Coming up with the best places in Australia, the top tourist attractions in the land down under isn’t easy, but there are a few destinations that really stand out in my mind as being the best of the best.
Some of these fabulous Australian tourist attractions are known throughout the world, while other top places in Australia are still a bit of a secret.
Sometimes I wonder whether they’re kept hush-hush on purpose, after all, too many tourists can have a negative impact on the environment, not to mention your sanity if the crowds are too big.
Australia is a big country so it won’t be easy to see all of these stunning destinations. Make sure you choose wisely unless you have unlimited time to play with, which sadly most of us don’t have.
Visiting anyone of these spectacular places in Australia on a nice sunny day would be a dream for most tourists. Believe me, most Australians would be incredibly pleased to have seen even half of these places.
I would say the majority of the Australian population would be lucky to visit between 5 and 10 of these places during their lifetime so keep that in mind if you’re an overseas tourist.
In a two week trip if you can visit 5 of the best places in Australia shown here then you’ve done good. Don’t go overboard trying to squeeze any more than that into a two week itinerary though, as you won’t have enough time to enjoy each destination. Take it easy in the land down under. Here’s where to go:
QUEENSLAND – Best places in Australia
1. Orpheus Island
Accomodation: Orpheus Island Lodge
Who wouldn’t love to stay at Orpheus Island Lodge. Sounds awesome! I want to go too. I don’t think you would ever look back after visiting this island.
In August 2017, Chris Hemsworth, celebrated his 34th birthday on Orpheus Island with his wife and friends. He called it “one of the best weekends ever”. The Thor film star obviously has a bit of respect for Greek Mythology.
As an added bonus, Pandora Reef is located nearby. This is a fascinating Australian Greek Island zone. There is at least one more island on this map linked to Greek Mythology. Can anyone guess what island I’m talking about?
2. Hamilton Island
Accomodation: Qualia, Hamilton Island, The Whitsundays
This luxury resort began operating in 2007. Ten years later, it was named as the Best Australian Romantic Property by Luxury Travel Magazine. Odysseus would have loved this place, especially the 30-metre-long infinity pool overlooking the Coral Sea.
3. Daydream Island
Accomodation: Daydream Island Resort and Spa, The Whitsundays
I absolutely love this gem of an island. Love the pool and love Lover’s Cove. Love the three mermaids.
They don’t call this Daydream Island for nothing. If you have ever seen the TV series Fantasy Island (1977-1984), then imagine this island as being a mermaid paradise.
4. Hayman Island
Accomodation: One&Only Hayman Island, The Whitsundays
Being stranded on this island would be like being in hotel island heaven.
5. The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is huge. The best place to go in my opinion is the Whitsundays.
Here you can fly over Heart Reef in the Great Barrier Reef of the Whitsundays. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Flying over the reef is awesome and the beauty about it is that many tour companies combine a scenic flight over Heart Reef with other breathtaking spots in the Whitsundays, including Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet.
6. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays
This beach is a dream. Whitehaven beach is Australia’s ultimate beach.
7. Fraser Island
Accomodation: Kingfisher Bay Resort
The natives called this island ‘K’GARI’ meaning ‘PARADISE’.
Splashing around Lake McKenzie, the Champagne Pools, and Eli Creek will probably convince you that it’s true.
8. Noosa
Accomodation: The Sebel Noosa
The feature image at the top of this post shows Noosa from the town lookout. Remember to visit the Greek theatre at Lake MacDonald in Noosa. Whoever had it built obviously wanted to honour the Greek Gods and Goddesses in some way.
9. Gold Coast
Accomodation: Palazzo Versace
The bonus of staying here is that you’ll see Medusa’s head all over the place. That’s because the luxury hotel is branded on the legendary fashion brand Versace. You can bet big money lots of beautiful women want to come here.
10. Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest
Accomodation: Ulysses Getaways: Beach House Port Douglas
Four Mile Beach is the signature beach in Port Douglas.
The Daintree Rainforest is close by. It is supposed to be the oldest continuous living rainforest on earth. The 2km back loop walk on the rear section of Mossman Gorge is one of the Daintree’s best kept secrets.
11. Hinchinbrook Island
The big attraction here is the 32km Thorsborne Trail, along Hinchinbrook Island’s east coast.
12. Lizard Island
This is one of the most exclusive islands in Australia. If you’re a millionaire it’s probably worth while checking out.
13. Cairns
You may be wondering why such a big proportion of the best places in Australia can be found in Queensland? Well, one good reason I can give you is that it isn’t named Queensland for nothing.
Just as Eddie Murphy went to Queens in the movie Coming to America, you should seriously think about coming to Queensland.
NEW SOUTH WALES – Best places in Australia
14. Sydney
15. Byron Bay
Having the same name as the poet Lord Byron says something. We know he loved Greece and there’s no doubt in my mind that he would have loved this superb beach town as well. This is the coolest town in Australia by far. Chris Hemsworth built his massive home in Byron Bay and so have numerous other famous individuals.
Accommodation: Shambhala@Byron, Belongil Beach
I stayed at Shambhala and loved the place. They even sent me a beautiful diary after I returned home. Who does that?
Accommodation: Gaia Retreat and Spa (30 minute drive to Byron Bay)
Another option is staying at the Gaia Retreat and Spa which is located in the Byron Bay Hinterland.
This place is associated with Olivia Newton-John, the star of Grease. It’s another affirmation that Olivia Newton-John has very close associations with the Greek Gods. Her Gaia Retreat suggests she’s fully aware of Greek myth and legend, and there’s even a statue of Hermes at Gaia Retreat and Spa to prove it.
16. Port Stephens/Nelson Bay
I love Port Stephens. The first day I arrived in Port Stephens it hailed with massive hail stones, which made me think it was a bad omen, but the weather turned out to be fantastic after that.
Accomodation: Ocean Muse
I wonder what the nine Muses would think of staying at the Ocean Muse?
Another place that looks good is: Armana Luxury Beach Resort (overlooking Dutchmans Bay Beach)
17. Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are located just 50km (32 miles) from Sydney.
The Three Sisters are the most iconic view of the Blue Mountains. Echo Point lookout (named after the tragic Greek nymph) offers a great view of the three sisters overlooking the Jamison Valley.
18. Lord Howe Island
I’ll tell you how Lord Howe, the Greek Gods made it. This place has to be one of the best places in Australia. The food is delicious as well. Yum.
Accomodation: Capella Lodge
Capella Lodge is in a beautiful position and it really stands out in my mind as being a great place to stay, provided it doesn’t hurt your hip pocket.
I stayed in budget accomodation while I was on the island and it was still a great experience, but I was very envious. Wow, some people have it good in this world.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA – Best places in Australia
19. Kimberley
Cruise: Odyssey Expeditions or Orion Expeditions
It’s a Greek myth just to get to the Kimberley, which is probably the reason why a few of the cruises around the Kimberley have names associated with Greek Mythology.
Accomodation: El Questro (If you want to really spoil yourself)
https://youtu.be/somszPegeD0
20. Karijini National Park
21. Broome
Accomodation: Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa
22. Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is amazing. The beauty about visiting Rottnest is that you have to be in Perth, which is a beautiful city and the capital of Western Australia.
Accomodation: The best place you can get.
23. Margaret River
Accomodation: Cape Lodge
Margaret River is a foodie destination and the beauty about it is that you have great beaches close by.
Hamelin Bay is the best place to see wild stingrays in Australia.
The stingrays are supposed to be very friendly, so much so that you can snorkel with them. You can even pat them in shallow water.
24. Monkey Mia & Shark Bay or Ningaloo Reef & Exmouth
Monkey Mia is famous for its dolphins and Ningaloo Reef is famous for its whale sharks.
Monkey Mia
Getting to Ningaloo Reef from Monkey Mia by car will require a full day since it is 710km (441 miles) away. Carnarvon is about half way between Monkey Mia and Ningaloo Reef/Exmouth.
25. Esperance
Accomodation: Esperance Seafront Caravan park
The beaches are absolutely amazing on a hot day.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Best places in Australia
26. Southern Adelaide beaches in summer (December – February)
Glenelg
Brighton
Here we have Poseidon holding his trident and a cute dog holding a stick in his/her mouth at Brighton beach. It’s almost like a mirror image. We have a fierce looking God on one side and a cute dog on the other.
Glenelg to Brighton along the sandy beach or the paved pathway is about 4.2km (2.6 miles) away.
Star of Greece
The Star of Greece was a ship that sank off the coast of Port Willunga (‘Willy’) in 1888.
Today, there is a restaurant named Star of Greece which sits in a prime position on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The restaurant isn’t Greek but you will feel like you’re in Greece at this top spot. Down below there are even caves inside the cliff.
27. Kangaroo Island
Accomodation: Southern Ocean Lodge
https://youtu.be/Nrrp_0Tmy9w
28. Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is the most famous wine region in the whole of Australia. The Barossa Valley Way is the main road through the valley. It connects Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Rowland Flat and Lyndoch. Make sure you visit Chateau Yaldara 1847 Wines in Lyndoch.
29. Flinders Ranges
Wilpena Pound is 430 kilometres north of Adelaide via the Clare Valley. The big attraction here is Wilpena Pound, which formed as a result of a meteor crash thousands of years ago.
There are many other cool things to do in the Flinders Ranges as well. Make sure you hike up Dutchmans Stern. The 10.5km circuit is fantastic.
Wilpena Pound – The biggest drawcard to the Flinders Ranges
View from St Mary Peak
St Mary Peak is the highest point in Wilpena Pound. You can hike it and return within 8-12 hours. I have to say I really struggled on the return journey. I left early in the morning and made it back at dusk.
Victoria – Best places in Australia
30. Great Ocean Road
Start your adventure in Torquay, a charming seaside resort town known for being the gateway to the Great Ocean Road. This is where you’ll find the famous plaque marking the beginning of the Australian Heritage-listed 243km Great Ocean Road drive.
12 Apostles
The Twelve Apostles (Rocks in the Water) will eventually crumble away entirely, so who knows how much longer they’ll be around for. At the moment only about 6 of them are still standing. The total destruction of the Apostles will occur eventually.
Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay on the other hand will stay around forever. Spending a bit of time in Apollo Bay is a must. Make sure you don’t miss it.
NORTHERN TERRITORY – Best places in Australia
31. Uluru and Kata Tjatu
Accomodation: The best place you can afford to stay at.
Uluru
Kata Tjatu
The Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjatu is incredible.
The Valley of the Winds walk will immerse you among Kata Tjuta’s domes. When I was there it was a boiling hot day. I couldn’t feel the slightest breeze at the time, then once I arrived at the Valley of the Winds I was blown away by gale force winds. That’s when you immediately realise that the name of the place is warranted.
32. Kakadu National Park
- Gunlom Falls – Probably the most impressive natural infinity pool in Australia.
- Motor Car Falls
- Jim Jim Falls
- Twin Falls
- Maguk Gorge
TASMANIA – Best places in Australia
33. Cradle Mountain – Lake St. Clair
The only way to really appreciate this natural wonderland is to go on a long hike. The Overland Track is Australia’s most famous multi-day walk, however you can also go on shorter walks to experience this wonderland.
The cool thing about this beautiful part of the world is that Tasmania has a mountain called Mount Olympus which overlooks Lake St. Clair, the deepest lake in Australia.
34. Bay of Fires
35. Freycinet National Park
Wineglass Bay should be at the top of your list when visiting Tasmania.
Otherwise you might miss it, which is an easy thing to do, because there are so many great sights to see in Tasmania.
Accomodation: Saffire Freycinet
It’s good to know that the Ancient Greeks associated Sapphire with Apollo.
Visitors to the oracle at Delphi wore the gem supposedly due to the power of sapphire to tap into the “third eye” making it clearer to understand oracular pronouncements.
Saffire looks like a fabulous hotel to stay at while exploring the spectacular eastern coastline of Tasmania.
I have visited 18 of these 35 places shown here. That’s just over half of the best places in Australia which isn’t too bad at all.
Top Tips: For a two week trip visit no more than 5 of the best places in Australia shown here. You won’t be able to enjoy each destination to its fullest otherwise. A top way to visit some of these beautiful places is to go on a great Australian road trip as shown in another post. All of these road trips around Australia have been given Greek mythology names to make them unforgettable.
Hopefully this is enough inspiration to spur some of you to take action.
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