An enticing city life with infectious urban cultures.
The vast island of Australia is blessed with a spectrum of natural treasures, including sacred aboriginal sites such as Uluru and, of course, the important World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. It also boasts an impressive collection of enticing modern cities with an infectious urban culture. With such a lengthy and bountiful natural coastline, attractive young cities have emerged, each with their own distinct flavour and ambience. Whilst the pretty and historic harbour city of Sydney is still top of many visitor’s lists (due to its popular coastal beaches, historic Rocks area and iconic city sites), there are equally appealing, alternative city gateways to be discovered – especially for returning travellers.
South of Sydney, Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and is a vibrant city, offering a wealth of sporting attractions and calendar events such as the Melbourne Cup, Tennis and Grand Prix. Its Federation Square is a buzz of activity, with lively bars and trendy restaurants to enjoy. Alternatively, visitors can stroll the Royal Botanical Gardens or venture to bohemian Brunswick Street for a spot of shopping and dining. North of Sydney, and gateway to the Sunshine Coast, is Brisbane. This sunny capital of Queensland has a sensational climate, river activities, cycle paths, a Paddle steamer, plus Botanical Gardens – all in addition to the stunning beaches, such as Noosa.
Other cities, such as Cairns in the tropical north, provide a more laid-back appeal, yet provide the perfect base to explore the striking natural wonders, such as the Great Barrier Reef or Daintree Rainforest. From here, travellers can relax in Port Douglas, journey into the outback or experience island living at its best at Lizard Island. Similarly, Adelaide in the far south is a city with colonial elegance, markets, parks and museums, with nearby award-winning wineries at Barossa and Clare Valley and fantastic wildlife on Kangaroo Island. Over on the western coast, enjoying a much different time zone, is popular Perth. With vast parks, forty wineries, historic Fremantle and Central Zoo, there are many attractions for all the family – swim, cycle, fish, dine and taste your way around Swan River and Swan Valley!