Australia, different from the rest
Australia, the large country „down under”, is different from the rest of the world for a few reasons. For most people around the world it is far away, located 100% on the Southern Hemisphere. More than that, the country is mainly a large desert with a green edge around it. The population mainly lives in 5 cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, each with more than 1-2 million people. Outside these capital cities, the country is fairly empty.
Australia has a unique wildlife with animals that exist only here. Kangaroos are the most known and is even the symbol for the national airline Qantas. There are more Kangaroos than people in Australia! But there are more animals, like the cute Echidnas, extra-ordinary Platypus, fierce Tasmanian Devil, sleepy Wombat and the lovely Koala. Birdlife is abundant with non-flying Emus, laughing kookaburras and cockatoos. You can also find nasty crocodiles, snakes and spiders here.
Australia is the size of mainland USA and it takes a while to visit all of it. Australians are very sporty and this includes swimming and surfing. They do try to spend a lot of time outdoors, not only with fishing in the national parks, but also with beach barbecues.
Note that Australia is really feeling climate change with strange weather especially along the East Coast. This includes heat waves, droughts and floods. Sydney and Melbourne are with the best places to live worldwide.
I have been to Australia often and now considers this as another “home” country.
What to do in New South Wales (Sydney)?
This is the most populated province of Australia. Climate is moderate and large parts are green. Sydney is the heart of the province and the country’s largest city – but not the capital (Canberra). Here you’ll find the world-famous opera house, the harbour bridge and Bondi Beach.
Outside the city there are many national parks, including Blue Mountains and Snowy Mountains. Hunter Valley is one of the main wine regions of Australia.
What to do in Victoria (Melbourne)?
Victoria is the second most populated province of Australia with Melbourne being the second largest and most sporty city of Australia (eg. F1, Grand Slam Tennis, Sailing). Beautiful Yarra Valley near Melbourne is the place for wines and nice B&Bs.
The Great Ocean Road with the Apostles are probably the most famous tourist attraction here. The Otway national park nearby features some really, really tall trees… The Grampians are great for walking and to see a lot of Kangaroos and Emus. At Philip Island you can even, with some luck, see tiny penguins.
What to do in Tasmania (Hobart)?
Tasmania is the island south of Melbourne, almost the size of Ireland. Here it is time to relax with excellent, clean air and a lot of nature. Hobart may not be a buzzling capital, but for sure it is pleasant. From Hobart you should go up Mount Wellington, for an excellent view of the region and its bays. Public transportation is difficult on Tasmania, so you may need a car or a tour.
After you have seen the colorful east coast, the penguins op north and the mountainous area and lakes in the west, you may be interested in Maria Island. This is an island used as a refugee for endangered animals like the Tasmanian Devil, geese and lots of wombats. You can walk or bicycle to discover this unique island.
What to do in Queensland (Brisbane)?
Queensland uses a few slogans to describe itself, including “the sunshine state” and “Beautiful one day, perfect the next”. It is always summer here. Brisbane is the capital where you can find anything you need along the river. Sun and surf tourists may prefer Gold Coast or Byron Bay.
More attractions can be found up North, with The Great Barrier Reef close to Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach being the most famous. The reef is described as the largest living organism on Earth and is visible from the moon. It is also one of the natural world wonders. Unfortunately, due to climate change and warming of the water, a lot of the coral has bleached and recovery is difficult.
Other attractions include Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation. This is a stretch of forest and habitat for a lot of animals including the most dangerous bird on the planet: the Cassowary. Beaches are great, but be aware of dangerous jelly fish (depending on season).
What to do in South-Australia (Adelaide)?
The South may not be as touristy as other parts of Australia, but it does have its flair. Barossa Valley is of course the main wine area, with 150 wineries to explore. Taking a hot air balloon over the fields in the morning or late afternoon is a memorable experience. Worth visiting is also the Flinders Range, a mountainous area in the North.
From Adelaide you can take the Ghan. This luxury train will take you past Coober Pedy (Opal Mines) and Alice Springs (Ayers Rock) to Darwin in the Northern Territory.
What to do in Western-Australia (Perth)?
The Province Western Australia is huge. It covers a third of Australia and is larger than Mexico. It counts only 3 million inhabitants of which 75% live in Perth. In other words: if you really like peace and quiet, this is the place to go. The roads outside of Perth are long and empty. Billabong, on the road North, is one of those little spots with a gas station and 10 permanent inhabitants.
A vacation to Western Australia is really rewarding, because of the absurd amount of space, and its natural attractions. This include the Pinnacles, Shark Bay (Monkey Mia) and especially the beautiful Coral Bay and Ningaloo Reef. Be aware that you may need reservations for Ningaloo months in advance to see the Wale Sharks.
There is not much public transportation, so this is the perfect location for a (4WD) camper or a tour. Perth to Broome via Exmouth along the coast is almost 3000 kms.
What to do in North-Australia (Darwin)
Last, but not least is North Australia with a few main attractions: Kakadu National Park and the centre with Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kings Canyon. Uluru is the world's largest monolyte and definitely worth a visit. Darwin is by far the smallest capital.
In Northern Territory and Queensland there are many large crocodiles. In Darwin you can even swim with one... Safely, in a double glass aquarium!