10 Great Reasons to Visit Australia
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As a remote yet highly developed country, Australia has captivated us with its unique natural wonders and exotic wildlife. Australia is one of the few countries where no matter your travel taste, budget, or age, it can deliver a travel experience that can’t be found anywhere else.
But is it worth taking that long flight to visit one of the world’s most remote countries? Yes!
From its cultural richness to its stunning beaches and its off-the-beaten-path adventures to the outback, here are ten reasons why Australia should be on top of your bucket list.
But first…
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Quick Tips to Plan a Trip to Australia
- One thing most travelers don’t realize is that they need an ETA for Australia. Trust me, even I, a seasoned traveler, didn’t realize this until I arrived at the airport. Thankfully it is easy to get online!
- Remember that since it is in the southern hemisphere, their winter is during the northern hemisphere’s summer and viceversa.
- Unless you’re staying just in the city center of one city, it is essential to rent a car. I highly recommend renting a car with DiscoverCars.com.
- Australia is immense! Dedicate enough time to travel from place to place.
- You can get the best accommodation discounts via booking.com.
And now, onto the great reasons to visit Australia!
1. It’s the Perfect Roadtrip Destination
Being the world’s 6th largest country, and a continent by itself, Australia has roughly 2.97 million square miles for you to enjoy at your own pace.
There’s a lot of outback and wild nature to camp and enjoy in solitude, and there are many cities and small towns for you to hop and explore.
If you want to go off the beaten path, this is THE place to do it! You could choose to spend months circling the country as you visit each state, or maybe just a couple of weeks concentrated on the eastern side of the country. You could even spend weeks on the island of Tasmania!
But, what if you don’t have a lot of time to road trip? You could spend three or four days road tripping along the coast within Melbourne and Sydney. This one is one of my favorite road trips so far. It is beautiful!
Or, if you only have one or two days, you can drive along the famous Great Ocean Road! This one is not to be missed.
2. It still Conserves Aboriginal Culture
Even though they just comprise about 3% of the population, Australia still has a strong Aboriginal identity through the preservation of its various indigenous people that include over 600 nations of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander.
These indigenous people have developed across Australia for over 50,000 years and are the original settlers before colonization.
Today you can visit many of their sacred places, including the most famous and sacred of all, Uluru.
Also known as Ayers Rock, this monolithic sandstone rock (or mountain!) has hosted Indigenous ceremonies for over 10,000 years, and the local Anangu community believes their ancestral beings still live there.
Imagine yourself watching the sunset from Uluru – such a magnificent experience!
Other sacred Aboriginal places worth seeing are Kata Tjuta, Birrarung Marr, Wilpena Pound, Lake Mungo, Grampians National Park, and many more.
3. The Great Australian Weather
Australia has golden-sunshine weather pretty much year round. Even though the south can get chilly during winter (May-June), the north part stays with summer-like weather 365 days a year.
During this time of the year, you will see tourists and locals migrating from south to north. There you can enjoy activities like camping, hiking, surfing, and sunbathing at the beach any day of the year.
4. The Beaches!
Australians are proud of their beaches and with good reason! Australia has some of the best beaches in the world! With a coastline that stretches over 23,000 miles, you’ll undoubtedly find the perfect beach for you.
In fact, there are no less than 11,011 beaches in Australia, including big wave surfer havens, pristine white sand beaches, and family-friendly shores, among many others.
Among the most beautiful Australian beaches is Shelly Beach in Sydney Whitehaven Beach near the Great Barrier Reef, Cable Beach in Broome, Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas, and the famous Hyams Beach – known for having the whitest sand in the world.
5. Its Nature and Wildlife
Most of Australia is still untouched and in its natural state. As already mentioned, Australia is the perfect place to sunbathe at stunning beaches, go diving at the Great Barrier Reef (more on that below), bask in wide-open spaces, and camp surrounded by wildlife.
Many people think that Australia is all a desolate desertic landscape, and while there’s a lot of that, you’d be surprised that it is also full of lush forests with tropical waterfalls where you can bathe and relax.
And did you know you can ski in Australia? Yes, it snows there too! The country is so diverse that it offers an everchanging outdoor experience year-round.
You could be skiing near Melbourne yet sunbathing on a tropical beach in Cairns or Darwin at the same time of the year.
Australia’s iconic wildlife is definitely unique and mind-blowing. Kangaroos, Koalas, wombats, cockatoos, and kookaburras are some of the creatures you will see wandering around in their natural habitats.
The Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road in Australia
6. It Has the Largest Barrier Reef in the World
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders. It is its largest coral reef system and the only living organism that can be seen from space.
Just so you have an idea, it is bigger than the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Switzerland combined!
The snorkeling and diving here is a world-class experience you can’t find anywhere else.
You can visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed wonder, by doing a snorkeling or diving day trip from the city of Cairns or by doing a liveaboard diving experience.
7. Laid Back Culture and Over the Top Festivals
Aussies are said to have a really laid-back culture. Everyone calls each other mate, and they never miss a holiday. Aussies have a festival for everything, whether it’s food, art, film, music, or anything.
Many of their big festivals attract a worldwide attention due to their splendor, eccentric vibes, and over the top style.
And have you seen their New Year’s Celebration on the Sydney Harbour? This one is not to be missed! See how thousands of fireworks are shot from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, next to the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Also, did you know you can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge?! I did it!
8. Its Incredible Cities
Believe it or not, Australia has a land area larger than Europe, yet it has an incredibly low population density. In fact, most Australians (roughly 85%) live in cities along the coast.
Confused by many as its capital city, Sydney offers the most captivating and pulsating cosmopolitan ambiance in the country. Sydney’s beach lifestyle, lively nightlife, and vibrant culture make it a must-see destination for every trip.
Fun Fact, Canberra is Australia’s capital city, and it is an exciting destination for architecture and museum lovers.
On the south, Melbourne’s charming European flair, foodie scene, and coffee culture make it a perfect contrast to Sydney while still being in a vibrant city.
Cairns’ enviable location between the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest makes it the perfect destination for adventurous travelers.
Adelaide’s charming coastal city vibes are matched by its gorgeous beaches and lovely parks, while the quiet and remote Darwin on the north offers some great local markets.
And last but not least, on the west, Perth is a laid-back and sophisticated city that combines great food, arts, and beach fun.
The beauty of Australia’s cities is their sprinkled location between mountains, rivers, and wide-open plains, which provide us with so many amazing things to can do, see, and experience around them.
9. Have You Tried the Australian Wine?
If you love wine, there’s a lot of great wine to be had while in Australia, especially Pinot Noir and Shiraz. Some of the great wine regions in the country include Hunter Valley near Sydney, Barossa Valley near Adelaide, and Margaret River near Perth.
You can take a day trip to any of the wine areas from the nearby major cities, or if you want to do it as locals do, buy some wine at the store and get drunk in the park.
10. G’Day Mate, ‘ow yer goin?
This is a fun reason. Have you noticed their accent?
Even though Australia is an English-speaking country, you will find that the Australian version of English is somewhat exotic. Their language is considered a small tourist attraction to foreigners since it is composed of so many Aussie slang.
Having said that, you should be prepared to ask for clear repeats since their pronunciation is not always easy to understand.
As you can see, Australia has so much to offer. It is a destination that not only deserves to be visited, but also more than once to see its many contrasting cultures, diverse cities, and experience its wild adventures.
Essential Info: Logistical Tips and Tricks to Book your Trip
BOOK YOUR FLIGHT
Regarding cheap airfare, I highly recommend using Skyscanner and Expedia. These are two of the sites I use the most due to their exhaustive search on several websites and airlines around the world. They usually bring the cheapest fares.
Additionally, I recommend getting the WayAway Plus membership to save money on cheaper fares and earn cashback (sent straight to your PayPal) on your bookings.
BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION
For hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and other types of accommodation, I highly recommend Booking.com. They are my go-to booking site because they usually have the cheapest fares.
If you’re a registered Booking.com user (“Genius”), you can take advantage of their “Genius discount” to save even more money. I almost always book my accommodation with Booking, and I’ve saved thousands of dollars with their Genius discount.
And of course, as one of the largest travel booking sites in the world, Expedia is another excellent accommodation booking site with a free reward program and discounted member prices.
If you’re looking to save money by staying at a hostel, HostelWorld has the largest inventory of hostels with shared dorms and private rooms. On the other hand, Vrbo offers a wide variety of rooms and apartments at affordable prices.
DON’T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance with comprehensive coverage will protect you against unexpected events like theft, cancellations, injury, and illness.
I use HeyMondo to insure my trips and recommend them. Their affordable plans offer a 24/7 assistance platform for claims, medical coverage for every traveler, adventure sports and covid-19 coverage, and more. And better yet, GloboTreks readers get 5% off their plan! Get a quote.
Alternatively, if you’re a nomad and travel often or long-term, then SafetyWing could help you save a lot of money on long-term travel insurance.
FIND THE BEST TOURS AT THE BEST PRICES
If you’re looking for the best day tours and cheapest ticket entrances to local attractions, I recommend checking Viator, as they have the largest selection of attractions, passes, and activities all around the world.
BOOK YOUR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION AHEAD OF TIME
Bookaway offers the easiest and most accessible way to book overland transportation with local operators, be it by bus, train, ferry, plane, mini-van, or even private transfers.
If renting a car, then I highly recommend DiscoverCars to get the largest car selection at the best price.
OTHER TRAVEL AND MONEY-SAVING TIPS?
Lastly, check out my resources page for some of the best products and companies to use for your trip. If you like saving money (like I do!), then this page will help.
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