When you are in Australia, then Sydney is a must visit place, for its vibrant life teeming with sex, money, sun and surf and of course the internationally known Sydney {Harbor} and the architectural marvel of the white sailed Opera House. On the other hand, Melbourne is the laid back city, with its collection of different big and small museums, chilled out pubs and restaurants and its friendly, easy going atmosphere. Canberra is the capital, and you can take tours of the Parliament House, National Library, National Gallery and different war memorials.
However, when it comes to what sets Australia apart, then it is definitely the natural features that are unique to this place. The great Australian Outback, fabled and talked about is the one place that you should not miss if you visit Australia. A visit to Uluru, the resting place of Australia’s most sacred natural formation, is a must in order to see the Ayer’s Rock at sunrise. Then of course, there is the Great Barrier Reef, which is one of the world’s most unique natural features. Tours to the Great Barrier Reef can be joined while you are in Cairns, Port Douglas or Townsville.
To witness the extra ordinary wild life of Australia, you should definitely make a trip to some of the land and marine national parks. One of the best natural parks in Australia is the Kakadu National Park, where you will not only get to see rare Australian wild life, but also get a taste of the culture of ancient indigenous Australians. When you are in Australia, make sure that you do not miss out on the marine wonders, and you can do this by visiting regions of the Ningaloo Marine Park, some areas of which are famed to have amazingly colored coral reefs. This is a great place to see sharks too!
When you get tired of the city lights or feel like a vacation that is actually “ away from it all”, then head towards the {Flinders} Range. The brown, green and purple mountain ranges are a perfect place for hiking, trekking and camping. The Yorke Peninsula is advised for those who love the sea, with its vast empty beaches and rare offshore marine life. Beach lovers will also love Broome, with its brown beaches and desert sun.
Since Australia is a favorite tourist destination with people the world over, you will find that all tourist facilities, like accommodation and eateries, are up to mark with various options being available. For student travelers, youth hostels abound aplenty in almost every city and town, where you can get a bed in a dorm at very cheap rates. However, in order to avail this option, make sure that you book in advance because these places are extremely popular. A number of bed and breakfasts, run by friendly locals are also a good option if you want a homey, comfortable, yet affordable place to stay.
A large number of world class mid range and budget hotels are also present. The Mercure Grosvenor Hotel in Adelaide, the Palace Central Backpackers Hotel in Brisbane, the {Forrest} Inn Hotel in Canberra, the Al Crown Towers Surfers Paradise Hotel in Gold Coast, Hotel Hyde Park in Sydney and the Criterion Hotel in Perth are some of the famous ones.
For those who can afford to splurge on luxury hotels, some good options are the Coral {Sands} Resort in Cairns, the Crown Plaza in Canberra, the Medina Executive in Brisbane, and the {Hilton} in Sydney.