicentre of culture can entertain and amuse for days or even weeks of your trip to Australia.
Majestic Melbourne
Melbourne Australia, on the southeastern coast, is the second largest city and was settled by the British; rather than by convicts. When gold was discovered in Australia during the 1800s, a flood of immigrants came from Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean regions, which contributes to the current diversity of shops, restaurants and architecture.
Australian rules football, the Australian Tennis Open and the Melbourne Cup, which are all located here. You can also see some architectural wonders in Queen Victoria Market or walk through some national parks with striking scenery.
In the West we have Perth
Lastly, Perth, in Western Australia, offers visitors easy navigation around the high rises via motorised trams and courtesy buses. Situated in the city centre is Kings Park, which is 400 hectares of the natural Australian bush, providing you with a glimpse of Australia’s aboriginal past. Fantastic beaches and nightlife characterise this city that thrives by day and night.
Some of the hippest art hotspots can be found in the Northbridge Neighborhood. To see all that West Australia has to offer, Perth is a great meeting point where you can travel to wineries, the ocean and port cities within 30 minutes.
The attractions in Australia may vary, but you can find great restaurants and shops in every metropolitan city. For a more off-the-beaten-path experience, Australians recommend a visit to the outback.
Tourist attractions include national parks like Mount Augustus and Kakadu, as well as Alice Springs, Birdsville, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Coober Pedy, Devils Marbles, Katherine River Gorge, Kings Canyon (Watarrka), The Olgas (Kata Tjuta), the MacDonnell Ranges, Mount Isa, Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Monkey Mia and the town of Broome.
In the outback, geological wonders are everywhere and roaming kangaroos, camels and dingos can sometimes be spotted, which is sure to make your trip one-of-a-kind.
It’s Truly A Surfers Paradise
Surfers all over the world know Manly Beach or even Bondi Beach, Australia. Manly beach is a southeast beach environment situated just seven miles from the business district along a particularly wild portion of the ocean. The busy Manly beachside village is home to a host of contemporary restaurants, chic boutiques and delightful cafes, which can be found along a strip known as “The Corso.”
Active tourists can check out the Manly Art Gallery and Museum, the Oceanworld aquarium, and the immigrant Quarantine Station, which has excellent ghost tours, by the way! Snag a drink at Manly Wharf bar, ride a wave at the beach, cruise the harbour to Sydney on the Manly Ferry, or time your vacation for the International Jazz Festival for some added fun. You’ll see that no matter what you do in Australia, there indeed are “no worries, mate!”
Tweed Heads
Tweed Heads is where we are based and spend most of our time. Coolangatta airport is not far away along with the fantastic views of the hinterland and the best beaches in New South Wales such as Greenmount, Byron Bay and Fingal only minutes away in the car.
