Tourism Australia, travels to Australia

Australia

Greater Metropolitan Area

Sydney Harbour National Park features forts, secluded beaches and spectacular views. Guided tours to historic buildings are available; the most popular trails for walkers are the '5Bluff’ track to Watson’s Bay, the ‘Hermitage Foreshore’ track to Vaucluse and the ‘Manly’ scenic walkway; the ‘Fairfax’ walk on North Head is suitable for wheelchair access. The Royal National Park is the oldest park in Australia and the second-oldest in the world. Wattamolla and Garie are popular swimming spots while Garie, Era and Burning Palms are best for surfing. The park offers a variety of walking tracks along its 30km- (19 mile-) procession of headlands, cliffs, forests and beaches. Camping is possible at Bonnie Vale; for bush camping, a permit is required. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (40 minutes north of Sydney) is noted for its Aboriginal rock carvings (which can be seen on the ‘Aboriginal Heritage Walk’) and extensive walking tracks (one of which, the ‘Discovery’ track, has wheelchair access); beautiful water views and good sailing facilities are available at West Head and picnic areas can be found throughout the park. The park also includes a koala sanctuary. The Blue Mountains National Park (a World Heritage listed park), just 90 minutes' drive west of Sydney, offers waterfalls and panoramic views featuring landmarks such as the ’Three Sisters’. There are numerous bushwalks on offer; the ’Fairfax Heritage Walk’ at Blackheath is a wheelchair-friendly track to Govetts Leap lookout.

Northeast

The Myall Lakes National Park near Port Stephens is the largest coastal lake system in the State and an important habitat for many species of waterbirds. Visitors are offered a range of activities, including a rainforest walk at Mungo Brush, campsites, caravans and cabins along the lake shores and beaches, as well as houseboat accommodation facilities. The mountainous Barrington Tops National Park in the Hunter wine-making region is crossed by six rivers and is known for its dramatic altitude variations, allowing visitors to experience snow-capped mountains and subtropical rainforests in a day’s walk. The best views and walking trails are at Gloucester Tops, Carey’s Peak and Williams River.

The ‘Riverside’ walk is suitable for wheelchairs. Mount Warning National Park, 12km (7 miles) from Murwillumbah, offers a fantastic trek through rainforest communities, culminating in a challenging rock scramble, to reach the 1100m (3608ft) summit of the ancient volcano. Views from the top take in the expanse of the bowl-shaped Tweed Valley. Dorrigo National Park and Border Ranges National Park, both in tropical New South Wales, contain large stretches of rainforest, with walking tracks, educational tours, picnicking and camping all available; at Border Ranges, the rainforest grows on the rim of an extinct volcano.

Mapa de Australia

Melbourne, Australia

Queensland

Great Barrier Reef

This playground and beauty spot is also one of the world’s great natural wonders. It stretches for 2000km (1200 miles) along the Queensland coast, its width varying from 25km (15 miles) to 50km (30 miles). There is unique plant and animal life to be found, with visibility often as deep as 60m (200ft).

Dotted along the coast are 25 island resorts, lying on or between the Barrier Reef and the mainland. Heron and Lady Elliot Islands are coral cays renowned as the best diving spots on the reef. Lizard, Bedarra and Orpheus Islands are quiet, secluded and luxurious hideaways. Hayman Island is an international resort with 5-star luxury facilities. Long Island, Great Keppel Islands, South Molle, Hamilton and Lindeman Island are all-year-round resorts with facilities for families. Tropical Dunk Island and Brampton Island are popular with honeymooners. Fitzroy and Hinchinbrook Islands offer unspoilt beauty. Camping facilities can be found at Fitzroy, Hook and Keppel Haven on Great Keppel Island.

Outside the main reef areas, the islands of Fraser, Moreton, Bribie, North and South Stradbroke offer some of the best unpopulated surfing beaches and national parks in Australia.

Western Australia

Perth

Perth is sunny all year but pleasant owing to temperate breezes. Modern skyscrapers overshadow colonial buildings such as the Town Hall and Perth Mint. The Swan River winds through the city, and a cruise upriver to the vineyards is very popular with tourists. A futuristic tower resembling a giant swan, the Swan Bells, houses the old bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London and is open daily for viewing. Kings Park, a beautiful park overlooking the town, the Art Gallery of Western Australia in James Street and the historic His Majesty’s Theater are also worth seeing. The most popular beach destinations are Sorrento, Cottesloe, City, Scarborough and the nude bathing beach at Swanbourne. 17km (11 miles) north of the city center, AQWA – The Aquarium of Western Australia at Hillary’s Boat Harbour, showcases over 4000 sea creatures in their natural environments. South of Perth is Cable’s Water Ski Park with thrilling water rides and Adventure World, a favorite family entertainment complex on Bibra Lake, with thrill rides, native animals, parkland and waterways in beautiful surroundings. Fremantle, 19km (12 miles) from the city, is a port full of historic houses and buildings such as the Court House, all of which have been superbly restored. Freo, as it is known, can be reached either by a one-hour boat trip or a 20-minute drive from Perth. The excellent Western Australian Maritime Museum and Fishing Boat Harbour, with its many outdoor seafood restaurants, are its other attractions.

Koalas, Australia

Northern Australia

Darwin and the Top End

The territorial capital, Darwin, which was savaged by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Eve 1974, has been rebuilt and has grown over the years to become a modern, multicultural, provincial city. Darwin and the rest of the Top End have two distinct seasons. In the tropical summer from November to April, monsoon conditions mean late-afternoon thunderstorms, high humidity and heavy downpours. This is the green season when the waterfalls flow and the wildlife abounds. From May through to October is the ’dry’ season, with unlimited sunshine and balmy evenings. The wetlands begin to dry out, confining the bird and animal life to ever smaller areas. The Top End is the area to see lush tropical vegetation, either in Darwin’s Botanical Gardens, the Crocodylus Park just outside Darwin, or in the Territory’s various national parks (see below). Also south of Darwin are the Howard Springs and Berry Springs nature parks, Territory Wildlife Park and the birds’ haven Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve. There are many good opportunities for fishing near the city, for example at Mindil Beach or Vestey’s Beach. The Tiwi Islands, comprising Bathurst Island and Melville Island, are Aboriginal islands rich in history and culture. The islands are a short flight from Darwin, but they are accessible only by organized one- or two-day tours.

National Parks

Kakadu National Park

This may be found about a three-hour drive to the east of Darwin down the Arnhem Highway. The park includes the flood plains between the Wildman and the Alligator Rivers, which empty into Van Diemen Gulf to the north. It is bordered by the Arnhem Land escarpment, where the spectacular waterfalls of Jim Jim and Twin Falls cascade hundreds of feet into crystal-clear rock pools below. At Ubirr (Obiri Rock) and Nourlangie Rock are fascinating galleries of Aboriginal rock painting, many dating back over 20,000 years. These paintings show mythical and spiritual figures and an ancient lifestyle which still holds great significance for the Aboriginal people today.

Within the park there are several resort-style hotels and a number of camping and caravan sites from which to explore this beautiful area. Numerous creeks, rivers and billabongs provide excellent fishing, particularly for the much prized barramundi, which is found in abundance here. Thousands of birds inhabit the wetlands – over 275 species – and wildlife abounds throughout the year.

Aerial tours over the Arnhem Land escarpment depart daily and local fishing trips can be easily arranged. A popular way to explore the waterways is on a boat cruise on the South Alligator River or scenic Yellow Water, giving access to nature at its best. It is possible to spot crocodiles basking on the riverbanks, and the graceful jabiru (Australia’s only stork) wading amongst the water lilies. Kakadu National Park is the habitat for all wildlife common to Northern Australia and as such provides a diverse and exciting experience in the tropical Top End. Tours and safaris from two to 21 days are available by air, coach or 4-wheel drive from Darwin.

Katherine Gorge/Nitmiluk National Park

The township of Katherine is in the area known as the ‘Never Never’, about 350km (220 miles) southeast of Darwin. This is pioneer territory, made famous by Mrs Aeneas Gunn in her book, We of the Never Never. Katherine Gorge, some 30km (20 miles) northeast of the town, is one of Australia’s great natural wonders and the famous boat cruises through the spectacular gorges, towering up to 60m (200ft) high, are a highlight of any visit to the region. There are, in fact, 13 gorges and each has its own glowing colors and fascinating outcrops, steep canyon walls above cool, blue waters. Marked walking tracks are well maintained for easy access to features of interest in the park. Canoeing, swimming and boat tours are all available (May to September) along with scenic helicopter rides over the gorges. There is a good range of accommodation both in the town and Nitmiluk National Parks, and campers and caravanners are also well catered for.

Litchfield National Park

Only one hour 30 minutes’ drive south of Darwin, Litchfield National Park is ideal for day trips or can be included in longer tours of the Top End. Six waterfalls provide the main attraction of the park.

Other attractions include rainforest, bush walks, weathered sandstone formations, spring-fed streams, impressive cathedral termite mounds and wildlife, such as birds, possums, wallabies and lizards.

Gran barrera arrecifes Australia

South Australia

Adelaide

Adelaide is home to more than two-thirds of the State’s population. It has a 30km- (18.6 mile-) stretch of attractive coastline with excellent white sandy beaches. The best view of Adelaide and the surrounding countryside can be had from Mount Lofty, to the east of the city. Adelaide is a spacious city surrounded by parkland, golf courses and the botanical and zoological gardens. The city itself has a European atmosphere, primarily because of the large German and southern European minorities. The streets are filled with cafes (especially lively Rundle Street), European-style churches, art galleries and antique shops. Adelaide also has a vibrant nightlife along Rundle and Gouger Streets. One of the key attractions in the city is the Festival Center complex in the parkland overlooking the Torrens River. It houses an excellent theater company, and boasts a concert hall, two theaters, a restaurant and an amphitheater. Another very popular attraction is the Central Market between Grote and Gouger streets. In March of even-numbered years, the world-renowned Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts is held, featuring everything from jazz to classical theater and ballet, along with a diverse Edinburgh-style Fringe Festival (see Social Profile section).

The South Australian Museum has the largest collection of Aboriginal artifacts in the world, as well as a huge exhibition of Melanesian art and New Guinean wildlife. There is also a new permanent exhibition on the Antarctic Explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson. The National Wine Center in the Botanic Gardens has exhibitions, a tasting gallery and restaurant. Tandanya – National Aboriginal Cultural Institute offers a rounded view of Australia’s indigenous culture. Swimming and skating on Glenelg Beach are popular Adelaide activities.

Victoria

Melbourne

Melbourne is a highly cosmopolitan city of over three million people with sizeable Italian and Greek minorities. Located in Carlton Gardens on the northern edge of the city center, the ultramodern Melbourne Museum is Australia’s largest museum. Its features include a living Forest Gallery, Aboriginal Center, Children’s Museum and IMAX Theater. The chilling Old Melbourne Gaol has Ned Kelly’s armour on display. The National Gallery of Victoria: St Kilda Road houses Australia’s greatest collection of international fine art. The NGV: Australian Art is one of the attractions of Federation Square, a city block devoted to culture. Rialto Towers Observation Deck offers panoramic views of the city and surrounds. Other places to visit include the Royal Botanical Gardens, Parliament House, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the vibrant beach-side esplanade in St Kilda with its vibrant cafe culture. Also recommended are a trip to the races, a ride in one of Melbourne’s trams, a river cruise down the River Yarra, or a visit to the huge Melbourne Zoo, with its intricately recreated animal habitats.