Things to Do in Australia

Penguins are one of those wild animals you simply can’t help but love, and here on aptly named Penguin Island, just 45 minutes from Perth, over 1,000 lovable Little Penguins all call the island their home. It’s Western Australia’s largest colony of the world’s smallest species of penguin, although since they spend their days at sea, Little Penguins can actually be pretty tough to spot in the wild. Luckily there’s much more to do on the island than search for waddling penguins, as sea caves, trails, and white sand beaches are also part of the attraction. Keep an eye out for clusters of sea lions that often sun on the shorelines, or dolphins splashing just offshore in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Aside from the popular Little Penguins, the island is also home to over 50 species of seabirds, as well as a thriving pelican rookery full of clumsy, curious birds. While it’s possible to visit the island on your own, many visitors opt to take part in a guided kayak or boat tour, where dolphins splash in the wake of the boat and you snorkel in search of marine life. From there it’s off to the Discovery Center to see the Little Penguins, and join in one of the ranger-led feedings that take place three times per day.

Insider's Tip: For the best chance of spotting a wild penguin, look under boardwalks and wooden sets of stairs where they will sometimes hideout in the daytime.

One Arm Point is an Aboriginal community on the Dampier Peninsula, close to Cape Leveque. Like much of the surrounding area, it stands as a natural wilderness, virtually untouched by modern civilization.

The traditional Aboriginal community that calls One Arm Point home embraces tourism, and visitors to the point come to be immersed in the local culture as much as to marvel at the sweeping views of the Buccaneer Archipelago. The community on One Arm Point is the Bardi Aboriginal Community. Community members teach visitors traditional hunting and fishing techniques, demonstrate how to find and use bush foods and medicines, show how to catch mud crabs, and aims to share with visitors the relationship between the people and the land that exists in many Aboriginal communities. The Bardi also sell local art and jewelry, including jewelry hand carved from trochus shells.

O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk is a 590-foot (180-meter) walkway through the rainforest of the Gold Coast hinterland that consists of nine suspension bridges and two observation decks. Sitting right next to the incredible landscape of Lamington National Park, O’Reilly’s gives visitors a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest with its walkway that sits 50 feet (15 meters) off the ground. The highest sections soar an even higher 110 feet above the forest floor.

Visitors to the walkway stroll among trees entwined with vines and covered in flowers and fruit. Ferns and orchids cling to the upper reaches of the trees, and the bird life is plentiful. The two observation decks, accessed by covered ladders, offer a closer look at the strangler figs trees in the area. The highest point on the walkway, the observation decks allow visitors to emerge from the canopy and look out across the top of the rainforest.

Located in the West MacDonnell Ranges, Ormiston Gorge showcases the amazing geology and landforms of the area. Along with a near-permanent waterhole estimated to be up to 45 feet (14 meters) deep, Ormiston Gorge shows towering walls of red earth iconic to the Australian outback.

The gorge is an important wildlife refuge, a status cemented when the long-tailed dunnart and central rock rat were rediscovered in the area after it was thought they had died out. The site is ideal for swimming, though visitors should note that the water temperature can be at odds with the heat of the Australian desert, and hypothermia can result from prolonged exposure.

The most popular activity at Ormiston Gorge is walking. The five-minute Waterhole Walk and the 20-minute Ghost Gum Lookout walk are the two most popular trails. To really experience the gorge, however, the Ormiston Pound walk makes a full circuit from the visitor center around the landscape of the gorge and takes three to four hours to complete – time well spent. The Larapinta Trail also passes through the gorge.

If you’re looking to discover the rugged coastal cliffs and serene beaches of Stradbroke Island, the North Gorge Walk makes a good place to start. The 1.5km marked trail curls its way around Point Lookout on the island’s northwestern coast and is renowned for its dramatic ocean views and landmark ‘Blow Hole’ rock formation. Hugging the coast and hemmed in by dense bushland, the popular walk takes around 45 minutes and is suitable for all fitness levels. 

The North Gorge Walk is also the top spot for whale watching on Stradbroke Island and humpback whales are a frequent sight during the June-November migration period. Dolphins, sea turtles and manta rays are also abundant along the coast, while kangaroos and myriad birdlife can be seen inland.

Nourlangie, also known as Burrunggui, is an escarpment in Kakadu National Park filled with over 20,000 years' worth of Aboriginal history, making it a site of extreme cultural importance. Burrunggui, an Aborigine word, refers to the higher parts of the rocks, while the word Anbangbang references the lower parts. The rock art and archaeological details here illustrate the social and environmental history of the Top End area.

There are many ways to experience the heritage of Nourlangie, including following the mile-long circuit trail that winds through what was once a home for the Aboriginal people during wet seasons. Indoors, the Anbangbang Gallery showcases the art of an Aboriginal artist who repainted his works in 1964 to restore much of their original vibrancy. Those who visit Nourlangie during the months of June through September can hear stories of the area's cultural significance from rangers in the area.

Unlike many other beaches on Australia’s eastern coast, Noosa Main Beach faces north—thereby protected from the surf. Granted, this is still the famous Sunshine Coast, the sandy mecca for surfers, and Noosa Main Beach still gets waves that are perfect for taking a surf lesson, but not the powerful, dangerous waves that pummel the nearby headlands. The gently rolling waves aside, Noosa Main Beach is also patrolled by a year-round team of lifeguards, and backed by a wooden, exceptionally clean boardwalk just steps from the Hastings Street shops. Hire an umbrella and relax in the shade, your toes in the sugary white sand, and cool off in cerulean waters that gently lap at the coast. Noosa Main Beach has repeatedly been voted as one of the best in Australia, which is easy to see from the moment you first lay eyes on the white stretch of sand.

When visiting Melbourne’s Old Treasury building, travelers are left to decide for themselves which fact is more spectacular: That this striking example of Renaissance Revival architecture was designed by a prodigious 19 year old, or that the entire building was expressly built as a vault for housing gold. Constructed in 1858 in response to Australia’s Gold Rush, the Old Treasury building has vault walls that are over three feet thick, in addition to dozens of office buildings that even today are filled by members of Melbourne’s local government. In addition to the imposing building itself, which was built in the Italian “palazzo” style that was popular in the 19th century, visitors will find rotating exhibitions on the building and Melbourne’s past, from those depicting the flow of gold from the mines to the vault and wealthy elite, to a panorama of the cityscape from 1862.

Often nicknamed “Paddo” by locals, Paddington is a suburb of Sydney that features a nice mix of culture, history and shopping opportunities. Known for its colonial architecture and beautiful 

balconied buildings, Paddo has long been a local favorite. And although the population of this district is quite meager, at just over 11,000 people, it packs a massive punch when it comes 

to activity.

In general, one could divide Paddington into four even more distinct districts. Five Ways is a bit of a village within a village and home to some of the best foodie spots in the Sydney area. Paddington Markets, as the name points at, is a massive flea market that takes place at the Uniting Church grounds. William Street is the art designer's district in which some of Sydney's top up-and-coming designers have their shops, and all of it is tied into Oxford Street, which runs the entire length of Paddington and is lined with shops, boutiques, cafes and eateries. 

 

Of course, there's more to Paddington than just the shops. The district is also home to the Sydney Cricket Grounds, Sydney Football Stadium, Victoria Barracks and a number of other worthy sights. 

Nestled in the foothills of the Adelaide Hills, yet only a 15-minute drive from the city, the Penfolds Magill Estate is home to some of Australia’s best-loved wines, including the legendary Grange.

Visitors can explore this heritage-listed winery on a paid tour, taking in the underground tunnels, the bluestone cellars, and Still House. You can also taste Penfold’s wines and dine at the estate’s award-winning restaurant, plus see the vineyard where the Grange story all began. 

The Penfolds Magill Estate is 100 years old and has attracted a strong global following, winning regular awards at Australian and international wine shows. As well as accolades for its famous Grange wine, the Penfolds Chardonnay portfolio has also garnered some notable wine show success.

The cobbled lanes and colonial buildings of The Rocks are the hallmark of the historic district, and the Nurses Walk is one of its oldest laneways. The Nurses Walk takes its name from Sydney’s first colonial era hospital, which was set up in Sydney Cove to treat the arriving convicts – the narrow walkway served as a shortcut to the hospital, winding its way through the streets and passageways of The Rocks.

Today, the atmospheric street is better known for its cluster of vintage shops, independent boutiques and restaurants, and makes a popular inclusion on walking tours of Sydney and The Rocks. It still pays homage to its origins with a plaque devoted to nurse Lucy Osburn on the original walls of the Sydney General Hospital, and information boards detailing its historic importance.

Deep in the heart of the rainforest near Cairns lies a real Spanish castle. Paronella Park was the brainchild of José Paronella, who – with dreams of building a castle and leisure gardens for the community to enjoy – began building his castle in the 1930s.

Paronella Park has undergone many constructions and reconstructions. Parts of the park have been destroyed by no less than three cyclones, a fire, and floods since José Paronella completed his park, but it has bounced back to relive its former glory. The park has won multiple awards for ecotourism, and is one of the most popular attractions around Cairns.

Visiting Paronella Park today shows off the many original and restored features of José Paronella’s dream. Extensive tropical garden, picnic areas, tennis courts, a cinema, a ballroom and more are on show, including more modern additions such as a museum. There are over five hectares of gardens in which visitors can picnic, a café offering local produce and even camping grounds.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Sydney’s best sights are lining the beaches or harbor, but in the case of popular Observatory Hill, this elevated perch in the heart of downtown is one of the city’s best spots. For one, visiting the park is totally free—as are the sweeping views of the harbor and Sydney’s Harbor Bridge. Make the 20-minute trek from The Rocks and pack along a picnic, relaxing and sprawling out on the grass with a panoramic view of the harbor. The uphill climb to reach the park tends to thin out the visitor crowds, and thereby makes it a local favorite for watching the sun go down. On New Year's Eve, Observatory Hill is one of the best places in Sydney for watching fireworks, and the nearby Sydney Observatory is popular during all times of year. Here at Australia’s first observatory, you can peer through the telescope when visiting at night and enjoy Planetarium sessions inside, and the building now houses an informative center on the history of astronomy in Sydney.

First opened in 1856, the Parliament House of Victoria is home to the state parliament of Victoria, and its grand colonnaded frontage makes it a Melbourne landmark. The Parliament House steps are a popular spot for wedding photos—and for protesters, although the lawmakers here operate at local level and sit relatively infrequently. 

Many visitors to Melbourne choose to admire the impressive exterior of Parliament House. Its scenic steps make it a popular drive-by for Melbourne bike tours, but it’s also an occasional photo-stop on other Melbourne city tours. 

Australia, like the US, operates a federal system. Victoria is one of the country’s six states and two territories, and Melbourne is Victoria’s state capital. Options for visiting the interior of Victoria’s Parliament House depend on whether the two legislative houses are “sitting” (in session). When they are not sitting, free Parliament House tours run on weekdays; when they are sitting, public tours run on Tuesday morning, and the public may watch from the gallery.

Set on Spring Street and Bourke Street, Parliament House sits on the fringes of Melbourne city center, with its own station, Parliament, on the City Loop train route. It’s under a mile (1.3 kilometers) to walk here from Flinders Street station, or just a few minutes by tram.

The Parliament House of Victoria’s gardens are at their best during late spring and summer (roughly November to February), which is also the most popular time for weddings. You can visit year-round. If you’d like to tour the interior, check to see if Parliament is sitting, and visit during the week.

The Parliament House of Victoria is one of Melbourne’s signature landmarks, but construction is still incomplete. Architect Peter Kerr labored on the design for more than 40 years, yet a dome originally planned for the 1870s has yet to be delivered. A recent modern extension to the building features a green roof and sunken courtyard.