Where to Go

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Plan Out Your Trip

  • Check out metro/train/bus times before you plan to go
  • Note: This list is in order of what we consider must-sees, then should-sees, then nice-to-sees
  • Consider seeing two places in the same weekend — for example, you can stop in Byron Bay on your weekend in Brisbane.

1. Sydney

Capital of New South Wales and one of Australia’s largest cities. Best known for the famous Sydney Opera House. Lots of fun outdoor activities and nightlife. 

Best things to see/do

  • Sydney Harbour Bridge
  • Sydney Opera House (check it out at sunset! while you’re there, grab a drink and maybe some pizza at the Opera Bar)
    • From there, you can take the ferry from Circular Quay (pronounced key) to…
  • Manly Beach (check out the shopping, and get a bite to eat)
  • Bondi Beach and then walk to Coogee Beach — one of the most stunning walks in Australia
  • Palm Beach (you can also go sailing there!)
  • Darling Harbour
  • Port Jackson Bay
  • Taronga Zoo Sydney
  • Top of Sydney Eye Tower 
  • Bus tour of the city 
  • Royal Botanical Gardens
  • BridgeClimb Sydney
  • Hyde Park
  • Queen Victoria Building
  • Sydney Fish Market

    and so much more!

  • Jervis Bay (just 2.5 hours south of Sydney)

    • Hyams Beach

    • Green Patch Beach

    • Greenfield Beach

  • Blue Mountains (you can hike and/or take a bus tour)

2. Brisbane

Capital of Queensland and third-most populated city in Australia. 

Best things to see/do

  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Located just outside of Brisbane, this sanctuary is not only affordable, but it’s also the world’s largest and oldest koala sanctuary. Go hold a koala and feed a kangaroo!
  • Australia Zoo (home of Steve Urwin)
  • South Bank Parklands
  • Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
  • Queen Street Mall
  • Eat Street
  • Rainbow Beach

3. Byron Bay

Incredible beachside town famous for its beautiful beaches.

Best things to see/do

  •  Surf
  •  Swim
  • Wategos Beach

4. Gold Coast

Major tourist spot for a lot of good reasons! Famous surfing beaches, theme parks, nightlife, and more.

Best things to see/do

  • Warner Bros. Movie World
  • Sea World
  • Dreamworld
  • SkyPoint Observation Deck
  • Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Burleigh Heads
  • Coolangatta Beach

5. Sunshine Coast

  • Noos
  • Mooloolaba Beach

6. Whitsunday Islands & Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is one of many departure points for the Great Barrier Reef. The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of 74 continental islands off the coast.  

Best things to see/do

  • Take a sailing trip
  • Snorkel

7. Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Cairns is a party town right by the Great Barrier Reef. You can take scuba diving courses there before you go to the GBR. 

Best things to see/do

  • Enjoy the best scuba diving in the world
  • Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
  • Kuranda Scenic Railway
  • Barron Falls
  • Fitzroy Island
  • Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

8. Fraser Island

A sand island home to freshwater lakes, thick rainforest, and great beaches

Best things to see/do

  • Seventy Five Mile Beach

9. Melbourne 

Coastal capital of Victoria

Best things to see/do

  • St Kilda Beach
  • Elwood Beach
  • Federation Square
  • Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Melbourne Gardens
  • Eureka Skydeck
  • Yarra River
  • Queen Victoria Market
  • Puffing Billy Railway
  • Melbourne Zoo
  • National Gallery of Victoria
  • Brighton Beach
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