Australia Guide
Australia is a travel magnet! It exerts a true fascination on its visitors, whether through the quality of life in its metropolises or its breathtaking natural spaces.
Australia , a small continent in itself but also one of the largest countries on Earth, lies between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. A remote but highly developed country, Australia captivates with its unique natural wonders and exotic wildlife.
From its rich culture to its stunning beaches and off-the-beaten-track outback adventures , it’s easy to see why this captivating country is such a well-rounded travel destination.
The sixth-largest country in the world and a continent in its own right, Australia covers nearly 2.97 million square kilometers, which you can explore at your own pace. It’s the perfect destination for a road trip.
Aboriginal culture preserved
Although it represents only about 3% of the population, Australia maintains a strong Aboriginal identity through the preservation of its diverse indigenous peoples. This population includes more than 600 nations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians .
These indigenous peoples have been living across Australia for over 50,000 years and are the earliest settlers before colonization. Today, you can see many of their sacred sites, including the most famous and sacred of all, Uluru .
Also known as Ayers Rock , this monolithic sandstone rock (or mountain) has hosted indigenous ceremonies for over 10,000 years, and the local Anangu community believe their ancestral beings still live there.
The wonders of nature
Some are mystical, others strange, or downright beautiful, but one thing is for sure: Australia is home to rare and captivating natural wonders.
From Queensland’s famous Great Barrier Reef , which represents the only living piece of Earth visible from space, to the spectacular and sacred Uluru , there are countless such amazing sites that deserve to be seen in Australia at least once in a lifetime.
Other beautiful places to visit in Australia include:
- the Pinnacles, the impressive Fraser Island;
- Kakau, with its astonishing tropical biodiversity;
- MacKenzie Falls, the amazing Blue Mountains;
- the sandstone area of the BungleBungle chain.
Description Australia
Area : 7.692 million km²
Population : 25,36 millions (2019)
Capital : Canberra
Main cities : Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide,
Neighboring countries : New Zealand – New Caledonia
Currency : Australian Dollar
Why go to Australia?
Boasting a myriad of natural attractions, abundant wildlife, dazzling beaches, cosmopolitan metropolises, and vast expanses of outback , Australia is a city break and a wilderness adventure all rolled into one. Did you know? Australia is home to some of the most dangerous animal species.
Not only does it suit all tastes, budgets, ages and interests, but it also offers unique experiences.
The beaches
Australia boasts some of the best beaches on the planet. From stunning stretches of pristine white sand to surfer meccas and lively, action-packed shores, there’s absolutely nothing you can’t find in this country , which boasts a coastline stretching nearly 37,000 km and boasting no fewer than 11,011 beaches.
Some of the most beautiful Australian beaches include:
- the dazzling Cable Beach in Broome;
- Hyams Beach, renowned for having the whitest sand in the world ;
- the legendary Kirra Beach, with its superb rolling waves
- the very fashionable Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas;
- Whitehaven Beach near the Great Barrier Reef;
- Sydney’s beautiful Shelly Beach .
Its glittering cities
With a land area larger than Europe and an incredibly low population density, it’s no wonder 85% of Australians live in cities (and along the coast).
Scattered across mountains, wilderness, rivers, and the ocean, Australia’s metropolitan areas offer extraordinary urban experiences. Sydney ‘s vibrant culture and seaside lifestyle captivate. Charming Melbourne boasts a European vibe and unparalleled café culture. There are a plethora of incredible things to do, see, and experience in Australian cities.
Adelaide is a charming coastal city with stunning beaches, pretty parks, and plenty of entertainment options. Quiet and secluded Darwin , in Australia ‘s lush north , has excellent local markets. Laid-back and sophisticated Perth combines beach fun with excellent cuisine and a thriving arts scene.
Places to visit
Australia is such a vast and diverse country, with extraordinary landscapes, as you can see. It’s impossible to see everything in one trip to Australia , but here are at least a few of the amazing places to visit. It’s a great way to experience the best the Land Down Under has to offer.
Les Whitsundays
The Whitsundays are one of Australia ‘s most alluring attractions . They consist of 74 island wonders along Queensland ‘s tropical coast in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. They are internationally renowned for snorkeling and diving, with an astonishing array of marine life.
One of the best ways to discover this magnificent archipelago is to fly over it or take a sailing excursion. You can snorkel or dive all day, sailing from one island to the next. Here, the stretches of sand are truly perfect.
The islands are dotted with secluded beaches, and Whitehaven Beach is consistently ranked among the top 10 beaches in the world, with its white silica sand and striking azure waters.
Tasmania
It’s easy to understand the appeal of Australia ‘s southernmost state . For one thing, 40% of Tasmania is set aside for national parks and World Heritage-listed wilderness areas. Just 20 minutes outside the state’s major cities ( Hobart and Launceston ) is a great place to wander through the bush, cycle a spectacular mountain track, or lounge on the beach.
But Tasmania isn’t just for nature lovers. It’s home to extraordinary cuisine, gin and whisky distilleries, wildlife sanctuaries (where you’ll encounter endangered Tasmanian devils), cool-climate wineries, fabulous festivals, and a world-class art museum, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) , which is currently one of the best in the world.
Exmouth
The sleepy coastal town of Exmouth is adjacent to Cape Range National Park and the 300-kilometer Ningaloo Reef . It is a region of breathtaking beauty and brimming with vitality. Located approximately 1,270 kilometers north of Perth (about a 15-hour drive or two-hour flight to the nearby town of Learmouth), Exmouth is a playground for nature lovers.
With one of the longest fringing reefs on the planet, meaning that in many places the coral reaches right up to the beach, you can swim with whale sharks, spot a black-footed rock wallaby at Yardie Creek , or take a guided walk through the fossil-covered Mandu Mandu Gorge , which has been inhabited by humans for around 30,000 years.
Broken Hill
There are few places in Australia , or even the world, as fascinating, complex, and unexpected as Broken Hill. The site is founded on the richest deposit of lead, zinc, and silver ever discovered. A mining rush in the 1880s made it one of the most prosperous settlements of early Australian settlement.
In recent years, blockbusters have been filmed here, including Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Mad Max 2 , making it a tourist hotspot for a wide range of travelers, from film buffs to drag culture aficionados.
If you’re looking to experience the sun-baked plains of the Australian desert interior, while still keeping a foothold in civilization, there are excellent accommodations in and around the city.
Alice Springs
Located in the heart of Australia , a thousand kilometers from the nearest major city, Alice Springs is one of the most famous towns in the Australian Outback . It is made up of endless desert landscapes and cavernous gorges.
It is also a centre of pioneer history, Aboriginal art and quirky outback events , such as the Henley-on-Todd Regatta , a boat race held annually in the usually dry sandy bed of the Todd River . It epitomises the rustic outback of the Red Centre and is a popular base for the region’s sights and hikes, such as Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta and Ayers Rock .
You can explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta by camel or with a gourmet dune-top dinner, and meet Kangaroo Dundee, aka Chris Barnes. He is known for the hit BBC series Kangaroo Dundee, at his kangaroo sanctuary located a few kilometers outside the city.
How to get to Australia?
The most obvious, and almost only, way to get to Australia is by plane! You’ll be flying over many countries for dozens of hours, but it’s worth it. There are international airports in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne , and Darwin .
How to get around the country?
Getting around by bus
Coach and bus travel in Australia is comfortable, efficient, and reasonably priced. Greyhound , Australia’s national coach company, offers hop-on, hop-off travel passes for most popular routes.
Getting around by car
Australia boasts an extensive network of well-maintained roads and some of the most scenic driving routes in the world. Follow Victoria ‘s Great Ocean Road , which runs along the spectacular southeast coast, or discover Australia’s Red Centre on an epic desert drive. Car rental agencies can be found at major airports and city centers.
Travel by train
Train travel is a convenient, affordable and scenic way to explore Australia . TrainLink operates services between Sydney and regional centres in New South Wales , and along Australia’s east coast to Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra.
Weather and climate in Australia
Australia lies across the Tropic of Capricorn and has a predominantly arid climate, classified as desert or semi-desert, except in the far north.
In the north, the climate is tropical (with a rainy season and a dry season), and on the southern coasts, where it is more temperate , oceanic or Mediterranean .
However, even non-desert areas are subject to sudden increases in temperature, caused by hot, dry winds from the desert, sometimes accompanied by sand.
When is the best time to visit Australia?
September to November and March to May are the best times to visit Australia . Most tourists opt for these months to visit Australia . The weather during these seasons is neither too hot nor too cold, which is perfect for traveling in Australia . Avoid summer holidays and Christmas holidays if you want affordable flights to Australia .
Clothes to take away
Australia is a vast country with four seasons across its eight states. The north follows a tropical pattern with wet and dry seasons. Sydney ‘s winters are cool, but not cold. Darwin is warm year-round with plenty of rain in the summer. Canberra ‘s winters are quite cold.
Stay relaxed and cool with light, loose-fitting clothing. Bring a waterproof jacket for the cooler months. Good footwear will keep your feet comfortable and in good condition.
Be careful, if you go into the Bush , snakes, tarantulas and even deadly snails are legion there, so forget shorts and sandals.
Good to know
- Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world. Tasmania is the perfect place to experience the great outdoors .
- Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. The sandy shores of Fraser Island are a highlight of any trip to Queensland .
- Today, Melbourne remains a world sporting capital and is also home to the largest population of people of Greek descent outside of Greece .
- Safety reminder: heading out on an adventure alone in the Australian desert without any information and wild camping anywhere is strongly discouraged. Once again, you are in the territory of the most dangerous animals on the planet. Likewise, during your water activities, never swim outside of supervised areas and designated flags. Because sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish…
Unusual places
Australia also has some of the world’s most unusual tourist attractions. Here are some unusual places worth a visit.
The Pinnacles
An hour north of Perth lies the Nambung Desert in Western Australia . This desert is home to the Pinnacles , one of the many reasons you should visit Western Australia . Walking across the yellow sand, you’ll quickly spot a kilometer-wide collection of large, strange limestone rock formations, resembling what “life on Mars” would be like.
The land’s Aboriginal owners claim that these rocks represent the large number of people who, in the past, died in the desert’s quicksand. The formations now serve as a warning to locals to avoid this frightening desert! If you’re brave enough, you can hike through the Pinnacles Desert.
Not only do the limestone rocks offer a spectacle that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world, but the shadows cast by these rocks at sunset make for some pretty spectacular photo opportunities.
Pink Lake
A few hours north of Perth on Western Australia ‘s coastal highway , you encounter the strange pink waters of Port Gregory Pink Lake . The lake’s concentration of algae and salt causes the waters to take on a bright pink color.
There is also a Pink Lake in Melbourne that has recently developed. The lake is located under the Western Gate Bridge and is best reached by car or bicycle from downtown Melbourne .
