£50 off your first booking on select hotels. T&Cs apply.
HotHotels
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, Australia

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Australia

Updated 1 October 2026 · 17 things to do

Pictured: Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Australia is a continent pretending to be a country. You can surf in the morning off a beach lined with skyscrapers, drive through rainforest to a lighthouse at the eastern edge of the mainland, and eat some of the best coffee of your life in a Melbourne laneway, all before you start thinking about the outback.

The sheer size is the thing to plan around. Flights between the big cities take hours, so most trips pick a few places and do them properly. Sydney, Melbourne and a stretch of coast make a great first visit, with a bucket-list add-on or two if time allows.

Don't miss

  1. 1Sydney Opera House
  2. 2Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
  3. 3Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles
  4. 4Great Barrier Reef
  5. 5Uluru

Sydney and the Blue Mountains

The most iconic harbour in the world, with surf beaches and bushland on the doorstep.

  1. Sydney Opera House

    Landmark

    The Sydney Opera House seen from the Harbour Bridge
    Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Jørn Utzon's sail-shaped shells on Bennelong Point are among the most recognisable buildings on earth, and they are even better up close, with their tiled roofs glittering in the sun. Take a guided tour, catch a show, or simply walk around the forecourt with a drink and watch the ferries criss-cross the harbour.

    Tip: For the best view back at the Opera House, take a Manly or Taronga Zoo ferry from Circular Quay.

  2. Sydney Harbour Bridge

    Landmark

    The Sydney Harbour Bridge spanning the harbour
    Photo: Adam.J.W.C., CC BY 3.0

    The big steel arch that Sydneysiders call the Coathanger opened in 1932. You can walk across it on the footpath for free, climb its arch with a guide, or just admire it from the harbour at dusk, when it lights up alongside the Opera House.

  3. Bondi to Coogee coastal walk

    Activity

    The boardwalk of the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk beside Waverley Cemetery
    Photo: Nick-D, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Around six kilometres of clifftop path, steps and boardwalk links Bondi with Coogee, passing rock pools, sheltered bays and ocean views at every turn. Pause at Bondi Icebergs pool, swim at Bronte, and stop for a coffee in one of the little cafés along the way.

    Tip: Start at Bondi in the morning, and bring swimmers, sun cream and water.

  4. Blue Mountains

    Nature

    The Three Sisters rock formation seen from the Katoomba lookout in the Blue Mountains
    Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.5

    West of Sydney, a World Heritage-listed plateau of sandstone cliffs, eucalyptus forest and deep valleys. The Three Sisters rock formation at Echo Point in Katoomba is the postcard view, and walking trails of every length drop into the valleys. It makes an easy day trip by train or car.

Melbourne and Victoria

  1. Melbourne laneways

    Neighbourhood

    Street art covering the walls of Hosier Lane in Melbourne
    Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0

    Melbourne's centre is threaded with narrow lanes that hide street art, coffee bars, wine bars and tiny restaurants. Hosier Lane is the famous canvas of murals, while Degraves Street and Centre Place are lined with cafés. This is a city for aimless wandering, with a flat white in hand.

  2. Queen Victoria Market

    Market

    A sprawling, historic open-air market in the north of the city centre, with piles of fruit and vegetables, cheese, deli counters, hot jam doughnuts and souvenir stalls. Come hungry and graze your way round.

  3. Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles

    Day trip

    The Twelve Apostles limestone stacks in Port Campbell National Park
    Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

    One of the world's great coastal drives, built by returned soldiers after the First World War. It hugs surf beaches, rainforest and cliffs, finishing at the Twelve Apostles, a row of limestone stacks standing out of the Southern Ocean (there are fewer than twelve now). Dawn and dusk are the best light.

    Tip: It is a long day from Melbourne. If you can, stay overnight along the route.

  4. Yarra Valley

    Day trip

    Rolling vineyards less than two hours east of Melbourne, known for pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling wine. Pick a cellar door or two, have a long lunch among the vines and book a driver or tour if you plan to taste.

The east coast and the reef

  1. Surfers Paradise

    Beach

    Surfers Paradise beach on the Gold Coast
    Photo: Jack Bain, CC BY 4.0

    The Gold Coast's headline beach is a long stretch of golden sand with a wall of high-rises behind it. It's brash, fun and made for surfing lessons, sunbathing and sunset strolls, with the bars and restaurants of the strip just behind.

  2. Byron Bay and Cape Byron

    Beach

    Cape Byron Lighthouse above Byron Bay
    Photo: Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A laid-back surf town with a hippy past, a lively food scene and glorious beaches. Walk up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, at the most easterly point of the Australian mainland, for coastal views and, in season, passing whales.

  3. South Bank, Brisbane

    Neighbourhood

    A riverside parkland opposite the city centre, with gardens, restaurants, cultural venues and Streets Beach, a man-made lagoon with sand and a swimmable pool right in the middle of the city. It's a lovely spot to spend a lazy afternoon.

  4. Great Barrier Reef

    Nature

    Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef
    Photo: Dmitry Brant, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The world's largest coral reef system stretches along the Queensland coast, and snorkelling or diving here is one of the great natural experiences. Most trips leave from Cairns or Port Douglas in the far north, so plan to fly up from the south.

    Tip: Pick a boat that gives you plenty of time in the water and offers reef-safe sunscreen.

West, south and the outback

  1. Rottnest Island

    Day trip

    The clear waters off Rottnest Island
    Photo: Wonderofwildflowers, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A short ferry ride from Perth or Fremantle, Rottnest is a car-light island of bays, bikes and clear water, best explored by bicycle. It's also famous for the quokka, a small, friendly-looking marsupial found in great numbers here.

  2. Kings Park

    Nature

    A huge park above the Swan River, with botanic gardens, wildflowers in spring and a wide view of the Perth skyline. It's a lovely place to picnic or to walk among the gum trees.

  3. Wineglass Bay

    Beach

    Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park, Tasmania
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

    In Freycinet National Park on Tasmania's east coast, Wineglass Bay is a perfect white-sand curve between pink granite peaks. A steep walk to the lookout rewards you with the view everyone photographs.

  4. MONA

    Museum

    Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art is built into a cliff above the Derwent River and is as eccentric as the man who founded it. Expect provocative, funny, sometimes uncomfortable art in a striking underground space. Arrive by ferry from the city waterfront.

  5. Uluru

    Nature

    Uluru rising from the desert in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
    Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The red heart of the continent: a giant sandstone monolith in the desert of the Northern Territory, sacred to the Anangu people and part of a World Heritage-listed national park. The climb is closed, but a walk around the base, or a sunrise or sunset viewing, is moving in a way that photos can't quite capture.

Where to stay in Australia

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Australia →

Getting around

Distances are huge, so fly between cities and hire a car for coastal drives such as the Great Ocean Road. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have good public transport, including trains and ferries, and are easy to explore without a car.

When to go

The seasons are the reverse of the UK. Summer, from December to February, is hot and busy; spring and autumn are mild and great for city breaks. In the tropical north, the drier months, roughly May to October, are the most comfortable for the reef.

Questions about visiting Australia

What is Australia best known for?
The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, surf beaches such as Bondi, the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and its unique wildlife.
How many days do you need in Australia?
Two weeks is the minimum to see Sydney, Melbourne and one other highlight without rushing. Three weeks lets you add the reef or the outback.
Is Australia worth visiting?
Yes. It is a long flight from the UK, but cities, coastline, wildlife and landscapes are unlike anywhere else, and you are rewarded for the journey.
Do you need a car in Australia?
Not in the big cities, which have good public transport. A hire car is worthwhile for coastal drives such as the Great Ocean Road and for the north coast.
What is the best time to visit Australia?
Spring and autumn are comfortable almost everywhere. Summer suits beaches and the south, while the dry months of May to October are best for the tropical north.

More guides