Many visitors never make it down to South Australia, which makes the rolling mountains of the Flinders Ranges all the more special. They play home to national parks, sleepy towns and the kind of true-blue Aussie character that the country’s famous for. Not far away, state capital Adelaide is a mightily enjoyable city in its own right.
Australia things to see and do
Flinders Ranges
Gibb River Road
If you’re looking for outback adventure, there are few better options than this 600km (370-mile) road across the Kimberley. Venerated by enthusiasts for both its rugged scenery and its challenging conditions, it can only be negotiated by 4-wheel drive vehicle. There’s a shorter ‘tourist loop’ at the western end of the road.
Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s east coast is brimming with mainstream tourist hotspots, from the brash hedonism of Surfer’s Paradise to the 4-wheel-drive-friendly Fraser Island, but for most leisure visitors it’s the Great Barrier Reef that remains the must-see sight. It’s vast (2,300km/1,430 miles long, to be precise) and is commonly experienced through sailing trips to the Whitsunday Islands.
Great Ocean Road
Showcasing arguably the finest surf-pounded coastal scenery in the country, the Great Ocean Road sits within reaching distance of Melbourne. It’s 250km (155 miles) long, so can be ‘done’ in a couple of days – far better, though, to take your foot off the gas and experience its towns and beaches at a relaxed pace.
Kakadu National Park
Wrapped up in layers of spiritual significance, Kakadu National Park offers 20,000 sq km (7,700 sq miles) of untamed (some would say unrivalled) Australian wilderness. There are crocs, creeks, escarpments and waterfalls, as well as an immense collection of ancient Aboriginal rock art.
Melbourne
Some cities just get it right. Sport-mad Melbourne gives you everything from Victorian-era architecture to cutting-edge counterculture, while also placing plenty of importance on food, festivals and the great outdoors. A month or so here and you’ll be praising the place for life.
Perth
Western Australia’s biggest city is something of a slow-burner. It lacks the immediate wham-bam of Sydney and Melbourne, but for those who take the time to explore its parkland, beaches and laid-back urban vibe, it’s somewhere that’s easy to love. The surrounding region, offering up winelands and character-rich towns, adds to the appeal.
Sydney
Where to start with Sydney? It’s a toss-up as to whether the locals or the tourists do the most swooning over it, and once you’ve experienced the surf beaches, the harbour, the skyline and that warm, lazy-day culture, it’s not hard to understand why.
Tasmania
Tasmanians cheekily refer to mainland Australia as ‘the north island’, and you can forgive the self-confidence. The island state is deserving of as much time as you can spare, cramming in an extraordinary variety of landscapes and outdoor activities. In Hobart, meanwhile, it also boasts a highly liveable capital city.
Uluru
Every bit as magical as the hype would suggest, ‘The Rock’ is the kind of monumental natural feature for which sightseeing seems too crude a category. Getting there can be time-consuming, but the reward (like Uluru itself) is immense. Take time too to visit nearby Kata Tjuta, in many ways as epic a landmark.
Top Tours & Activities
Do you have any Feedback about this page?
© 2013 Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission, click here for information on Columbus Content Solutions.