9 of the best places to visit in Australia

Australia is a country that has been rated as one of the best places to visit in the world.

With all of its natural delights and attractions, Australia is a country that is well worth exploring. It has something for everyone, no matter what age or interest group they fall into.

Australia’s vast interior, its various cities and regions, and its beaches and islands offer something for everyone.

When it comes to outdoor adventures, you can explore the outback with its immense space and variety of animals or head to the coast and enjoy enchanting secluded beaches or impressive surfing spots.

If you prefer to explore at your own pace, you may opt for a tour of some of Australia’s captivating cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, or Adelaide.

You can witness the vast multiculturalism in these cities, which has led to a thriving food and restaurant scene where you can experience mouthwatering cuisine from all over the world.

Alternatively, if you’re interested in history and culture, you will appreciate Australia’s museums and galleries, where you’ll get a sense of this country’s past and how it has created present-day Australia.

For nature lovers, there are many natural wonders to explore such as Kakadu National Park or the Great Barrier Reef which have been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their exceptional beauty and biological diversity.

There is also Tasmania to discover with its rich wilderness that is home to an array of animals including kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats.

If you’re more into adrenalin activities, Australia is home to the ultimate thrill seeker’s facilities where you can try your hand at skydiving or white water rafting.

Finally, whether it be food, shopping, accommodation, events/festivals, attractions or travel tips that interest you – this article has got something for everyone.

Let’s explore Australia region by region.

Region #1: North Queensland

The most visited region in Australia is North Queensland, especially the city of Cairns which has earned the nickname ‘gateway to the Great Barrier Reef’ and is a popular destination for its beautiful beaches, magnificent sunsets, and countless opportunities for water sports.

Other popular regions include The Kimberley (WA) and Victoria’s Surf Coast (Great Ocean Road), both of which offer vast wilderness areas where travelers can experience outdoor adventures like hiking and camping.

Region #2: New South Wales

New South Wales offers some of Australia’s most varied scenery with its long coastlines surrounding harbors with picturesque villages, as well as highlands rich in history where you can discover townships that date back to colonial times.

It also contains Australia’s capital city, Canberra which is home to the iconic ‘Australian War Memorial’ and world-famous flowers in its many gardens.

The Snowy Mountains region meanwhile offers skiing facilities and the chance to enjoy a holiday based on Australia’s famous snowfields.

Region #3: Tasmania

Tasmania is a great place for nature lovers with its sparsely populated landscape of mountains, forests, and tranquil waterways that are ideal for biking, hiking, camping, or kayaking expeditions.

It also has an increasing number of foodie attractions where visitors can taste local fare including cheese or beer tasting tours as well as visiting local fruit orchards for seasonal produce.

For those looking to connect with the sea, Tasmania has spectacular beaches like Freycinet which contains pink sands, the Bay of Fires with its white sands, and Wineglass Bay where you can enjoy views that stretch all the way to neighboring mountain ranges.

Region #4: Victoria

The best place in Australia for skiing is located in Victoria’s Alpine region which offers a wide range of winter activities including downhill skiing as well as snowboarding and tobogganing facilities.  

Other popular regions here include Yarra Valley that has a number of wineries along with lush green scenery, Gippsland with its magnificent coastline and fishing towns, and the Goldfields-Esperance region which is full of history from Aboriginal settlements through to Christian missions.

Region #5: South Australia

South Australia offers up a mix of modern attractions as well as those that are steeped in history.

It contains the cities of Adelaide which is famous for its wineries and Barossa Valley, Port Lincoln where you can go tuna fishing or whale watching, and Marree with its underground mosque dating back to the 1800s.

For those looking to explore South Australia’s history, there are many heritage-listed buildings including a number of opal mining towns from the 1800s.

Region #6: Western Australia

Western Australia has been coined by some as ‘Australia’s America’ because it is home to Perth – the state’s capital city which sits along the beautiful Swan River and boasts an active nightlife scene among other things.

The top regions here include Perth’s Swan Valley which is full of wineries and restaurants as well as the Coral Coast where you can visit pristine beaches, the historic city of Fremantle, and popular holiday resorts like Broome or Cable Beach.

Region #7: Queensland

Queensland offers a wide range of attractions from its cosmopolitan capital city of Brisbane to the ‘Outback’ with its cattle farms and striking landscapes.

Here you can explore magnificent national parks such as Lamington that contain waterfalls amidst dense rainforest settings.

Other regions worth visiting in Queensland include Fraser Island – home to freshwater lakes surrounded by stunning sand dunes, Magnetic Island with its idyllic beaches, Hamilton Island featuring luxury resorts along with golf courses and water sports, and the Whitsunday Islands with their picturesque beaches and snorkeling/diving facilities.

Region #8: Northern Territory

The best place to visit in northern Australia is located up in Darwin – a city that boasts an array of natural attractions including Kakadu National Park which is home to rock carvings as well as savannah-like landscapes and wetlands full of wildlife.

Other popular regions here include Litchfield National Park with its desert-like scenery, Katherine Gorge which contains freshwater caverns, and Uluru (Ayers Rock) where you can enjoy guided tours among other things.

Considering the number of natural attractions it hosts sparked by its location right smack in the middle of Australia, it is no wonder that most of Australia’s best regions are located here.

It also helps that the country boasts one of the world’s most livable cities in Melbourne which is located along Port Phillip Bay.  

This area contains top tourist attractions including the Royal Botanic Gardens which contain everything from orchids to animal enclosures and sports facilities.

Victorian Arts Centre has museums, theaters, and galleries, Federation Square where you can enjoy guided tours as well as free concerts among other things.

At Queen Victoria Market, you can visit open-air stalls for local produce including wines and cheeses. And Southbank has outdoor cafes and shops amid picturesque city views.  

Region #9: Australian Capital Territory

Another beautiful place to visit in Australia is Canberra which boasts many attractions including Lake Burley Griffin which contains an iconic bridge shaped like a boomerang, Kuring-gai Chase National Park with its rainforest settings, and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve featuring kangaroo sightings.

Other things to do here include visiting the War Memorial and exploring exhibits at the Australian War Museum, shopping at Canberra Outlet Center or Majura Pines Shopping Center, birdwatching along Lake Tuggeranong, and taking scenic drives along Lady Denman Drive.

Wrapping Up

Australia is a vast and diverse country with many attractions to explore. This article has shown you the best places to visit across Australia’s regions including Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, and South Australia.

The beauty of this land down under may be hard to grasp from afar but hopefully, this article has provided some insight.

One thing remains constant: no matter where in the world your travels take you – exploring new cultures will always broaden your horizons as well as enrich your life experiences. We wish all travelers out there a happy journey!…