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
Clear all filters

Category

Historic monuments 0 Museums 287 Places of worship 0 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 1963 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 1963 1 to 2 hours 287

Interests

History 8962 Art 6976 Museums 2250 Nature 22611 Sea and beach 20993 Viewpoints 1618
  26. Linnwood
    26 1 hr 30 min

    Linnwood

    • High
    • Museum
    • Sydney
  30. Vault
    30 1 hour

    Vault

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Melbourne
  62. Gilgamesh
    62 1 hour

    Gilgamesh

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Sydney
  65. State Theatre
    65 1 hour

    State Theatre

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Melbourne
  66. Sydney Lyric
    66 1 hour

    Sydney Lyric

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Sydney
  81. Eliza
    81 1 hour

    Eliza

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Perth
  83. Hamer Hall
    83 1 hour

    Hamer Hall

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Melbourne
  94. Great Petition
    94 1 hour

    Great Petition

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Melbourne
  95. Grow Your Own
    95 1 hour

    Grow Your Own

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Perth
  96. Halo
    96 1 hour

    Halo

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Sydney
  97. HOTEL
    97 1 hour

    HOTEL

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • 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.