Australia is an amazing country, but it’s far. From basically ever other country. A lot of people ask me what’s the point of going that far? I mean, there’s other beaches, right? Of course. But really, Australia has a lot to offer. More than beaches. And no, the animals are not going to kill you.
For those of you who don’t know, my husband and I lived in Australia for 3 years. I made a “bucket list” before we went and I’ve been reflecting on how much we’ve accomplished. We have done everything on the original list and then some.
If you’ve ever wanted to visit Australia, this is for you. 150 reasons why you need to get there.
Australia is amazing and here are 150 reasons why!
- Easily visit each state
- Swim with fur seals
Swim With Fur Seals - Wade with the platypus
Wade with the Platypus at Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria - Fly over the Whitsundays
The crystal clear waters of the Whitsunday Islands - Snorkel the Reef
The Great Barrier Reef - Find the quokkas on Rottnest Island
Quokka eating on Rottnest Island - Visit Margaret River
- Wine tasting in Barossa Valley
- Hold a koala
Snuggle with Koalas in Queensland - Feed the kangaroos
Cheeky kangaroo in Tasmania - Swim with whale sharks
Swimming with whale sharks in Exmouth, WA - Visit Daintree National Park
- Spend New Years in Sydney
Fireworks off the Harbour Bridge in Sydney - Attend White Night in Melbourne
White Night Art Projections on the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne - Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Very pricey, but very beautiful way to see the city, NSW - Dive with Crocs in Darwin
- Four wheel in Francois Peron National Park
Beautiful colors of Francios Peron National Park in WA - Drive from Broome to Darwin via the Kimberleys
- Drive from Cairns to Port Douglas
The coastal drive from Cairns to Port Douglas - Go Canyoning in the Blue Mountains
All levels of canyoning available in the Blue Mountains National Park, NSW - Drive to Cape Tribulation
Cape Tribulation- where the rainforest meets the reef - View Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain National Park, TAS - Tour the Port Arthur Gaol (Jail) on the coast of Tassie
Port Arthur Gaol - Set foot on Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park
Wineglass Bay - View the amazing colors of the Bay of Fires
Red rocks against the turquoise waters of the Bay of Fires, TAS - Drive from Adelaide to Melbourne
The Coastal Route outside of Adelaide - Do the base walk around Uluru
Feel the spirit of Uluru - Do the Grand Pacific Highway Coast drive from Sydney to Cairns (or most of it)
Pelican in Booti-Booti National Park along the East Coast Drive - Watch the Sunrise in Byron Bay
- Kayak with the dolphins in Byron Bay
- View the uniqueness of the Glass Mountains
Glass House Mountains, QLD - Play in the Snow in the Victorian Alps
- Drive the 75 Mile Beach Highway on Fraser Island
75 mile Beach Highway of Fraser Island - Watch the sunset at the 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road
Watch the colors change at the 12 Apostles, VIC - Visit the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour
The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour - Go crab catching
Catch a Crab! - Feel youthful after a swim in Lake Mckenzie on Fraser Island
Lake McKenzie of Fraser Island - Get arrested at the Old Melbourne Gaol (Jail)
- Have “brekkie” with the koalas
Breakfast with Koalas on Hamilton Island - Drink Champagne on Whitehaven Beach
When you fly out to Whitehaven beach from Hamilton Island, the champagne is included! - Find wild koalas along the Great Ocean Road
Find wild koalas on the Great Ocean Road, VIC - Kayak through the Melbourne CBD
Kayak through the Melbourne CBD - Catch some Tennis at the Australian Open
Australian Open, VIC - Watch some “footy” at the MCG
- Hike in the 2nd oldest National Park in the world: Royal National Park
Royal National Park, NSW - Ride the Kuranda train near Cairns
Waterfall and train outside of Cairns - Over eat at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival in the heart of the city - See the penguin parade on Phillip Island
- Watch a pelican feeding
Pelicans getting fed near Phillip Island - Climb to the top of Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon in the Outback - Ride a camel at Uluru
Camel rides at Uluru - Find a wild Dingo on Fraser Island
- Watch the sunset over Shell Beach
Shell Beach Sunset, WA - Visit Cape Range National Park
Cape Range National Park - Eat cake on Acland Street in St. Kilda
Eat homemade cake on Acland Street in St. Kilda, VIC - Go searching for Penguins on the St. Kilda Pier
The view from the St. Kilda Pier at sunset - Watch the sunset change the colors of Uluru
Uluru at Sunset - Get jealous of the giraffe’s view at the Sydney Zoo
Giraffes at the Sydney Zoo, NSW - Have amazing coffee in Fitzroy, Melbourne
Fitzroy Street Art - Take a hot air balloon ride over Melbourne
Hot air balloon ride over Melbourne. One of the only places in the world you can float right over the city. - Celebrate Christmas in summer
Melbourne Christmas Celebrations - Feed the nocturnal animals at the Moonlit Sanctuary near Melbourne
Feeding the nocturnal animals at the Moonlight Sanctuary - Taste the whiskey at the Timboon Distillery on the Great Ocean Road
- Take in the street art on Hosier Lane
Hosier Lane Street Art, VIC - Visit the Myer Christmas windows
Myer Christmas Decorations - Sunbathe next to beach houses on Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach Boxes, VIC - Spend the night in gaol (jail) in Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier Gaol now made into a Hotel - Take a gander among the lavender fields near Launceston
Lavender Field, TAS - See the prettiest sinkholes in Mount Gambier
Garden in a sinkhole in Mount Gambier - Dig for Opals in Coober Pedy
Digging for opals in Coober Pedy, sleep underground in this unique town - Give kisses to a baby kangaroo at an orphanage
Baby Kangaroo in an orphanage in Coober Pedy - Get terrified of the clown at Luna Park
Luna Park, amusement park in St. Kilda - Have dinner on an iconic Melbourne Tram
Melbourne’s Iconic Train Station, Flinder’s Street, and an iconic tram - Hike through Alligator Gorge
Alligator Gorge, South Australia - Witness the longest mountain range in Australia, Flinders Ranges
- Hang out with the lemurs at the Melbourne Zoo
Get up close to lemurs at the Melbourne Zoo - Hike through Kata Tjuta
Kata Tjuta - Zip line through the Ottways
Zip line through Ottway National Park - Relax in the Hot Springs on Mornington Peninsula
Peninsula Hot Springs - Visit native Australian plants at the Cranbourne Gardens
Cranbourne Gardens, VIC - Have cheese, wine, and chocolate in Yarra Valley
Wine, cheese, and chocolate make a perfect day in Yarra Valley - Have a cocktail on the roof
- See the Sydney Opera House from the water
Sydney Opera House from the water - Jump for joy when you reach the Gibson Steps at the 12 Apostles
Gibson Steps along the Great Ocean Road, VIC - See the “London Bridge” that has, in fact, fallen down
The London Bridge along the Great Ocean Road, the two pieces shown used to connect, until it fell in 1994. - Catch an outdoor movie in the summertime
Watch a movie under the stars at the moonlight Cinema in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne - Hang out with roos on the beach at Pebbly Beach
Kangaroos on Pebbly Beach - Navigate garden mazes on the Peninsula
Navigate the Ashcombe Maze on the Peninsula, VIC - Go night Kayaking on Moreton Island
- Watch the monkeys in the (free) park in Launceston
Monkeys that live in the City Park in Launceston, TAS - Be amazed at Tassie’s turquoise waters
Gorgeous beaches of Tasmania - Frolic among the tulips at the Spring Festival
Tulip Festival on Mornington Peninsula - Listen to the sand squeak on Squeaky Beach in Wilson’s Prom
Squeaky Beach, Wilson’s Prom - Fly over Phillip Island
Phillip Island from the air, VIC - Learn (or try) to play a didgeridoo
Learn to play a didgeridoo - Ride Puffing Billy through the Dandenongs
Ride the Puffing Billy Train, in the Dandenongs, VIC - Walk from Brighton Beach to St. Kilda Beach
View of Melbourne from just above Brighton Beach, VIC - Get educated at the Melbourne Library
Lovely Melbourne Library - Go chasing waterfalls along the Great Ocean Road
Hopetoun Falls, Great Ocean Road, VIC - See Kakadu National Park
- Catch a play in Melbourne
- Visit only Aussie animals at Healesville Sanctuary
Only Aussie animals are found at the Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria - Surf on Wave Rock
- Feel small at Loch Ard Gorge
Loch Ard Gorge along the Great Ocean Road, VIC - Hike in Bungle Bungle National Park
- Drive from Perth to Exmouth
The empty road between Perth and Exmouth - Experience Melbourne at night
Melbourne City at Night from Southbank - Try to keep your food away from the kookaburra
These cheeky birds, the kookaburra, will steal food straight from your hand without warning. - Fly overtop the rainforest in Kuranda
Ride the Kuranda Cable Cars - Shop the Sunday market in St. Kilda
- Find cheap souvenirs at the Queen Victoria Market
Budget shopping at the Queen Vic Market - Count the tiny shells on Shell Beach
Thousands of tiny shells make up shell beach in Shark Bay area, WA - Visit the Jenolan Caves
- Buy fresh fish at the market in Sydney
Fresh fish in the Sydney fish market, NSW - Have a “crazy shake” in one of Melbourne’s lane ways
- Float down the Yardie Creek Gorge
Yardie Creek Gorge, WA - Snorkel the crystal clear waters on Turquoise Bay in Cape Range National Park
Turquoise Bay - Hold a baby crocodile in Cairns
- Catch a St. Kilda Sunset
Sunset from the Pier in St. Kilda, VIC - Enjoy the peaceful city of Perth
Lovely city of Perth - Visit the following cities: Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, or more
- Watch the sunset over the Opera House
View the Opera House from the water during sunset - Take a ferry to Manly
- Enjoy the beauty of the Sydney Harbour
The beautiful Sydney Harbour - Feast in Chinatown
The gates of Chinatown in Sydney, NSW - Watch the street performers in Sydney or Melbourne
Melbourne Street performer - Marvel at the height of the Ellenborough Falls
Ellenborough Falls, NSW - Learn about the aboriginal culture
Aboriginal performance - Explore the rugged waterfalls in the Kimberleys
- Explore Shipwrecks
Fraser Island Shipwreck, QLD - Go from beach-playing to wine tasting in 15 min on the Mornington Peninsula
- Camp in the Grampians
Grampians National Park - Visit the West MacDonnell Ranges and cool off in the natural water holes
One of the West MacDonnell Ranges’ natural water holes. - Ride a tram in Melbourne
Tram in front of the iconic Flinders Street Station, VIC - See heaps of wild wombats in Wilson’s Prom
Wild Wombat in Wilson’s Prom National Park, VIC - Enjoy at least one Melbourne Festival
- Place a bet at the Crown Casino in Melbourne
Crown Casino - See rain on “the rock”
Rain over Uluru - Find a dingo in the snow at Mount Buffalo
Dingo in the Snow, Mt. Buffalo, VIC - See termite mounds as tall as you in Western Australia
Large Termite Mounds in Western Australia - Visit Shark Bay Coastal Reserve
- Hang out on Bondi
Bondi Beach, Sydney - Feel like you’re on another planet at the Pinnacles
The Pinnacles, WA - Hike Pt. Nepean National Park
Pt. Neapan National Park, Peninsula near Melbourne - Learn about Anzac Day at the Shrine of Remembrance
Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, VIC - Have a beer the Carlton Brewery
- Visit a winery in the fall
The fall colors of the vineyards - Witness amazing sand sculpting
Sand Sculpture in Frankston, VIC - Go “glamping”
- Rent a funky caravan and drive your heart out!
Australians love to camp, so rent a van, and get to camping!
What about you? Have you ever been to Australia or want to go? What would you add?
Be sure to hang around, our next post is about beautiful Aussie sunsets.
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