Australia is a land of dreams. From the sacred legends of the
aboriginal Dreamtime when the great spirits conjured the coral reefs,
rainforests, and scorched, red deserts, to armchair travelers who
describe Australia as their dream destination, the Land Down Under
deserves all the hype. The world's smallest continent and largest
island, Australia is almost the same size as the United States, but with a population the size of New York State and some of the quirkiest wildlife on the planet.
Australia is also a land of staggering contrast and spectacular beauty. Along the coast, visitors can explore vibrant multicultural cities, safari across vast sand islands, trek through ancient rainforests, and dive the Great Barrier Reef. In the Outback, rugged national parks and red-earthed deserts offer the ultimate in adventure travel. Top it all off with a laidback feel and friendly people and it's no wonder Australia scores top billing on bucket lists around the world.
Australia is also a land of staggering contrast and spectacular beauty. Along the coast, visitors can explore vibrant multicultural cities, safari across vast sand islands, trek through ancient rainforests, and dive the Great Barrier Reef. In the Outback, rugged national parks and red-earthed deserts offer the ultimate in adventure travel. Top it all off with a laidback feel and friendly people and it's no wonder Australia scores top billing on bucket lists around the world.
1 Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
Mention "Sydney, Australia" and most people think of the Opera House.
Shaped like huge shells or billowing sails, this breathtaking building
on Sydney's Bennelong Point graces the list of UNESCO World Heritage
Sites and is one of the world's great architectural icons. The location
is stunning. Water surrounds the structure on three sides and the Royal Botanic Gardens
border it to the south. Danish architect, Jørn Utzon won an
international competition for its design, but withdrew from the project
after technical and financing problems. Construction was finally
completed in 1973 at a cost ten times the original budget. By this time
Utzon had left the country never returning to see his magnificent
creation.
Today visitors can enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants or take a
tour of the building, which encompasses theatres, studios, a concert
hall, exhibition rooms, and a cinema. But it's far more impressive
viewed from a distance. One of the best sites to photograph the Opera
House is Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens or from aboard a harbor cruise.
2 Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
Visible from outer space, the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier
Reef is one of the largest living structures on the planet. In 1975 the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was
established to protect its fragile ecosystems, which include more than
3,000 coral reefs; 600 continental islands, including the beautiful Whitsunday
group; 300 coral cays; and inshore mangrove islands. One of the seven
wonders of the natural world, the park stretches for 2,300 km along the
state of Queensland, on Australia's east coast (that's about the
distance between Mexico and Vancouver).
Diving and snorkeling are spectacular. The astounding array of marine
life includes soft and hard corals, more than 1,600 species of tropical
fish, sharks, dugongs, dolphins, turtles, rays, and giant clams. Those
who prefer to stay dry can view the reef from underwater viewing
stations and glass bottom boats. On the mainland, Cairns, Port Douglas,
and Airlie Beach are the main launching points for tours.
3 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
4 Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Along with the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of
Australia's most famous icons. Affectionately called "the Coathanger",
this impressive feat of construction is the largest steel arch bridge in
the world. It was completed in 1932, 40 years before the Sydney Opera
House. Rising 134 m above the harbor, the bridge spans 500 m connecting
Sydney's north shore to the central business district. In addition to
the pedestrian path, two railway lines extend over the bridge as well as
eight lanes for road traffic, the direction of which can be switched to
accommodate traffic flow.
One of the top things to do in Sydney is a guided ascent to the top of the bridge where visitors can enjoy spectacular views over the harbor and city. For an overview on the bridge's history and construction visit the museum in the southeastern pier. Interestingly, Paul Hogan, of Crocodile Dundee fame, worked as a painter on the bridge before rocketing to international stardom.
One of the top things to do in Sydney is a guided ascent to the top of the bridge where visitors can enjoy spectacular views over the harbor and city. For an overview on the bridge's history and construction visit the museum in the southeastern pier. Interestingly, Paul Hogan, of Crocodile Dundee fame, worked as a painter on the bridge before rocketing to international stardom.
5 Blue Mountains National Park
Blue Mountains National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, beautiful Blue Mountains National Park
lies 81 km west of Sydney and is a popular day trip from the city. Named
for the blue haze emanating from the many eucalyptus trees, this
stunning park protects more than 664,000 acres of bush land and
encompasses dramatic gorges, waterfalls, aboriginal rock paintings, and
140 km of hiking trails. The most famous attractions in the park are the
towering sandstone rock formations called the Three Sisters. Other highlights include the Katoomba Scenic Railway,
the world's steepest, which whisks passengers down the Jamison Valley
through a cliff side tunnel into an ancient rainforest. Hiking,
abseiling, rock climbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding are all
popular things to do in the park
6 Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, is a popular stop on many
Australia itineraries. Galleries, theaters, restaurants, shops, and a
distinctly European feel are the main draws of this sophisticated city
on the Yarra River. It's also a green city with parks, gardens, and open
spaces occupying almost a third of its total area. Highlights of the
city include the Royal Botanic Gardens, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground
where sports fans can watch cricket in the summer and Australian Rules
football in the winter. Shoppers flock to the elegant Royal Arcade on
Bourke Street, as well as Chapel Street, the Melbourne Central Shopping
Center, and the Queen Victoria Market, which has been selling fruits,
vegetables, clothes, and crafts for more than a century. To the east,
greater Melbourne extends into the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, and in
the south to the Mornington Peninsula where many locals escape for
seaside getaways.
Bondi Beach
Bronzed bodies, blond sand, backpackers, and surf - throw it all
together and you get one of the world's most famous beaches. Only 15
minutes by car from the city center, Bondi Beach is home to one of the
oldest surf life-saving clubs in the world. It's also a great spot for a
seaside stroll or picnic. The scenic Bondi to Bronte coastal
walk begins at the southern end of the beach and follows the coastline
for 6 km along sandstone cliffs. Shops, cafes, and restaurants lie
across the street from this famous coastal strip, and the beach is a
hotspot on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Tourists and locals alike
visit the Sunday markets and frolic at the ocean pool and skate park.
Strong rip tides often sweep unsuspecting swimmers out to sea,
especially at the southern end of this kilometer-long strand, so
swimmers should stay between the flags. There's a reason the Aussies
made a reality TV show called "Bondi Rescue."
8 Daintree National Park
Daintree National Park
A Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Daintree National Park in Far
North Queensland is among the most ancient ecosystems on earth. The area
belongs to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people, and many of its
natural features hold great spiritual significance. The park encompasses
two main sections: Mossman Gorge where crystal clear waters gush over granite boulders, and Cape Tribulation
where rainforest meets reef along the white sandy beaches of the Coral
Sea. The stunning stretch of coast is one of the few places in the world
where two of the planet's richest ecosystems converge. The park's
astounding biodiversity includes more than 18,000 plant species and a
vast array of animal species including the cassowary, crocodile, giant
blue Ulysses butterfly, and the secretive Bennett's tree kangaroo. The
resort town of Port Douglas, just south of the park, is a great base to arrange wilderness safaris into the park.
Fraser Island
World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, between Bundaberg and Brisbane
off Australia's east coast, is the largest sand island in the world and
one of Australia's most unique four-wheel-drive adventures. Along
windswept Seventy Five Mile Beach, visitors can see the rusted hulls of shipwrecks, the colored sandstone cliffs of The Cathedrals, and the bubbling fish-filled rock pools called Champagne Pools.
Venturing inland, highlights include crystal clear freshwater creeks and lakes, some fed by springs, others perched amid towering sand dunes, and ancient rainforests filled with an amazing diversity of plants and animals. Sharks, dolphins, and whales prowl the waters and the island's fauna includes wild horses, dingoes, bats, sugar gliders, and more than 300 species of birds. Access to Fraser Island is by ferry from Rainbow Beach and Hervey Bay. Four-wheel drive vehicles are essential as the island has no sealed roads.
Venturing inland, highlights include crystal clear freshwater creeks and lakes, some fed by springs, others perched amid towering sand dunes, and ancient rainforests filled with an amazing diversity of plants and animals. Sharks, dolphins, and whales prowl the waters and the island's fauna includes wild horses, dingoes, bats, sugar gliders, and more than 300 species of birds. Access to Fraser Island is by ferry from Rainbow Beach and Hervey Bay. Four-wheel drive vehicles are essential as the island has no sealed roads.
Kakadu National Park
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Kakadu National Park, in the Top End or the Northern Territory,
is a World Heritage Site and one of the planet's great wilderness
areas. Covering more than 19,840 sq km, Kakadu is the largest national
park in Australia and the second largest in the world. Within its
borders lie monsoon rainforests, mangrove swamps, rivers, gorges,
ancient rock paintings, wetlands, and waterfalls as well as an
astounding diversity of wildlife. In addition to the many mammals and
reptiles, more than 300 different species of birds make their home here,
and visitors may spot saltwater crocodiles prowling the wetlands.
Visitors can view the park's diverse ecosystems by car, air, on foot via
the vast network of hiking trails, or by boat on the rivers or
floodplains. During the wet season (Nov-April), many roads and
attractions close due to heavy flooding.
Great Ocean Road
Every top tourist destination has a spectacular drive, and for
Australia it's the Great Ocean Road. Built to provide employment during
the Depression, the road stretches for 300 km along Australia's
southeast coast from the surfing town of Torquay to the town of Allansford, near Warrnambool in the state of Victoria. The top attraction along the road is the Port Campbell National Park with the wind and wave-sculpted rock formations known as the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge, the Arch, and Loch Ard Gorge.
From a helicopter, these rock formations look like giant puzzle pieces
lashed by the pounding surf of the Southern Ocean. Other highlights
along the road include the popular holiday resort town of Lorne and
Otway National Park, an area of dense eucalyptus forest, fern-filled
rainforest, hiking trails, and waterfalls.
12 Broome and the Kimberley region
Broome and the Kimberley region
Source By: http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/australia-aus.htm
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