Things to do in Australia

25 things to do in Australia

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House

  Step inside the iconic sails of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House for a behind-the-scenes look at world-class architecture and performance spaces.

  Sydney, New South Wales

• Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge

  Scale the steel arches of the famous Coathanger for panoramic views of the harbour and city skyline on a guided BridgeClimb.

  Sydney, New South Wales

• Watch the sunrise over Uluru

  Witness the rock's colours transform from deep purple to fiery red as dawn breaks over the vast Central Australian desert.

  Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory

• Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns

  Float above a living kaleidoscope of coral and tropical fish on the world’s largest reef system, easily reached by day boat from Cairns.

  Cairns, Queensland

• Drive the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles

  Wind along one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, ending at the towering limestone stacks that rise from the Southern Ocean.

  Port Campbell, Victoria

• Explore the ancient Daintree Rainforest

  Wander through the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, home to cassowaries, crocodiles and unique plants that have survived for over 100 million years.

  Daintree, Queensland

• Witness the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island

  Watch hundreds of little penguins waddle ashore at sunset from the beach viewing stands of this celebrated wildlife reserve.

  Phillip Island, Victoria

• Hike the Overland Track in Cradle Mountain

  Trek through ancient rainforests, alpine moorlands and glacial lakes on Tasmania’s premier multi-day wilderness walk.

  Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

• Immerse yourself in art at MONA

  Descend into the subterranean galleries of the Museum of Old and New Art on the Derwent River for provocative contemporary and ancient works.

  Hobart, Tasmania

• Attend a live performance at the Sydney Opera House

  Hear a symphony, opera or contemporary band inside the acoustically sublime Concert Hall or Drama Theatre, the building’s beating heart.

  Sydney, New South Wales

• Discover Melbourne's street art in Hosier Lane

  Lose yourself in a constantly changing open-air gallery of murals, stencils and paste-ups in the city’s most famous bluestone laneway.

  Melbourne, Victoria

• Taste wine in the Barossa Valley

  Sample world-renowned Shiraz and Riesling at cellar doors among rolling vine-covered hills just an hour from Adelaide.

  Tanunda, South Australia

• Experience the Field of Light at Uluru

  Walk through a vast installation of 50,000 glowing stems that illuminate the desert floor after dark, an artwork by Bruce Munro.

  Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory

• Surf at Bells Beach

  Ride the legendary swells that host the Rip Curl Pro on a long, consistent point break backed by ochre cliffs.

  Torquay, Victoria

• Witness the Horizontal Falls in the Kimberley

  Marvel at the powerful tidal rush swirling through two narrow gorges, creating a sideways waterfall effect in the remote northwest.

  Kimberley, Western Australia

• See ancient rock art at Kakadu National Park

  Examine Aboriginal rock paintings at Ubirr and Nourlangie, some over 20,000 years old, depicting creation stories and ancient wildlife.

  Jabiru, Northern Territory

• Snorkel with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef

  Swim alongside the ocean’s gentle giants during their annual migration along this fringing heritage-listed reef off Exmouth.

  Exmouth, Western Australia

• Explore the historic Rocks district

  Stroll cobbled alleys past convict-era cottages, pubs and galleries in Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood, nestled under the bridge.

  Sydney, New South Wales

• Visit the Australian War Memorial

  Pay your respects at the commemorative museum and shrine that tells Australia’s wartime stories through profound exhibits and the Roll of Honour.

  Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

• Browse Salamanca Market in Hobart

  Sample artisan cheeses, fresh berries and Tasmanian whisky every Saturday among the sandstone warehouses of the historic waterfront.

  Hobart, Tasmania

• Climb Mount Kosciuszko's summit

  Reach Australia’s highest peak via a gentle summer hike or winter snowshoe across the rooftop of the Snowy Mountains.

  Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales

• Stroll through the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

  Wander past tropical greenhouses and towering fig trees on the harbour’s edge, a tranquil refuge with views of the Opera House and bridge.

  Sydney, New South Wales

• Watch a cricket match at the MCG

  Feel the roar of 100,000 fans during the Boxing Day Test or an AFL grand final at the spiritual home of Australian sport.

  Melbourne, Victoria

• Tour the underground town of Coober Pedy

  Visit dugout homes, churches and opal mines in the sunbaked outback, where half the population lives below ground to escape the heat.

  Coober Pedy, South Australia

• Meet quokkas on Rottnest Island

  Cycle across the car-free island to encounter the smiley marsupials and soak in secluded turquoise bays near Perth.

  Rottnest Island, Western Australia