Australia - Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Unlike many countries that promise a larger-than-life holiday but don't deliver, Australia keeps its promises of a unique holiday. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, and Darwin. Each is a superstar in its own right, each presenting something entirely unique to the traveler. From the hippy student-oriented life of Brisbane to the iconic architecture of Melbourne, from the frontier attractions of Darwin to the sandstone beauties of Hobart, each city of Australia feels incredibly exciting.
If you are up for a trip to Australia don't miss its wine valleys. Since most of the country’s population lives along the coast, seafood is very popular here. And of course, with a beer or a glass of wine in hand, you can easily wash down those lamb, chicken, and beef dishes frying on the BBQ as well.
Tour Highlights
- Discover the underwater life of the Great Barrier Reef
- Be mesmerized by the magnificence of the Sydney Opera House
- See Wave Rock in Hyden, Western Australia
- Swim with the Great White Sharks and dive with crocodiles
- Hike the Uluru Rock for a stunning sunrise
- Soak in the sun in one of Australia's beautiful beaches
Travel Tips
- A holiday to Australia cannot be cut short if you want to see all the country has to offer. Australia is a very, very big country, so plan for a long holiday (and save your money). Be prepared for long trips as even flying from coast to coast can take several hours.
- Head inland if you want to see the country's famous wildlife. That's where you're most likely to find kangaroos, koalas, and wombats in the wild.
- UV rays are particularly high in Australia as there is a large hole in the ozone right above the country. Pack (and be sure to wear) high-SPF sunscreen.
- Australia is perfect for swimming or surfing, but always pay attention to warning signs at the beach. Swim between the flags and beware of dangerous sea life.
- If you're looking to interact with locals (and meet fellow travelers), stick to the coast. Most Australians live within 50km of the coast, while the center of the country is quite remote.
Australia has seasonal weather. Check out our guide on the best time to visit Australia before planning your tour to the continent.
Popular Tour Types in Australia
- Australia Budget Tours: Exploring Australia does not have to cost an arm and a leg. Join one of our Australia Budget Tours to experience this amazing country and all that it has to offer. Discover the best of Sydney or cruise the Whitsundays and surf Byron Bay. Our budget tours offer the best way to see Australia without having to mortgage your house.
- Australia Luxury Tours: If you like to travel in style, then look no further than our Australia Luxury Tours. Discover Australia in the lap of luxury with five-star accommodations and award-winning cuisines. Explore the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth, interact with the Kuku Yalanji people, and scuba-dive on the Great Barrier Reef without compromising on luxury.
- Australia Guided Tours: Learn the ins and outs of Australia and experience all her best aspects under the expert guidance of a local guide. Join one of our Australia Guided Tours to discover the best of Oz from the majestic Blue Mountains to Great Outback. Learn how to surf in Byron Bay and try sandboarding on the largest dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Australia Solo Trips: If you prefer to go solo on your adventures, our Australia Solo Trips are just for you. Visit the historic Telegraph Station, watch the sunrise over Uluru, and soak in the Mataranka Thermal Springs. Head to the coast and relax on the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast or discover the vibrant nightlife of Sydney.
- Australia Group Tours: Our Australia Group Tours are an ideal way to experience all that the Land Down Under has to offer in the company of fellow travelers. Group tours are a fun way to meet like-minded people and share fantastic experiences like a 4WD adventure on Fraser Island or a wine-tasting adventure in New South Wales.
- Australia Customized Tours: Prefer to design your itinerary and explore on your own steam? Then our Australia Customized Tours are ideal. Decide what you would like to see and do and how long you would like to stay, and we will do the rest. Whether you want to venture into Kimberley to see ancient First Nations rock art, hike through the King Leopold Ranges to Manning Gorge, or visit the beach destinations, we will design a perfect itinerary to suit your needs.
Activity-based Australia Tours
- Australia Adventure Tours: Australia is one of the top adventure destinations in the world. From exploring the underwater paradise of the Great Barrier Reef to hiking the spectacular landscapes of the Tasmanian Peninsula to sandboarding on the dunes of Byron Bay, you will find plenty of outdoor activities on our Australia Adventure Tours.
- Australia City Sightseeing Tours: If you love wandering around cities and touring famous landmarks, then join one of our Australia City Sightseeing Tours. From the bustling cities of Melbourne, Sydney, and Cairns to the tranquil wine country of New South Wales, our tours offer plenty of sightseeing opportunities across the country.
- Australia National Park Tours: Australia is home to an incredible array of national parks that protect both beautiful landscapes and wildlife endemic to the country. Join one of our Australia National Park Tours to explore these parks and the spectacular scenery that abounds throughout the country.
- Australia Beaches Tours: Love spending time on the beach? Australia has some of the best beaches in the world and you can enjoy them on one of our Australia Beaches Tours. From the famous Bondi Beach to the spectacular Airlie Beach in the Whitsunday Islands, there are plenty of golden sandy beaches to laze away your day on.
- Australia Explorer Tours: The vast expanses of Australia beg to be explored and there is no better way to do this than on one of our Australia Explorer Tours. Discover the Kimberleys on an overland adventure from Broome to Lake Argyle. Experience the cosmopolitan vibes of Sydney and the incredible gastronomic culture of Melbourne.
- Australia Natural Landmark Sightseeing Tours: From the imposing Uluru Rock to the vast Great Barrier Reef, Australia is known for some of the most striking natural landmarks in the world. Hop on one of our Australia Natural Landmark Sightseeing Tours to explore these iconic symbols and marvel at nature’s genius.
Popular Durations for an Australia Trip
Australia’s vast size makes it difficult to see and do a variety of things in just a few days. If you are planning to spend only one week in Australia, pick a region and explore all that it has to offer. We recommend spending at least 10 days in Australia to spend some time in the major attractions of the region, but the longer, the better.
Australia — Top Destinations to Visit
- Discover the true wilderness in Broome: Located in the vast wilderness of Western Australia’s Kimberley region, Broome is a beach resort town with a laid-back vibe. Take a relaxing camelback ride along Cable Beach at sunset, meet rare snubfin dolphins on a boat cruise, and marvel at the red pindan soils set against the striking turquoise ocean at Gantheaume Point’s red cliffs.
- Relish the top attractions of Melbourne: Multicultural Melbourne, the coastal capital of Victoria at the head of Port Phillip Bay, is a vibrant city that exudes a distinctly European feel. Here, wide tree-lined boulevards and Victorian buildings mingle with labyrinthine laneways hiding cozy cafés and world-class restaurants. Head to the Southbank area and the Melbourne Arts Precinct, where you will find the Arts Center Melbourne and the National Gallery of Victoria.
- Urban experience in Sydney: The capital of New South Wales, Sydney is best known for its distinctive harbourfront opera house with its sail-like design. But there is so much more to see and do in the city. Meander along the Skywalk for spectacular 360-degree views of the city and suburbs and enjoy a harbor cruise in the Circular Quay port. Shop until you drop at the beautiful Queen Victoria Building and have a refreshing swim at Bondi Beach.
- Visit city markets in Brisbane: Brisbane has a bustling market scene and you will be hard-pressed to decide which markets to hit on a sunny weekend. For delicious farm-fresh produce, delicious delicacies, and handcrafted goods, head to the iconic Jan Powers Markets or the famous Saturday Fresh Markets in Rocklea. You will find vintage clothing, handcrafted goods, collectibles, and gifts at the Collective Markets. For and the best locally grown fresh produce, check out Davies Park Markets.
- Explore the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns: Cairns is the gateway to one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and one of Australia’s top attractions: the Great Barrier Reef. Home to the world’s largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef is made up of over 3,000 individual reef systems, colorful coral cays, postcard-perfect tropical islands, and footprint-free golden beaches. Join a snorkeling or scuba diving tour from Cairns and Port Douglas and enjoy an experience of a lifetime.
- Take in the scenic wonders of New South Wales: From rugged mountain ranges and golden sandy beaches to endless star-studded skies of the outback, New South Wales is home to some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country. Hike through the forested valleys of the Unesco World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains Range and their famous blue haze, marvel at the credible coastal rock formations and sapphire-hued ocean of the South Coast, and swim at one of the many rock-hewn natural swimming pools along the coast.
Peak Season and Low Season Tours in Australia
- Peak Season: If beach-hopping is high on your agenda, head to New South Wales and southeast Queensland between September and April and the southern and western regions between November and March. This is a fantastic time to explore the Great Barrier Reef as well as visit Byron Bay and other top surfing spots. Watch out for migrating whales in August and September when the humpbacks are most active.
- Low Season: If you have got your heart set on an Australian outback adventure, then the low season is the best time to visit. The cooler weather between May and August makes trekking through the outback more comfortable. This is also one of the best times to visit the region if you want to enjoy hiking tours in Australia, as the summer months can be unbearably hot. Australia's national parks and wilderness areas like Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Western Australia's famed Cape to Cape Track are best explored in April and September.
Popular Australia Trip Travel Guides
If you are planning a trip to Australia, you will want to know about the best time to visit Australia as well as check out all the available Australia tours. You may also wish to learn more about the top things to do in Australia. Once you are sure about some of the activities you wish to experience in Australia, along with the destinations you want to visit, you may want to consider how many days to stay in Australia. We generally recommend staying at least 7 days in Australia, but recommend 10 days in Australia or more, to get the most out of your trip to Australia.
Next, we recommend you start thinking about the money you can allocate to the trip to know whether you should be looking for a budget tour, a luxury tour, or perhaps a completely customized tour to Australia. If you are in doubt, check all our Australia tours at the top of this page.
Australia is an amazing country to visit, and there may be other key factors that you wish to consider before traveling there. Please check our “Australia travel guide” which will give you a lot of relevant information about traveling to Australia.
See all Australia travel guides.