Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia © Greg Snell, Tourism Western Australia
Why Australia is the best place to visit
Why visit Australia? The real question you should be asking yourself is, “Why on earth has it taken me so long?”
By Natasha Dragun
From world-class wine to glistening beaches – we’ve lost count of the number of reasons to visit Australia. But, just for the record books, here are a few of our favourites.
Our beaches are divine
Casuarina Beach, Lizard Island, Queensland © Tourism Australia
When you think of Australia (besides kangaroos and koalas) you probably think of sunny beaches and rolling waves – and you’d be right! If you visited one beach a day, it would take you 27 years to see them all. Our sandy stretches are home to world-class surfing, unique marine life, striking ocean pools and unbeatable beach culture. So, it’s no wonder Australian beaches regularly rank among the best in the world. Surf, swim, snorkel, sun-worship – there are endless ways to enjoy Australia's beautiful beaches and islands.
Discover Australia’s best beaches
We've got some really big things
Uluru, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory © Olivia Mair
How many times can we say Australia has the world’s biggest, oldest or greatest something? A fair few, it turns out.
From the only living organism visible from outer space (the Great Barrier Reef) to the planet’s biggest rock (no, not Uluru – it’s actually Mount Augustus!), many Aussie attractions defy imagination. We’re the world’s biggest island with the world’s oldest rainforest, the world’s whitest sand and the world’s oldest civilization.
We could go on, but we’ll let you discover the rest for yourself.
Check out our top natural attractions
The wildlife is weird and wonderful
Did you know that 80 per cent of Australia’s wildlife is so unique it can't be found anywhere else in the world?
Our exotic animals will make you gasp, laugh and scratch your head, sometimes all at the same time. You’ll be familiar with some – kangaroos, koalas and wombats – others you might not expect. Like harmless whale sharks (swim with them in Ningaloo Reef); the smiling quokka (grin alongside one on Rottnest Island); the shy platypus (hiding in south-east Australia’s rivers); and one of the planet’s largest birds, the emu.
Sure, you can visit a zoo or watch a wildlife documentary, but there’s nothing like getting up close to Australia’s magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
Ready to meet Australia’s cutest animals? Here’s where to go
The road trips are sublime
Great Ocean Road, near Lorne, Victoria © Visit Victoria
When the journey matters as much as the destination, there’s no better way to explore Australia than with a road trip.
Given time, you can enjoy one of Australia’s iconic road trips, such as the iconic Nullarbor Plain crossing – an epic one- or two-week drive traversing the Great Australian Bight, featuring some of the country’s most amazing coastlines and landscapes. More modest road trips include a journey along the Great Southern Touring Route, a family road trip around Kakadu, or the Queensland Great Sunshine Way.
Imagine it now: windows down, sun on your neck and wind in your hair as you cruise along Australia's incredible coastline. Sounds pretty good, right?
Feast your eyes on our top 10 road trips
We're an adventure-seeker's paradise
Ningaloo Marine Park, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia
Australia’s adventure options cater to every style of explorer, span every corner of the country and cover all domains – the definition of adventure is up to you!
Ocean adventurers can meet the Great Barrier Reef’s Great Eight and come face to face with whales, turtles and over 50 species of shark. Lovers of the skies can enjoy the best scenic flights over Australia, including dramatic air safaris, pub crawls by helicopter and waterway exploration by seaplane. If it’s thrills you seek, you can get your fix with an adrenaline rush. Descend 140 metres (459 feet) down the world’s highest commercial abseil or swim with great white sharks!
Find the most adrenaline-inducing experiences in Australia
Get closer to our ancient culture
Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, Cairns, Queensland © Tourism Tropical North Queensland
Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have the oldest continuous culture in the world, having called this land home for over 60,000 years. There is so much about this country that is spiritual and sacred to Indigenous Australians.
From traditional rock art and dot paintings to didgeridoos and Creation stories, there are hundreds of reasons to include Aboriginal experiences in your trip. The cultures and communities differ in each region, so you can learn a little more about our ancient origins everywhere you go.
Read our guide on Aboriginal Australia
There's just no place like Australia
Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia © South Australian Tourism Commission
Don’t just take our word for it – researchers regularly rank Australia as one of the world’s best places to live and visit (read: laid-back, relaxed, fun). The 2,800 annual hours of sunshine, magnificent native scenery and delicious local gastronomy all contribute to making Australia a land like no other.
It’s easy to smile when Australia is your backyard, and we’d love to share it with you. So, what are you waiting for? Come and see for yourself why Australia is the best place to visit.
