Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Australia

A photograph of Australia
Photograph · Corey Leopold · CC BY 2.0

Australia covers 7,688,287 km², sixth largest in the world, and close to 4,000 km separate its east coast from its west. Nearly 28 million people live here, about 80 per cent of them within 25 km of a mainland coastline 35,821 km long — which is the fact that governs any trip taken across it. The cities form a rim around an interior that stays largely empty; Sydney and Melbourne pass five million each, and Canberra, the capital, is neither of them. Six states and ten territories, and a sensible visit chooses two of them rather than the map.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
English is the principal language; no federal official language
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+61
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Australian dollar (AUD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
000
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type I · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from treated public supplies
Follow local notices in remote communities and after disruptions

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

38 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 3714 Museums 332 Places of worship 5082 Nature sites 21123 Viewpoints 1624 Food and drink 38 Markets and shopping 1244 Entertainment 302 Nightlife 3346 Family attractions 96 Art and culture 1988 Activities 17

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 38

Interests

History 0 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  2. Coogee Hotel
    02 1 hour

    Coogee Hotel

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Perth
  4. Plough Inn
    04 1 hour

    Plough Inn

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Brisbane
  8. Attica
    08 1 hour

    Attica

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Melbourne
  12. Billy Lee's
    12 1 hour

    Billy Lee's

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Perth
  13. C Restaurant
    13 1 hour

    C Restaurant

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Perth
  15. SkyHigh Mount Dandenong
    15 1 hour

    SkyHigh Mount Dandenong

    SkyHigh Mount Dandenong is a visitor destination situated in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne. Positioned at an elevated vantage point, it offers panoramic outlooks across the metropolitan area and beyond.

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Melbourne
  17. Edenvale
    17 1 hour

    Edenvale

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Perth
  24. La Lune
    24 1 hour

    La Lune

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Perth
  26. 'A' Shed
    26 1 hour

    'A' Shed

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Perth
  28. Doyles
    28 1 hour

    Doyles

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Sydney
  31. Fraser's
    31 1 hour

    Fraser's

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Perth
  34. Max Brenner
    34 1 hour

    Max Brenner

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Brisbane

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Australia be?

Ten to fourteen days should cover one coast, one city pair or one city plus a nearby landscape, not the continent. Sydney and Melbourne can share a southeastern route; Perth, the tropical north and the Red Centre each demand separate flights and more time.

What entry documents are needed for Australia?

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs is the authority for Visitor visas and electronic travel permissions. Select the product for the passport and purpose, complete required declarations, and remember that visa approval does not remove Australia’s strict biosecurity obligations.

What is the best way to travel around Australia?

Flights are usually the efficient link between distant states. Rail and coaches serve selected corridors, cars become important outside cities, and urban fare cards are local rather than national; remote drives require fuel, water, communications and realistic distance planning.

When is a practical time to visit Australia?

Australia’s seasons and hazards vary dramatically by latitude. Southern-city summers, tropical dry seasons and Red Centre heat create different windows, so choose dates for the selected region and check official fire, cyclone or flood advice before road travel.

What money and payment basics apply in Australia?

The Australian dollar is the sole recorded currency. Contactless payment is common, but remote roadhouses and small services justify a backup card or cash; check surcharges at the point of sale and budget fuel around long gaps rather than metropolitan prices.

What practical safety details should I save for Australia?

Use 000 for urgent police, fire or ambulance assistance; Australia uses Type I power at 230 V. Treated public tap supplies are recorded as safe, but remote-site notices take precedence, and travellers should save the state emergency service relevant to their route.