A must for travellers: Top 10 things to do in Australia

Australia is a whole continent with a unique location, climate, and culture rich in different sights and unique things to do.

To make your holiday as rich and varied as possible, it’s best to go on a few excursions, but before you do, you need to find out what opportunities are open to you in a new place. So, what are some must-do things to do in Australia?

Go to the Sydney Opera House

One of the main symbols of Australia, the Sydney Opera House is an eye-catching building with its unusual architecture and scale, emphasised by its reflection in the bay water and magical evening lighting.

The complex comprises five large auditoriums and many other spaces where various events are constantly taking place:

film screenings;
festivals, exhibitions;
presentations and thematic meetings;
circus and dance performances, and much more.

The main concert hall houses the Grand Organ, the largest such mechanical instrument in the world. It also boasts the Sun Curtain, which conceals the stage in the auditorium for opera and ballet performances.

See Australian animals

Only here can you find so many unique species of marsupials: kangaroo, quokka, Tasmanian devil, wombat, koala, bat and others. And no zoo in the world will allow you to interact with more than one at a time, except Australia’s reserves and nurseries. In some, animals can be hand-fed, and some can even be cuddled, such as the koalas at Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney and many other parks.

Visit the Great Barrier Reef

This is a unique monument of underwater nature and a real gem of the continent. Corals of indescribable beauty create a real fairytale world. There are several species of sea turtles, humpback whales, and many tropical fish, clams, and sponges.

There are several different ways to see the sea creatures:

Motorboat Cruise – pleasure boats with unique viewing windows run to the reef, where you can witness the astounding magic of the underwater world.
Scuba diving – hire scuba diving equipment and experience the soft, warm water currents and the atmosphere of the reef. An instructor will help you get used to it and explain all the rules of behaviour at this rare site. Due to the shallow depths in some areas, it is also possible to snorkel (dive in a mask) and view the attraction from the water’s surface.
Helicopter tour – during the flight, you will have a good view of all the underwater reefs surrounded by the azure waters of the Coral Sea.

Some islands are also open to tourists, such as Lizard and Hayman (the most expensive and comfortable holiday) or Whitesandays and North Mall, where tents are allowed for a modest price.

Learn about Aboriginal culture

Australia is one of the few places where Aboriginal villages with an ancient culture are still intact. This civilisation dates back many centuries and is highly distinctive.

Aboriginal people have their cultural, religious and even astronomical beliefs reflected in the various art forms you can experience:

The theatre will allow you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient stories and legends, telling about the creation of the world and various plots that have absorbed the wisdom of centuries.
The paintings, represented by rock paintings or petroglyphs, depict different animals (fish, ostriches, kangaroos) and people in other situations (hunting, festivals). Aboriginal people still use traditional subjects in their art and various products.
Music – performed on the traditional musical wind instrument didgeridoo, used in various ceremonies and is one of the symbols of the ancient Australians. Its sound can easily be heard on some tribal excursions.

Nowadays, the identity and cultural heritage of the Aborigines are not fading away. They continue to follow their traditions and are proud of them, and the state actively supports both the reservations themselves and protects all cultural monuments.

Taste the local food

Every year, Australia attracts many visitors with its exotic cuisine. Here, you can taste the freshest dishes from:

Seafood (deep-fried crab sticks, spiced barracuda, white sea bass steak, etc.).
Meat delicacies (shark meat, spiced kangaroo meat, crocodile meat).

Another of the symbols of Australian cuisine is Vegemite. It is a salty, beef broth-like paste from yeast extract, often spread on toast.

Among the drinks worth trying is the local wine, produced in several parts of the country. The local climate and soils allow the cultivation of exclusive grape varieties and drinks recognised worldwide. The specific production region must be indicated on the label – this guarantees the product is of real quality.

Climb the arch of the Harbour Bridge

From here, you have a great view of the business district, the city centre and Port Jackson Bay. It’s also a unique opportunity to visit the top of the bridge and appreciate its strength, massiveness and the skill of the builders.

Excursions to the top of Sydney’s Sydney Bridge have been organised since 1998. Everyone over the age of 10 can conquer the height of 134 metres above sea level with the help of an instructor. You will only need comfortable shoes with non-slip soles and insurance provided on-site.

Enjoy nature

Australia has dozens of national parks with entirely different landscapes and natural attractions. Here you can see deserts and steppes, mountains and canyons, waterfalls, lakes and caves, and unique plant life. Many species of eucalyptus grow in the Blue Mountains National Park, some of which are found nowhere else in the world.

The ancient Jurassic Wollemi tree, previously considered extinct, can be found in Wallemi Park. Also worth a visit is Mount Uluru, an iconic tourist attraction that is a beautiful creation of nature and a sacred place for Aboriginal people.

Try water activities

Seas on all sides surround Australia, and the mild climate makes the water comfortable for water sports and recreation almost all year round. Many hire centres and training schools allow even beginners to learn the basics. At the same time, the cleanliness of the beaches and water offers a pleasant holiday for all tastes. Surfing, diving, snorkelling, renting yachts, boats, jet skis, fishing and much more are available for holidaymakers.

In addition, you can communicate with dolphins in Australia – for this purpose, you should visit Mankey Mia Beach in Shark Bay. Wild dolphins swim in shallow waters right up to tourists and willingly give themselves to be fed under the supervision of local rangers, who monitor compliance with the rules of treatment of animals.

Buy a unique Australian souvenir

Take a piece of local history and culture with you in the form of memorable gifts and souvenirs. Local makers offer a variety of simple and more exotic items that can be purchased at markets, shops or craft centres:

boomerangs;
opal jewellery;
kangaroo leather goods;
branded Uggs and other clothing;
eucalyptus oil and emu oil;
the didgeridoo musical instrument;
an upside-down world map with Australia in the centre, souvenir road signs (‘Beware ‘f Kangaroos!’), and much more.

Don’t forget about gastronomy – wine or jerky will be a tremendous and extraordinary gift for your friends or relatives!

These are not all interesting places and things to do in Australia that deserve attention. True connoisseurs of the continent’s culture, nature, and history will find a treasure trove of new impressions here. Each new visit and new place will make you immerse yourself deeper into the local atmosphere, understand this country and love it.