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    Tourist Attractions in Australia

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Australia. Photos and a brief description.

    About Australia

    The territory of Australia occupies an entire continent, so the main attractions of the country are natural objects. There are many national parks and reserves in Australia with a developed tourist infrastructure. Separately, it is worth noting the Australian beaches, they attract not only fans of huge waves — surfers, but also connoisseurs of exquisite resorts or lovers of a relaxing beach holiday.

    The cities are famous for their modern architecture — it was appreciated not only by Australians, but also by the World Organization UNESCO, including a number of sites in Sydney and Melbourne in its list. There are ancient century-old buildings, all of them are used for modern needs. Cultural life is represented by museums, art galleries, and war memorials.

    Top Cities to Visit in Australia

    Top Tourist Attractions in Australia

    Great Barrier Reef

    An incredible phenomenon of nature. The natural complex, consisting of almost a thousand islands and three thousand coral reefs, can be seen even from space — it occupies an area of 350 km2. From the shores of the islands there are views that you will not find anywhere else in the world. Scuba diving enthusiasts have also appreciated this place and its beauty for a long time, but it must be remembered that during diving corals cannot be touched with their hands because of their fragility.

    Great Barrier Reef
    Tasmania

    Tasmania

    Tourists call this place ideal for recreation – mild climate, picturesque landscapes, unique flora and fauna. The relief of the island allows you to engage in both water, mountain, and beach tourism. Many inhabitants of Tasmania are found only here, and relict plant species grow in evergreen forests. Therefore, a fifth of the island is occupied by nature reserves and national parks, which are accessible to visitors.

    Port Jackson

    One of the largest bays in the world. It was in this area that the colonization of Australia by colonizers began, and it is still of great importance for the country. There are many ports in the bay. On the shores of the bay there are famous sights – the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, the unspoken symbols of the country. Ferries in the bay carry up to 100 thousand passengers every day – locals and tourists.

    Port Jackson
    Sydney Opera House

    Sydney Opera House

    Built in 14 years on the shores of Port Jackson Bay. His flying silhouette seems to hover over the water surface. Due to the unusual architectural forms, similar to sails, the theater is included in the UNESCO protection lists. The theater complex consists of several halls, the largest of which accommodates 2,500 spectators. There can be 5 performances at the same time. Souvenir shops, bars and restaurants are also located in the premises of the theater.

    Harbour Bridge (Sydney)

    Along with the Opera House, it is the hallmark of Sydney. The length of the bridge is 1200 meters. Automobile, pedestrian and railway traffic is carried out along it. Its steel arched structure looks like a hanger, which is why locals call the Harbor Bridge among themselves that way. On New Year's Eve, the bridge becomes the main point of attraction for people, because hundreds of fireworks are launched from it on New Year's Eve.

    Harbour Bridge (Sydney)
    Sydney Tower

    Sydney Tower

    A popular city landmark with a total height of 305 meters. High-speed elevators lift visitors to a height of 250 meters. There is an observation deck with a panoramic view of the surroundings of Sydney. Tourists can see the skyscrapers of the city, the bay and the ocean on the background of the mountains from a bird's-eye view. Under the observation deck there is a turret in which a rotating restaurant is located.

    Queen Victoria Building (Sydney)

    The grandiose building of the shopping center. Its dimensions are impressive – 190 meters long, 30 meters wide. The Romanesque-style building was built on the site of the city market in 1918. Its decoration is a copper dome with glass inserts. The interior is decorated with a dial, which is a copy of Big Ben. Every time the chimes strike, there is a small theatrical performance about the life of the royal family.

    Queen Victoria Building (Sydney)
    Carlton Gardens (Melbourne)

    Carlton Gardens (Melbourne)

    Located in the center of Melbourne, they are a green oasis with a Victorian-style garden, fountains and two artificial lakes. There are tennis courts and a children's playground. A single complex with gardens is the Royal Exhibition Center, where exhibitions of various subjects are held. The entire complex is a UNESCO protected site. In addition to the exhibition center, visitors can explore the Melbourne Museum. It consists of 10 galleries of permanent and temporary exhibitions, auditoriums, small theater venues, and a research center. There is an IMAX cinema.

    City Circle tram (Melbourne)

    Decorated antique sightseeing tram. The tram's interior is quite modern with retro design elements. Tourists will be especially pleased to know that it is free. Its route is laid at the most notable sights of the historical center of the city – the Royal Botanical Garden, Chinatown, the Queen Victoria Building. The trip takes about 40 minutes. There is an audio guide in English for tourists.

    City Circle tram (Melbourne)
    National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne)

    National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne)

    It is the largest art gallery in Australia. It was founded in the XIX century. It exhibits paintings by Van Dyck, Rubens, Monet, Picasso and others. In total, the gallery's funds amount to 65,000 exhibits. In addition to paintings, objects of ancient Egypt, vases from ancient Greece, ceramic products are presented to the public. The number of visitors to the Victoria Gallery is about a million people a year.

    MONA Museum (Hobart)

    Founded by a Tasmanian millionaire in 2011. Having become rich on gambling and sweepstakes, the tycoon invested about $ 80 million in the creation of a museum with an avant-garde collection of works of art. The building is an underground pyramid-bunker. Most of the exhibits not only amaze with their originality, but also shock some visitors who are accustomed to classical examples of painting and sculpture.

    MONA Museum (Hobart)
    Australian War Memorial (Canberra)

    Australian War Memorial (Canberra)

    It was erected in honor of soldiers who participated and died in military operations. It is one of the most impressive in the world. The memorial complex includes a Hall of Remembrance and the Grave of the Unknown Soldier, a Memorial Museum and a Research Center. The sculpture garden is also included in the complex. It has a sculpture of an Australian soldier, and there are plaques with stories about the country's military history on the sides of the pedestrian path.

    Memorial Monument (Melbourne)

    It was built according to the project of architects who took part in the First World War. It was built in the classical style of marble in 1934. The appearance resembles a mausoleum. In its center there is a sanctuary, it is surrounded by a gallery. There is a Memorial Stone in it. There is a marble hall under the sanctuary, in which the panels list the units of the Australian troops who participated in the First and Second World Wars.

    Memorial Monument (Melbourne)
    The convict settlement of Port Arthur

    The convict settlement of Port Arthur

    It is included in the list of 11 convict settlements in Australia built by Britain. All of them make up a single UNESCO heritage site. Port Arthur is located in Tasmania. This prison was considered the most terrible in the world – it contained the most notorious violators of the law. The prison complex consisted of 60 buildings of various purposes – from punishment cells to the cathedral. Now the remains of the buildings are available for tourists to see.

    Salamanca Market (Hobart)

    A popular outdoor market in Tasmania. Every Saturday, more than 300 tents are set up here with the most diverse and amazing goods. Vintage jewelry, pine and glass animal figurines, lamps, paintings – the list goes on endlessly. Musical accompaniment from street musicians gives a special flavor. To relax, you can go to a small cafe and eat a national dish with local wine.

    Salamanca Market (Hobart)
    Melbourne Cricket Ground

    Melbourne Cricket Ground

    A cricket stadium. It was the main venue of the Summer Olympic Games in 1956. It accommodates more than 100,000 spectators, which makes it the tenth in the world in terms of capacity. The attendance record is more than 120,000 people. The stadium was built in 1884, since then it has been reconstructed and completed several times. Artificial lighting has been installed, which allows games to be held at the stadium at any time of the day.

    Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

    Located in the business district of Sydney – a green corner of nature among skyscrapers. The garden area is 30 hectares. The land in this place is not fertile and is not suitable for food crops. The Australian authorities decided to collect plants from all over the country here. Now there are almost 9,000 species of plants and 5,000 trees growing there. Entrance to the garden is free. It is visited by approximately 3.5 million people a year.

    Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
    Royal Park (Perth)

    Royal Park (Perth)

    Located on the banks of the Swan River in downtown Perth. It occupies an area of 4 km2. The park was founded in 1895 and more than half of it is occupied by the Australian bush. Trees have been planted on the rest of the territory. About 2000 plants of Australia grow in the botanical garden of the park. The pride of the park and the botanical garden is the wildflower festival, held once a year and attracts a large number of visitors.

    Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne

    On an area of 38 hectares . 12,000 plants have been planted near the Yara River in Melbourne. These are samples of flora not only of Australia, but also of the whole world. The total number of plants exceeds 50,000 specimens. A branch of the Botanical garden is located 50 km from Melbourne. The total area of the gardens in this place exceeds 300 hectares. The work of scientists in the Australian Plants section of the branch has repeatedly received world-class awards.

    Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne
    South Shore Park (Brisbane)

    South Shore Park (Brisbane)

    It was opened in 1992. The territory of the park is not at all similar to the urban landscape – rain forest and savannas, beaches, lakes and the Brisbane River embankment. The attractions of the park are the Ferris wheel with a height of 60 meters, the Queensland Conservatory, the Nepalese Peace Pagoda. Every year, the park hosts many festivals and entertainment events. About 11 million people visit the park every year.

    The Twelve Apostles

    Limestone cliffs on the ocean coast. Located in the Port Campbell Park of Victoria. They are eight rocks standing not far from each other. In height, some reach 45 meters. Helicopter rides are popular among tourists in this area. Hiking trails are laid through the park to the rocks, you can look at them from a sheer cliff. The Twelve Apostles look especially beautiful against the background of the ocean in the rays of the setting sun.

    The Twelve Apostles
    Uluru (Ayers Rock)

    Uluru (Ayers Rock)

    The natural landmark in the center of the desert is under UNESCO protection. About 400,000 people visit it annually. It is a rock of brown-orange color. Its feature is the ability to change color depending on the lighting. At dawn, the color of the rock has a purple hue, during the day the shade turns alternately pink, purple, red, gold. The height of the mountain is 348 meters, the width is 3.6 km.

    Blue Mountains

    A picturesque place in a national park near Sydney. Eucalyptus trees and ferns grow in the park. A feature of the mountains is the color of their peaks. Drops of eucalyptus oil cover the leaves of plants and in the sunlight it seems that the peaks of the mountains are covered with a bluish haze. There are several viewing platforms with excellent views on the territory. The Blue Mountains are popular with rock climbers and mountain bike enthusiasts.

    Blue Mountains

    Cockatoo

    It is a major national park of Australia. Its dimensions are approximately 200 *100 km. The flora and fauna are diverse – thousands of species of plants and animals grow and live in the park. In the caves of the park there are well-preserved examples of rock art made by aborigines of Australia. Some samples are almost 20,000 years old. Camping grounds are equipped for tourists, there are cafes and shops.

    Horizontal waterfalls

    Looking at these waterfalls, the illusion is created that they do not fall from top to bottom, but "horizontally". This effect is manifested during the tides. During these periods, water accumulates in gorges and does not have time to leave through narrow passages. The created height difference gives the effect of a waterfall. The change of water directions occurs 3-4 times a day. Some tourists come here just to admire the views, and some for the extreme passage of waterfalls by boat.

    Horizontal waterfalls
    Stone Wave

    Stone Wave

    A rock formation of amazing shape. It looks like a giant ocean wave in the middle of the land. About 150,000 tourists come here every year to see this natural wonder with their own eyes. A small retaining wall has been built to protect against rock collapse. According to scientists, the rock received this shape about 60 million years ago. Every year, an underground music festival is held in this place.

    Royal Canyon

    The length of the canyon exceeds 2 km, the height of its walls reaches 300 meters. There are two hiking trails along the canyon. Easier to traverse is the trail laid along the bottom of the canyon. A walk along it will take about an hour. The second one, leading to the top of the canyon, is more complicated and takes about 3-4 hours of travel. However, tourists say that the stunning view from the top is worth the effort.

    Royal Canyon
    Cataract Gorge (Launceston)

    Cataract Gorge (Launceston)

    The gorge is a 15-minute walk from Launceston. The place is popular with both tourists and locals. Here you can relax comfortably – swim in the outdoor pool, take a lift ride, admire the picturesque views of the gorge. There are hiking trails along it. Short tracks no longer than a kilometer in length lead to bridges over small rivers, observation decks and to the tops of rocks.

    Mount Wellington (Tasmania)

    A favorite place for active tourists. There are many trails on the slopes of the mountain, and some of them can be cycled. The infrastructure around is poorly equipped – there are no cafes, shops, attractions. Basalt ledges of rocks are called "Organ pipes" – they are an extremely unusual sight. From the top of the mountain with a height of 1270 meters, in the absence of fog, there is a view of the national park 100 km from the mountain.

    Mount Wellington (Tasmania)
    Cape Byron

    Cape Byron

    The cape was discovered in 1770 by the navigator James Cook. The name was given in honor of the world traveler John Byron. In 1901, a lighthouse was erected on the shore of the cape. It is the only active lighthouse of the reign of Queen Victoria. In addition to practical benefits, the snow-white lighthouse is an ornament of the area and gives it romance. There is an observation deck at the top of the lighthouse.

    The Great Ocean Road

    The highway is considered a tourist attraction, as it passes through iconic places for Australia. Traveling along this road, you can visit the Lock Ard Ridge, Port Campbell National Park, the unusual shipwreck coast, the Twelve Apostles Rocks. The length of the road is 243 km . Some of its sections are considered very dangerous. Along the highway there is a 104 km long hiking trail for tourists.

    The Great Ocean Road
    Kuranda Railway

    Kuranda Railway

    It is considered one of the most dangerous railways in the world. Basically, the 37-kilometer railway line is used by tourists to get a dose of adrenaline. The train's path passes over fragile-looking bridges through deep gorges. But the risk is justified by the views from the window – the road is laid through tropical forests and past several picturesque waterfalls. There is an opportunity to admire exotic plants and mountain peaks.

    Sandy Fraser Island

    Sandy island with a length of 120 km. The width ranges from 7 to 23 km . The dunes that make up the island were formed about 400,000 years ago, their height can be 240 meters. There are about 40 lakes with fresh water on the island. The largest of them has a size of more than 200 hectares. The nature of the island is incredibly diverse – a hundred-kilometer white sandy beach, swamps, mangrove and equatorial forests. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Sandy Fraser Island
    Penguin Parade on Phillip Island

    Penguin Parade on Phillip Island

    One of the unusual excursions in Australia looks like a show starring small penguins. It happens at sunset of the day – penguins come out of the ocean in formation and go to their homes. Penguins spend the whole day in the ocean collecting food. They are forced to unite in organized groups by the confrontation of a common danger – large gulls prefer to attack individuals. Several groups of penguins march for an hour.

    Kangaroo

    The kangaroo is a living symbol of Australia. This amazing animal is featured on the coat of arms of the country and some coins. That's because kangaroos don't live anywhere except on this continent. The number of these animals in Australia exceeds the number of people. There are road signs on the country's highways warning that kangaroos can interfere with traffic. They are favorites not only among Australians, but all over the world.

    Kangaroo
    Manly and Bondi Beaches (Sydney)

    Manly and Bondi Beaches (Sydney)

    The location on the ocean gave Sydney wonderful beaches. Bondi Beach is considered modern and popular. Most of the young vacationers come to it with a surfboard. There are many restaurants and bars on the beach, which are rarely empty. Concerts and festivals are often held here. Manly Beach is distinguished by golden soft sand. It is not for nothing that it is among the best beaches in Sydney – it is always crowded. Hundreds of vacationers find entertainment to their liking – swimming, sports, dancing in bars, cycling.

    Surfers Paradise Beach (Gold Coast)

    The capital of beach holidays on the Gold Coast of Australia. Surfers Paradise Beach is sometimes referred to as the Australian "Miami Beach". Here is the tallest skyscraper in the country with an observation deck at an altitude of 230 meters. The very name of the beach implies that this is a great place for surfers — huge waves and warm water. In addition, Surfers Paradise has the title of an exquisite resort, with the possibility of shopping right on the beach.

    Surfers Paradise Beach (Gold Coast)
    Mindil Beach (Darwin)

    Mindil Beach (Darwin)

    Sunset time on the beach is the best and most interesting time to visit. At this time, the evening market starts working here. But before making purchases, a mandatory ritual is to observe the immersion of the sun in the sea waters. In addition to shopping stalls, you need to take time to taste national dishes. Darwin is home to representatives of 50 nationalities, each of which demonstrates the cuisine of their homeland.