Australia is the world’s sixth largest country after Russia, Canada, China, USA and Brazil. The magnificent Outback, a mixture of cultures, outdoor activities and beautiful sights are just a few of the things that attract people to this fantastic destination.
Because of its size, it is difficult to see everything in one visit, which is why many people go there backpacking and touring for trips lasting months rather than weeks. You can get around and see some of the main points of interest in one visit by booking internal flights and hiring a car to explore smaller areas of the country at a time.
Australia Tourist Board: The official website for the Australia National Tourist Office – a useful resource for planning your trip to Australia.
Know Before You Go: Travel advice for Australia from the FCO.
Things to see and do
- Go to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in Sydney.
- Go on a sight seeing cruise around Sydney Harbour.
- Snorkeling or scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef.
- Skydive over the Gold Coast.
- Visit Uluru (Ayers Rock).
- Take surfing lessons at one of Australia's many beaches. Drive the Great Ocean Road and see the Twelve Apostles rock formations.
- Visit a Koala rescue sanctuary.
- See some Aboriginal artwork at an art gallery and learn about the Aboriginal culture.
- Feed wild dolphins at Monkey Mia on the west coast.
- Visit the forest of Karri trees in the south-west near Perth.
- Hire a four-wheel drive and visit Fraser Island off the east coast. The entire island is sand with no roads.
- Visit one of the national parks in the Northern Territory, such as Kakadu National Park, famous for its waterfalls and aboriginal cave paintings.
Festivals and events
- Adelaide Festival of Arts is host to a selection of opera, theatre, dance and contemporary music. (February – March)
- The famous Annual Yacht Race from Sydney to Hobart is 628 nautical miles long. (December)
- Visit the Wintermoon Festival, a four-day music event held over a long weekend. (April – May)
- The Boulia Camel Races are an important event in the camel racing circuit in Australia. (July)
- Anzac Day is a national day of Remembrance in both Australia and New Zealand. (25th April)
- The Margaret River Wine Festival offers a fantastic combination of food, wine and music. (May)
- The 22 day long Brisbane International Arts Festival showcases events across theatres in Brisbane. (September)
- See a huge variety of boats at the Sydney International Boat Show. (July-August)
- Known as Ekka or the Royal Queensland Show and held in Brisbane, this is Queensland’s annual agricultural show. (August)
Time difference
Depending on the time of year and the Australian state that you are visiting, the time difference can be between GMT+9 and GMT+11.
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