Australia

Destination Guide

How to use my destination guides

My destination guides are organised in two main sections:

Overview
This will help you to decide if this is a location for you, and if so, where you may want to spend your time. For larger countries, I also provide additional overviews of different regions, states and territories.

Specific Recommendations
Here I list specific things to see and do. For each, I provide star ratings so that you can easily see how good, unique and adventurous each place is. This means that you can easily pick out where sounds right for you!

Overview

As many of you already know, Australia is huge! As someone who has lived and worked in Australia and travelled to every state and territory there, I feel as though I have still only scratched the surface of this great country.

To put things in perspective, Australia is the world’s 6th largest country (behind Russia, Canada, China, the USA and Brazil); however, it’s double the size of the world’s 7th largest country, India. Australia has a population of 26.5 million and a population density of just 3 people/km2: fewer than Canada (4/km2), the USA (38/km2) and far less than India (488/km2). So in brief, there is a whole lot of nothing! The population mainly hugs the coastal areas of the country, where land is more fertile, with much of the country being desert. The country’s low population density makes it an absolute playground for nature lovers! Wild camping is easy, and it is home to easily the best beaches in the world. Some beaches go on for mile after mile, further than the eye can see, with beautiful sand. On most beaches, you are also allowed to drive your car onto the beach and have the whole place to yourself. Further inland, you have ‘the bush’ (the green yet unpopulated area of Australia) and ‘the outback’ (the unpopulated desert areas). Don’t get me wrong, when I say unpopulated, you will find people living in these areas; however, they are few and far between.

The Language
The whole country speaks English, which makes it easy to travel and have a great time. Indigenous Aboriginal peoples have their own languages however, this differs from place to place and people to people.

Economy and Safety
Australia has a strong and varied economy. Its low population density, high education levels and abundance of natural resources make the people very wealthy. Don’t get me wrong, Aussies (Australians) like to complain, but compared to the rest of the world, they’ve got it pretty good. I found I could leave my bags unattended on a beach while I went to swim and would return to find my valuables still there! There is also no tipping culture here, with people earning a high minimum wage. Also, taxes are included in the purchase price, so when you buy something, be it groceries or a meal at a restaurant, it means that the price you see is the price that you see. This is a welcome change from the USA and Canada, where you eat at a restaurant to find out that you have tax on top of the advertised price and a tip of around 20%.

Given its size, for backpackers, you can also find work in remote areas which provide staff with accommodation. Many backpackers undertake fruit picking or work in hotels. Although these areas are remote, they often have a good social side and can be great places to save money. This also gives you a chunk of change left over to spend in nearby South-East Asia, which I’d recommend visiting if you’re over that side of the globe.

Travel Ease
As Australia is one country, travel is very easy. There are no borders to cross or many difficulties at all. The only border which I experienced was a land border when crossing from South Australia to Western Australia (WA), and this was because they check for any seeds, etc., which aren’t native to WA should you damage their ecosystems there. There are some differences between states, for example, you need to register a car in the state where you live and there are conditions to selling a car in a different state to which it is registered; however, on the whole its very easy. The expanse of land also makes camping easy, provided that you have your own wheels.

The Beaches
The beaches are the best in the world! You can see busy beaches near the cities, but most are very quiet and great places to relax. Many people will tell you that Queensland and Western Australia have the best beaches in Australia and that probably are the best destinations for those people who are all about the beach. If you want beaches and social vibe Queensland is probably your number one. If you love beaches though then I have found phenomenal beaches in every state of Australia (including Tasmania) and also in the Northern Territory (NT). My point is, if you want beaches and you are going to Australia, don’t worry! I found the coastline to be stunning wherever I went. I found many beaches to be stunning and empty along the south coast of Australia, especially in the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia (SA) so if you want somewhere well off the beaten track that may be the place for you!

The Wildlife
To anyone not from Australia, it’s very alien. Seeing kangaroos (AKA ‘roos’) everywhere like rabbits on steroids is definitely entertaining. Other incredible land wildlife are wombats, wallabies, echidnas, dingoes, cassowaries, quokkas and many more, not to mention the abundance of sea life in Australia’s countless reefs and water life, including sharks (including whale sharks), sea lions, turtles, whales, dolphins, rays, and so many more sea animals inhabit the Australian coastlines. If you are terrified of snakes and spiders, I also wouldn’t let that scare you away from visiting. The saying that “they are more afraid of you than you are of them” most definitely applies. Upon entering Australia, many have the vision that they will be chased down the street as a daily occurrence by snakes with spiders in every boot – this couldn’t be further from the truth. Snakes are so elusive that by the end of my trip, I found myself chasing them into the bush for a closer look as they slithered away. My advice in countries with dangerous wildlife, such as Australia and Canada, is that animals can attack when frightened. It’s good to talk with people, or if you are alone or don’t fancy a good ol’ chin wag (conversation), then sing. I have a love of history and find that older songs, such as sea shanties and other songs from the 1700s and 1800s, have a good pace which you can sing to as you hike – more modern songs tend to be faster and therefore can make you quickly run out of breath as you sing. ‘Jim Jones at Botany Bay’ is a good Australian one if you want one to get you going.

The Cities
Australia is home to famous and incredible cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are the most famous, with Canberra being the capital. There are plenty of other smaller towns and cities which I loved along the way, including Hobart, Tasmania, which has the character of an old fishing town and was Australia’s second colony after Sydney; unlike Sydney, however, Hobart has expanded little and therefore has kept much of its historic character.

The People
For Brits such as myself, the accent is easy to understand, but for those who aren’t native English speakers, you may find it takes you a while to get an ear for their accent – especially for the locals living in some areas like rural Queensland, where many people have a stronger accent. Aussies (Australians) are culturally very similar to other CANZUK (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK) countries and Ireland. Very generally speaking, I would say that Aussies are slightly louder, more extroverted and more vulgar than Brits, but only slightly and it’s not necessarily a bad thing either! Most people are really welcoming, open and laid-back. You’ll be hard-pressed to have a bad time hanging out with Aussies in Australia or anywhere else in the world! I’d also say that Aussies are generally quite sporty too, compared to Brits and I presume that this is partly down to the better weather over there. Australia is a massive country, so you will find that people vary from place to place.

History
Australia has been inhabited by humans for an estimated 50,000 years, although don’t ask me how they estimate this date! At present, just under one million Aboriginals are estimated to still inhabit the country today. The natives of the mainland and Tasmania are called Aboriginals. Aussies (Australians) are famous for shortening words but make sure that you don’t shorten the word ‘Aboriginal’ as it can be seen as racist given how it has been used in the past. Torres Strait Islanders are also native to the islands between Cape York (the large peninsula in the north of Queensland) and Papua New Guinea.

Unlike the Maori of neighbouring New Zealand, the Aboriginals share no common language with different peoples being spread out over the mainland. There are estimated to be in excess of 400 different Aboriginal people with different traditional lands, cultures and beliefs. Prior to European colonisation, they had vast trade networks and a rich culture. I really enjoyed learning about their legends, which are often linked to local landmarks. For example, in the Flinders Ranges mountains in South Australia (SA) the mountain range looks like a snake.

Another tribe also has lore which explains how sharks and stingrays came to be. The legend tells that by the sea, two men fought a duel by some cliffs: one throwing a spear at the other. As the first fell into the ocean, the spear became his tail, and he became a stingray. Before he was struck, he had thrown a boomerang, which had hit his rival in the middle of his back. Like the first, the second man fell to the waters below with the boomerang becoming his fin, and he became the first shark. There are many stories like this which are linked to animals and landscapes and link the world together, which I found truly beautiful. I found the largest concentration of Aboriginals in the Northern Territory.

The first Europeans to find Australia (then ‘New Holland’) and make landfall were the Dutch in 1606. A famous Brit and fellow Yorkshireman, Captain James Cook, mapped the east coast in 1770 and claimed the land for the British. A very intelligent map James Cook came from humble beginnings and rose through the ranks of the British Navy in a time when promotion was very much reserved for the aristocracy. He was a famous cartographer (map-maker) whose work assisted the British in capturing Quebec from the French. He also undertook scientific work and made sea-faring far safer for sailors, reducing deaths from scurvy and keeping his crew incredibly healthy for the time. Captain James Cook is famous to Australians and is seen by many as a figurehead for Australia – he also mapped many other lands, including the coast of New Zealand and Hawaii. Despite this, he did not colonise the continent. The British sent their first fleet to modern-day Sydney, New South Wales, on Australia’s east coast, landing on 26th January 1788; what is now Australia’s national day – Captain Cook had been killed nine years previously in Hawaii.

At the time, the British were, as they had been for much of their history, in somewhat of an arms/exploration race with the French. Each side sought more wealth and power to compete with the other. Many now have the opinion that European expansion was based solely on greed; however, at the time, wars in Europe were commonplace and national security was not as secure as it is today. The fear of invasion was never far away, and by securing more power and resources, this was seen as a way to fuel further military expansion, therefore increasing a country’s security while also depriving its rivals of these simultaneously. It was therefore in the interest of the British to lay claim to Australia and establish a colony before their rivals, namely the French. Having recently lost much of her North American Colonies to revolution and the formation of the USA in 1776, the colonisation of Australia was deemed prudent.

For many Brits, however, the prospects of a dangerous 8-month ship voyage to hopefully create a colony halved a world away in an alien land of which very little was known, a far from enticing prospect. The first Brits to colonise North America at Roanoke Island had mysteriously disappeared and issues with food shipments to prevent starvation could be difficult for any colony, even more so for one so far away as Australia, where little was known of the climate. The huge amount of unknowns and risk involved meant that few were jumping at the opportunity to settle down under. For many years, settlers of the subcontinent were pressed into the venture. The first fleet was comprised of 11 vessels, around 550 crew and their family with an additional 750 convicts. These convicts, many of whom were given no choice and were sentenced to Australia, had often committed only relatively minor crimes. Many were given, subject to good behaviour, the ability to prove themselves and earn their freedom and have land in the new colony.

The British, fearing the French may colonise the island of Tasmania (which was then called as Van Diemen’s Land), undertook a similar approach, creating a penal colony in there in 1803. Confrontations in Tasmania between the Aboriginals and colonists led to a programme of extermination and deportation, with Tasmania sadly having virtually no natives remaining there today. Tasmania is now an Australian state.

Fortunately for the British, no other colonial rivals emerged to challenge them for Australia. Further colonisation took place, although not every colony was a penal colony; for example, Victoria (the state in which Melbourne is located) was not a penal colony. Australia, over time, has had a slow separation from Britain. Australia became a dominion on 1st January 1901, gaining more autonomy from Britain. To this day, there are still strong ties between the UK and Australia. Our cultures, including our humour, are extremely similar. Australia, like the UK, is a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch also the head of state for Australia and Australia is part of the Commonwealth of Nations: a network of countries which are almost all former British colonies. The Australian flag has the British Union flag in the corner with white stars representing the Southern Cross star constellation (which is also shown with red stars on the New Zealand flag), in addition to the ‘commonwealth star’ representing the Commonwealth of Australia (i.e. the union of Australian states which joined together to form a nation).

Some Other Points of Note

Australia is made up of six states and two territories. I will provide an overview of each state here, along with specific recommendations for things to do in each state on my ‘Andy Recommends’ page of this website.
Canberra: the country’s capital is located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which is an enclave of New South Wales; however, located en route from Sydney to Melbourne, the country’s largest two cities.
I recommend visiting the north of the country in the wintertime, as it is extremely hot. I was in Darwin, Northern Territory, in winter and I struggled to walk down the street and tended to prefer using e-scooters in the town to avoid overheating. Visiting Queensland in winter also means that you won’t have to deal with dangerous irukandji and box jellyfish, which are present in the hot summer months but aren’t present in the winter (although it’s still very hot and nice swimming weather in the oceans in the wintertime). Please note that saltwater crocodiles, sharks, other jellyfish species and dangerous reefs and animals are present around much of Australia’s coasts, so speak to locals and look out for warning signs. Lifeguards in Australia are also well-well trained and often well-equipped, so speak to them if you are in any doubt.
My favourite cities are Sydney to visit and to live in; I’d probably choose Brisbane. Many others also love Melbourne for its music and comedy scene, with lots of entertainment and culture, as well as many liking Perth, which is also definitely a great city. I personally wasn’t a massive fan of Adelaide, not that it’s a bad city, but I didn’t think it felt unique to me, although the surrounding countryside is nice and it’s a very green city and there are plenty of less touristy things to do in SA.
There are countless other smaller towns and cities which I love, so please check out my state-by-state guide below and also my specific recommendations on my ‘Andy Recommends’ page.
“How’s it going?” is a common greeting for Australians (you very rarely hear “g’day” in my experience, sorry to disappoint). Also according to the locals ‘Australia’ has a ‘y’ in it somewhere. If they say say “yeah nah” this means ‘no’ and “nah yeah” means ‘yes’ (i.e. go with the last word they say). The city centre is also called the ‘CBD’ (central business district). They love slang and nicknames and you may have to use intuition to work out what they’re saying. For Brits and New Zealanders, you’ll have little to no trouble, but to others, especially non-native English speakers, it may take you a while to adjust and learn the lingo.
Cafe culture is big for the Aussies. There are very few Starbucks there. Aussies are coffee snobs, especially in Melbourne, where they have had a lot of Italian and Greek immigration in the past, so their food and drink are really good and they have loads of great independent cafes. Barbeque culture is big with barbeques in many public parks (please clean them after you use them) and free outdoor gyms, etc.
Hostels are very social here. Many people go backpacking, volunteer or undertake working holidays. Greyhound buses can take you up and down the east coast but to see the country properly, especially if you like nature and going off the beaten track, you’ll want to get a car.
When you tell locals that you are travelling around Australia, they’ll all tell you to watch ‘Wolf Creek’. It’s a famous Aussie horror film. Give it a watch, but don’t let it put you off coming!
Best kept secret locations: Mount Gambier (SA), Katherine (NT) and Freycinet (TAS). See my ‘Specific Recommendations’ for why!
Australia’s landscape varies drastically, but it takes time to change. For example, you may have to drive for many hours before it transitions from one landscape to the next. This isn’t the case in much of Europe and New Zealand where I feel like the landscape transitions more quickly between environments.
Aussies are a great bunch with a great sense of humour, and you’ll definitely have a blast if you go here.
Australia isn’t all desert; much of it is very green! Especially if you go to Tasmania, there aren’t many people there, but there are stunning mountains, lush green landscapes and very few people.
Australia has loads to offer, it’s huge, safe, has a good economy, has nice people and is a great place to backpack. Many people also choose to live here. If you are thinking of making a new life abroad, it’s definitely worth visiting Australia to see if it’s for you.

States Overview

Given Australia’s size and diversity it is impossible to give an overview of the whole country. For this reason I have given a mini-overview of each state and territory to help you plan your trip and yes, I have been to all of them! So here we go…

Australia has six states and two territories. It’s incredibly easy to learn the map of Australia because the west of Australia is called….you guessed it! Western Australia (often abbreviated to ‘WA’). The south of Australia is? Yup, South Australia! (SA). The north of Australia is very sparsely populated (even by Australian standards) and is the Northern Territory (NT). That just leaves us with the east coast (i.e. where most people live). From north to south down the east coast we have Queensland (QLD), New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria (VIC). Tasmania (TAS) is an island located south of Victoria and is also a state. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is located en route via an inland road between Sydney and Melbourne and is home to the nation’s purpose-built, pre-planned capital city, Canberra.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is an enclave of New South Wales (NSW). Disconnected from this is the Jervis Bay Territory, which is also part of the ACT. I won’t go into detail about this, but basically, the Australian government wanted the ACT to also have its own coastal area of land too.

A lot of Aussies haven’t visited the ACT or have only done so on school trips to see Parliament. I am a geography nerd and have never seen a pre-planned capital city and I wanted to take a look, and I’m really happy that I went. You can visit Mount Ainslie to get a view of the city, walk around the nice local parks, visit parliament and there are lots of museums here. It’s a bit cooler here as it’s up in the mountains and there are some nice hikes to do in the area. I personally enjoyed visiting, although I couldn’t see myself desperately wanting to live there.

Many people don’t like it because it can, in a way, feel a bit soulless. It’s very well designed and there aren’t many people (only around 450,000), which means that there aren’t many areas where there is hustle and bustle. It’s also around a 2-hour drive from the coast with many Australians prefer to live nearer the sea. That being said, I have friends who live in Canberra who love it for that very reason, no traffic, no stress, beautiful mountains and a nice life – each to their own!

I’d definitely recommend visiting if you find Geography and history interesting. It’s en route from Sydney to Melbourne, so you can go via Canberra or stick to the coast road. Personally, I think it’s worth seeing.

Some interesting facts about how Canberra came to being is that Sydney and Melbourne were, and are, Australia’s two major cities at the time of Federation (when Australia unified into a single nation). Canberra is located en route between the two. It was also deemed that by building a capital city in the mountains, where the area is cooler, it would help politicians think more clearly (which I totally understand from being cooped up in British classrooms on a hot day with no A/C and not being able to think!). Finally, for reasons of defence, Canberra is located inland, which would make a foreign naval bombardment or capture of the capital far more difficult.

Queensland

Queensland is often what people think of when they think of Australia: beautiful beaches, the Great Barrier Reef, surfing and locals with sun-kissed skin. The state is also massive! So much so that it’s similar in size to Indonesia and Mexico. Although the east coast of Queensland is incredible and famous for good reason, there is also plenty of other things to do. I bought a car in Darwin, Northern Territory (NT) and drove it through the outback to Queensland. Inland, you have towns like Mount Isa, which feels like it is in the wrong country. It is a rodeo town with country music, but to be honest, not the most picturesque town as mining and industrial works dominate the town. Further east, I passed through Millstream, an inland area with beautiful waterfalls to swim in and explore. The Daintree Rainforest in the north is also incredible and home to the interesting flightless bird, the cassowary.

The Queensland coastline is also phenomenal and home to the best beaches in the world, in my opinion (jointly tied with SA and WA). Brisbane was one of my favourite cities in Australia, with other beautiful towns down the coast such as Cairns, Airlie Beach and Agnes Water. Magnetic Island, Fraser Island and last but most importantly, The Whitsundays. These islands are located in the Barrier Reef and are a must-see! The great barrier free can be found along much of Queensland’s east coast and is great fun to explore with activities for every budget. Many coastal towns also have free outdoor swimming pools (they call them ‘lagoons’ over there), which are nice to cool off in and a good place to brush up on your swimming if you’re not the most confident.

New South Wales (NSW)

Home to Sydney and the Blue Mountains, this state is a lot of fun! In the north, you’ll find Byron Bay (locals just call it ‘Byron’). It’s a bit of a hippie place to be and I wasn’t blown away by it at first, but it quickly grew on me and I ended up really enjoying my time here. I also undertook a surf school and found it a great place to learn, as there are nice beginner waves and very few people on the beaches.

The coastline of NSW is beautiful; however, I personally preferred the coastlines of Queensland, SA and WA. I really love Sydney, there’s loads to do in the city, a great city centre (CBD), the harbour is stunning and it’s got a great vibe. There are also nice beaches, including the famous Bondi beach which has huge waves (best to avoid if you aren’t a strong swimmer) and some nice coastal walks. Sydney is a great place for a photoshoot, being the home of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The layout of the harbour means that there are several different harbours to visit, all with their own vibe, unlike Melbourne, which has a more circular harbour shape. I would recommend taking a normal taxi boat from the main quay (Circular Quay) to Manly, this will save you money on doing a boat tour of the harbour, as you will get the same views, plus you will get the chance to see Manly, which is a nice suburb on the north side of the harbour with a good beach.

The Blue Mountains, which are also located just West of Sydney, are stunning and very dramatic. There are waterfalls to swim in, great hikes down almost sheer cliff-faces which are carved into the rock and they are categorised by what I can only describe as ‘binary’ landscapes. The land in many areas is flat at two elevations, higher land which is flat with cliff faces dropping vertically to other flat lands below. It’s really incredible and definitely worth visiting. If you don’t have a car, then definitely rent one in Sydney and make your way out there. I am sure that there are buses that way, but I personally recommend a car so that you can do more in a day, see more and have a better experience.

Victoria

I would argue that the two most famous tourist destinations in Victoria are Melbourne and The Great Ocean Road. Melbourne is a cool city, and I am lucky that I have family living there, so I have visited the city on four occasions. Many Australians and internationals prefer Melbourne to Sydney for its arguably better social and entertainment scenes. It’s also a very green city with lots of local parks. It’s a very sprawling city with many detached homes and a rough-grid layout. Melbourne’s harbour is also massive, I can’t express in words how big but you have to see it to comprehend its scale. There are really cool suburbs like Richmond and St. Kilda (where you can see Penguins). South of Melbourne, on the east side of the harbour, you also have the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island, which are worth checking out.

The Great Ocean Road lies on Victoria’s southern coast west of Melbourne, where you can see The Twelve Apostles rock formations (or what’s left of them, as several have now collapsed) and some stunning beaches. It’s worth doing in a car if you are in the area, although it is a bit touristy; it’s a good trip to do with friends and take your time in a car, although buses are available. I also loved the Grampian mountains, and they are worth spending a couple of days in if you can spare the time.

Tasmania

I would say that Tasmania and the Northern Territory (NT) are Australia’s most underrated states. Many tourists (and Australians) stick to the east coast of Australia, with most venturing no further north than Cairns in the north of Queensland, much past Melbourne, Victoria. Those people miss out on the green gem in the Tasman Sea, which is Tasmania. On a map, you may be fooled into thinking that the island is small, as it lies close to the massive Australian mainland; however, it is similar in size to Sri Lanka and the Republic of Ireland, although it is home to a population of just 570,000 people (around 8.5 people/km2). The island was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. You will find many things named after him, including the Tasman Sea, which separates Australia from New Zealand and the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park, which is located in the north-west of New Zealand’s South Island. Abel Tasman was the first European to sight Tasmania and named it after his expedition’s sponsor, with the island originally being named Van Diemen’s Land. Like NSW, Tasmania started out as a penal colony with convicts from the British Isles being sent to populate the island. Tasmanians requested that the island have its name changed to Van Diemen’s Land because ‘Diemen’ sounds similar to ‘demon’ and because of the poor reputation of the island. Around 75,000 convicts (40% of all convicts sent to Australia) were sent to Tasmania.

So now with the history lesson over, a quick overview. I love Tasmania! I have travelled, lived, worked and volunteered in Tasmania (AKA ‘Tassie’). The state capital Hobart is a charming ‘city’, although in truth, to most travellers it is more of a town with a population of just 56,000. Many old historic stone buildings are present in the Harbour and the city has strong nautical routes and links to this day. The river Derwent flows through the city and Mount Wellington is located behind, offering incredible views of the city and surrounding lands. Make no mistake, Hobart feels the opposite of the hustle and bustle of Melbourne and Sydney, but that’s what I love about it. Given its lack of growth over the years, it still has a nice historic feel and charm to it. There are dolphins and whales around the island too.

I would say don’t listen to them, it is colder than the mainland as it’s further south, and it did snow on several occasions, which I worked at Cradle Mountain in the north-west of the island; however, by the standards of many Europeans and North Americans, it’s not cold, it’s just cold for Aussies. Take a jacket, hat, gloves, etc. if you go in the winter, but don’t be put off, also there are no snakes around in the winter, so that’s a win! Please note that the weather can change quickly, so it’s worth popping into one of the many visitor centres out there for local knowledge whenever you can. Also, like New Zealand, the ozone layer above Tasmania is lacking, so make sure that you wear plenty of sunscreen or you’ll cook! The infrastructure in Tasmania is amazing and popular hiking trails are well defined.

I loved Cradle Mountain and the Walls of Jerusalem National Park; they are stunning, remote and a hiker’s paradise. Some of Australia’s best multi-day hikes are also in Tasmania, including the Overland Track and the Three Capes Track.

The wildlife in Tasmania is also incredible, wombats, dolphins, whales, spiders, wallabies and much more are everywhere. Also, I can pretty much guarantee that you won’t see a wild Tasmanian Devil but you can see them in zoos and they’re worth seeing. For small things, they sure are feisty and kick up a big and terrifying noise, which leads to their name. As for the Tasmanian Tiger, they are extinct; the last one sadly died in a zoo in Hobart in 1936. There are still stories of locals claiming to have seen one, but in truth, there is no evidence of any still being around – that being said its a large and sparsely populated island with much wilderness in the south-west of the island, so you never know!

Want to know more about Tasmania? Check out my blog article ‘Tasmania – Australia’s best kept secret’ by following the link below:

Tasmania Blog

South Australia (SA)

Adelaide is the capital of South Australia. Many locals like the city and think it’s a good place to live, but for me, as a tourist, I wasn’t blown away by it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad place to live in, it is calm, pleasant, has nice people and lots of green space as well as beautiful countryside around it; however, I personally didn’t feel like it was unique in any way. Is worth passing through if you are passing through; however, I wouldn’t detour for the city. That being said, the rest of SA I found to be incredibly unique, diverse and worthwhile. I preferred the SA coastline to that of Victoria and the Great Ocean Road in many ways. South Australia is best travelled with a group of friends in a car; however as although it’s beautiful, it’s sparsely populated and having some friends along the way enhances this experience, or you’ll end up being a little lonely.

Mount Gambier is a hidden gem! The town is located in the east of SA, close to the Victorian border. SA has some beautiful coastal walks and I loved the Eyre Peninsular where you can do shark cage diving with Great White Sharks and swim with sea lions, which are basically underwater puppies and unbelievable fun. The Flinders Mountain ranges are also very different and interesting. In the west, you will enter the Nullarbor desert which leads from western SA into eastern WA. There are no trees here for miles and incredibly long straight roads with some cool coastal viewpoints along the way. It’s a great place to camp and stargaze at night with incredibly clear skies and no light pollution.

Western Australia (WA)

For a lot of people, WA is their favourite state and I can see why, as it has loads to offer. The Capital Perth, is a really cool city, it’s got a nice CBD and plenty of green space and I enjoyed cycling around the city and seeing its parks. Rottnest Island is easily accessible by ferry from Perth and you can see quokkas there, which are very cute. That being said, they are often shown in selfies smiling and looking cute but it’s not easy to get that shot and when they are not looking at the camera straight on, then they look a bit like a large rat (hence the island’s name, which means ‘rat’s nest’ in Dutch.

The north of WA, from Perth via Ningaloo, Exmouth and Broome are famous coastal sites. Beautiful reefs are present off the western coast and if you time your trip correctly, you can swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo! There are also some awesome inland spots you can visit.

I had some good times exploring the south coast of WA and really enjoyed Esperance, jumping off sea cliffs and swimming there. Also, there are some really unique attractions too, like climbing the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, which, even for an experienced climber like myself, was nerve-racking. The Nullarbor Desert also extends into the east of WA from SA.

Northern Territory (NT)

The Northern Territory and Tasmania are, in my opinion, the two most underrated states in Australia. Top tip though, do not go in the summer! If there is any way to give you an idea of the people who live there, I can tell you that their unofficial slogan is “CUintheNT”. You will see this on T-shirts, hats and pretty much anything else.

The capital Darwin is an interesting town, the waterfront is really nice with bars, restaurants and a safe, free public lagoon (swimming pool) to swim in, as well as a paid lagoon with a wave machine. Mindil Markets at sunset is also incredible and offers a beautiful sunset and when I went there were performers with fire on the beach for a free show! I found Darwin how to explore by foot even in the winter, and I mainly travelled by e-scooter and occasionally e-bike.

I wouldn’t say that I felt unsafe in Darwin, but by Australian standards, it definitely is. There is a higher crime rate here. The town was also only established in 1869 and there is a high number of Aboriginals living in the town and the surrounding areas. This was the first place I saw firsthand the much-talked-about lack of cohesion between Aboriginals and those of European descent. The Aboriginals in the town were polite and made good conversation with me; however, I noticed that for locals and Aboriginals, they typically passed by each other as if one another were ghosts and unseen, with very little interaction from what I saw between the two groups. Many Aboriginals here spoke their native tongue as their first language, with most not speaking fluent English.

As for the hostels in Darwin, they are mainly party hostels. It was also in Darwin that I stayed in what is easily the worst accommodation I have ever stayed in (in any country), Frogshollow Backpackers. The hostel had recently reopened after being shut down and has since been shut down once more. More info. on my podcast at some point, no doubt!

A lot of places in Australia were named by explorers of British descent and over recent years, more place names are reverting to their Aboriginal names. This can be a little confusing when making travel plans, so I’ve decided to use them both in this to avoid confusion with the Aboriginal name first and the alternative name in brackets.

I really loved the NT outside of Darwin, the territory is massive with loads to see and tons of wilderness with very few people. I found being there in the winter was also incredible, as it wasn’t too hot during the day and it was slightly cool in the night, making wild camping a great experience, because there is no rain. I also got away with sleeping in a cheap pop-up tent!

The most well-known tourist attraction in the NT is Uluru (Ayers Rock), which is located in the far south of the NT. I went there when I was on holiday as a kid and remember enjoying camel rides and seeing Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), but I chose not to return as an adult. This was partly because you can no longer climb the rock, as it is sacred to the local Aboriginals, and I felt it was a long detour just to look at a big rock I have already seen. I am glad that I didn’t make a detour to do this. Don’t get me wrong, if you want to show in photos that you’ve been to Australia, you’ll want a good photo in front of the Sydney Opera House and Uluru, but I don’t care about that, and frankly, I feel there are other better places to visit in the NT!

There aren’t many major roads in the NT. The main ones (which are tarmac) run north-south from Darwin right down to Adelaide. Another road goes west from Katherine (not too far south of Darwin) into WA and the road east to Queensland shoots off the north-south road (A87) at a tiny place called Three Ways (shown as Warumungu). You’ll also see plenty of road trains bombing it down these roads (I crossed loads on my drive east from Three Ways into Queensland) and these are huge lorries with about five large wagons behind them. If you are planning a road trip, I’d say definitely take plenty of spare water and jerry cans for spare fuel if you need it. Do some homework for where petrol (gas) stations are so that you’re not caught short. If in doubt, it’s better safe than sorry. Also have a reliable car because even if you are on a main road where you are found, getting towed out there will cost you what you saved on getting a cheap banger of a car and then some!

My favourite place in the NT was Katherine. This is a small town, around three hours south of Darwin. I loved exploring the canyon there, which is incredible. It’s too far inland to be at risk of having saltwater crocodiles (‘salties’) in it, so you can swim safely. It is made up of around five large sections where you can kayak up them (I went with a group where I had a tandem kayak, which was great fun), and you can paddle up to the end of the first section, drag your kayak over a few rocks and then into a second section and so on. There are some great lookouts over the canyon and some cool places to jump in. The other incredible thing to do in Katherine, which is potentially the best hidden gem in the entire world, is the hot springs there. Unlike many other hot springs, this is an actual warm river you can swim in, not just a pool. It’s free and easily accessible right next to the town itself. The water is very hot but still comfortable and the river has various sections with vegetation overhanging it. It also surprisingly has some fish in its amazing, clear yet slightly blue waters and it felt like something from a science fiction movie. I highly recommend it! Also, if you time this so that you are leaving the springs at sunset, you will be treated to seeing thousands of flying foxes (bats) soaring overhead, truly incredible. You will see massive colonies of flying foxes in much of rural Australia and they are incredible to see.

Another great thing to do is to take a boat trip on the Adelaide River to see the massive saltwater crocodiles (‘salties’) jumping out of the river to catch meat which is dangled for them over the side. The boat tour guides will tell you more about these incredible prehistoric animals and your mind will be blown by how something so massive and fast-moving can get so close to the boat while you have no idea until it strikes. The downside to this tour, however, is that you will be terrified of murky water for a while afterwards! This leads me to another point: do not swim unless you are told it’s safe by a lifeguard. In places like the NT, they have numerous threats: strong currents, sharp reefs, salties (which can go in rivers and the sea, although often frequent the sea around river estuaries), sharks (bull sharks can also swim in rivers) and never turn your back to water. Also, just because you see others swimming somewhere, it doesn’t mean it’s safe. Even beautiful-looking waterfalls can be safe at the edge of the plunge pool, but have strong currents in the centre and around the waterfall landing area, which can pull you under. Use your common sense and, importantly, listen to the locals.

In conjunction with doing the Adelaide river cruise to see the crocodiles (‘crocs’ I’d also recommend seeing the crocs at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin (an aquarium), as you can see crocs in clear water and get an idea of how terrifyingly massive these guys are.

Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks are also worth visiting, with beautiful waterfalls to swim in and massive termite mounds and other things. Also, you will see as you drive through termite mounds with clothes on them (a bit like snowmen), which is funny to see!

Overview Summary

Australia is a great place to visit for a holiday, travelling or work and travel. It has great people, it’s safe and it’s so massive that it has plenty of variety with something for everyone: white sandy beaches, mountains, great cities and adventures galore!

Specific Recommendations

How to interpret my specific recommendations

My specific recommendations are listed below. Firstly, you will find: its name, a quick link to locate and save it to your Google Maps, and for some, a photo. The photos, if present, like all those on this page, have either been taken by me or feature me in them. If you save the location to your Google Maps, I suggest that you add a note on there too, to remind you that you heard about it here. A good way to do this is by copying my website link into the location description. This way, you can check back here nearer the time of your visit to jog your memory as to what is there. I use Google Maps to plan all of my trips and, when used to its full potential, it is incredible! If you haven’t already, check out my blog post on how I use Google Maps to revolutionise my travels!

Google Maps Blog

I provide a description of each location, as well as a duration estimate for how long you may want to spend at that location, to help with your planning.

I also provide star ratings for three categories.

Andy Argo

My overall rating

Worth seeing if you’re passing

Worth a detour if you have time

A must see!

Adventure

The level of exertion and danger involved

Easy to access, low risk and no strenuous exercise required

Some exercise is required, such as hiking. Some risks, such as bad weather, uneven ground, steep edges, etc.

Involves more exercise, greater danger or both. Examples include diving or scrambling up mountains, where experience is required.

Uniqueness

How well known and unique a destination is

A well-known destination or one that is not overly unique. I have listed restaurants in this category as food is everywhere.

Somewhat unknown or unique

Very unique

Some other points to note are:

I like a bit of danger and history, so you may find that my ‘Andy Argo’ star ratings are sometimes (but not always) a little biased in favour of these types of locations.
On my ‘Andy Argo’ stars, if I have given something one star, it’s good and worth doing. Having one star doesn’t mean it’s bad; it’s still high praise, as I only include the crème de la crème on this list!
My duration recommendations are based on what I think is the minimum amount of time you would want to spend there. I always recommend being spontaneous when travelling and changing plans depending on your circumstances, how you feel, and following advice from locals. Remember you’re there to enjoy it, so don’t feel rushed and stressed, you’re on holiday!
In a small handful of instances, I have included somewhere I have been with zero Andy Argo stars. I have done this a handful of times for very touristy places. These are locations which I have been to and which are sufficiently famous that I think people would wonder why they aren’t on the list, but which, in my opinion, don’t make the cut and are overrated (sorry).
I have been to the vast majority of these recommendations; however, sometimes I include several locations which I haven’t been to for the following reasons:
- - A friend of mine has been there and has highly recommended it to me.
  - Internet searches suggest it sounds noteworthy enough to include.

Disclaimer – I am not responsible for your safety or enjoyment at any of these locations. Everything I have recommended here is based on my experience and opinion. I may have recommended places I visited years ago or, as mentioned previously, a handful which I have had recommended to me. Do your own research before visiting any attractions to ensure that you think you will enjoy them and that they are sufficiently safe. My recommended duration times are also estimates based on my opinion; do your own further research and plan accordingly. I have recommended places which I think people will like, but it is all based on my opinion; I may love something that you hate. Be sure to have sufficient travel insurance and make your own judgments. Check weather forecasts and consult reputable local guidance before visiting anywhere you seek to visit. For more adventurous activities, ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared and that you have the right supervision, equipment, and training for the activity. Long story short, use some common sense and don’t sue me, I’m broke enough already. Happy travels, Andy

Specific Recommendations

Given the size of Australia, I’ve broken it down by state and territory to provide specific locations to visit.

Australia

Destination Guide

How to use my destination guides

Overview

States Overview

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Queensland

New South Wales (NSW)

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia (SA)

Western Australia (WA)

Northern Territory (NT)

Overview Summary

Specific Recommendations

How to interpret my specific recommendations

Specific Recommendations

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Parliament House

Mount Ainslie

Other

Queensland

Cooktown

Mt Isa (Rodeo)

Cairns & Port Douglas

Great Barrier Reef

Daintree Rainforest

Cathedral Fig Tree

Millaa Millaa Waterfall

Australian Platypus Park

Millstream

Josephine Falls

Mission Beach

Wallaman Falls

Magnetic Island (Rock Wallabies)

Magnetic Island (The Forts Walk)

Magnetic Island (Radical Bay)

Magnetic Island (Cane Toad Racing, Arcadia Village Hotel)

Magnetic Island (The Koala Park)

Airlie Beach & The Whitsunday Islands

Agnes Water and 1770

Lady Elliot Island

Noosa

Moreton Island

Brisbane

Gold Coast

Springbrook National Park

New South Wales (NSW)

Byron Bay

Killen Falls

Dorrigo National Park (Rainforest and falls)

Mount Kaputar National Park

Palm Beach

Sydney

Blue Mountains

Victoria

Melbourne

Philip Island

Morning Peninsula

The Great Ocean Road

Great Otway National Park

Commercial Hotel, Terang

Wilsons Promontory National Park

Grampians National Park

Tasmania

Hobart

Mount Wellington

Bruny Island

Gordon Dam

Tasman National Park & Three Capes Track

Freycinet National Park

Cradle Mountain & area

South Australia (SA)

Mount Gambier

Adelaide

Kangaroo Island

Bumbunga Lake

Flinders Ranges

Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula

Coffin Bay