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

100 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 1624

Interests

History 0 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 1618 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 1618
  27. Red Rock
    27 20 min

    Red Rock

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne
  34. Birt Hill
    34 20 min

    Birt Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne
  51. Bald Hill
    51 20 min

    Bald Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne
  53. Bare Hill
    53 20 min

    Bare Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Adelaide
  54. Bare Hill
    54 20 min

    Bare Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Perth
  55. Bass Hill
    55 20 min

    Bass Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne
  57. Ben Cairn
    57 20 min

    Ben Cairn

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne
  58. Birks Hill
    58 20 min

    Birks Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Adelaide
  59. Black Hill
    59 20 min

    Black Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Adelaide
  60. Black Hill
    60 20 min

    Black Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne
  69. Cave Hill
    69 20 min

    Cave Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne
  80. Dog Hill
    80 20 min

    Dog Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Perth
  81. Dry Hills
    81 20 min

    Dry Hills

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne
  90. Ford Hill
    90 20 min

    Ford Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne
  95. Giles Hill
    95 20 min

    Giles Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Adelaide
  96. Groom Hill
    96 20 min

    Groom Hill

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Melbourne

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.