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It’s definitely fun to travel overseas. But don’t forget that on our very own doorstep, there are iconic destinations which any Australian should visit in their lifetime. Here are seven of our favourites.
Ayers Rock, or Uluru, is one of Australia’s most famous natural landmarks and is located in the Northern Territory within Kata Tjuta National Park, 450km southwest of Alice Springs. Uluru is the world’s largest monolith and also an important Aboriginal sacred site. Visitors may wish to make the tough 1.6km ascent to the top or take a walking tour around the rock with an Aboriginal guide, learning about its fascinating history with the Uluru people and its importance in Dreamtime legend. The spectacular changing colours of Uluru at sunrise and sunset are truly unique visions not to be missed.
Kata Tjuta, also more commonly known as the Olgas, is Uluru’s sister formation. The meaning of the name is ‘many heads’, and it comprises 36 magnificently domed and coloured shapes covering about 35 sq km. Visitors are able to take the 3 hour Valley of the Winds walk, which winds through the crevices and gorges of this magnificent rock system, with spectacular views and a variety of Australian flora and fauna.
If you are a tourist visiting this iconic Australian location, the place to stay is Ayers Rock Resort, the only resort located within Kata Tjuta National Park, consisting of a variety of accommodation options for every possible taste and budget – from the premium Sails in the Desert, and award winning Desert Gardens Hotel, to the self contained Emu Walk Apartments, the modern Lost Camel Hotel, the authentic Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge to the ultimate luxury wilderness camp of Longitude 131°.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 2000 kilometres along the coast of Queensland, and is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. The Great Barrier Reef is Australia’s most prized natural destination and home to one of the most spectacular protected sanctuaries in the world. White sandy beaches, crystal clear and colourful waters, an abundance of marine wildlife, and beautiful warm weather to boot, holiday goers will get a trip they will always remember.
The Great Barrier Reef system consists of more than 3000 reefs, which range in size from 1 hectare to over 10,000 hectares in area. It is considered to be one of the world’s greatest destinations for diving, sailing and a large number of other outdoor activities, including fishing, swimming, kayaking and windsurfing.
It is no wonder tourists flock to see the Great Barrier Reef in all its glory, as its waters feature many tropical islands, breathtaking aquamarine waters, rare and brilliantly coloured corals, fish and sea going mammals, including dugong and green turtles, varieties of dolphins and whales and more than 200 species of birds.
With an array of different resorts and hotels lined down Queensland’s coast, there are a thousand different holiday packages on offer.
One of Australia’s most spectacular and well-renowned road journeys is the famous Great Ocean Road, stretching along the bottom southwest of Victoria. The Great Ocean Road is one of the most photographed areas in Australia, and hence one of the most iconic holiday destinations in the country.
Completed in 1932, this unique road was constructed by soldiers who had returned from the Great War, dedicating it to their fallen mates who did not come home.
To enjoy this unique and once in a lifetime driving experience, I suggest you allow three days, giving you enough time to visit many attractions and landscapes that the Great Ocean Road has to offer. The start of the Great Ocean Road tour is the beautiful region of Torquay. Driving south from Torquay you will go past the famous surfing spot Bells Beach, so if you’re a keen surfer, be sure to take your board with you, as there are many other great surf locations along the Great Ocean Road. Further along we come to the world famous Twelve Apostles rock formations, Lochard Gorge and London Bridge sandstone formations. All along the route, the attractions are well signposted so there is no chance of missing these amazing parts of the journey.
Whether you’re travelling as a couple, or bringing the kids along for the ride, the Great Ocean Road is sure to deliver a great Australian holiday escape.
When tourists think of Australia, naturally they think of Sydney. Sydney is Australia’s largest city, with some of Australia’s most iconic tourist attractions. Sydney is home to the famous Harbour Bridge, and its spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations are renowned as being the best in the world. The Sydney Opera House is also one of the most popular tourist spots in Sydney.
More than 30 million people fly in and out of this iconic Australian city each year, visiting the famous Bondi Beach and walking through Darling Harbour, enjoying the Sydney sunshine and getting an Australian tan.
There is an endless amount of fun to be had in Sydney, visiting Watsons Bay which sits on the end of the South Head peninsula, which provides some of the best views across the harbour to the city of Sydney and the Harbour Bridge. The Gap is an ocean cliff on the eastern side with views to Manly, North Head, and the Pacific Ocean, which many tourists enjoy, and get some of their favourite holiday snaps.
Visitors often visit the famous Kings Cross, Taronga Zoo, Bondi Beach, Cockatoo Island, the Rocks, or one of Sydney’s historic forts. There is no doubt about it, that Sydney is a very important and iconic holiday destination in Australia.
Referred to as Australia’s ‘family entertainment capital’, Surfers Paradise, on Queensland’s Gold Coast, is one of the most popular holiday destinations for not only tourists visiting Australia, but also for many Australian families looking for a getaway by the beach. Surfers Paradise is packed with hotels, so there is no shortage of places to stay, and the main drag, Cavil Avenue is littered with restaurants, bars, hotels and shops, as well as tourists and locals alike.
Just minutes from the heart of Surfers Paradise, are Australia’s most popular theme parks; Dreamworld, Wet and Wild, Movie World and the newest ‘White Water World’, all of which are packed to the brim during the summer months. These parks are the drawcard of Surfers Paradise for young families wanting a holiday where the kids can have fun but which can also be relaxing and this is true, as it was recorded that 7 million families visited the Gold Coast last year.
Surfers Paradise is a truly iconic destination of Australia, containing everything the country has to offer, beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, a lively city aspect and theme parks to boot!
The Whitsunday Islands is the most popular destination within Australia for chartering a boat. Located 1,100km north of Brisbane, and 1,000km south of Cairns, these 74 islands are protected in between the Great Barrier Reef and Australia’s mainland.
The Whitsundays forms the largest offshore island chain on Australia’s East Coast, and each island offers great deep water sailing with their steep hills protecting secluded bays.
It is here that you can enjoy some of the best diving in the world, cruise to some of the best beaches that the planet has to offer and enjoy relaxing ashore at any of the exclusive island resorts or beaches.
The Whitsundays are great for any kind of holiday – a romantic getaway for two, or even a family holiday. The Whitsundays are bound to tick every box when planning your dream holiday – fun, relaxing, beachy, beautiful! This Australian destination will not disappoint even the harshest of critics.
The Kimberley region is located in the northern part of Western Australia, extending from Broome in the west to Kununurra and Lake Argyle in the east. It covers about 421,000 square kilometres — slightly larger than Japan and much larger than the United Kingdom and New Zealand. It is bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy Desert, and on the east by the Northern Territory. The Kimberley Region is a truly unique place to visit, and an integral part of the Australian identity.
Numerous companies run tours through the Kimberley, by land, sea or air. Land tours are available from Broome, Derby, Wyndham, Kununurra and Fitzroy Crossing, or as one-way trips between Broome and Darwin, and there is plenty to see and do.
Some interesting places to visit whilst visiting the Kimberley region includes Bell Gorge, Halls Creek, Lake Argyle, and Wolf Creek Meteorite Crater. This journey is a truly Australian outback adventure and one that you are not likely to experience anywhere else in the country.
We at Travel Managers Australia recognise the traditional owners of the country where we live and work. We recognise and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous people and their enduring cultures and connections to the land and waters of New South Wales.
