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Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, explore iconic Sydney, or drive the Great Ocean Road
Kangaroos and koalas are everywhere, while Western Australia has quokkas and whale sharks
See the Whitsunday Islands’ pure white sands, or hop between 100 beaches in Sydney
A holiday to Australia is a truly unique experience. It’s one of the world’s largest countries and home to earth’s oldest living culture. Between tropical cities and arid desert, Mediterranean wine regions and temperate South Pacific coasts, Australia experiences almost every known climate. And it’s filled with natural wonders, including the Great Barrier Reef, sacred Uluru and the ancient Daintree Rainforest. Not to mention other attractions like the Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach and the Great Ocean Road.
If your heart’s set on sunshine, pristine sands and sprawling seas, simply pick a coast. You’ll find gorgeous beaches wherever you go on your Australia holiday, from Jervis Bay in New South Wales to Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands, and Esperance in Western Australia. Some well-known beaches are trimmed with resorts, while other sandy spots are so secret that you can only reach them by boat. You can even choose from different oceans on your trip to Australia, and the country’s own seas include the Timor and Tasman, the Coral Sea and Great Australian Bight.
Of course, Sydney is Australia’s most famous city, but make sure you don’t ignore the others. Adelaide is surrounded by legendary wine regions; Melbourne is famous for its coffee and rooftop bars; in sunny Perth you can spot dolphins and quokkas; Brisbane is the gateway to the Sunshine Coast; and, if you want tropical weather and Aboriginal culture on the doorstep, Darwin’s the place for you.
Every single Australian state is liberally sprinkled with national parks. There are World Heritage sites all over the country too. And, if you head for Cairns in North Queensland, you reach the only place on Earth where two World Heritage Sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest – actually converge.
Australia holidays are nothing if not well balanced. So you can look forward to incredible phenomena, alongside quaint neighbourhoods and pretty beach towns. Dazzling cities are matched by glorious countryside. And even the legendary wine regions come in almost infinite variations, even within a single state.
There’s so much to do and see in Australia, it’s best to start by choosing which state you want your Australia holiday to focus on. Enormous Western Australia is the biggest, and offers endless activities. You can swim with whale sharks, snorkel on the Ningaloo Reef, tour Margaret River wine country, ride camels on Cable Beach at Broome, explore Perth’s waterfront, and see wild quokkas on Rottnest Island.
If you’re interested in finding out about Aboriginal culture, the Northern Territory is where you’ll find Uluru and Alice Springs. Plus, you can discover Darwin and delve into Kakadu National Park.
Keen divers should head to North Queensland. You can explore the incredible Great Barrier Reef and sail to the Whitsunday Islands. Back on dry land, you’ll find the age-old Daintree Rainforest. Meanwhile, South Queensland is home to the Gold Coast’s beaches and sunny Brisbane.
New South Wales is home to some of Australia’s most popular attractions, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the Blue Mountains. Next door, in the state of Victoria, you can wander Melbourne’s atmospheric laneways, dip into mineral spas, and drive the Great Ocean Road. Or head to South Australia and discover Adelaide, 18 different wine regions and scenic Kangaroo Island.
Australia holidays are incapable of disappointing. The major sites, which are recognised the world over, are even more amazing in real life. Swim, sail, snorkel or dive in the Great Barrier Reef – the immense ecosystem sweeping along the coast of North Queensland. The tropical Daintree Rainforest is the reef’s close neighbour, and another must-visit in this part of Australia.
New South Wales is home to the beautiful Blue Mountains and one of Australia’s famous wine regions, the Hunter Valley. And, of course, it’s where you’ll find iconic Sydney, which is an attraction in itself. But culture buffs may prefer Mebourne to Sydney – this city has Australia’s oldest art collection in the National Gallery of Victoria. Victoria also has one of the world’s best coastal road trips. If you fancy a road trip on your holiday Down Under, journey along the Great Ocean and drive in to South Australia.
Alternatively, if you head to Western Australia, don’t miss its Southern Forests, Nature’s Window in Kalbarri National Park, or the spectacular Pinnacles at Nambung.
Holiday experiences are very subjective, but nobody’s ever sorry they spent time in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory. Home to iconic Uluru – also known as Ayers Rock – and its sister rock, Kata Tjuta, this is the most sacred Aboriginal site in the whole of Australia. Watch a sunrise over the rust-coloured desert and you’ll begin to understand why.
Cage diving with great white sharks or crocodiles is a pretty extreme Australian experience. But if you’re fairly daring, you could scale Sydney Harbour Bridge for spectacular views, or swim with gentle whale sharks near Ningaloo Reef. Visit Australia in winter and you’ll be able to see migrating whales on several coasts. Beautiful Byron Bay in New South Wales is prime whale-watching territory. But South Australia’s Kangaroo Island is considered to edge most others for sightings. Its outstanding day cruises are among the best in the country – and it’s a great place to see koalas and sea lions in spring and summer.
A southern hemisphere country, Australia has opposite seasons to the UK. So summer is from December to February, autumn arrives in March, winter is between June and August, and spring runs from September to November. Naturally, across a landscape of eight million square kilometers, climates vary. Weather in the south of Australia is very different from its arid Red Centre, while the tropical north coast is closer to Indonesia than it is to Sydney.
As a rule, you can expect Australian summers to be very hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 35°C on the coast and up to 40°C in the Red Centre. So this time of year can be too hot for some visitors. Alternatively, spring is generally warm with plenty of sunshine, and autumn is another good season to visit Australia – particularly if you want to tour wine regions or explore some of the cities. Winter – particularly in Victoria and South Australia – tends to be cool and dry, with temperatures hovering around 10°C or lower. If you want year-round warmth, make for the northern parts of Western Australia or head to tropical Queensland.
There’s so much to do and see in Australia, it’s best to start by choosing which state you want your Australia holiday to focus on. Enormous Western Australia is the biggest, and offers endless activities. You can swim with whale sharks, snorkel on the Ningaloo Reef, tour Margaret River wine country, ride camels on Cable Beach at Broome, explore Perth’s waterfront, and see wild quokkas on Rottnest Island.
If you’re interested in finding out about Aboriginal culture, the Northern Territory is where you’ll find Uluru and Alice Springs. Plus, you can discover Darwin and delve into Kakadu National Park.
Keen divers should head to North Queensland. You can explore the incredible Great Barrier Reef and sail to the Whitsunday Islands. Back on dry land, you’ll find the age-old Daintree Rainforest. Meanwhile, South Queensland is home to the Gold Coast’s beaches and sunny Brisbane.
New South Wales is home to some of Australia’s most popular attractions, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the Blue Mountains. Next door, in the state of Victoria, you can wander Melbourne’s atmospheric laneways, dip into mineral spas, and drive the Great Ocean Road. Or head to South Australia and discover Adelaide, 18 different wine regions and scenic Kangaroo Island.
Australia holidays are incapable of disappointing. The major sites, which are recognised the world over, are even more amazing in real life. Swim, sail, snorkel or dive in the Great Barrier Reef – the immense ecosystem sweeping along the coast of North Queensland. The tropical Daintree Rainforest is the reef’s close neighbour, and another must-visit in this part of Australia.
New South Wales is home to the beautiful Blue Mountains and one of Australia’s famous wine regions, the Hunter Valley. And, of course, it’s where you’ll find iconic Sydney, which is an attraction in itself. But culture buffs may prefer Mebourne to Sydney – this city has Australia’s oldest art collection in the National Gallery of Victoria. Victoria also has one of the world’s best coastal road trips. If you fancy a road trip on your holiday Down Under, journey along the Great Ocean and drive in to South Australia.
Alternatively, if you head to Western Australia, don’t miss its Southern Forests, Nature’s Window in Kalbarri National Park, or the spectacular Pinnacles at Nambung.
Holiday experiences are very subjective, but nobody’s ever sorry they spent time in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory. Home to iconic Uluru – also known as Ayers Rock – and its sister rock, Kata Tjuta, this is the most sacred Aboriginal site in the whole of Australia. Watch a sunrise over the rust-coloured desert and you’ll begin to understand why.
Cage diving with great white sharks or crocodiles is a pretty extreme Australian experience. But if you’re fairly daring, you could scale Sydney Harbour Bridge for spectacular views, or swim with gentle whale sharks near Ningaloo Reef. Visit Australia in winter and you’ll be able to see migrating whales on several coasts. Beautiful Byron Bay in New South Wales is prime whale-watching territory. But South Australia’s Kangaroo Island is considered to edge most others for sightings. Its outstanding day cruises are among the best in the country – and it’s a great place to see koalas and sea lions in spring and summer.
A southern hemisphere country, Australia has opposite seasons to the UK. So summer is from December to February, autumn arrives in March, winter is between June and August, and spring runs from September to November. Naturally, across a landscape of eight million square kilometers, climates vary. Weather in the south of Australia is very different from its arid Red Centre, while the tropical north coast is closer to Indonesia than it is to Sydney.
As a rule, you can expect Australian summers to be very hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 35°C on the coast and up to 40°C in the Red Centre. So this time of year can be too hot for some visitors. Alternatively, spring is generally warm with plenty of sunshine, and autumn is another good season to visit Australia – particularly if you want to tour wine regions or explore some of the cities. Winter – particularly in Victoria and South Australia – tends to be cool and dry, with temperatures hovering around 10°C or lower. If you want year-round warmth, make for the northern parts of Western Australia or head to tropical Queensland.
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Between them, our travel advisors can boast almost 800 years of holiday expertise.
Our tailor-made packages make it easy for you to discover more of the world.
Whether you're looking for luxury or simplicity, we've got the perfect holiday for you.
Travelbag is fully protected by ATOL and ABTA, so your booking is completely secure.
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