Begin your journey to this magical land with Sydney, a cosmopolitan city renowned for its landmark - the arches of the Sydney Opera House. You can't possibly miss the sight of the white raised sails of the Opera House against the glittering blue of the Sydney Harbour. One of the busiest performing arts centres in Australia, the Opera House has the capacity to produce a wide range of entertainment from classical to contemporary, theatres, musicals, ballet symphonies, jazz, exhibitions and films.
As the capital of Australia, Canberra is rightfully home to some of the nation's most impressive attractions. The city's prime attraction is Capital Hill, the site of the Parliament House. Picnic on the hillside, watch the Parliament at work or admire the large numbers of artwork in the galleries. If art is what captures your imagination, don't miss the National Gallery of Australia which houses a significant collection of Aboriginal artwork. The Old Parliament House is home to the National Portrait Gallery and several regular exhibitions. You can't possibly miss the man - made Lake Burley Griffin or the Captain Cook Memorial Jet which is a spire of water spraying 147 metres into the air from the Lake's centre. Don't forget to visit The Australian War Memorial with its collection of the Australians at wartime, Questacon - the National Science and Technology Centre, Telstra Tower on Black Mountain, the Australian National Botanic Gardens and the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, with its fascinating space related displays.
Once the hub of gold mining, Melbourne today is a cosmopolitan city known for its style and design. Gracious old buildings are situated side by side with modern architecture. Among the several structures to watch out for are the Federation Square which offers a harmonious blend of arts, events, leisure and hospitality. The Docklands Project is another sight to look out for. For a treat of the visual arts, visit the stunning National Gallery of Victoria, which boasts of the largest collection of European arts. Make sure you also visit the Australian Art Gallery at Federation Square housing the largest collection of Australian Art in the world.
The third largest city in Australia, Brisbane is popularly called Bris Vegas by its residents because of its sunny weather! It is also the arts capital of Queensland and has several museums, galleries, concert auditoria, theatres and movie halls.
When visiting Brisbane, you can't possibly miss out the Gold Coast, known for its fabulous beaches and ideal conditions for surfing; no surprise then that it is also called the Surfer's Paradise! Once simply a massive stretch of record breaking surf, today it has several additions to it including giant theme parks, exotic nightlife, countless restaurants and 300 days of sunshine a year! The surfing beaches have been given several alluring names, like Palm Beach, Rainbow Bay and Mermaid Beach. A myriad of activities await you - swimming, sailing, boating, surfboard riding, wind surfing and even beach volleyball. Situated close by the Southport Broadwater is one of Australia's largest protected waterways, with huge sand and Mangrove islands. Climb aboard a sleek cruise vessel and discover the magnificent waterways and much - secluded private islands!
The world's largest natural coral reef, the Gread Heritage site, it is made up of more than 1000 islands and 2900 individual reefs, sheltering more than 1500 species of fishes and 400 forms of coral. Quite a few of the isles are covered with rainforest and are open to visitors with comfortable island retreats and camping facilities. The trick to enjoy this is to find the island that best suits your requirements! Try the Orpheus Island, Double Island or Green Island for some quiet moments. Alternately, visit the Hinchinbrook Island, the world's largest island national park, Whitsunday Island or Lizard Island, for some game fishing and scuba diving. Other than the Barrier Reef, you can also indulge in some shopping in Cairns, which has a huge range of outlets and shopping centres and sells everything, from crystals to boomerangs!
Uluru is home to one of Australia's best known natural landmark, Ayers Rock. This giant rock, which glows red in the sunset is considered extremely sacred by the Aboriginal people. Rising 348 meters from the ground (incredibly that's only a third of it, the remaining part lurks beneath the earth!), the Anagu Aboriginal people will take you around this sacred rock and explain to you its several mysteries! Among other sites to watch out for in Uluru is the Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) which are a collection of 36 stunning red, stone shaped monoliths, with the highest among them rising to 546 meters.
If wines suit your taste, drive on to the Barossa Valley, Australia's major wine - producing region, which is home to 54 wineries. You will also see here the Barossa Wine Centre, which speaks of the history of the valley, its people and culture. Witness here the Barossa Vintage Festival held every two years, offering several events including mushroom hunting, grape picking, comedy acts, a festival ball and fair.
Home to several forms of wildlife, from Kangaroos, Wallabies, Koala bears, Echidna and Platypus, the Kangaroo Island has an untouched beauty still preserved after excessive tourism. Within the Kangaroo Island is the Seal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, home to 600 rare sea lions. Undertake the guided tours and walk among the sea lions as they loll in the sun on the beach. You can get as close to six metres to these fascinating mammals, so don't forget your camera!
