AdminMillions of tourists visit Australia every year. There is no need to ask why considering that there are a lot of beautiful places in the country. Not to mention, Australians are also known to be very friendly towards visitors.
If you’re a tourist or a newly-moved expatriate who wants to explore what Australia has to offer, then there’s no better way than to travel from tourist attraction to tourist attraction. Even a three-day family vacation within the country will reveal a lot about the place and its history.
Top 10 Best Travel Destinations Within Australia
To make it easier for you to make an itinerary, we’ll go over the top 10 best travel destinations within Australia. Here is a list that you can refer to.
1. Sydney Harbour Bridge in New South Wales
To start our top 10 best travel destinations within Australia, we have the Sydney Harbour Bridge located in Sydney, New South Wales. It’s a heritage-ranked steel bridge with the largest arch in the world. It has been around since 1932 and took 8 years’ worth of construction.
You can take a bus, train, ferry, or taxi to the bridge. The most common ways are through Circular Quay and Milsons Point. Both railway stations will lead to the bridge’s south and north side, respectively. The drop-off point you should look for is Cumberland Street, the bridge’s entrance.
Also, you should consider visiting the bridge during January, February, April, May, and December. Australian weather during these times has just the right temperature for a relaxing walk across the bridge.
Since the bridge has a picturesque view of Australia’s Opera House, this makes a good spot for picture taking. Simply walking across the area is one of the most common activities. There are also nearby restaurants if you’re hungry and just want to enjoy the view. You should highly consider availing of the harbor cruise for those with a budget. This starts at $30 and will be perfect for both solo and large groups.
Entering the bridge as a pedestrian is free. For vehicular travel, you need to pay a toll fee of $3. Special activities like the Harbour Bridge Climb range from $198 to $308.
2. Sydney Opera House in New South Wales
After your trip to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, you should definitely go to the Sydney Opera House next, one of the top 10 best travel destinations within Australia. This is one of the country’s most beautiful places and cops the second place on our top 10 best travel destinations within Australia. It’s a center reserved for performance arts and is known for the building’s distinct architecture.
From the Harbour Bridge, riding a taxi to the Opera House will only be a 5-minute trip. Alternatively, you can catch a train, bus, or ferry and drop off at Circular Quay. You can walk to the Opera House from there, which will take around 6 minutes.
The Opera House is one spot that retains its beauty all year round. This will surely fit your family vacation itinerary, no matter the month. As for the time, it’s best if you visit between 10 AM to 6 PM on weekdays. Both the crowds and traffic are manageable during these times. For weekends, you can delay your visit until later than 6 PM.
Participating in tours is a must for tourists, whether traveling solo or with friends and family. If you’re lucky and your visit matches a performance date, you should also consider attending one. It’s recommended for those who have a soft spot for art. On the flip side, you can also eat and drink in the restaurants and bars inside the Opera House.
Eating and drinking inside the Opera House won’t require an entrance fee. Tour-based visits start at $22 for children and $42 for adults. You can also avail yourself of discounts if you’re on a family vacation.
3. Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales
If you want your family vacation to be tiring yet satisfying, visiting the Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales is a must. This is another world heritage site that offers the best of Australia’s 664,000- acre greens and wilderness. It also has a wonderful view of rock formations and waterfalls.
A direct train from Sydney can take you to the Blue Mountains for around two and a half hours. If you’re traveling by car, you have to go through the M4 arterial route west of Sydney. The park is next to Blacktown, so look out for it when checking your distance. It’s best to visit the Blue Mountains National Park from December to February. This will let you take advantage of the relaxing, cool atmosphere in the mountains during your hike, which is a big advantage if you’re not a fan of the scorching hot temperature down the city.
Hiking is one of the best physical activities that you can do in the mountain park. You can rent a bike to ride around the area, or if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can consider exploring the mountain’s underground area. If you’re just in it for the natural views and atmosphere, you still have many choices. You can visit the park’s restaurants, souvenir shops, art galleries, and vineyards. You won’t ever get bored, whether you like physical activities or not.
Entering the Blue Mountains National Park is free if you’re going to walk inside. Bringing a vehicle to the park’s Glenbrook area will cost you $8. Most activities are also free, so it’s a good choice if you want a budget-friendly trip. If you wish to avail of a bus tour, prepare at least $100.
4. Bondi Beach in New South Wales
Bondi Beach cops fourth place in our top 10 best travel destinations within Australia. This is in New South Wales and is probably one of the country’s most astonishing beaches. The body of water is enclosed by Sydney’s suburbs, which makes it even more popular. This tourist attraction is characterized by a long fine, white sand strip.
In Sydney, go to the train station located in Central Station. Drop off at Bondi Junction. Wait for either one of the following bus numbers: 333, 381, 382, 383.
Visiting in the middle of the year, specifically in June, will give you the utmost advantage of Sydney’s seasons. It’s hot enough for you to enjoy the sun on the beach, but not too much to result in sunburns. At the same time, you can expect it to be cool enough to give you a relaxing time while swimming or lying on the sand. Months from December to May are also good if you want a warmer season.
Apart from swimming, relaxing, and sunbathing, Bondi’s sand is fine enough to go golfing. Water-based activities like scuba diving, kayaking, surfing, and paddle boarding are also offered. Visiting Bondi Beach is 100% free. You will only have to pay for the activities you want to participate in.
5. Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory
Nature lovers will surely find the Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory. With a gigantic, lovely waterfall and wonderfully-placed rock formations, it’s a guarantee that you will find this as one of Australia’s most beautiful places. It’s also one of the country’s largest national parks.
The best way to go to Kakadu National Park is from Darwin to Arnhem Highway. Make sure to pass through Stuart Highway. You can either drive your personal vehicle or rent one from Darwin. Allot about three hours for travel time. Months from May to September are considered the best times to visit the park. These have just the right temperature for long walks and relaxing nature trips. Outdoor activities will be the highlight of your Kakadu trip. You can swim in Maguk, go cruising, fish, eat in nearby restaurants, and hike.
Entrance fees for Kakadu National Park range from $25 to $40. If you’re a citizen of Australia’s Northern Territory, you are eligible for a free entrance.
6. Uluru-Kata Tjuta in Northern Territor
The next on our list for the top 10 best travel destinations within Australia is the Uluru-Kata Tjuta. This is located in the Northern Territory and is a world heritage site with a rich history. This is more of a sightseeing-based spot because of the park’s distinct red light shining on Uluru and Kata Tjuta, both known rock formations.
Flying is the most common way of getting to the park. Book a flight to Yulara, and allot about 2 to 3 hours if you’re from Adelaide, Sydney, Darwin, Brisbane, and Melbourne. It’ll only be a short 45-minute flight if you’re coming from Alice Springs.
You’d want to choose a time when rain is unlikely, and the weather is just enough to be able to have a soothing walk in the park. Consider going between May to September.
There’s not much to do in the park apart from taking a walk or completing a day-long hike. However, you can still expect to have the time of your life despite the few activities. It will also be ideal if you’re a solo traveler who wants to have a peaceful time away from the busy streets of Australia. Entrance fees for adults range from $38 to $50. The former is valid for three days, while the latter is already good for a year.
7. Queen Victoria Market in Victoria
You should include Queen Victoria Market in your itinerary if you like shopping. This is the biggest open market in Melbourne, where you will be able to buy cultural souvenirs, fresh goods, and high-quality items, all in one place. It will also allow you to feel Australia’s soul, considering it has been around for more than 100 years.
Ride a train with a drop-off point of either the Melbourne Central or Flagstaff Station. You can walk north from there to reach the market. You can also go directly to Queen Street in Melbourne if you have your car. Since you’ll be walking around the market for quite a long time, it’s best to visit Queen Victoria Market during spring or autumn. You may want to arrive before 10 AM if you have your car, so you won’t have issues with parking. If you’re commuting, then a weekday afternoon would be best if you don’t like crowds.
The only thing that you can do is to shop around the market. You can also make side trips like eating at nearby restaurants and diners. Occasionally, the market holds events like a runway gala or a night market. Entry tickets are free from 6 AM to 9 AM. You will be charged $6 if you arrive between 10 AM to 11 AM. It will be $7 for the succeeding hours.
8. Apollo Bay in Victoria
Apollo Bay, Victoria, ranks eighth on our list of the top ten best travel destinations in Australia. If you’re looking for an all-around nature trip in Victoria, Australia, this is one of your best bets. Mountains, waterfalls, the ocean, and a nice field for relaxing are some of the things you can expect.
You can take a bus or a taxi to Apollo Bay. If you leave from Melbourne, the journey could take around 4 hours. Spring and autumn seasons is the best times to visit the bay. If you visit in May, you will have the opportunity to participate in the thrill of the Great Ocean Road Marathon, one of the world’s most spectacular foot races. This challenging run, with panoramic views of the Southern Ocean, attracts runners from all over Australia and the world.
You can go shore walking, surfing, fishing, playing cricket, and, of course, swimming because the beach is regulated. You can also simply go for a walk around the area to take in the breathtaking scenery. There is also the Apollo Bay Museum nearby, so you can get the full experience by visiting both. Only if you intend to participate in the activities and visit the museum will you be required to pay.
9. Cairns in Queensland
Cairns is also home to two other world heritage sites, making it one of the most worthwhile places to visit in Australia. Cairns itself is thought to be the world’s oldest rainforest. The Great Barrier Reef is a natural treasure because of its abundance of aquatic life, which is one of the reasons people come here.
You can take flight or train directly to Cairns. Getting to the Great Barrier Reef required a direct ferry trip from Cairns. The best time to visit cairns is between April and May, or between September and October.
In the rainforest, you can engage in outdoor activities such as hiking, walking, and strolling. At the Great Barrier Reef, on the other hand, offers activities such as swimming, snorkelling, surfing, and rafting. There are also other activities available, such as a helicopter tour. You can also celebrate with native islanders by participating in cultural singing and dancing. Not to mention, there is a long line of restaurants. These will be a lot more fun if you go with a group. It is also free to explore the rainforest. The barrier reef will cost between $4 and $5 to enter.
10. McLaren Vale in Southern Australia
McLaren Vale in the south is another of Australia’s top ten best travel destinations. Because of its excellent environmental sustainability, high-quality wines, and world-class delicacies, this is one of Southern Australia’s most popular neighbourhoods. McLaren Vale, home to the Kaurna people, is only 45 minutes from Adelaide and is situated between the rolling Mount Lofty Ranges and the beaches of the Gulf St Vincent. This South Australian treasure has over 80 cellar doors and vineyards, as well as excellent restaurants and beautiful accommodation options.
Since McLaren Vale is a town, you can directly go here from any Australian town by train or bus. However, going around the town’s spots will require you to have your personal or rented vehicle. There are local vehicles, too, if you prefer them more. Visiting McLaren Vale from October to May will be the best choice for the best weather conditions.
Wine tasting should be your top priority if you’re going to the town. It is packed with wine houses producing world-class wine, so you won’t regret spending time going around. You can also visit vineyards and go on related tours. Going to McLaren Vale itself is free. You will only need to prepare fees for entering wine houses and tasting their products.
Summary
If you’re still undecided about whether visiting the said country is worthwhile, then perusing the top 10 best travel destinations in Australia will undoubtedly seal the deal.
To say that Australia is full of beautiful places is an understatement. There’s no doubt that you’ll have the family vacation of a lifetime, from the lush greens of the country’s natural parks to their blue seas and a high-quality market. Each tourist attraction has its own unique qualities, so you won’t have to worry about seeing the same thing over and over. Other benefits include friendly people, affordable locations, and exciting activities.
