Top Activities on an Australian Vacation

Australia is a vast country – almost as large as the contiguous United States – and it is impossible to experience everything that the country has to offer in one visit. Some attractions should not be missed. These include both man-made and natural wonders as well as the fascinating culture and traditions of the country’s very first inhabitants.

Most visitors fly into Sydney, which has one of the most spectacular settings of any city in the world. Sydney is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, although just visiting the city’s many beautiful beaches is a popular activity. It also boasts two of the most instantly recognizable landmarks anywhere – the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. If you have a head for heights, do not miss the opportunity to walk across the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge – it is a once in a lifetime experience.

One highlight of a visit to Australia is the chance to experience the culture of the native Aborigines. Plenty of places throughout the country have Aboriginal art and crafts for sale, especially in the country’s famous Outback. The isolated town of Alice Springs makes an excellent base for exploring Aboriginal culture; and to really immerse yourself, consider taking an Aboriginal Culture Tour – although you may be expected to eat traditional delicacies such as wasps.

No visit to Australia is complete without seeing one of the wonders of nature – the Great Barrier Reef. The reef’s statistics are staggering – it stretches for about 1,200 miles along the eastern coast of Australia, and is home to an estimated 1,500 species of fish. It’s supposedly the only living feature on earth visible from the moon. There are several ways to experience the reef – you can sail around it and fly over it; but to dive in the clearwaters is a memorable experience.

Australia’s other big natural wonder is Uluru, or Ayers Rock, which is located about 260 miles from Alice Springs. You can see the rock that is considered the world’s largest monolith by flying over it, driving around it or hiking up it. Various tours are available from both Alice Springs and the resort of Ayers Rock. If you visit this resort, make sure you see the rock at sunset – it is an unforgettable sight.

If you have the time, a three day journey by train from Sydney to Perth on the Indian Pacific is considered one of the world’s great rail journeys. It is fair to say that there are no sights along the way, other than the hypnotic spectacle of the vast emptiness of much of Australia. The trip includes the longest straight stretch of rail track anywhere, which is an almost 300-mile stretch across the Nullarbor Plain.

If you prefer to drive, a driving trip through Australia’s legendary Outback is a great way to see the country and appreciate its sheer size. You may not encounter much traffic but watch out for the so-called road trains - huge tractor-trailers up to fifty yards long; as well as Australia’s unique animals and birds. Broken Hill is a good place to soak up the atmosphere of the Outback. It is the home of the legendary Flying Doctor service, as well as a ghost town and an opal mine.

Most people imagine Australia to be dry and dusty, but the far north of the country is close to the equator and much of it consists of tropical rainforests. Townsville and Port Douglas both make good bases for exploring the tropical north, which contains some of the world’s oldest rain forests, as well as a huge variety of animal life. Take one of the many off-road guided tours that are available, or view the rainforest from the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, near Cairns.

Located in Australia’s Northern Territories is the huge Kakadu National Park, a World Heritage Sight which covers over 4 million acres. A favorite activity is simply observing the wildlife and the park boasts an estimated 75 species of reptile and over 200 species of birds. The park is also one of the few places in Australia where Aborigines live off the land and exist much as they have done for centuries.

Australian wines are considered to be some of the best in the world and you can spend an enjoyable vacation visiting vineyards and sampling wines. Many people visit the well-known Hunter Valley wine region because of its close proximity to Sydney, although the nicest region for wine tasting is arguably the Barossa region, a German-speaking area about an hour away from Adelaide.

One activity you should not miss is simply getting to know the Australian people, who are friendly and outgoing. The language is the same – although you may be puzzled by references to mysterious things such as “sheilas”, “billabongs” and the ever-popular “shrimp on the Barbie”!