The territory of Australia occupies an entire continent, therefore the main attractions of the country are natural objects. Australia has many national parks and reserves with a developed tourist infrastructure. Separately, it is worth noting the Australian beaches, they attract not only fans of huge waves - surfers, but also connoisseurs of refined resorts or lovers of a relaxing beach holiday.
The cities are famous for their modern architecture - appreciated not only by Australians, but also by the World Organization of UNESCO, which included a number of sites in Sydney and Melbourne on its list. There are old age-old buildings, all of which are used for modern needs. Cultural life is represented by museums, art galleries, war memorials.
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What to see and where to go in Australia?
The most interesting and beautiful places to visit, photos and a short description.
Great Barrier Reef
An incredible natural phenomenon. The natural complex, consisting of almost a thousand islands and three thousand coral reefs, can be seen even from space - it covers an area of 350 km². From the shores of the islands, there are views that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Diving enthusiasts have also appreciated this place and its beauty for a long time, but it should be remembered that during diving corals should not be touched by hands due to their fragility.
Tasmania
Tourists call this place ideal for recreation - a mild climate, picturesque landscapes, unique flora and fauna. The relief of the island makes it possible to engage in water, mountain, and beach tourism. Many inhabitants of Tasmania are found only here, and relict plant species grow in evergreen forests. Therefore, one fifth of the island is occupied by nature reserves and national parks, which are accessible to visitors.
Port jackson
One of the largest bays in the world. It was in this area that the colonization of Australia began, and it is still of great importance for the country. There are many ports in the bay. Famous landmarks are located on the shores of the bay - the Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge, the unspoken symbols of the country. Ferries in the bay carry up to 100 thousand passengers every day - locals and tourists.
Sydney Opera House
Built in 14 years on the shores of Port Jackson Bay. Its flying silhouette seems to hover over the water surface. Due to its unusual architectural forms, similar to sails, the theater is included in the UNESCO list of protection. The theater complex consists of several halls, the largest of which can accommodate 2,500 spectators. 5 performances can be performed simultaneously. The theater also houses souvenir shops, bars and restaurants.
Harbor Bridge (Sydney)
Along with the theater, the opera is the hallmark of Sydney. The length of the bridge is 1200 meters. It is used for automobile, pedestrian and railway traffic. Its steel arched structure resembles a coat rack, which is why the locals call the Harbor Bridge among themselves that way. On New Year's, the bridge becomes the main point of attraction for people, because on New Year's Eve hundreds of fireworks are launched from it.
Sydney Tower
A popular city landmark with a total height of 305 meters. High-speed elevators lift visitors to a height of 250 meters. There is an observation deck, which offers a panoramic view of the Sydney neighborhood. Tourists can see the skyscrapers of the city, the bay and the ocean against the backdrop of mountains from a bird's eye view. There is a turret under the observation deck that houses a revolving restaurant.
Queen Victoria Building (Sydney)
The grand building of the shopping center. Its dimensions are impressive - 190 meters long, 30 meters wide. The Romanesque building was built on the site of the city market in 1918. Its decoration is a copper dome with glass inserts. The interior is decorated with a dial, which is a copy of Big Ben. Each time a small theatrical performance about the life of the royal family takes place with the chimes.
Carleton Gardens (Melbourne)
Located in the center of Melbourne, it is a green oasis with a Victorian garden, fountains and two artificial lakes. There are tennis courts and a children's playground. A single complex with gardens is the Royal Exhibition Center, which hosts exhibitions on various topics. The entire complex is under the protection of UNESCO. In addition to the exhibition center, visitors can explore the Melbourne Museum. It consists of 10 galleries of permanent and temporary exhibitions, auditoriums, small theater venues, and a research center. There is an IMAX cinema.
City Circle tram (Melbourne)
Antique excursion tram. The interior of the tram is quite modern with elements of retro design. Tourists will be especially pleased to know that it is free. Its route is laid near the most notable sights of the historical center of the city - the Royal Botanic Gardens, Chinatown, the building of Queen Victoria. The journey takes about 40 minutes. For tourists there is an audio guide in English.
National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne)
It is the largest art gallery in Australia. Founded in the 19th century. It exhibits paintings by Van Dyck, Rubens, Monet, Picasso and others. All in all, the gallery funds make up 65,000 exhibits. In addition to paintings, the public is presented with objects of ancient Egypt, vases from ancient Greece, and ceramics. The number of visitors to the Victoria Gallery is about a million people a year.
MONA Museum (Hobart)
Founded by a Tasmanian millionaire in 2011. Having made a fortune in gambling and sweepstakes, the tycoon has invested about $ 80 million to create a museum with an avant-garde art collection. The building is an underground pyramid bunker. Most of the exhibits are not only striking in their originality, but also shock some visitors who are accustomed to classical paintings and sculptures.
Australian War Memorial (Canberra)
Erected in honor of the soldiers who participated and died in hostilities. It is one of the most impressive in the world. The memorial complex includes the Hall of Memory and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Memorial Museum and the Research Center. A sculpture garden is also part of the complex. A sculpture of an Australian soldier is installed in it, and plaques with stories about the country's military history are located on the sides of the footpath.
Memorial Monument (Melbourne)
Built by the architects who took part in the First World War. Built in marble in the classicism style in 1934. It looks like a mausoleum. In its center there is a sanctuary surrounded by a gallery. It houses the Stone of Remembrance. Beneath the sanctuary is a marble room in which the panels of the Australian troops that participated in the First and Second World Wars are listed on the panels.
Convict settlement Port Arthur
Included in the list of 11 Australian convict settlements built by Britain. All of them constitute a single UNESCO heritage site. Port Arthur is located in Tasmania. This prison was considered the most terrible in the world - it contained the most notorious violators of the law. The prison complex consisted of 60 buildings for various purposes - from punishment cells to the cathedral. Now the remains of the buildings are available for tourists.
Salamanca Market (Hobart)
Popular outdoor market in Tasmania. Every Saturday, over 300 tents are set up with a wide variety of amazing products.Vintage jewelry, pine and glass animal figurines, lamps, paintings - the list is endless. The musical accompaniment from street musicians gives a special flavor. For relaxation, you can go to a small cafe - eat a national dish with local wine.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Cricket stadium. Was the main site of the 1956 Summer Olympics. Accommodates over 100,000 spectators, making it the tenth largest in the world in terms of capacity. The attendance record is over 120,000 people. The stadium was built in 1884, since then it has been reconstructed and completed several times. Artificial lighting has been installed, which allows games to be played at the stadium at any time of the day.
Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Located in the business district of Sydney - a green corner of nature among the skyscrapers. The garden area is 30 hectares. The land in this area is not fertile and is not suitable for food crops. The Australian authorities decided to collect plants from all over the country here. Now there are nearly 9,000 plant species and 5,000 trees. The entrance to the garden is free. It is visited by about 3.5 million people a year.
Queen's Park (Perth)
Located on the banks of the Swan River in downtown Perth. Occupies an area of 4 km². The park was founded in 1895 and more than half of it is occupied by the Australian bush. The rest of the territory is planted with trees. The park's botanical garden is home to about 2,000 Australian plants. The pride of the park and botanical garden is the festival of wildflowers, which is held once a year and attracts a large number of visitors.
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
On an area of 38 hectares. 12,000 plants have been planted along the Yara River in Melbourne. These are samples of flora not only in Australia, but throughout the world. The total number of plants exceeds 50,000. A branch of the botanical garden is located 50 km from Melbourne. The total area of gardens in this place exceeds 300 hectares. The work of scientists in the Australian Plants Section of the branch has received several world-class awards.
South Shore Park (Brisbane)
Opened in 1992. The territory of the park is not at all like the cityscape - rain forest and savannahs, beaches, lakes and the Brisbane River promenade. The attractions of the park are the 60-meter high Ferris wheel, the Queensland Conservatory, the Nepal Peace Pagoda. Many festivals and entertainment events are held in the park every year. About 11 million people visit the park every year.
Twelve apostles
Limestone cliffs on the ocean coast. Located in Port Campbell Victoria Park. They are eight, standing not far from each other rocks. Some of them reach a height of 45 meters. Helicopter rides are popular among tourists in this area. There are hiking trails through the park to the rocks; you can look at them from a steep cliff. The Twelve Apostles look especially beautiful against the background of the ocean in the rays of the setting sun.
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
A natural landmark in the middle of the desert is under the protection of UNESCO. About 400,000 people visit it annually. It is a brown-orange rock. Its peculiarity is the ability to change color depending on the lighting. At dawn, the color of the rock has a lilac hue, during the day the hue becomes alternately pink, purple, red, gold. The height of the mountain is 348 meters, width is 3.6 km.
Blue Mountains
A scenic location in a national park near Sydney. Eucalyptus and ferns grow in the park. The peculiarity of the mountains is the color of their peaks. Drops of eucalyptus oil cover the leaves of the plants and in the sun's rays it seems that the tops of the mountains are covered with a bluish haze. There are several observation decks with excellent views on the territory. The Blue Mountains are popular with rock climbers and mountain bikers.
Cockatoo
It is a large national park in Australia. Its dimensions are approximately 200 * 100 km. The flora and fauna are diverse - thousands of species of plants and animals grow and live in the park. The park's caves contain well-preserved rock art by Australian Aborigines. Some samples are almost 20,000 years old. For tourists, there are camping grounds, cafes and shops.
Horizontal waterfalls
Looking at these waterfalls, the illusion is created that they are not falling from top to bottom, but "horizontally". This effect appears during the ebb and flow. During these periods, water accumulates in the gorges and does not have time to leave through narrow passages. The height difference created gives the effect of a waterfall. The water direction changes 3-4 times a day. Some tourists come here just to admire the views, and some for the extreme passage of the waterfalls by boat.
Stone wave
Rock formation of amazing shape. It looks like a giant ocean wave in the middle of land. About 150,000 tourists come here every year to see this natural wonder with their own eyes. A small retaining wall was built to protect it from rock collapse. According to scientists, the rock received such a shape about 60 million years ago. An underground music festival is held in this place every year.
Royal canyon
The canyon is over 2 km long and its walls are 300 meters high. There are two hiking trails along the canyon. The trail along the bottom of the canyon is easier to pass. Walking along it will take about an hour. The second, leading to the top of the canyon, is more difficult and takes about 3-4 hours. However, tourists say the stunning views from the summit are well worth the effort.
Cataract Gorge (Launceston)
The gorge is a 15-minute walk from Launceston. The place is popular with both tourists and locals. Here you can relax comfortably - take a dip in the outdoor pool, take a ride on the ski lift, admire the picturesque views of the gorge. Hiking trails are laid along it. Short tracks no more than a kilometer long lead to bridges over small rivers, observation platforms and to the tops of cliffs.
Mount Wellington (Tasmania)
A favorite place for active tourists. There are many trails on the slopes of the mountain, some of which can also be traveled by bike. The infrastructure around is poorly equipped - there are no cafes, shops, attractions. Basalt rock ledges are called "Organ pipes" - they are an extremely unusual sight. From the top of the mountain with a height of 1270 meters, in the absence of fog, a view of the national park opens up, 100 km from the mountain.
Cape Byron
The cape was discovered in 1770 by the navigator James Cook. The name was given in honor of the world traveler John Byron. In 1901, a lighthouse was erected on the coast of the cape. It is the only active lighthouse during the reign of Queen Victoria. In addition to its practical benefits, the snow-white lighthouse is an adornment of the area and gives it romance. There is an observation deck at the top of the lighthouse.
Great ocean road
The road is considered a tourist attraction, as it passes through iconic places for Australia. Traveling along this road, you can visit the Lock Ard ridge, Port Campbell National Park, the unusual coast of shipwrecks, the rocks of the Twelve Apostles. The length of the road is 243 km. Some of its parts are considered to be very dangerous. A 104 km long hiking trail for tourists has been laid along the road.
Kuranda railway
It is considered one of the most dangerous railways in the world. Mostly the 37-kilometer railway line is used by tourists to get a dose of adrenaline. The train travels along fragile-looking bridges over deep gorges. But the risk is justified by the views from the window - the road is laid through rainforests and past several picturesque waterfalls. There is an opportunity to admire exotic plants and mountain peaks.
Sandy Fraser Island
Sandy island 120 km long. The width ranges from 7 to 23 km.The dunes that make up the island were formed about 400,000 years ago and can be up to 240 meters high. There are about 40 fresh water lakes on the island. The largest of them has a size of over 200 hectares. The nature of the island is incredibly diverse - a hundred-kilometer white sandy beach, swamps, mangrove and equatorial forests. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade
One of Australia's unusual excursions looks like a show starring little penguins. This happens at the end of the day - the penguins form a formation out of their ocean and go to their homes. Penguins spend all day in the ocean collecting food. To unite in organized groups, they are forced by the confrontation of a common danger - large gulls prefer to attack lonely. Several groups of penguins march for an hour.
Kangaroo
The kangaroo is a living symbol of Australia. This amazing animal is featured on the country's coat of arms and on some coins. This is because, apart from this continent, kangaroos do not live anywhere. The number of these animals in Australia exceeds the number of people. There are road signs on the country's highways warning that traffic may be obstructed by kangaroos. They are favorites not only among Australians, but all over the world.
Best beaches in Australia
The most popular and beautiful beaches, photos and a short description.
Manly and Bondi Beaches (Sydney)
The oceanfront location has given Sydney wonderful beaches. Bondi Beach is considered modern and popular. Most of the youth vacationers come with a surfboard. There are many restaurants and bars on the beach, which are rarely empty. Concerts and festivals are often held here. Manly Beach features golden soft sand. It is not for nothing that it is among the best beaches in Sydney - it is always crowded. Hundreds of vacationers find entertainment to their liking - swimming, sports games, dancing in bars, cycling.
Surfers Paradise Beach (Gold Coast)
The beachfront capital of Australia's Gold Coast. Surfers Paradise Beach is sometimes called the Australian "Miami Beach". Here is the tallest skyscraper in the country with an observation deck at an altitude of 230 meters. The name of the beach itself implies that it is a great place for surfers - huge waves and warm water. In addition, Surfers Paradise is considered a sophisticated resort, with the option of shopping right on the beach.
Mindil Beach (Darwin)
Sunset time on the beach is the best and most interesting time to visit. At this time, the evening market begins to work here. But before shopping, an obligatory ritual is to observe the sun's immersion in the sea waters. In addition to the shops, you need to devote time to tasting national dishes. Representatives of 50 nationalities live in Darwin, each of which demonstrates the cuisine of their homeland.
