Australia - Top Tips
- adamhickman84
- Feb 15, 2021
- 3 min read
Super Seven
Sydney
Often confused as the capital, but wow Sydney is an awesome city! There's soo much to see and do here. You can easily pack 4-5 days of activities. The Sydney Opera House is the iconic landmark, which is stunning to see from the outside, but also worth doing a tour inside. You can relax at Bondi Beach, walk the Harbour Bridge, or do a day trip outside of the city and head towards the Blue Mountains. This is also a city where I would definitely recommend an open-top bus tour.
Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands are on the north east coast of Queensland and you can use Airlie Beach as a start point before hopping onto an overnight boat. There's 74 island in total with the majority uninhabited, but wow this place is beautiful. Whitehaven Beach just blew me away! The silky white sand is 98% silica, which means it doesn't heat up, so no burning feet in the summer months. There's various view points to catch a glimpse of the swirling sand. In addition, there's hiking routes through dense rainforest and plenty of areas to relax and bask in the sun. 7 of the islands have basic accommodation options, but many visitors sleep on overnight boats.
Fraser Island
This place holds the title as the world's largest "sand island" and can only be reached by ferry from the east coast of Queensland. This is a camping and eco-tourism destination with enough to keep you occupied for a couple of days. You've got the pure water of Lake Mckenzie, the spring-fed water of Lake Wabby, tall rainforests, and endless sandy beaches, which includes SS Maheno shipwreck. Watch out for the dingoes that freely roam across the island.
Melbourne
Another major city spot is Melbourne, which is often voted as the most liveable city in the world, and for good reason. If you're a coffee fan, you can walk the labyrinth of lanes around Flinders where you'll find quaint little coffee shops on every turn, as well as some impressive street art. I'd recommend the Circle City Tram Tour which takes around 50 minutes to complete the loop, as well as stopping off at State Library Victoria and Old Melbourne Gaol for a tour. Finish the day walking round the Docklands Waterfront before admiring the skyline along Yarra River.
The Great Ocean Road
One of the most iconic roads on the planet to drive is the 243km stretch known as The Great Ocean Road, which is Australian National Heritage listed. This really is a beautiful stretch of road, and one where you'll want to constantly pull over and take photos of the picturesque landscape. The two highlights are definitely The Twelve Apostles, which are a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of Port Campbell, as well as Grampians National Park.
The Great Barrier Reef
The city of Cairns is the gateway to The Great Barrier Reef. It's a great city to explore, but the highlight is off the coast itself. Renowned as one of the most beautiful underwater places on earth and for very good reason. I chose to use Tusa Dive Cairns as the company who I booked my dive day trip with. If you don't dive, there's plenty or snorkel options available too, as well as liveaboard options for those wanting a longer excursion.
Uluru
Often referred to as "Ayers Rock" is Uluru, the most recognisable natural landmark in Australia. The location is in the Norther Territory with the nearest town being Alice Springs, which is located 450km away. Worth noting that you can reach Uluru by flight form Alice Springs. I'd recommend the base walk, which takes you around the entire 10km circumference of of the rock, as well as the scenic helicopter flight which will give you great aerial views of both Uluru and Kata Tjuta, which is 36 red rock domes. Camping here is great to admire sunset, but be sure to bring mosquito nets, as they're everywhere!
Accommodation Advice The accommodation I want to recommend is actually a hostel in Sydney. The Sydney Central YHA is great accommodation in perfect central location. There's a choice of both private and dorm rooms, as well as a social area to meet fellow travellers. The rooftop is a great place to relax after a day of exploring and admire views of the Sydney Opera House. Best price I found was via hostelworld.
Food Factor
My restaurant recommendation is Dundees Waterfront Restaurant in Cairns as they offer some of the best seafood I've ever tried in my life. There's both an indoor and outdoor dining area, which offers a laid back vibe and amazing food. If you want a sneak peek at the menu, click here. Additional tip - this is a great spot to impress a date.
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