Recommendations for first time trips to Australia

Trip Planning Tips
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Hi all,

I wanted to share my recommendations on places to visit as someone who lives in Australia to help you plan your trip!

When people think of visiting Australia, places like Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef are usually at the top of their list, which is totally understandable, but there is so much to see and do there that you’d definitely need a couple of weeks to really explore this country.

Here are my recommendations depending on your travel style/preferences:

Melbourne - easily one of the coolest capital cities and my personal favourite. Very European-coded compared to Sydney and has a great cafe culture. Weather can be temperamental, however. Oh, and the markets are top-notch.

Perth/WA - takes several hours to get from the East Coast, but it’s worth it. The beaches are stunning, the vibe is alot more relaxed than Sydney and the day/multi-day trips you can take up and down the coast are breathtaking.

Gold Coast - honestly, I wouldn’t bother unless you’re visiting the Hinterland or Burleigh. Surfers Paradise used to be really popular with tourists, but I reckon there’s better places to visit.

Sunshine Coast - stunning beaches, more of a relaxed vibe compared to the GC and is home to Australia Zoo, a must-visit for anyone interested in animal conservation and/or the late Steve Irwin.

Uluru - I haven’t personally visited, but I’ve heard amazing things. Situated pretty much smack bang in the middle of the Australian outback, this is a sacred site for the traditional owners of the land, the Anangu people. Doesn’t get more Australian than that.

Tasmania - our smallest state but home to some of the most beautiful landscapes and interesting attractions (MONA). You can easily spend a week or two driving around the island.

There’s so much more to see and do but the above is a good place to start. If anyone else has travelled more extensively in Australia, I’d be keen to hear of the other places you’ve visited and what you recommend so we can build a more comprehensive list!

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For my first trip to Australia I backpacked up the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns which saw a lot of the highlights like Byron Bay, Sydney, Fraser Island and the Great Barrier Reef - I’d recommend that route if someone is a bit shorter on time.

I definitely need to go back to visit some of the other highlights @kate25 - thanks for the recommendations :folded_hands:

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@kate25 love the recommendation! If you had to put together a 2 weeks trip, what cities would make the most sense to combine and how would you move around?

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Great list @kate25 - I lived in Australia for many years and can attest that Uluru is well worth the visit!

I’m glad you included Melbourne on your list as it is often overlooked, but by far the coolest and most unique city in Australia (in my opinion). And also the gateway to the Great Ocean Road!

And Tasmania, too, very special there and a place most people would overlook on a first trip!

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One of the main things to remember about visiting Australia is the vast size of the country! It’s not like Europe or UK where you can travel from city to city within an hour or so. I have had people ring me from Cairns in far north Queensland asking if they can drop in for lunch - it’s about 1600km (or an 18 hour drive) from where I live in Bundaberg :grin:. The UK fits into our 2nd smallest State & Europe fits into Australia so if you’re going to do a lot of travelling, you do need to plan ahead

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Very good point @traveler_367653! I think people often underestimate how big Australia is! Haha, even flying from Cairns to Bundaberg would bee too much for a lunch! :sweat_smile:

What top spots would you recommend for someone visiting for the first time?

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It depends on where you’re going…obviously in Sydney you have the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, walk around the harbour & take in the spectacular views, any of the Eastern Suburbs beaches. Melbourne you have the laneways with their street art, take the tram to St Kilda beach, enjoy the foodie scene, travel the Great Ocean Road. South Australia is famous, amongst other things, for its wineries & Kangaroo Island. Tasmania may be small but it packs a punch with stunning scenery & lots of history. Western Australia is vast…you can visit Broome in the far north to learn about their pearling industry, ride a camel on Cable Beach, visit the wineries in Margaret River. Northern Territory has Uluru & Kakadu, Queensland has the Daintree, Great Barrier Reef, the fabulous beaches of Sunshine Coast & Gold Coast. Then you have Canberra, the nation’s capital, with Lake Burley Griffin as it’s centrepiece, fabulous views from Black Mountain, Old & New Parliament Houses, the National War Memorial etc.

Enjoy!!!

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Thanks @traveler_367653! I’m so glad you mentioned Northern Territory and Kakdu specifically - this has to be the most stunning place I visited in Aus!