Apart from being our home, Australia was where it all began for us. We explored the country extensively on an 18-month road trip, as well as grew up exploring our own backyard, so we feel we’re pretty well placed to answer this question.
Uluru Base Walk
But the places you visit will largely come down to personal interest and what you want to do in Australia. We love nature, and so many of our top places to visit are based around the outdoors, but we also know that visitors to Australia love to learn about our history, culture, food and wine, and unmissable landmarks.
So we’ve put our heads together and compiled a list of the most unmissable places in Aus to visit for any traveler to our home country. Whether you love nature like us, or want to discover Ancient aboriginal culture, or explore off-the-beaten-path, be sure to add these destinations to your itinerary.
Table Of Contents
The Best Places to Visit in Australia 1. Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast Things to Do in Mooloolaba Where to Stay in Mooloolaba 2. Lorne, Great Ocean Road Things to Do in Lorne Where to Stay in Lorne 3. Perth, Western Australia Things to Do in Perth Where to Stay in Perth 4. Gold Coast, Queensland Things to Do on the Gold Coast Where to Stay on the Gold Coast 5. Whitehaven Beach, The Whitsunday Islands Things to Do in The Whitsunday Islands Where to Stay in The Whitsunday Islands 6. Sydney, New South Wales Things to Do in Sydney Where to Stay in Sydney 7. Fraser Island, Queensland Things to Do on Fraser Island Where to Stay in Fraser Island 8. Hobart, Tasmania Things to Do in Hobart Where to Stay in Hobart 9. Darwin, Northern Territory Things to Do in Darwin Where to Stay in Darwin 10. Uluru, Red Centre Things to Do in Uluru Where to Stay in Uluru 11. Cairns Things to Do in Cairns Where to Stay in Cairns Tours of Australia
The Best Places to Visit in Australia
1. Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast
If you’re looking for a top family-friendly beach destination in Australia, it’s hard to go past Mooloolaba and not fall in love. This coastal destination is situated in the middle of the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland .
The beach is patrolled seven days a week so is a popular spot for swimming, and it even made the Top 10 Safest Beaches in Queensland list !
There’s a beautiful shaded BBQ grassed area to relax, right next to the kids’ playground, and across the road from many chic restaurants and cafes.
But there is more than just a beautiful beach here, as it turns out, there’s plenty of attractions to visit too:
Things to Do in Mooloolaba
Sea Life Mooloolaba provides an interactive and engaging experience with the underwater world. Sea Life is home to thousands of marine life including sharks, seals, turtles, stingrays, tropical fish, and Australia’s largest collection of jellyfish! Our kids loved the Octonauts themed room that’s playful and educational. But for Caz, her highlight was spending 20-minutes swimming with seals – you can even dive with sharks!
Wharf Mooloolaba looks out over Parrearra Channel and the wealthy homes on Minyama Island. Jump on the Classic River Ferry and take a canal tour or relax on the deck of the Wharf Tavern . There are a few restaurants and cafes, shops and ice cream parlours in the vicinity.
Fish on Parkyn. Drive along Parkyn Pde to the legendary Fish on Parkyn for a bucket of famous Mooloolaba prawns.
Alex Headland to Point Cartwright Coastal walk. Start from surfers point at Alex and walk along the headland for panoramic ocean views into Mooloolaba. A short boardwalk takes you through the dune forest to Point Cartwright. Allow 90-minutes return (depending on how many coffee breaks).
Australia Zoo is probably Australia’s most famous zoo, founded by the late great Steve Irwin. You feel the passion and animal love very strongly – we’ve been scores of time – in fact, I used to work there and helped construct the African animal enclosures! It’s a fantastic day out for the family where you can feed kangaroos, visit the African savannah and see a broad range of Australian animals. Its famous Wildlife Warrior croc show held in the Crocoseum is a definite highlight.
Aussie World is a fun family theme park but without the crowds of the Gold Coast parks and your entry price covers unlimited rides. Whilst there are no upside down roller coasters for the thrill seekers, it offers vintage family fun including the wild mouse, the plunge (log ride), dodgem cars, a ferris wheel, giant swing and giant slide.
Eumundi Markets. Said to be Australia’s premier artisan market, Eumundi Markets offers original artworks, homewares, fashion, jewellery, and amazing food. Open every Saturday 7am-2pm and Wednesdays 8am-1.30pm
Drive 40 minutes north and you’re in Noosa , one of the most popular holiday places in Queensland. Surrounded by river, beach, hinterland, and national park the Noosa region is an incredible place to play. Get there early for a morning walk along the coastal track within Noosa Heads National Park from the surf club to Tea Tree Bay. Enjoy a swim in one of its many hidden beaches, and if you have the stamina, walk all the way to Sunshine Beach (5.4km one-way)
Caloundra sits at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast and has come of age recently. Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is a water activity we love to do as a family, and a top place to do it is during sunrise at Golden Beach. Grab a board from the friendly folks at Golden Beach Hire who also rent out kayaks.
The Ginger Factory in Yandina is a popular tourist destination and even for the locals who visit regularly for a coffee with friends in the cafe. Start your visit with ginger scones and ginger tea and let your kids decorate their ginger bread men. Then jump aboard the Ginger Steam Train for a ride around the property to learn all about the ginger factory. The Overboard boat ride is also a hit with the kids as you sail past displays of different nations trying to find the hidden Gingerbread man.
Whilst the Sunny Coast is most well known for its coastal charm, consider a drive in the Hinterland. The Glass House Mountains are spectacular. These 16 volcanic crags that rise up dramatically from the landscape are said to be 20 million years old and a part of the navigational landmarks once used by Aborigines to find their way. Drop into the visitors centre then head to The Lookout , a short drive from town where you’re treated to an incredible 180-degree panoramic view of the mountain peaks.
For more exquisite views of the Glasshouse Mountains, visit the Maleny Botanic Gardens which have 6-kilometres of walking paths through terraced gardens, past secret waterfalls, over ponds and amongst colourful plants.
For a spot of boutique shopping, check out the charming villages of Maleny and Montville. They’re famous for their thriving arts community and have many artisan shops, boutique clothes, crafts and galleries for you to peruse.
In Montville, relax at Mayfield Patisserie & Chocolates for a mug of coffee and a yummy treat – and magic views over the valley to the coast!
Where to Stay in Mooloolaba
Mantra Mooloolaba Beach
Mantra Mooloolaba Beach sits at the northern end of the beach offering views of the ocean or the hinterland. Step out of your front door and you’re on the Esplanade in the thick of Mooloolaba’s best restaurants, cafes, and shopping.
They have fully furnished one, two and three bedroom apartments each with a private balcony.
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To learn more and see prices and availability, click here.
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Use these guides to help you plan a trip to the Sunshine Coast: A Complete Guide To the Noosa Hinterland, Queensland, don’t miss the Noosa Everglades , The Great Beach Drive Road Trip is an incredible adventure, what to do on the Sunshine Coast away from the beaches , stunnign beaches to love on the Sunshine Coast , and a romantic trip to the Sunshine Coast hinterland .
2. Lorne, Great Ocean Road
Great Ocean Road – one of the best places to visit in Australia
The Great Ocean Road (GOR) is famous for being one of the best drives in the world and extends along the Southern Australia coast, between Torquay near Melbourne and near Adelaide .
Lorne is a picturesque town situated perfectly for a getaway and a base to explore the highlights.
Lorne sits on the shores of Louttit Bay about two hours from Melbourne, and has a unique environment where the beach meets the rainforest.
There’s a certain charm with great cafes, unique boutique shops, galleries and the Otway National Park is on your doorstep.
Things to Do in Lorne
Lorne Beach
The beach is lovely for a walk either early morning or late afternoon. Stop at the Lorne Beach Pavilion for a coffee, or wine, with uninterrupted views of the water.
There’s a lovely walk along the beach and cliffs from the Erskine River to Lorne Pier. The fisherman’s co-op sells fresh seafood from the morning’s catch here.
For spectacular views, a short drive up the hill behind Lorne is Teddys Lookout . Drive up to the picnic area at the end of George Street and walk a short distance to enjoy the stunning views of the GOR from the lookout.
The Lorne –> Apollo Bay Drive has some of the most picturesque scenery in the region. The GOR hugs the cliff-face as it winds through the Great Otway National Park and rolling farmland – be prepared to stop for photos a lot. Want to see koalas in the wild? The best spot is Kennet River along the Grey River Road , just look for the crowds of people and follow their gazes up for quick koala spotting. Otway Lighthouse Road is another popular spot.
From Lorne to Apollo Bay
Once a sleepy fishing village, Apollo Bay is now a modest seaside town of 2,000 people with plenty of cafes, restaurants, and a community market each Saturday. In April it hosts one of the best three-day music festivals in Victoria, the Apollo Bay Music Festival . For panoramic views over the harbour, head up to Mariners Lookout located at the northern end of town off Mariners Lookout Road.
Just down the road at Cape Otway are some of the best walks in the country, and the Cape Otway Lighthouse is Australia’s oldest lighthouse still in operation today, you can take a tour and climb to the top 90-metres high with breathtaking views of Bass Straight.
When you stay in Lorne, the Twelve Apostles and many other famous GOR landmarks in Port Campbell National Park are within reach. The 12 Apostles are the star of the show, and these massive limestone structures tower 45-metres above the ocean and were formed some 20 million years ago as the sea gradually eroded the soft limestone cliffs.
Just down the road from the visitors Centre are the Gibson Steps . Walk down these steps on to the beach for a close-up view.
Loch Ard Gorge is amazing and only a few minutes drive west of The Twelve Apostles. The gorge is named after the ship Loch Ard , which ran aground on nearby Muttonbird Island at the end of a three-month journey from England. Also worth visiting is the London Bridge, The Grotto, and The Arch.
Visit Bells Beach. One of Australia’s most famous and best surfing beaches is Bells, home to the annual Rip Curl Pro Surfing Competition and is the powerful point break of folklore. Heard of the movie Point Break? That’s our Bells! There’s an impressive cliff-face and the views from the cliff-top car park are spectacular and a great spot to watch local surfers.
Mariners Lookout
Where to Stay in Lorne
Mantra Lorne
Mantra Lorne sits across from the beach and a short walk to all the cafes and restaurants on the main street. You’ll feel like your tucked away in a tropical resort, but only a 5 minute walk to town.
Accommodation rooms have all been set around one of the oldest guest houses in Victoria making Mantra Lorne a part of Lorne’s rich cultural history, with a range of modern apartments and heritage hotel rooms to suit all tastes. Read our review of the Mantra Lorne on the Great Ocean Road.
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Use these guides to help you plan your trip: Top attractions on the Great Ocean Road and Towns on the Great Ocean Road to visit
3. Perth, Western Australia
Perth has an attractive setting on the Swan River and continues to evolve as a destination. Especially the city centre in regards to more cafes, restaurants and thriving small bar scene.
And the Elizabeth Quay waterfront development on the Swan River appears to be similar to Sydney’s Darling Harbour.
Throw in stunning beaches that are a lot less crowded than its east coast counterparts, and Perth makes for a great short break!
Things to Do in Perth
Kings Park is a stunning location overlooking the Swan River with sweeping views of the city skyline. The park covers more than 400 hectares and is the largest inner city park in the southern hemisphere, even larger than New York’s Central Park. Walk amongst the tree tops on the elevated bridge, wander the pathways, the botanical gardens and picnic amongst the gum trees. F0r eats and drinks there’s a kiosk, the Botanical Cafe and Fraser’s Restaurant.
Catch Sunset at Cottesloe Beach. Perth’s sunsets are legendary. If you haven’t seen the sun set over the ocean, WA is where it’s at. Cottesloe is a 15-minute drive from the city and one of the best places to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. The crystal clear water makes it a popular place for swimming and a great spot for families to have picnics under shady Norfolk Pines.
Take a day trip to Rottnest Island . Located a short 18-kilometre ferry ride off the coast, it’s a premier island getaway with over 60 picturesque beaches and bays. Rotto, as the locals call it, is best explored by bicycle, there are no cars on the island making it a relaxing experience for people of all ages. Other activities on the island include tennis, golf, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and diving.
Visit Historic Fremantle. Freo ” is located 30 minutes from downtown Perth and is dotted with cafes, bars, seafood restaurants and is known as the ‘ world’s best-preserved example of a 19th-century port streetscape’ with heritage buildings and a fascinating convict and maritime history. Grab a coffee on Cappuccino Strip, wander the markets, visit the old prison, and don’t miss Little Creatures Brewery on the water for delicious wood-fired pizzas and of course, great craft beer!
Visit Hillary’s Boar Harbour, an impressive development with a lot going on. There are numerous attractions to keep the kids happy with the swimming beach, water slides, playgrounds, trampolines, and mini-golf. For us parents, there’s a range of cafes, shops, restaurants, cycle paths plus all the boating and water activities. Spend an hour or a whole day and watch the sun go down over the ocean.
Bike or walk along the Swan River. You’ll see lots of bikers and walkers in Perth, and why not with the climate and scenery on offer year round. The communities of Bassendean, Bayswater, and Belmont boasts over 28-kilometres of river foreshore. And you can even take your bike on a train as a number of bike rides connect from train stations along the Midland Rail Line.
Take a walking tour. Perth is a city made for walking and one of the best ways to start a visit to any new destination is with a walking tour to get your bearings and tips from a knowledgeable local. Two feet and a heartbeat offer tours in Perth and Fremantle as you stroll the city streets and laneways learning about the history, culture, heritage, and colourful past of the cities.
Visit Swan Valley. This is Western Australia’s oldest wine region and you can design your own tour based on your personal wine preferences. Grab a copy of the Swan Valley Wine Trail map at the Swan Valley Visitor Centre and spend your afternoon sampling the region’s premium and award-winning wines, a leisurely lunch overlooking the vineyards, and browse the art galleries.
Take a trip to Bunbury. Just two hours south of Perth, Bunbury offers a relaxing getaway with a surprising number of things to do. No need to drive all the way to Monkey Mia to see dolphins in the wild, the Dolphin Discovery Centre offers a wild dolphin experience and inside the centre is a wide variety of interactive exhibitions and talks. Nearby there’s a quiet and lovely beach, water sports to enjoy, and a decent cafe scene.
Visit Ferguson Valley. A growing wine and food region with rolling hills offering views stretching out to the coast of Bunbury. Lesser known than Margaret River of course, but worth exploring for its humbleness and home-grown flavour. Check out St Aidan Winery, Ferguson Falls Winery.
And don’t miss Gnomesville. Thousands of gnomes from all around the world have been brought together and created a community. Located by the roundabout at the junction of Wellington Mill and Ferguson Roads, Wellington Mill, approximately 30-minutes drive from Bunbury.
Where to Stay in Perth
Mantra on Hay Street, Perth
Mantra on Hay Street is conveniently located in the CBD, and the WACA if you’re in town for a cricket match. Just a 10-minute walk and you’re at the Hay Street Mall and everything the Perth city centre has to offer.
Or hop on the free shuttle bus outside your door and discover some of the city’s top tourist spots including Kings Park, Northbridge and Harbour Town.
Mantra on Hay has one, two, and three-bed apartments plus hotel rooms. Read our full review of the Mantra on Hay Street Perth.
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To learn more and see prices and availability, click here.
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We have a few posts to hep you: exciting things to do in Perth , places to stay in Perth , what to do in nearby Bunbury, and what to do on Rottnest Island
4. Gold Coast, Queensland
Burleigh Heads
Th e Gold Coast region needs no introduction. It’s Australia’s premier holiday destination with enough activities and attractions to fill your itinerary for weeks!
The Gold Coast is all about beaches and sunshine. It has so many attractions for all the family, from world-class theme parks to weekend markets to wildlife sanctuaries.
It’s also a relaxed and vibrant part of Australia, with a huge surf culture and an ethos that beckons you to go slow.
Things to Do on the Gold Coast
The best thing to do on the Gold Coast is to spend the day on one of the Gold Coast’s famous beaches. Go for a swim or surf, play on the sand, relax on the beachfront grass beneath rows of pine trees, and have a guilt free ice-cream – you’re on holidays! Family favourite beaches include:
Rainbow Bay – Gentle waves, safe swimming conditions, year round surf patrols, stunning sunsets from the surf club.
Coolangatta / Greenmount Beach – north facing beach protected by the headland. Generally safe with low waves and two surf lifesaving clubs and a playground.
Currumbin Creek – popular with families for watersports like surfing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding.
Burleigh Heads – voted #1 by travelers on Trip Advisor and is one of the best swimming, body boarding and surfing spots on the coast (with a cafe scene to rival anywhere). Tallebudgera Creek – top swimming spot for kids and stand up paddle boarding
Broadbeach – towards the northern end of the coast. Long, clean stretch of beach and bordered by large grasslands and a big playground.
Visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Cuddle a koala, feed kangaroos, watch a croc feeding or take on the extreme high ropes challenge. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary sanctuary is well known for feeding hundreds of wild lorikeets who descend upon you from the surrounding trees to get a lick at the sweet honey nectar that you hold out in a bowl in your hands. If you don’t want to pay the admission price to see all the animals, FREE lorikeet feeding takes place every day at 8am and 4pm.
Feed the Rainbow Lorikeets at Currumbin
Hit the Theme Parks. The Gold Coast is the theme park capital of Australia, with attractions designed to suit all ages. You can ride roller-coasters, meet your fave favourite movie characters, or get wet at one of the water parks. Some of our favorite theme parks are:
Movie World is for the movie lovers in the house.
Dreamworld is the biggest theme park with attractions for all ages.
Sea World is for the marine animal lovers.
And as the name suggests, Wet’n’Wild is all about getting wet and going wild on the slides.
Take a walk. Get up at 6am on the Goldy an everyone out and about walking or running. You can’t help but get caught up in the energy of the place. You don’t have to drag the kids out of bed at 6am, and it’s not just the coastal area that offers great walking opportunities. Here are our favorite Gold Coast walks :
Burleigh Heads National Park – grab a coffee then catch the magnificent sunrise before doing the 2.5-kilometre coastal walk around the headland to Tallebudgera Creek.
Coolangatta to Point Dangar – great little coastal walk via Greenmount and Rainbow Bay. I suggest saving it for late afternoon as the sunset views from Rainbow Bay over to Surfers Paradise are magical.
Federation Walk – 3.5 kilometre pedestrian walkway located at the northern end of the Gold Coast Oceanway on the Southport Spit.
Tamborine Mountain – in the third oldest National Park in the world with 12 walking tracks, each one is no longer than 3-kilometres.
The Oceanway – 36 kilometre network of pathways which connects The Spit at the north to Point Danger in the south.
View from Burleigh Heads National Park
Hit the markets. From fashion to farmers markets, to art & craft, to music to everything in between the Gold Coast has got you covered. Here are our favorite markets in the Gold Coast:
Burleigh Farmers Markets – Every Saturday at Burleigh Heads State School this gourmet food market with locally grown fruit and vegetables, bakery, meat, fish, deli, plus live entertainment and a great vibe!
Miami Marketta – A locals favourite that will have you feeling like you’re in Thailand. Every Friday and Saturday night it comes alive with street food, live music, boutique wine and craft beer.
The Village Markets – every 1st & 3rd Sunday at Burleigh Heads State School. The original boutique fashion and lifestyle market plus live local music and food from around the world thanks to the lineup of food trucks.
Marina Mirage Farmers Market – held every Saturday. Located at Seaworld Drive on the Broadwater Spit, Main Beach, opposite the Sheraton Mirage Resort.
Carrara Markets – over 500 stalls and a Gold Coast institution with locals and tourists looking for a bargain.
Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets – every Wednesday, Friday & Sunday nights along the beach Esplanade at Surfers.
Famous Beachfront Markets – each Sunday in a different beachside location from Broadbeach, to Coolangatta, to Burleigh
Visit Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland for a bit of green behind the gold. The 4-kilometre Twin Falls circuit is a lovely walk amongst waterfalls. You can start this walk from either the Tallanbana Picnic Area or Canyon Lookout, and follow the track in an anti-clockwise direction. Canyon Lookout is an easy 30m amble out of your car and you can have spectacular views from Canyon lookout over the sheer walls of The Canyon. From here you can also do a short 10-minute section of the Twin Falls walk and see the falls plunging over the side. Springbrook is also home to the spectacular Natural Bridge and Best of All Lookout.
Binna Burra and o’Reilly’s Rainforest retreat in the Lamington National Park are als o amazing places to visit on the Gold Coast.
Twin Falls
Surf the iconic Byron Bay . It’s a 1.15 hour drive from Surfers Paradise and is that legendary beach town that’s been attracting thousands of surfers from around the world for years. But it’s not just for surfers. All types of people come for the National Parks, the arts and culture, the markets, the festivals, the food, the shopping, the health retreats, to hang with hippies, to be seen, and the vibe. And you will see the most spectacular sunsets and sunrises. A must do is the Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk .
Just over the NSW border, is Kingscliff . This is one of those great beachy towns with a relaxed vibe that’s just enough off the beaten track that it doesn’t lose its appeal. There’s a nice beach and cafe strip, friendly locals, and the pretty Cudgen Creek is a top spot for the kids to enjoy some water activities. The Kingscliff Beach Hotel is a popular spot for lunch.
Cudgen Creek, Kingscliff
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Use this North Coast NSW road trip guide to help you plan what to see and do from the Gold Coast to Lennox Head, NSW. It’s one of the best road trips in Australia. Here is a 2-day itinerary for the Gold Coast , and a list of free things to do on the Gold Coast.
Where to Stay on the Gold Coast
Mantra on Cavill
