Choose from 646 Fun Things to Do in Australia
ShowingFilter 641-646 of 646 listings.
Zoodoo Wildlife Park
Sure you'll find camels and Tasmanian Devils when you visit the Zoodoo Wildlife Park, but there's so much more to this Hobart attraction than the dozens of species of animals. After hand feeding the zebra and ostrich aboard a thrilling safari bus tour, take the children to the indoor playland with the jumping castle and ball pit. When it's time to go and see some more animals, choose from strolling past kangaroos or feeding the emus and lions. For an added fee you can join in experiences that get you right next to the animals, from the cute, cuddly meerkat encounter, to a scary, slithery snake encounter to petting a furry koala. At the aviary, hear a cacophony of squawking bird song raining down from above, as you crane your neck to see numerous bird species all flitting around through the branches. There's an education center to help teach children about wildlife found in the park, and daily animal presentations when visitors really get "hands on" and interact with the wildlife. Although the Zoodoo Wildlife Park is just 30 minutes from Hobart, it feels like you've traveled to a faraway land where the Australian outback and African plains are literally brought to your fingertips.
Practical Info
Daily animal presentations take place at 11am and 2pm daily.
Address: 620 Middle Tea Tree Road, Richmond, Tasmania, Australia TAS 7025, Australia
Hours: Open daily 9am-5pm
Admission: Adults: $25; Children: $13
From $ 145
Woolmers Estate
This early 1800s pioneer farm was continuously occupied by the same family for more than 175 years; for six generations, from 1817 until 1994, Thomas Archer family's descendants called Woolmers Estate home.
Along with the family houses, a large array of historical buildings remain on the estate, including a blacksmith's shop, bakehouse and stables. There's also a former chapel, pump house and gardener's cottage. Wishing to share Woolmers Estate with the public, Thomas William Archer VI left the estate and its many contents to the Archer Historical Foundation Inc., now called the Woolmers Foundation Inc.
The Archer Family was known for holding onto their possessions, so along with the actual buildings, almost 200 years worth of collections remain. Visitors can see everything from art and furniture, to photographs and antique cars.
The National Rose Garden is also located at Woolmers Estate. Like a growing history lesson, it boasts more than 5,000 roses, including the earliest European and China roses, to roses from the 21st century.
Practical Info
Woolmers Estate is located 25 minutes from Launceston and about an hour from Devonport. Guided house tours are offered several times each day. Visitors can also take a self-guided tour any time during the day. Woolmers Estate is open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 4pm. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Address: 658 Woolmers Ln, Longford TAS 7301, Australia
Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
From $ 81
Victor Harbor
A world away from busy Adelaide, Victor Harbor is the perfect place to get away from the city and relax.
Victor Harbor is situated on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide. Though easily accessible from the city as a day trip, it would be remiss not to spend a few days exploring the peninsula in its own right "“ wineries, national parks, ocean views and historical attractions abound in the area.
The drawcard of Victor Harbor is first and foremost the gorgeous outlook over Encounter Bay. A wide, sweeping beach and clear water is backed by colonial architecture encasing boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. A horse-drawn tram is a nod back to history as it takes visitors across a causeway to Granite Island and its colony of Little Penguins.
When to visit Victor Harbor depends on your interests. While the area is beautiful year round, visiting between June and September will afford views of whales as Southern Right Whales use the waters nearby as a nursery for their newborn calves. Fishing and surfing is good in all seasons, though warmer in summer! Visiting in Spring grants visitors the opportunity to try new season wines and olive oils.
Victor Harbor is situated on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide. Though easily accessible from the city as a day trip, it would be remiss not to spend a few days exploring the peninsula in its own right "“ wineries, national parks, ocean views and historical attractions abound in the area.
The drawcard of Victor Harbor is first and foremost the gorgeous outlook over Encounter Bay. A wide, sweeping beach and clear water is backed by colonial architecture encasing boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. A horse-drawn tram is a nod back to history as it takes visitors across a causeway to Granite Island and its colony of Little Penguins.
When to visit Victor Harbor depends on your interests. While the area is beautiful year round, visiting between June and September will afford views of whales as Southern Right Whales use the waters nearby as a nursery for their newborn calves. Fishing and surfing is good in all seasons, though warmer in summer! Visiting in Spring grants visitors the opportunity to try new season wines and olive oils.
Practical Info
Victor Harbor is located roughly 80km from Adelaide "“ about an hours drive. For public transport, the Adelaide Metro runs a bus service to nearby McLaren Vale, and a train runs from the Adelaide CBD to Noarlunga.
Address: Victor Harbor, SA, Australia
From $ 84
Vaucluse House
Vaucluse has always been a neighborhood for the wealthy. Wonderful yet outrageously expensive villas, lovingly restored from the colonial era, stand together and increase in cost as the beauty of the view and location increases too. To gain insight into the life of Sydney's former high society, visit the Vaucluse House, a villa surrounded by a landscaped garden and wooded grounds. It was built in 1803 in the Gothic Revival style, with small turrets and battlements that make it look more like a castle than a house.
The Vaucluse House once belonged to ex-convict Sir Thomas Henry Browne Hayes, who got shipped off to Australia for abducting a banker's daughter and built this estate. It also once served as the residence of writer, explorer and politician William Charles Wentworth, who is known as the first person to climb the Blue Mountains and who restored this former cottage to the mansion it is today.
The house offers everything you'd expect from a manor home"”antique furniture, an extensive drawing room, lots of bedrooms, staff quarters, stables and a huge garden. The gardens are often used for wedding receptions and are an ideal place for a stroll. On top of that, the Vaucluse House also serves as a teahouse, where visitors can settle for a refreshment and enjoy the tranquility.
Practical Info
The Vaucluse House is located about six miles (10 km) outside of downtown Sydney. Bus 325 runs from Circular Quay and stops right outside the front gate, but if you'd like to arrive by ferry to the Watson's Bay terminal, you'll find the mansion after an enjoyable 30-minute walk along the shoreline. The site is open Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the gardens can be visited around the clock.
Address: Wentworth Road, Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
Hours: The house is open Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the gardens can be visited around the clock.
Admission: Adults $12 AUD, Children (Age 5 - 15) $8 AUD (under 5 years free), Family $30 AUD, Members Free
From $ 81
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
To experience Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse you better have a strong set of legs. This historic light station on Wilsons Promontory can only be reached by foot"” and requires a journey that last two days and just over 23 miles. After sloshing for nearly 12 miles through lush, Victorian bush, this lighthouse that's stood since 1859 appears as literal beacon of hope that the hike is nearly complete. There was once a time when hardy families would live on this isolated point"”dutifully manning the flickering light to keep mariners safe at sea. Today those homes where the light keepers lived have largely remained the same, and are split into three, dorm style cottages where hikers can rest for the night. The granite cliffs surrounding the lighthouse form the mainland's southernmost point, and the roiling Pacific surrounds the cottages on nearly every side. After cleaning up from a long day of hiking, poke your head in the small museum of original lighthouse artifacts, or talk with the rangers who still call the lighthouse their temporary home. On the return trip, many hikers opt to return via Little Waterloo Bay, where golden sands and clear water are worth the extra couple of miles to the trail's original start.
Practical Info
There's a two-night maximum for the lighthouse cottages, and advanced reservations are required. Permits are obtained at the Tidal River information center, and all food, water, and rubbish must be packed both in and out.
Address: Wilsons Promontory, VIC, Australia 3960, Australia
From $ 185
Workshops Rail Museum
History comes alive at the Workshops Rail Museum"”affectionately known as The Workshops in Ipswich, Queensland. The site from which the state's very first train ran over 145 years ago, The Workshops celebrates its heritage with a living museum.
Opening as a rail museum in 2002, The Workshops combines hands-on exhibits with the experience of witnessing the oldest continually running railway workshop in Australia. The museum features 15 permanent exhibits, depicting subjects from the introduction of diesel trains, to the great Australian rail journeys, to a children's interactive railway, and more. The Workshops boasts such drawcards as the largest model railway in Australia, the Vice Regal Carriage"”the most expensive built in its time"”and the country's oldest working steam locomotive.
Practical Info
The Workshops Rail Museum is located in Ipswich, itself a historic town. It's located about a 40-minute drive from Brisbane and just over an hour by train. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily but is closed on Good Friday, ANZAC Day and Christmas Day. Entry costs $20 for adults and $11.50 for children up to the age of 15.
Address: North Street, Ipswich, QLD, Australia
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Admission: $20 for adults, $11.50 for children up to the age of 15.
From $ 96