Things to Do in Australia

One of the principal attractions of Adelaide’s Cultural Precinct, the South Australian Museum is devoted to the region’s natural and cultural history. The museum is best known for its impressive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural items: the largest collection of its kind in the world.

 

The South Australian Museum has 11 galleries, with exhibits titled Australian Aboriginal Cultures, Pacific Cultures, Megafauna, Ediacaran Fossils, South Australian Biodiversity, and Minerals and Meteorites. There is also a Discovery Center, where interactive exhibits include a microEye video microscope, a live bee hive, and expert talks. Explore the museum on a guided or self-guided tour.

 

 

The South Australian Museum is located along the North Terrace in downtown Adelaide, next door to the Art Gallery of South Australia. It’s a short walk from the shopping boulevard of Rundle Mall, and the free City Loop bus 99C stops right outside.

 

The museum is open daily, year-round. The quietest time to visit is on weekday mornings.

 

Marvel at the whale skeleton in the Whale and Dolphin Gallery; see a model of a 36-foot (11-meter) long Architeuthis dux squid; follow Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson in the Australian Polar Collection; and see fossils up to 550 million years old. In the Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery, the collection includes ancient paintings, maps, boomerangs, and bark canoes, while the Pacific Cultures Gallery has weaponry, masks, and ritual objects.

It’s impossible to miss St. David’s cathedral when walking through downtown Hobart. Rising up from the quadrangle of one of Australia’s best Georgian streetscapes, St. David’s cathedral towers above the historic city center, its stones and turrets reflecting a time that dates to Tasmania’s founding. Some of Tasmania’s original pioneers laid the original foundation of St. David’s cathedral in this spot in 1817, when previous structures of St. David’s church were repeatedly blown down in gales. Completely rebuilt in 1868 by the Victorian architect George F. Bodley, the cathedral is considered to be one of his finest works found anywhere outside of England. When visiting St. David’s Cathedral today, visitors are welcome to wander inside and seek sanctuary from the city, taking time to admire the interior and famous St. David’s organ. Regarded as one of the finest in Australia, the organ pipes music to congregations that can number as high as 650, as concerts are regularly held in the cathedral for residents and visitors to Hobart. You’ll also find a small museum with relics from Hobart’s past, and on special occasions the cathedral staff will showcase pieces from the vault—some of which date to Medieval times before the modern, western world even knew Tasmania existed.

While the area itself is relatively small, Melbourne’s South Wharf Promenade has a large city presence. Set on the scenic southern bank of Melbourne’s Yarra River, the shop-lined promenade faces north to Melbourne’s bustling downtown. While shopping here is the major draw, it’s the restaurants, cafés, and dining options that surprise its visitors the most. It is home to the Melbourne Convention Center and Direct Factory Outlets, and the South Wharf holds a piece of history in the Polly Woodside tall ship. Originally launched in Northern Ireland in 1885, the ship made 17 trips around the world in its 90-year career. Long retired from regular use after years of scouring the globe, the ship is now a floating museum that welcomes visitors and groups. Even here on the fresh water banks of Melbourne’s modern South Wharf, it’s possible to feel like a salty pirate sailing the Southern Sea.  

Opened in 1826, Sydney’s State Library of New South Wales is the oldest library in Australia and a repository for a huge and diverse collection of books. The iconic building is also home to over 1 million photos, maps and manuscripts. Architecturally grand from the outside, inside is modern, bright and attractive, and the Mitchell Library looks straight out of a movie with its book-lined walls. 

The library also has five historic galleries in the Mitchell Wing which host both permanent and temporary free exhibitions — from collections of 18th-century Australian natural history illustrations to the diaries of Australian men and women writing in WWI. 

Next to Parliament House and the Royal Botanic Gardens on Macquarie Street, the State Library of New South Wales also has its own book club. And on a regular basis there are also talks on literary, historical, and contemporary issues. Film screenings and workshops are often held at the library too. 

You can also get to know the library better on one of its tours — there’s an introductory one if you want to get to know the services and resources, and there are also regular history and heritage tours. In the verandah and reading rooms are express computers that can be used for up to half an hour without a library card. There’s also free wifi available throughout the library, and, as well as having an onsite bookstore and gift shop, the library has its own cafe, Cafe Trim where you can pick up coffee and cake or a sandwich.

South Bruny National Park is a perfect place to escape the hustle of Hobart and experience the true beauty of Tasmania countryside. This scenic getaway on the southern tip of Bruny Island offers visitors the best of both land and sea—from coastal cliffs to secluded beaches. It’s ideal for a quick day trip or an overnight camping excursion.

Visitors can spend the morning collecting shells along the beach’s shore or taking a leisurely dip in one of the park’s sheltered swim areas (a local favorite is near Jetty Beach). Experienced surfers love the serious waves that break at Cloudy Bay, where rustic campsites are almost always available for a small fee.

Birders and botanists will love exploring the lush rainforest just beyond the sand, where dozens of plants and bird species indigenous to Tanzania thrive. Curious sorts can explore the remains of an old whaling station at Grass Point or wander to Cape Bruny Lighthouse, the second oldest of its kind in the country.

Day-trippers and less experienced hikers can wander along shorter trails, like the memorable trek to Grass Point or Fluted Cape. More challenging routes, like the Labillardiere Peninsula Circuit or East Cloudy Head trail are best left to fit visitors planning to spend at least a night.

The Star Sydney Casino and Hotel on Darling Harbour is one of Sydney’s premier entertainment precincts. Hosting two gaming floors, seven restaurants and eight bars, the Star Casino is the second largest casino in Australia.

You’d be forgiven for calling The Star by another name. Formerly known as both Star City Casino and the Sydney Harbour Casino, it’s not uncommon for visitors to think the three are different places. The Star Casino features two gaming floors. The main gaming floor on level one is the one you’ll see if you’re visiting the Casino on a casual basis. The Sovereign Room is the VIP gaming floor, with heavily restricted access.

Aside from the gaming tables, the Star Casino also features a number of bars including a 24/7 sports bar, the Cherry cocktail bar, sexy Sokyo Lounge, and Rock Lily which often hosts live music. 5-7pm Monday – Friday is happy hour at casino and all of the bars mentioned offer $5 beer, wine and spirits. A wine room and aperitivy bar round out the Star’s collection. Restaurants offering a selection of fine and casual dining from a number of cuisines are dotted throughout the building to ensure you don’t leave hungry.

The Southern Highlands of New South Wales are a combination of natural sites, including mountains, caves, and waterfalls, and quaint villages filled with historic homes and heritage sites. Visitors to the area can picnic, hike, or bike through Morton National Park or enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the Corbett Gardens of Bowral. Alternatively, visit the many historic manors and mansions that dot the small towns like Berrima, Bundanoon, and Bungendore. Charming cafes and traditional pubs round out the experience. 

The rolling green hills of the Southern Highlands are home to cooler temperatures, with ideal conditions for producing wine. A handful of excellent vineyards are open for tours and tastings. Whether you’re exploring the outdoors — the Fitzroy Falls, Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk, Wombeyan Caves, to name a few — or soaking in the historic ambiance of small, old towns, the Southern Highlands provides a contrast to the bustle of urban life in Sydney.

Standley Chasm, also known as Angkerle, is a place of great significance to the local Aboriginal people. A spectacular slot gorge, the deep, narrow chasm cuts through the tough quartzite of the native stone and puts on a magnificent display of color and form as the sun passes through the sky.

Surrounding the chasm is a lush valley and an abundance of walking trails. A short walk from the kiosk to the chasm is particularly rewarding at midday when the sun shines directly overhead. Another walk from the kiosk heads west and climbs to a saddle with views of the area's mountains and valleys. For more avid hikers, sections 3 and 4 of the Larapinta Trail meet at Standley Chasm and can be hiked as either long day trips or overnight hikes. 

Standley Chasm is the easiest place to access the Chewings Ranges for those who do not wish to hike the Larapinta Trail. The Chewings Ranges are home to some of the most rare and threatened wildlife of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Housed in a French Renaissance building from 1884, the State Library of South Australia has the state’s largest literary collection and public reference library. Now comprised of multiple wings, the museum is known for the Mortlock Wing and its architectural beauty, which has led to its inclusion on lists of the world’s most visually stunning libraries. Inside of the vaunted building is a cornucopia of knowledge, on everything from wines of South Australia to pieces of South Australiana that detail the area’s heritage. You’ll also find a large selection of texts on indigenous Australian heritage, as well as a library for the Royal Geographic Society of South Australia. At the Treasures Wall, ogle over rare books and highlights from the library’s collections, some of which date to the ancient world or are the only remaining document in print. Aside from the wealth of literary offerings, the library houses cultural collections of art and memorabilia, from Ernabella rugs from Pukatja aborigines, to over 30,000 items that comprise the Australian Aboriginal Ethnographic collection.

Townsville’s close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef has made it a destination for underwater adventurers. Travelers from across the globe gather here to don wetsuits and oxygen tanks in search of some of the most memorable deep-sea landscapes on earth. 

Perhaps no dive is more famous than SS Yongala. It sends travelers far below the surface of the sea and more than 100 years back in time to 1911, when this notorious ship sank—along with all of its 122 passengers—in a massive ocean storm.

Today divers can explore the coral encrusted remains of this great ship while taking in the typical stingrays, tropical fish and sea turtles of standard dives. Travelers say that an impressive amount of ocean life paired with an up-close look the wreckage of one of Australia’s most famous nautical tragedies make this a truly memorable experience. 

St. Peter’s Cathedral dominates the skyline of Adelaide’s northern suburb, and the sound of its bells ringing out from the tower brings a festive joy to the city. Constructed back in 1869, the church features stunning stained glass windows and rises 168 feet from the street, with the set of eight church bells being the heaviest of their kind found anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. Aside from its impressive and imposing architecture, the church is riddled with religious symbolism from the altar to windows and nave, and guided tours are available for digging deeper into its past. Around Christmas, the church is busy with carolers joyously singing their praise for the season, and the cathedral choir has gathered here for over 130 years. When visiting the building, admire the windows, sculptures, and angels that were shipped to Australia from England, as well as a couple of stained glass windows that were made right here in Adelaide. There’s a small gift shop inside the Cathedral for purchasing souvenirs, and while photography is welcomed inside the Cathedral, a proper degree of decorum and respect is kindly requested by the church.

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Gondwana Rainforests, the startling landscapes of Springbrook National Park are among the many highlights of Queensland’s Gold Coast Hinterlands. Carved out by an ancient volcano, the rugged plateau is now a natural wonderland of forested gorges, jagged cliffs, and cascading waterfalls. 

Most visitors opt to explore Springbrook National Park on a day trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, often in combination with the neighboring Mt. Tamborine National Park, famous for its glowworm caves. A typical full-day tour might include a visit to landmarks such as the Natural Bridge and Cave Creek Waterfall; a short walk through the rain forest, spotting exotic birds and other wildlife; and a spectacular view over the Numinbah Valley followed by a picnic lunch at Purling Brook Falls. 

Springbrook National Park is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) south of Brisbane and it’s an around 1.5-hour drive from the city or 45-minute drive from the Gold Coast. There are no public transport options for reaching the park so the only way to get there is to join a guided tour or hire a private vehicle.

You can visit Springbrook all year, but the most popular time is the summer months (December to March). The forested mountains are often much cooler than the beaches and coastal towns, so don’t worry about it being too hot to hike. From June to September, the weather is ideal for hiking but it can get cold in evening, so bring some warm clothing.

 

The best way to experience Springbrook is on foot. Many of the walks in Springbrook National Park are signposted, making it easy to find your way, and some also include information boards explaining the various plants and wildlife. Popular short walks include the 2-hour Twin Falls Circuit, passing through lush rain forest, where you can admire the views from Canyon Lookout and swim in a natural rock pool. Another busy trail is the Purling Brook Falls Circuit, a 2- to 3-hour hike including a suspension bridge through a dramatic gorge. For something more challenging, the Warrie Circuit is a full-day hike (around 6 hours) to stunning Goomoolahra Falls. 

South Bank is, as the name suggests, located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River in Queensland’s capital city. Covering 42 acres (17 hectares), South Bank is home to lush parklands, restaurants, cafés and bars, and many, many events. The boardwalks and promenades threading their way along the riverside are popular with joggers and cyclists, and ideal for catching city views across to the CBD.

South Bank is perfect for a relaxing day out. The gardens are a mixture of rainforest, grassed areas, water features and plazas, leaving plenty of places for picnics in the many habitats. The river promenade is the main attraction, including the Grand Arbour covered in flowering bougainvillea, the Nepal Peace Pagoda, the open air amphitheatre of the Courier Mail Piazza, and many retail spaces. The most popular attraction of South Bank however, is the Wheel of Brisbane. A giant, almost 200ft (60m) tall Ferris wheel sitting on the banks of the Brisbane River, the Wheel of Brisbane gives visitors expansive, birds eye views over the city. On weekend evenings browse home wares, jewelry and collectibles at the South Bank Lifestyle Market.

Streets Beach is a main attraction of South Bank. A large, man-made beach covering 1.2 square miles (2 square km), Streets Beach is comprised of a huge lagoon, rocky creeks, and exotic plants, creating a mini-oasis in the center of Brisbane. The lagoon is also chlorinated and patrolled by lifeguards every day, making it one of the safest places for children to swim around the city.