Things to do in Australia

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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