Best Things To Do In Australia
With an area spanning 7.69 million sq km to explore, you can be sure there’s no dearth of things to do in Australia. The country Down Under includes the main continent, the island of Tasmania to its southeast, and several other smaller ones. It boasts such a vast array of geographies and experiences that it has something for everyone.
Best time to visit Australia
As the country is below the Equator, its climate follows the seasonal patterns of the southern hemisphere. For summer activities and beach vacays offering the most interesting things to do in Australia, the best time to visit would be from December to February, although snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef is also pleasant in the relatively cooler June to August period. Winter holidays are best for skiing, of course. Consider the shoulder season (March to May and September to November) for lower prices and fewer crowds.
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The 10 best things to do in Australia
If you ask residents or inveterate travellers for tips on the best things to do in Australia, you’re bound to get a cascade of recommendations that will sound so tempting that you’ll be confused about which ones to pick! Of the many, many options, these would be our top 10 choices for you:
- Catch a show at the Sydney Opera House: Be it a concert, a workshop, or a theatrical production, it will be all the more memorable when you’re experiencing it inside that iconic structure.
- Be wowed by a helicopter ride over the 12 Apostles: The almost 50-metre-tall limestone towers jutting out of the foaming sea are a spectacular sight, especially from up in the air. The helicopter tours go over Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, and the Bay of Islands, giving you a very different view of the Great Ocean Road.
- Enjoy the Great Barrier Reef: Head to a spot like Green Island to get your snorkel on, scuba dive, or do a Semi-Submarine tour that takes you underwater without the effort or the wet swimsuit!
- Witness sunrise over Uluru: Also known as Ayers Rock, this ancient sandstone monolith has spiritual significance and natural splendour.
- Visit a Koala and/or Kangaroo sanctuary: You’ll find these in almost every region so it’s not hard to weave one into your Australia itinerary. But be sure to pick one that actually does good work towards wildlife conservation, and prioritises the wellbeing of the marsupials, rather than just provide a photo op with you cuddling or patting them.
- Soak in the vibe at Bondi Beach: Whether you want to swim, surf, sunbathe or simply people watch, Bondi’s blue waters and white sands beckon. Explore more with our selection of the best restaurants and cafes along Bondi Beach.
- Savour a wine tour: Be it the Barossa Valley near Adelaide (Australia’s largest wine-growing region) or the Yarra Valley near Melbourne, there are multiple cellar doors to explore, where you can visit the vineyards and sample the wines. You could even do a sunrise hot-air balloon ride over the vineyards followed by a bubbly-laced breakfast!
- Fall in love with the Penguins at Phillip Island: Watching scores of Little Penguins returning from the sea to their homes on the shore every evening is a special treat.
- Be enchanted by the Blue Mountains: Ride the Scenic Cableway, Scenic Skyway, and Scenic Railway, to see this magnificent region to the best advantage.
- Drive down the Great Ocean Road: One of Australia’s most scenic routes, this one has some beautiful stops along the way. Apart from the 12 Apostles, you’ll appreciate the chance to see the historic Loch Ard Gorge, charming beach towns like Anglesea and Lorne, and places rich in wildlife such as Warrnambool and Cape Otway.
Things to do in Australia with family and kids
Australia’s big cities have a host of kid-friendly attractions. For example, in Sydney, there’s the Sea Life Aquarium and Madame Tussaud’s, Melbourne has the Legoland Discovery Centre and Monopoly Dreams, and both boast of a Luna Park that’s richly retro yet great fun. There’s also Gumbaya World, which blends slides and rides with an easy introduction to Australian animal species with close-up interactions (although the Melbourne Zoo’s fabulous behind-the-scenes tours and more eco-conscious approach will appeal to more conscientious parents). Go further afield to find a glorious underwater world at Sea Life Sunshine Coast aquarium at Mooloolaba near Brisbane, crazy film-themed coasters at Warner Bros. Movie World and a variety of thrilling slides at Wet’nWild Gold Coast, both near Oxenford in Queensland, amazing hedge mazes and a miniature town in Tasmania at Tasmazia & The Village of Lower Crackpot, and everything from butterflies to dinosaurs and an Alice in Wonderland-theme at Coffs Harbour Butterfly House in Bonville, New South Wales!
But don’t limit your child’s (and your own) experience by only visiting theme parks. Australia has wonderful wild adventures that are great for the family and perfectly safe too. Treks to the outback, bush trails, and visits to the caves at the mystical Uluru, are all great options for families.
Get more inspiration with our selection of the best theme parks around the world.
If you’re in Cairns, head to Outback Queensland, where you can see a colossal collection of dinosaur fossils and massive models of dinosaurs. For another truly unique spectacle, take a flight from Perth to Christmas Island, an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, between October and December to get a glimpse of the annual red crab migration. If the date of the migration coincides correctly, your family might just think Christmas came early when they see millions of these crabs congregating in one place, ready to head out to sea to spawn!
Instead of only looking at wildlife, the entire family can sign up for a programme that helps you learn about Australia’s unique creatures and do something active to make a difference in their conservation. For example, you can help craft wooden homes for the Little Penguins at Phillip Island; join koala expert Janine Duffy of Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours in a bush walk at the You Yangs and help her clear the wild of plants that are harmful to koalas; or accompany wildlife researcher Dr Peggy Rismiller to understand how the many species on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island rely on each other. These are just some of the many meaningful things to do in Australia with kids.
A fun day out that mixes heritage with guaranteed giggles all around is a ride on the Puffing Billy Railway from Melbourne, where you can chug through forests and farmland with your legs hanging over the carriage’s sills! This fun activity has been an Ozzie family favourite for generations.
Plan your perfect Australian retreat with our Melbourne itinerary.
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Book your stay at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney via Agoda.com
Exploring Australia at night
The great outdoors offers plenty of things to do in Australia, even at night. Star gazing and Astro tours at Uluru are truly magical, and you can even camp out all night at some sites. The ocean may seem rather mysterious (and a bit scary) after dark but when you’re armed with a bright underwater torch and a brave soul, you can enjoy night dives at the Great Barrier Reef.
If you prefer city life, post-sunset panoramic views are easily achievable by booking dinner at one of the restaurants in a tall tower… almost every city has one! And if it’s the vibrant nightlife you’re seeking, the big cities have it all, pumping nightclubs, stylish waterfront bars, karaoke lounges, strip clubs, seedy dives, and everything in between. Sydney is the party capital, while Melbourne is a bit more mellow, but just as fun.
From pub hopping to surfing, here’s our selection of the best things to do in Sydney.
Free things to do in Australia
If you thought all the best things to do in Australia were only about spending some serious moolah, think again. All the cities have beautiful public spaces where you can walk, relax, and enjoy good coffee and an affordable snack. Several parks and botanical gardens do not charge an entrance fee. The graffiti and street art scenes are ripe and worth exploring. Melbourne’s laneways in the CBD, especially ones like Hosier, Union, AC/DC, and other locations across the city are tourist attractions thanks to their edgy and thought-provoking art. But anywhere in Australia, neighbourhood walks are the perfect way to truly get to know a place without spending any money, so grab a map — digital or paper — and get out there. If you prefer to be indoors, there are 184 museums across the country which you can enter for free to enjoy everything from anthropology to art.
From enriching guided tours to serene walks, these are the best free things to do in Sydney.
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Things to do at Australian airports
With plenty of restaurants, cafes, stores, and lounges, a layover at all the major airports in Australia can be quite comfortable, as you can spend time dining, even sampling some Australian wines, and shopping to your heart’s content. Some of the lounges are open to all at a fee, irrespective of airline or travel class. Expect curated menus, unlimited WiFi, charging points, and shower areas.
Australia for couples
Australia is great for a romantic holiday, be it for an anniversary, a birthday, a honeymoon, a babymoon, or even simply a ‘just because’ trip. Most of the top things to do in Australia are activities that lend themselves very well to a couple’s vacation. Helicopter rides, wine tastings, fabulous meals, wonderful shows, all kinds of shopping, and adventures like ballooning, canoeing, glamping, and wildlife experiences… they’re all things that can make for really memorable moments with a partner. Rooftop and sky decks abound so you can plan plenty of romantic candlelit dinners with a view. Perth even offers a ‘harvest your own pearl’ experience, including letting you and your partner take home that South Sea cultured pearl you harvested together!
Explore more with our guide to affordable honeymoon destinations.
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Book your stay at Oakwood Premier Melbourne via Agoda.com
Things to do in Australia on a budget
Travel: Getting around in this huge country can be expensive. Joining a group tour for road trips can work to your advantage since fuel prices are high. If the distances are huge, it might be more practical to book a cheap flight to an airport nearby than to drive.
Stay: There are plenty of hostels, bed & breakfasts, and farm stays for those who don’t want to spend a lot on accommodation. You can also stay at campsites and, if you’re game to rough it, go for an Australian swag (similar to a sleeping bag), which is convenient in summer and as long as you’re stopping in places that allow you to sleep there and provide you washroom facilities.
Eat: When it comes to dining on a budget, it’s easy if you’re in the capital cities, as there are plenty of supermarkets where you can pick up essentials. The wet markets too have a number of stalls, where you can enjoy freshly made baked goods, cheese, seafood, etc at much lower rates than you would have to shell out in a restaurant. Eating at a local pub is also a more affordable option.
Do: City walks, park strolls, and beach visits are free. Many wildlife reserves offer free orientation tours, and several institutions have discounted or free days, especially for students. Do a little homework in your sphere of interest, and you’ll find plenty of things to do in Australia even if you don’t have a fortune to spend. Explore more with our guide to the best beaches in Australia.
Best shopping places
In Melbourne, the Queen Victoria Market is one of the most vibrant, filled with 600+ businesses that cater to your every shopping impulse. The Queen Victoria Building in Sydney is much more swish, with the most stunning colonial architecture and high-end designer labels on offer. In Western Australia, the Fremantle Market in Fremantle is the place to visit for a charming atmosphere, fresh produce and local craft. Pacific Fair in Gold Coast is one of Australia’s largest shopping centres. You’ll find everything from luxury to high-street fashion, entertainment, and food.
shop the best travel experiences here
(Feature Image Credit: saita_yoko/Shutterstock)
Related: Most Beautiful Places To Visit In Australia
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
On average, a weeklong vacation in Australia will cost you about USD 3,000 per person. Flights to Australia are expensive, and the average cost of accommodation per night in the bigger cities can be steep too (close to USD 150 for a mid-range hotel). Food costs depend on where you decide to eat, so you can save by eating at cafes and markets instead of booking upscale eateries.
Several museums across Australia are dedicated to everything from art to war. Discovering the diversity of the street art scene in cities like Melbourne is also one of the many cultural things to do in Australia. But going even further back in history from the times of the colonial settlers, Australia’s Aboriginal First Nations people are said to be the oldest continuous culture on Earth. Most contemporary Australians acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 65,000 years. There are many cultural things to do in Australia, such as doing a road trip to see ancient Aboriginal rock art, visit sacred sites, hear traditional stories and forage for bush medicine and tucker; a walking tour to explore the rich Gadigal heritage of the Royal Botanic Garden and Sydney Harbour; or an immersive tour of Adelaide CBD to see it from a First Nations perspective.
Yes, Australia has almost 12,000 beaches, considering it is an island and boasts a coastline of 60,000 km! They say that if you visited one every day, it would still take more than 32 years to go to them all. Most of them are beautiful and unspoilt, some are great for swimming, while others are famous as surfing locations. The most famous is Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Australians dress quite casually, so it’s acceptable to wear shorts and t-shirts to most tourist attractions. If you’re dining at a high-end restaurant, a shirt, jacket, and trousers with closed shoes for men and elegant attire for women would be appropriate. Dress up to visit the opera, dress down for most other things. Layer up for the changeable weather.
With the majority of Opal gems stones in the world originating from here, shopping for these would be one of the top things to do in Australia. Boomerangs decorated with Aboriginal art are one of the most popular souvenirs. If you are interested in musical instruments and are prepared to pay the high shipping costs, you could bring back a Didgeridoo too. Tea tree oil, honey, and coffee beans are some of the indigenously made products the country is famous for. And if you’re looking for Aussie labels, take home some of their excellent wine from one of the 65 wine regions. Chocolate biscuits called Tim Tams, Haigh’s Chocolates, and Ugg boots are all unmistakable Australian buys and great for gifting.
Sydney’s spectacular Mardi Gras in February and March is one of the world’s most popular carnivals and a matter of great pride for the LGBTQI+ community in Australia. Around the same time is Adelaide Fringe, the largest arts festival Down Under. And mid to end April, you can be part of Parrtjima, an Aboriginal festival of lights which brings alive the red desert of Alice Springs with art installations and projection mapping. Christmas is a big part of Australian culture too, with iconic stores lighting up and creating beautiful windows, important city buildings all dressed for the occasion with lights and projections, and lots of fun Christmas markets. So what if it’s summer in Australia in December?
Thrill seekers will enjoy treks in the great outback, bungee jumping and sky diving at many locations, snorkelling and scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, white water rafting on various rivers, swimming with white sharks at Manly Sea Life Sanctuary, abseiling and rock climbing at Glass House mountains, kite surfing at Byron Bay, and many other adventure activities.
Almost every big hotel chain has a presence in the bigger cities, each one contemporary and comfortable. If you’re looking for more old-world charm, then places like The Hotel Windsor (19th-century Victorian architecture dating back to 1883 AD) on Melbourne’s Spring Street and or Sydney’s The Fullerton at Martin’s Place (19th-century Victorian Italian Renaissance splendour inside the grand General Post Office), and The Grace (20th-century Neo-Gothic with Art Deco interiors) on York Street, might be more your thing.
None by road, as Australia is an island!
Written By
Priya Pathiyan
A chronicler of all things culture and lifestyle. Priya\’s forte is fresh perspective on everything. ..Read More
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