Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
Still one of the best reef systems on Earth despite bleaching headlines, with day trips running from Cairns and Port Douglas.
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Oceania
Things to do in Australia
A continent-sized country where the drive between stops is half the trip.
Explore Australia on the map →Budget$$$
Best for14-21 days
CapitalCanberra
VisaeVisitor or ETA required for most nationalities, apply online in advance
CurrencyAustralian dollar (AUD)
LanguagesEnglish
InternetExcellent in cities, limited in the outback
Typical lodging$60–$155/night
Driving sideLeft
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type I plug)
Time zoneUTC+8 to UTC+11 (three zones)
Emergency number000
Dialing code+61
★★★★★ Beaches★★★★★ Wildlife★★★★★ Adventure
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Tap water is safe to drink. Not customary.
Australia is the only country that is also an entire continent, home to more venomous species than anywhere on Earth despite being one of the safer countries to visit in practice. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on the planet and one of the only ones visible from space.
When to go
Southern summerDecember–February
Hot, dry, and the best beach weather in the south: also peak wildfire risk and the busiest, most expensive season.
Northern dry seasonMay–October
The only comfortable window to visit the tropical north: Kakadu, Darwin, and the Top End are humid and prone to flooding outside it.
Northern wet seasonNovember–April
Monsoon season across the north; dramatic storms and waterfalls, but some roads and parks close entirely.
Shoulder monthsMarch–May, September–November
Mild temperatures nationwide, making these the most comfortable months for a trip covering both the south and the outback.
20 things to do
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Wildlife & nature
6Road trip the Great Ocean Road
Limestone sea stacks, coastal cliffs, and small towns along one of the world's great scenic drives from Melbourne.
Explore Kakadu's wetlands and rock art
Australia's largest national park, holding some of the oldest continuously practiced rock art in the world alongside crocodile-filled wetlands.
Watch the penguin parade at Phillip Island
Wild little penguins come ashore at dusk every night of the year in one of Australia's most reliable wildlife shows.
Walk through the Daintree Rainforest
The world's oldest continually surviving rainforest, older than the Amazon, where reef meets jungle on Queensland's coast.
Spot kangaroos and koalas in the wild
Wildlife parks aside, wild kangaroos are common at dawn and dusk in coastal reserves, and koala sightings are frequent in eucalyptus forest.
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Culture & history
4Watch sunset over Uluru
The sacred sandstone monolith changes color as the sun drops, best seen from one of several designated viewing areas.
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
A guided ascent to the top of the bridge's arch for a panorama over the Opera House and harbour below.
Explore Melbourne's laneways and coffee culture
Hidden bars, street art, and a coffee scene locals take seriously enough to have shaped the city's identity around it.
Watch an AFL or cricket match
Australian Rules football or cricket at the MCG or SCG delivers one of the country's most electric sporting atmospheres.
▾
Food & markets
2Taste wine in the Barossa or Hunter Valley
Two of Australia's best-known wine regions, producing Shiraz and Semillon respectively across century-old family estates.
Eat fresh seafood at the Sydney Fish Market
One of the largest fish markets in the southern hemisphere, with dockside seafood platters best eaten at a plastic table by the water.
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Adventure & outdoors
6Surf at Bondi then walk the coastal path to Coogee
A classic Sydney coastal walk past ocean pools, cliffside views, and some of the city's best-known beaches.
Swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef
A remote reef on the west coast where whale sharks gather predictably each year, close enough to swim alongside on a guided tour.
Hike Tasmania's Overland Track
A six-day trek through alpine moorland and ancient rainforest between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair.
Road trip the Red Centre to Uluru
A multi-day drive from Alice Springs through the outback, taking in Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta on the way to Uluru.
Cage dive with great white sharks at Port Lincoln
One of the few places in the world offering regular great white shark cage diving, off South Australia's coast.
Dive a liveaboard on the outer Great Barrier Reef
Multi-day boat trips reach reef sections far healthier and less visited than the day-trip zones closer to shore.
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Coast & water
1Sail the Whitsundays to Whitehaven Beach
Pure white silica sand and swirling turquoise shallows in an island group anchored by the Great Barrier Reef.
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Slow days
1Watch the sunset from Kings Park, Perth
A hilltop park overlooking the Swan River and city skyline, an easy way to close out a day in Western Australia's capital.
Common questions
▾Is Australia safe to visit?
Yes. Australia is a safe, well-developed destination for tourists with low rates of violent crime. The practical risks travelers actually run into relate more to sun exposure, ocean currents and wildlife common sense than to crime.
▾How much does it cost to visit Uluru?
A park pass for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park costs AUD 38 for three days or AUD 50 for an annual pass, with children under 18 free. That's a modest cost relative to the flights and accommodation needed to reach this remote part of the Outback, which make up the bulk of a Uluru trip's budget.
▾How many days do you need in Australia?
This depends heavily on scope given the country's size: a single-region trip (just the east coast, or just Uluru and the Red Centre) works in 10-14 days, while combining multiple regions means factoring in significant domestic flight time.
▾Do I need a visa for Australia?
Most visitors, including from the US, UK, Canada and EU, need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or eVisitor visa, both quick, inexpensive online applications rather than a traditional visa process. Apply before you book flights, since approval can occasionally take longer than expected.
▾What's the best time to visit Australia?
This varies by region since Australia spans tropical and temperate zones: the south (Sydney, Melbourne) is best in its summer, December through February, while the tropical north (the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns) is best in its dry season, roughly May through October.
▾Is Australia expensive?
Australia reads as a $$$ destination: dining out, accommodation and car rental are on par with or above US prices in most cities. Costs come down noticeably if you self-cater and travel via campervan rather than relying on restaurants and hotels throughout.