The Bare Traveller

Top 25 Landmarks in Australia

Australia, a vast place, maybe closer to a continent than to a simple country. Traveling in Australia requires a lot of preparation. The Down Under State is so extended; there is so much to do that it is necessary to decide and choose what to see.

Opera House Sydney

That’s why I wrote this article to help you make up your mind about the best places to visit in Australia.

Best places to visit in Australia: Western Australia

1. Kings Park and Botanical Garden (Perth)

Kings Park and the Botanical Gardens are arguably one of the best places to visit in Australia, thanks to the panoramic views they offer over Perth’s city center.

Kings Park and Botanical Gardens Perth

You can have a panoramic view on this hill, so just sit for a while on a bench and watch the landscape. Additionally, the Botanical Garden will allow you to discover the full extent of the diversity of Australian flora.

You will also have the chance to see statues of Australian figures standing proudly on a perfectly mown lawn. Additionally, you will pass through wooden bridges allowing you to pass over the void and enjoy the view of the Swan River.

2. The Pinnacles

The Pinnacles is one of the best places to visit in Australia and a must-see while staying in Western Australia. The Pinnacles is a collection of strange rocks lit by the sun. Once you’re there, you will feel like you are in space.

The Pinnacles Western Australia

Prepare to see gray kangaroos, cockatoos, and Australian reptiles wandering in front of you. Several theories have been put forward about how this place came to exist, but the result is the same, you will feel like you are in the middle of a sci-fi movie.

Additionally, you will see that the rocks that emerge from the ground look like standing stones, and yet they are natural formations that are 30,000 years old. In short, you can access this surreal place by entering Nambung National Park, 200km north of Perth.

3. Lancelin Sand Dunes for Sand Surfing

If you are looking for an unusual type of surfing, go to Lancelin Sand Dunes for a unique experience! This tourist site is magical and is arguably one of the best places to visit in Australia.

Lancelin Sand Dunes Western Australia

Lancelin Sand Dunes is a vast playground for young and old, made up of white dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see.

In this magical place, you can practice sand surfing but also drive 4 × 4 or motorcycles. So do not hesitate to stop to admire this magnificent landscape.

4. Penguin Island

Penguin Island is one of the best places to visit in Australia and one of the most fun. The island is located in Perth and offers magnificent landscapes, beautiful beaches, and a kind of reserve in the false air of Brittany. However, the highlight of the show is a spot where you can see penguins.

Pinguin Island Western Australia

The entrance fee is $ 25 per person. Thus, it is possible to appreciate the return of pygmy penguins from the sea to their nest.

Blue Pinguin, Pinguin Island Western Australia

If you want to be in the front row, you must come early enough to stand on the beach at the end to see the penguins up close. Additionally, you will pass in the middle of their habitat and their nest on the way back.

Best places to visit in Australia: South Australia

5. Coober Pedy

In the heart of Australia, between Alice Springs and Adelaide, you’ll find Coober Pedy. It is the only city in the middle of red and uninhabited land. Coober Pedy is renowned for being the world capital of Opal, a rare and luminous stone. This city in South Australia is known for its cave dwellings.

Coober Pedy Australia

Coober Pedy is one of the best places to visit in Australia because of these barren, lunar landscapes, which attract many Hollywood producers, who saw in the city’s soul, a place that could illustrate apocalyptic fictions.

Additionally, Coober Pedy houses the Josephine’s Gallery, an art gallery run by an animal enthusiast where you will find a kangaroo orphanage. Thus, you will have the chance to meet and feed these animals every day at certain times and for free.

Best places to visit in Australia: Northern Territory

6. Kata Tjuta

Several kilometers in front of Uluru stands Kata Tjuta, one of Australia’s best places to visit. This territory of northern Australia is one of the two parts of Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park.

Several hiking trails allow you to walk between its formations. Ideally, take the Valley of the Winds Road, a spectacular hike that lasts a few hours.

Kata Tjuta National Park

However, beware this hike is partly closed after 11 am when the temperature exceeds 36 ° C. Additionally, you will see the famous Olga Mountains on the road. You’ll also find great places for photos, including the Kata Tjuta Dune Viewing Lookout platform.

7. Alice Springs

Located in the heart of Australia, Alice Springs is the central city of the Red Center. In Alice Springs, you will have the impression of being in an unusual cultural mix surrounded by Aborigines, Australians, backpackers, and passing tourists.

Alice Springs

Within this territory of northern Australia, you can visit McDonald Ranges, Alice Springs zoo, etc.

Additionally, you can see several art galleries on every street corner. I also invite you to visit Hanzac Hill to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and a superb sunset.

8. Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Uluru is the second part of the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and one of the best places to visit in Australia. Nicknamed Ayers Rocks, you will find several exciting spots to see within this territory of northern Australia.

Start the day with a sunrise view over Uluru, then continue to the Uluru Base Walk, a 10.6 km trail that circles the region’s famous rock. Do not hesitate to approach the rock to look at it in more detail.

Uluru Ayers Rock

Then continue your journey by visiting Kuniya Walk, a 500-meter route leading to the water point at the rock base. The rock of Uluru is very sacred to the locals because it offers both shelters via small caves for the animals and a source of water, an invaluable resource in such an arid environment.

Lastly, nothing better to end this visit than with a short stop at the Uluru Sunset Lookout. However, be aware that there are several viewpoints: one for groups and another right next door for individual travelers.

9. Kings Canyon

Nestled in the heart of the Red Center in the vast expanses of the desert, Kings Canyon is one of the best places to visit in Australia. This isolated place alone embodies all of the mythology that the Aussies shaped around the Outback.

Be prepared to be surrounded by rocks tinged with red under a scorching sun, desolation, and aridity. Kings Canyon also represents the image we have of millennial Australia, that of the Aborigines, as beautiful and wild as in the days of the First Men.

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon is thus an integral part of Watarrka National Park; it is located 300km from Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and 475 km from Alice Springs. Also, note that this National Park has been the ancestral land of the Luritja Aborigines for over 20,000 years.

Don’t miss the chance to visit the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, the best trail to visit Kings Canyon. Although this place is in the middle of the desert, Kings Canyon is home to a rich and varied flora and fauna in the middle of this unfriendly environment.

Best places to visit in Australia: New South Wales

10. Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is one of the best places to visit in Australia, besides being the largest beach in Sydney at some 1,000 meters in length. Very fashionable for surfers, pro or amateurs, charming for swimmers of all kinds and other sunbathing fans.

The fine sand and the rollers for surfing are so popular that Bondi is Sydney’s most famous beach. Moreover, Bondi hosts events throughout the year.

Bondi Beach

It has even been part of Australia’s national heritage since 2008. Additionally, don’t hesitate to take a short hike at Campbell Parade, the main beach street. There you will find several surf shops as well as many cafes and bars. One thing is sure at Bondi Beach is that the atmosphere is very festive.

11. Coogee Beach

Close to Bondy, you will find another of the best places to visit in Australia, Coogee Beach. You can take a long path that leads straight from Bondy to Coogee Beach, and it is full of beautiful scenery to see. During this 6km long walk, I advise you to leave in the morning to make the most of it.

Coogee Beach New South Wales

If you don’t come when the sun rises, it will already be full of surfers, joggers, and sports training of all kinds. I also advise you to take the time to swim on the way, have a coffee, have a picnic or even have lunch in a cafe with a view of the sea.

12. Sydney Harbor Bridge

Sydney Harbor Bridge is the most impressive landmark in Sydney and one of Australia’s best places to visit. It is, in fact, a steel bridge in the heart of the city that rises 134 meters above sea level and overlooks the Opera House.

Sydney Harbour Bridge Australia

You can see Sydney Harbor Bridge from any spot in the town; it is one of a kind. Sydney Harbor Bridge is the widest in the world, and its nickname, “the old coat hanger,” suits it perfectly. It thus allows the passage of trains, cars, and pedestrians between the business district in the south and the north shore of the bay.

Additionally, don’t hesitate to take the ferry during the day or at sunset to appreciate it from the bay.

13. Bradley's Head Park Sydney

The walk at Bradley’s Head Park Sydney is one of the most beautiful in the New South Wales region and one of the most overlooked. Be sure to watch the sunset from any spot between Taronga Zoo and Bradley’s Head Park Sydney. In the middle of the walk in the Park, you will find an ideal place for a picnic or wedding pictures.

New Years eve Fireworks from Bradley's head Sydney

You will also find a concrete pontoon at the bottom that juts out over the water. In short, Bradley’s Head Park Sydney is one of the best places to visit in Australia, and it is ideal for witnessing the New Year’s Eve fireworks. However, be careful at night as the surrounding area is not lit at night.

14. Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is a dream for architecture fans and one of the best places to visit in Australia. The Opera House is impressive, magnificent, and imposing. What’s surprising is that an unknown Danish architect designed the architecture of the Sydney Opera House, and it took 15 years to build.

Opera House Sydney

To visit the Sydney Opera House, you need to be in good physical shape. The visit begins outside the Opera House. Over the entire visit, there will be around 300 steps to climb. The tour then continues inside the Opera House, in the corridors, and then in various rooms.

In short, the Sydney Opera House is an architectural gem with 2,600 seats and the largest mechanical organ in the world with more than 10,000 pipes.

15. Sydney Botanical Gardens

One of New South Wales’s best views is arguably from the Sydney Botanical Gardens. In the evening, the view is impressive and beautiful in the Sydney Botanical Gardens.

You will have the opportunity to see the sunset behind the Opera House from this location. I advise you to arrive early before sunset as tourists quickly take over the place.

Feeding parrots at Sydney botanical gardens

Moreover, you will find plenty of amateur or professional photographers who are waiting for the fateful moment. Additionally, the Sydney Botanical Gardens are also a popular spot for marriage proposals, and it is widespread to see couples with their photographer there.

16. The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is a national park located about an hour from Sydney. This Australian National Park takes its name from the thick Eucalyptus forest found throughout the Park. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 and is home to exceptional flora and fauna (kangaroos, wombat, wallabies, etc.).

Rainbow Blue Mountains Australia

The Blue Mountains are famous for their spectacular scenery. This majestic natural site houses cliffs, eucalyptus forests, and waterfalls. As the essence of these trees evaporates, it creates a blue reflection above the mountains that can be seen when the sun is shining bright.

I urge you to start your visit with Echo Point. It is a large panoramic platform with a clear view of the Blue Mountains and The Three Sisters (the three mythical rocks of the Park).

17. Byron Bay Lighthouse

Byron Bay Lighthouse offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and therefore deserves to be included in the list of the best places to visit in Australia. From Byron Bay Lighthouse, you can spot whales, dolphins, and other marine animals.

Byron Bay Lighthouse Australia

The Byron Bay Lighthouse hike is 5 miles long and starts from Main Beach in Byron Bay, where there are showers. Additionally, to go back down, just take a shortcut around the lighthouse, and go through the forest to be in the shade.

18. Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie was established in 1821 to house repeat offenders from Sydney to hard labor. Today, Port Macquarie has become a seaside resort in the New South Wales region. This beautiful place is full of bars, colorful houses, and koalas.

Speaking of koalas, there are over 500 living in Port Macquarie today, between the beach and the Highway.

Additionally, there is so much to do in Port Macquarie, which is why I included it in the list of the best places to visit in Australia.

Port Macquarie New South Wales

Start your visit by learning about the Koala Hospital, which serves as a refuge for these animals. Next, make your way to the Roto House, a Victorian house built in 1891 by John Flynn. Then, end your tour by discovering the Tacking Point Lighthouse. It is a white lighthouse that overlooks the beautiful bay.

Best places to visit in Australia: Victoria State

19. Flinders Street Station - Melbourne

Flinders Street Station is Melbourne’s central station and one of the best places to visit in Australia. Flinders Street Station is built in Victorian style and is one of the most used to illustrate the city of Melbourne.

The station is an excellent meeting place due to its location close to Federation Square. This place is famous for being an important meeting spot for the Aussies.

Flinders Street Melbourne Australia

Moreover, several concerts and events are organized at the end of the week in this mythical place of Melbourne. Additionally, if you are a fan of street art, you will find several works near Central Station. You may even have the chance to observe an artist in action.

20. The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is a must-see in Victoria State and is one of the best places to visit in Australia. The road offers you breathtaking landscapes spanning more than 500 km.

Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia

Be ready to see the ocean crash into cliffs, surf-filled beaches, deserted plains, and rainforests. Additionally, the Great Ocean Road houses quite authentic seaside villages of Victoria State.

21. St Kilda Pier (Melbourne)

St. Kilda Pier is Melbourne’s beachside, located 6 km from the city center. It is also the favorite district of Frenchies in Melbourne. St. Kilda Pier is particularly famous for being Melbourne’s most famous beach.

Moreover, it stretches over more than 700m with its chill atmosphere and palm trees that line the road.

St Kilda Pier Melbourne

St. Kilda Pier is renowned for being a place for thrill-seekers. Indeed, many activities are available within the beach, such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, beach volleyball, etc.

Additionally, St. Kilda Pier is home to a colony of penguins where 1000 of them have settled at the end of the rocks. Unfortunately, you will only be able to see them at sunrise or sunset, as they are at sea the rest of the time.

Best places to visit in Australia: Queensland State

22. The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is among the best places to visit in Australia. It’s hard to see Queensland State without enjoying the Great Barrier Reef because it is the largest coral reef in the world.

The Great Barrier Reef

To fully appreciate the vastness of the Great Barrier Reef, there is only one possibility. You will need to fly over the coral reef by plane or helicopter. You can also Snorkel after discovering this coral reef from the air.

23. Townsville

Townsville is a great place to explore islands and waterfalls. It is a big city sunny all year round where you can rest while enjoying its dynamic and pleasant atmosphere.

In downtown Townsville, you will find all the amenities you need to enjoy your stay fully. However, the most important place to see is Castle Hill during sunrise or sunset.

Townsville Queensland

It is a high rocky summit in the middle of the city, perfect for gaining height and discovering the city and its surroundings at 360 °. For all these reasons, Townsville deserves to be on the list of the best places to visit in Australia.

Best places to visit in Australia: Tasmania

24. Mount Wellington

Culminating at 1,271 m above sea level, Mount Wellington is one of Australia’s best places to visit. From the top, you will discover a magnificent view of Hobart, the inlets, and the neighboring islands of Tasmania.

But Mount Wellington is also spectacular rock formations in the form of pillars pointing towards the sky. The rock-forming Mount Wellington is dolerite, a magmatic rock close to basalt.

Mount Wellington Tasmania

Additionally, on the western slope of the summit, you will observe sizable volcanic organ pipes resulting from this type of rock. Lastly, don’t forget to visit Wellington Park, which encompasses Mount Wellington.

The Park is a vastly unspoiled region, of which only the part of Mount Wellington is easily accessible.

25. Bruny Island

Last but not least, Bruny Island, a splendid island nestled in Tasmania and one of the best places to visit in Australia. Bruny Island offers many spots that will make your acquaintances jealous.

The lighthouse located in the south of the island provides a breathtaking 360 ° view. In the far south of the island, you will find Cloudy Bay, a beach that will make you feel like you are at the end of the world.

Bruny Island Tasmania Australia

Additionally, Bruny Island is home to many species of animals. So do not hesitate to admire the White Wallabies and the many birds with sometimes improbable colors that inhabit there.

Conclusion

Australia is a world apart, a magical country the size of a continent where the landscapes are diverse. I hope you enjoyed this list of the best places to visit in Australia. Please let me know your favorite place among those listed above or suggest new places to include. I can’t wait to read your comments!

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