Australia travel guide

Australia travel guide

Australia is a dream travel destination with something for every kind of traveler. From vibey cities through to rainforests, mountains, deserts, ‘The Outback’, canyons and world-famous beaches. Australia is an incredibly diverse country, both in terms of its culture and geographical regions.
With so much to explore, you will probably end up planning a trip to Australia a few times in your life. Each time, exploring the different destinations in Australia.
Our Australia travel guide is packed with the best Australia travel tips and everything that you need to know about traveling Down Under!

About Australia

Australia is often touted as one of the ultimate travel getaways - with personality, diverse landscapes and a bucket-load of sunshine!
It is the sixth-largest country by land area and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west and the South Pacific Ocean to the east. Australia is also one of the world’s most highly urbanised countries, with most of the population heavily concentrated along the eastern and south-eastern coasts.
Along with its diverse landscapes, Australia also has a wide variation of climates. Contrary to popular belief, Australia is not completely hot and sun-kissed. While the north is generally hot and tropical, the south tends to be more sub-tropical and temperate. Most of the rainfall happens around the coast with the centre having an arid and semi-arid climate. Temperatures in some southern regions can drop below freezing in winter and the Snowy Mountains in the South East will even get some winter snow.
The local currency is Australian Dollars ($) which is made up of 100 cents. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 denominations and notes in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations.
Australia features a multicultural population - with over a quarter of the population having been born outside of Australia. Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney are centers of the multicultural landscape. Each renowned for their variety and high-quality of global arts, start-up industry, and cuisines.
A trip to Australia is synonymous with escape, exploration and adventure. We can guarantee that you won’t be bored for a second!

Best places to visit in Australia

Deciding where to go in Australia is one of the toughest parts of planning a trip to Australia. Let’s break it down for you - Australia is split into eight regions:

  • Australian Capital Territory - home to Australia’s capital city, Canberra.
  • New South Wales - lying on the east coast of Australia, between Queensland and Victoria. Home to Australia’s largest city and the most popular for tourists, Sydney.
  • Northern Territory - home to the Australian Outback, Darwin.
  • Queensland - situated in the north east of Australia, home to the hilly city of Brisbane.
  • South Australia - one of Australia’s central states and home to Adelaide.
  • Tasmania - Australia’s island state.
  • Victoria - the home state of great tourist attractions in Australia such as the 12 Apostles, The Great Ocean Road, The Grampians, and great sporting events such as the Australian Open Tennis, The Australian F1 Grand Prix and The Melbourne Cup.
  • Western Australia - the largest state in Australia and home to the major city of Perth.

Some of the best places to visit in Australia include the exciting cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Each of these cities feature urban hotspots for arts, culture, history and food.

Key tourist attractions in Australia on the 'must visit' list include:

  • The Great Barrier Reef
  • Australia’s Outback - Uluru and Alice Springs
  • The wine valley of Yarra Valley
  • Bondi Beach in Sydney
  • The Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne
  • Sydney Opera House
  • St. Kilda Foreshore in Melbourne
  • The Great Ocean Road in Victoria
  • Kakadu National Park

Things to do in Australia

A visit to Australia guarantees fantastic sightseeing, nightlife, and adventurous experiences for every kind of traveler. There are so many beautiful places in Australia and so many exciting things to do!
Road trips are extremely popular in Australia. Many travelers to the country will hire a car, van or caravan and hit the road to explore a particular region of the country. Just remember that the country is massive, so don’t expect to cover too much of the landscape in a short period of time.
If you are a wine lover, then you need to make time to visit the wine regions in Australia. Whether you go down to Margret River, Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley, or the Barossa Valley, you will have many chances to taste Aussie wine right from the source.
For active travelers, you may be interested in hiking in the world’s oldest rainforest - Daintree. No trip to Australia is complete without exploring a bit of the Outback to see the crocodiles, lakes, valleys and red desert. Make sure to catch the sunrise at Uluru (Ayers Rock) and enjoy an outdoor BBQ under the stars in Alice Springs.
Australia is also famous for its surfing hotpots. Head to the Gold Coast or one of the many other surfing beaches - including Noosa, Byron Bay, Bondi Beach and Perth.
While in Melbourne, make sure to explore Phillip Island Nature Park to experience Churchill Island heritage farm, the Koala Conservation Centre and the famous Penguin Parade.

Best time to visit Australia

The best time to visit Australia will depend on what you want to do. If budgeting is on your mind, then airfares are generally at their lowest between mid-April to late August. A popular time to travel to Australia is during their winter time (from April through September) when the weather is mild.
Summer (peaking in January) tends to be the peak travel season throughout the south, while winter is the peak season for travel in the tropics (this is the dry season). Most attractions in Australia remain open year-round, some operating at a reduced frequency or shorter hours during the off-peak season.
Our tour to Australia takes place mid-May when the temperatures will be warm and pleasant, and with less chance of rainy days clouding our plans. This is also the best time to explore Australia’s wine regions as it’s just in time for the many harvest festivals.

Food in Australia

Besides from the beautiful places in Australia to explore, the country is also a great culinary destination. Melbourne is often referred to as the food capital of Australia, with an extremely diverse culinary landscape including world-class restaurants, a lively street food scene and a bursting coffee culture. Seafood is an integral part of the cuisine and there has been a massive movement towards local and organic produce.
Big name chefs (including those from the popular Masterchef Australia TV show) are giving Australian cuisine a reputation for its bright and creative gastronomy. Regional farmers markets and food festivals are commonplace, each offering a diverse mix of produce and foods.
The humble barbecue remains a quintessential Australian food experience - you can look forward to savouring delicious steak, prawns and fish on the barbie.
For those with an adventurous palate, you may want to try out the local delicacies of kangaroo, crocodile, emu and bush tucker (berries, nuts, roots, ants, and grubs from Australia's native bush).

Australia travel tips

Australia is a fun and exciting destination to explore. There are however a few Australia travel tips to keep in mind when planning a trip to Australia.

  • English is the official language in Australia.
  • Australia is one of the safest countries in the world to travel to. You do however, need to keep a lookout for the country’s flora and fauna. Australia is notorious for being home to many poisonous species of spiders, snakes and jellyfish!
  • The plugs in Australia are type I - remember to take a universal adapter.
  • All visitors, except those from New Zealand, require a visitor visa for Australia. Nationals from Canada and the US can get an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) online.
  • Make sure to apply a strong sunscreen daily - the sun in Australia is much stronger and needs to be respected. If you’re swimming in the sea, make sure to use a reef-safe sunscreen.
  • Keep in mind that the seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere. December through February are the summer months.
  • ATMs are available in all cities and towns across the country and credit cards accepted widely too.
  • You will find a wide range of accommodation in Australia - from backpackers and budget-friendly guest houses to large resorts and luxury hotels.
  • A large number of major and budget airlines fly direct to capital cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Asia and parts of the US and the Middle East. If traveling to Australia from further afield, you may have to take a connecting flight through major hubs in Asia or the Middle East.
  • Remember that Australia is a massive country - traveling from Sydney on the east coast to Perth on the west coast is a four-hour flight!
  • Australia can have up to five different time zones during the daylight savings period, and three at other times.

Are you ready to travel to Australia now? Let’s go! Join us on our Australia women’s tour and explore the greatest attractions in Australia. From Ayers Rock and the incredible Outback to the Great Barrier Reef, Blue Mountains and Yarra Valley. Not to forget exploring the fun and vibrant cities of Melbourne and Sydney!