Main Tourist Attractions in Australia

What are the main tourist attractions in Australia?

For me the Great Barrier Reef was the top of my wish list of places to see and experience in Australia.

I have been back several times yet it still holds the same excitement and enjoyment.

It is one of those places everyone should see.

This photo is of fish you can see from the surface.

You should see the colours and variety when you snorkel or scuba on the Great Barrier Reef.

What are the main tourist attractions in Australia?

There are so many things to do in Australia, where do I start?

From beaches to animals and landmarks to events there are so many things to see, do and experience in Australia.

Follow these quick links to your areas of interest.

Main Tourist Attractions in Australia - Beaches

Australia is certainly famous for its beaches. Writing a list suggests that these are the only beaches worth visiting. That is certainly not true. There are too many to list here. Here are some of the more famous Australian beaches.

• Bondi Beach - Sydney, NSW
• Surfers Paradise Beach - Gold Coast, Queensland
• Cable Beach - Broome, Western Australia
• Cape Tribulation - Far North Queensland where the reef meets the rainforest
• Bells Beach - Victoria (not the prettiest of beaches but famous for surfing

Main Tourist Attractions in Australia - Natural Landmarks

Much of the appeal of Australia comes from its diverse natural landscape. There are so many interesting natural landmarks, these are only a handful.

• Great Barrier Reef - Queensland (GBR stretches for nearly 3000 kms or 1600 miles and is actually made up of nearly 3000 individual reefs and 900 islands)
• Uluru (Ayers Rock) - Northern Territory
• Sydney Harbour - NSW
• Great Ocean Road - Victoria
• Cape Tribulation - Queensland
• Kakadu - Northern Territory
• The Kimberleys - Western Australia
• Blue Mountains - Sydney, New South Wales
• Fraser Island - Queensland
• Nullabor Plain - South Australia and Western Australia

Main Tourist Attractions In Australia - Man Made Landmarks

Here are some of the great man made icons of Australia.

• Sydney Opera House - NSW
• Sydney Harbour Bridge - NSW
• Gold Coast Theme Parks, Dreamworld, MovieWorld, Sea World, Wet n Wild and WhiteWater World - Queensland
• Sydney Olympic Park, built for the 2000 Olympics - Homebush, NSW

Main Tourist Attractions in Australia - Animals

You know you've really seen Australia when you can tick off each of these native Australian animals. There are many places to see them in various sanctuaries but seeing them in the wild is even more exciting:

• Koala
• Kangaroo
• Wallaby
• Emu
• Cassowary
• Platypus
• Echidna
• Wombat
• Tasmanian Devil
• Kookaburra
• Humpback whale migration - East Coast from Gold Coast to Hervey Bay and West Coast.
• Southern Wright whales in southern ocean.
• Quokkas - Rottnest Island, Western Australia
• Dolphins - Monkey Mia, Western Australia and Tangalooma, Queensland
• Stingrays - Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Main Tourist Attractions in Australia - Things to Try

Experience something different whilst you are in Australia. These are some of the many things you can do whilst in Australia. Explore and you will find so much more do to than you ever imagined.

• Take The Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs
• Do Cradle Mountain Walk
• Snowboard in the ski resorts of NSW and Victoria during the Australian ski season.
• Charter a boat in the Whitsundays, Queensland
• 4WD to Cooktown, Queensland
• Snorkel or Scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, Qld

Main Tourist Attractions in Australia - Festivals and Events

Annual events and major festivals around Australia.

• Bathurst 1000 Super V8 Cars Race - October each year in Bathurst, NSW
• Tamworth Country Music Festival - January each year in Tamworth, NSW
• Australian Tennis Open - January each year Melbourne, Victoria
• Melbourne Cup Horse Racing Carnival - November each year in Melbourne, Victoria
• Melbourne F1 Grand Prix - March each year in Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria
• Gold Coast SuperGP Motor Sport Carnival (replaces Gold Coast Indy in 2009) - October each year in Surfers Paradise, Queensland.

Main Tourist Attractions in Australia - Wine and Wineries

Tour the wineries and taste the wines where they are made.

• Barossa Valley South Australia
• Hunter Valley NSW
• Margaret River Western Australia
• Yarra Valley Victoria

Some of The Most Embarrassing Tourist Attractions in Australia

I have to list them, because I find them so amusing. But maybe they are just embarrassing. These are some of the more bizarre tourist attractions I have seen around Australia! They often have me muttering: ONLY in Australia! Whispering Wall - Barossa Valley, South Australia Big Banana - Coffs Harbour, NSW Big Golden Guitar - Tamworth, NSW Opal Mine - The Rocks, Sydney, NSW (you go, you'll find out what I mean!)

This list is wide open! If you have any you think should be added, why don't you fill in the form below and tell me about it! I bet you can uncover some gems! You can even add some photos and describe why it is so embarrassing!