Where to Go in Australia: A First Time Traveller’s Guide

Where to Go in Australia: A First Time Traveller’s Guide

Photo by Paul Carmona on Unsplash

Travelling to Australia for the first time is such an exciting prospect that it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. 

Whether it’s the distance, the sheer size of it, or the fact that it’s so far away that many standard insurance policies don’t even cover it so you have to take out specialist Australia travel insurance, planning your trip can seem a bit daunting.

But don’t let the scale of your forthcoming adventure faze you, all you need is a little forward planning to make this the ultimate trip of a lifetime. And the very first thing you need to do, when planning your Australian getaway, is to work out exactly what you want to see and what kind of a holiday you’re looking for.

An Urban Adventure

If you want a slice of Aussie city living the country has a number of cities with distinct cultural and social personalities. Whether you want to visit a few or spend much of your time in one is up to you. These are just three cities you might want to consider.

• Sydney – If you only visit one Australian city, I would recommend making it this one with its vibrant, sophisticated, urban charm. From the glitz and glamour of the harbour to the laidback vibe of its beaches and the edgy pop culture, Sydney has something for everyone.
• Melbourne – Probably the most European of the Aussie cities (thanks largely to its colonial past and large Greek community), this is a city which bustles with great eateries, markets and shops.
• Brisbane – Often viewed as the gateway to the Gold Coast with its Surfing Paradise and Broadbeach, and Cairns with its access to the Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane is well worth stopping off in for its cool café culture and great music scene.

Photo by Filip Hudcovic on Unsplash

Seeing the Sights

There are two natural sights in Australia which it would be a shame to come all this way and not see; the first is the Great Barrier Reef and the second is Ayers Rock (now known as Uluru).

The 2300km coral reef is one of the country’s main tourist attractions and there are plenty of ways to see it from snorkelling and scuba diving to submarine trips, for those who don’t want to miss out but prefer not to get wet.

Probably one of the most painted and photographed landmarks in the world, the dramatic red monolith Uluru in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage sight. Seeing the beauty of the landscape and the rock itself provides an experience which is uniquely Australian.