Visit Australia
By Cyron
Australia Travel Information - Places to Visit
If you're looking for a good place to have your next vacation, and you want to go to an exotic destination that has a little bit of everything, then come to Australia. There is so much that you can do here, from the beaches to the festivals and events to the sightseeing and outdoor activities. And after a full day of seeing and doing everything that you can, spend some time checking out the great restaurants, shops in the area, and the nightlife.
Attractions
There are so many different attractions and things to do in Australia that one trip may not be enough to do everything. However, figure out what things are most important to you, so you can be sure to see and do those. If you enjoy seeing cultural sights and visiting museums and art galleries, there are plenty of these in most major cities, but there are some really goods ones in the capital, Canberra. There are lots of historical sights to see in most of the cities as well. You can view old cathedrals, historic buildings, and some of the most famous and popular universities.
Sydney is one of the most popular destinations, and there are plenty of places to visit here. You can visit the Sydney Harbour or the Opera House. There are also museums, gardens, and beaches in the area. Melbourne has a great zoo that is a wonderful place to bring the kids to, as well as an aquarium, and it also has some important historical sites. You can see an old jail, visit museums, go to the theatre, or take a stroll through the park. Perth also has a zoo, as well as a cathedral, and even an amusement park called Adventure World. You can even take advantage of some education opportunities if you are traveling with children at many of the museums.
There are so many options for things to do here, whether you're traveling as a family with kids, as a young couple, with friends, or as an older couple. You'll always find something to keep you busy!
Beaches
If you love hanging out in the sun and the waves, then you'll find so many places in Australia that are good for you. Australia has some of the best beaches in the entire world, so you won't be disappointed with the opportunities here. Some of the best beaches in the country include Bells Beach, Byron Bay, Cable Beach, Four Mile Beach, Gold Coast, Manly Beach, Palm Beach, and Whitehaven Beach. If you are staying in any city that is close to the coast, chances are you will find an excellent beach right nearby. These beaches feature gorgeous white sand, surfing and water sport opportunities, gentle rolling waves, and great views. Many of the beach locations offer a number of activities, including plenty of water sports. If you are visiting a beach that is near the Great Barrier Reef, you may want to make sure that you leave some time for snorkeling or scuba diving!
Shopping
There is a number of business locations and shops in all of the major cities in Australia. No matter what cities you go to, you can be sure that there will be good shopping opportunities. There are all different types of stores, so whatever your shopping style is, you can find something that works for you. If you prefer to get fun souvenirs and gifts that you can take home to friends and family, there are plenty of fun souvenir shops all over the place. If you're more into handmade and local items, that are plenty of craft fairs and privately owned shops that offer all sorts of unique items. And if you really love to shop and want to experience high end shopping while in Australia, visit one of the designer clothing stores or jewelry stores and shop til your heart's content.
Food / Dining
There is no shortage of great places to eat when you visit Australia. Whatever kind of cuisine you like, you'll be able to get it somewhere in one of the cities. You'll find a little bit of everything, from places that have authentic Australian meals to more ethnic places, such as restaurants that serve up Chinese food, Mexican, Thai, and many others. There are casual joints if you are looking to just stop in for a quick bite to eat in between sight seeing, and there's also more formal, upscale places. These restaurants are great if you really want to treat yourself to a fancy night out with some great food and fine wines. There's also plenty of cafes and coffee shops, so you can pop in during the day and just relax with a hot beverage or a quick snack.
Where to Stay
No matter what kind of accommodations you are looking for, Australia will have something to offer that will work for you. Whether you want the highest amount of luxury that money can buy, a decent hotel room, or an affordable place to crash at night, we've got you covered. If you want to stay at a location that provides you with plenty of comforts and amenities, there are lots of resorts in Australia that will give you what you need. Some of the top resorts include Lady Elliot Island Resort, Green Island Resort, Fraser Island Beach Houses, Kingfisher Bay Resort, and Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort, as well as many others. There are so many great beach resorts in Australia that no matter what area of the country you want to visit, there will be multiple resorts to stay in nearby, so you can choose what works for you.
Events and Festivals
There are a number of yearly events and festivals held in many of Australia's major cities. Sydney hosts the Royal Easter show, a yearly yacht race, and the gay and lesbian Mardi Gras festival. If you want to see the best that Queensland has to offer, try traveling during their Tropical North festival, a celebration that includes food, exhibits, art, sports, entertainment, and much more. They also have a folk festival, with musical performances. Melbourne has the Spring Racing Carnival and an international film festival, and Adelaide hosts as festival of the arts. Other festivals and events might involve wine and food gatherings, flowers, food, holidays, or other fun themes.
Nightlife
After a day spent out sightseeing, visiting the beaches, or taking part in all sorts of other activities, your day doesn't have to end. There are plenty of nightlife opportunities to explore in Australia, so that you can have fun even after the sun goes down. If you're staying in a major city there should be no shortage of action at nighttime, and even the smaller towns have some good entertainment. You could try visiting a club where you could dance the night away and get a few drinks, or just go to a pub and relax with friends and family. If you're looking for something a bit more cultural, consider catching a play at one of the theatres in the city. There are many theatrical productions happening at any given time during the year in a number of cities, so you can figure out what you would like to see and make it happen. There are also plenty of other types of shows and entertainment, including concerts by bands or singers, piano bars where you can hear someone perform all night, or karaoke bars, where you yourself can provide the entertainment.
Transportation
You have a number of options for how you can get around Australia and see all of the major sights. If you're staying in one of the big cities, many of the most popular destinations are within easy walking distance of many hotels. You can travel by foot to many places when you stay in a central location. If you're looking to get somewhere that is a bit more out of the way, you can always take a cab or one of the local buses. There are also bus trips that run throughout the cities, which will take you on a tour and bring you to some of the most popular places. If you're really looking to spread out and visit areas that are much further away from where you are staying, you can choose to get a rental car, look into buses, or even take the train. If you choose to go on a bus tour to a place you will have the added advantage of having a travel tour guide, which will be able to inform you of all sort of interesting facts and tidbits about where you are going.
Sport
Sports are extremely popular here, so if you're a fan of athletics you will have no shortage of activities to take part in. Whether you want to play and be active yourself or you just want to watch the professionals do it, you're sure to have a good time. Some of the most popular sports in Australia include football (or soccer, in the United States), rugby, horse racing, cricket, and car racing. There are lots of professional teams or professionally held races in all of these sports that happen across the country, so if you're interested in seeing any of these you should certainly try and get tickets while you're there. It will give you a good insight to what an authentic Australian sport outing looks like. If you'd rather be playing yourself, you can try all sorts of sports. Water sports are especially popular, so try something new if you haven't done it before or continue with it here if it's already a passion. You can try water sports such as surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, boating, parasailing, wind surfing, and more.
Cruises
If you prefer to travel by boat, there are number of cruises that you can take around Australia. Whether you prefer to take just an evening cruise and enjoy some dinner and dancing, a full day cruise, or a multiple day cruise that will take you to many locations, you'll be able to make it happen in Australia. There are a number of different cruise lines that have ships which sail around Australia, including some of the major lines such as Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, and Holland America.
Travel Tips
Wondering what the best time of year to visit is? The good news is, almost any time of year is a good time to visit Australia, so whenever you have the ability to travel should be able to work. Some areas of the country are better during certain times of the year, though, so pick your specific destination accordingly. If you want to travel to the northern part of the country, the best time to go is June-September, when the weather is nice. It's usually warm, with the sun out, and it doesn't rain too much. If you're going south, consider traveling in December-February. The rest of Australia can get quite warm during this time period, but in the south it is extremely pleasant. If you want to travel around Australia and visit multiple locations, you can compromise by visiting in April or May.
When it comes to currency, you'll need to have the Australian dollar. You can find the current currency exchange rate by checking with an up to date website, as the exchange rate will fluctuate depending on the economy and the time that you are traveling. As for language, they speak primarily English in Australia. If you're coming from the United States there may be certain phrases or words that they use that are unfamiliar to you, but overall you should have no language barriers.
Government
If you're curious about how the Australian government system works, it is officially a "federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy." There is a separation of powers very similar to that in the United States, with three branches of government that include executive, legislative, and judicial. They have a written constitution, parliament, frequent elections, and political parties.