Top destinations in Australia

An apology before we begin

It has been weeks since I have been waiting for this moment to finally come! Unfortunately, I had to leave the blog aside for some time. I have been super focused on obtaining my PMP certification (which I luckily did). Also, I recently started a part-time master’s program in Business Analytics. Combining work and studying isn’t being easy. However, there is no way I was going to discontinue my loved The Bear Snacks so here I come again! And there is a lot more to come in the near future!

Let’s get to it

Australia… such a peculiar remote place! Everybody wants to go, few have actually visited it but we all have met one or many amazing Aussies! Is it possible that Aussies are all so outgoing, world-travelers, adventurous, all-time-smilers, party-animals and absolutely cool??!!

The thing is… it is really far, it is a really big country, it takes very long to get there and there are loads of different places to visit. If that weren’t enough, the seasons are the opposite than those of the Northern Hemisphere. Bottom line, it is undertaking to make a trip to Australia and planning and having good intel is absolutely key!

About my favorite Aussie

There are certain people you meet throughout your life that make a (positive) difference. Chris is definitely one of them. Since I moved to the U.S. he has been one of my closest and dearest friends. I think he is an admirable and exemplary person in every possible aspect, on top of being really fun and sharing all the “Aussie traits” mentioned earlier. Yes, that’s right! He is an Aussie and he loves to travel!

So who would be best to talk about Australia than one of its expat locals, who has lived in Perth and Sydney and has traveled the country upside down?

I hope you enjoy this post. I couldn’t thank Chris enough for devoting his time to preparing such a great amount of valuable information. If I had the power to send everybody that reads this a treasure, it would be a friend like Chris.

Some background on Australia

Australia is an incredible country. While its remoteness makes it a difficult place to access, it is this remoteness that has ensured Australia’s uniqueness as a travel destination. If you are traveling by plane from North America or Europe (or virtually anywhere), the first thing you will sense when you step off the airplane is the sheer contrast relative to your point of embarkation. The animals in Australia are different, the trees are different, the sky looks different, and the seasons are reversed. When you stop to look around you will feel a great sense that you are in a new and far away land.

Australia is both an ancient country and a very young country, depending on your perspective. Australia’s aboriginal people first arrived approximately 50,000 years ago. They have cultivated an intense and spiritual connection to this land over that time. If you get the chance during your travels, you should make every effort to find experiences that provide the ancient aboriginal perspective on the places that you visit. Meanwhile, the first European settlers to arrive in Australia landed in 1788 and made Sydney their home.

The United States is a very young country by many perspectives, but it had already fought for and won her independence from British rule by that time. To add to that factor, the sheer geographical isolation of Australia has meant that migration to Australia did not take place at nearly such a rapid rate as that observed in the United States. Australia has a land mass of approximately 3 million mi² compared to 3.8 million m2 in the United States but has a population of only 25 million compared to 325 million in the United States.

Australia’s isolation and uniqueness reveal themselves in every aspect of your experience in Australia. Whether it be the laid back friendly vibe that somehow survives in Australia’s biggest cities or the vastness of Australia’s remote outback, these characteristics are pervasive.

So what would our favorite Aussie recommend?

It is certainly not possible to do justice to Australia and the many, varied adventures that await. This post seeks to give you a small taste of some of the well-known places that you may wish to explore.

Sydney

Sydney is perhaps Australia’s most famous city. It provides the traveler with a unique combination of sun-kissed, beachside paradise crossed with a cultured, bustling city. There are many international flights that will take you directly to Sydney airport. It is just a 20-minute train ride from Sydney’s city center.

Sydney beaches and harbor

Sydney’s glorious beaches and sparkling harbor are truly breathtaking. The water is crystal clear, the sand is golden and the limestone cliff geography creates breathtaking coves. You CAN’T go to Sydney without hitting this side of Sydney, and we recommend the following beach/harbor options:

• Spend a day at Bondi Beach – Bondi is the closest beach to Sydney’s city center and is a must see. The beach is packed with sun-bronzed Aussie beachgoers and tourists alike. There are loads of bars and restaurants nearby for you to enjoy. While at Bondi try grabbing a beer and a bite at “Bucket List” which is right on the beach. One great option while you in Bondi is to take the ocean side cliff top walk from Bondi to nearby Bronte Beach (about 90 mins round trip if you take your time to soak it all up). If you have some extra time and energy, another option is to make it all the way to Coogee Beach (about 150 mins round trip). Stop for a photo at the southern end of Bondi looking out across the beach and at the Tamarama Surf Club.

• Ride the Ferry to Manly Beach – To experience Sydney’s beautiful harbor, we recommend taking the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay in Sydney’s city center out to Manly Beach. Have your camera ready along the way as you pass the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and Sydney’s famous Taronga Zoo. When you arrive in Manly, why not take a surf lesson, grab a drink at the “Manly Wharf Bar” or just play on the beach all day long.

Sydney City Center

In addition to the waterfront lifestyle, Sydney also offers a bustling city center and trendy, cosmopolitan neighborhoods nearby. In the city, we recommend you visit the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. Both sites are the scene of many postcards and you can even climb over the harbor bridge if you are not too afraid of heights. A great option in that area is the “Opera Bar” for great views of both attractions.

The nearby “Rocks” neighborhood is very fun and offers an insight into Sydney’s historical heritage. Meanwhile, if you want to see what the cool kids are all up to, check out some of the areas just outside of the city center. Sydney has incredible food with strong Asian and Middle Eastern influence. For an understated option try the Surry Hills edition of “Spice I Am”, a hole in the wall Thai restaurant that will make your mouth water! There are also many really fun bars where you can spend all day chatting with new friends about local comings and goings. We love the “Beresford Hotel” and recommend Surry Hills and Darlinghurst neighborhoods.

The Great Barrier Reef

One of Australia’s most famous attractions is the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier reef is located off the northern part of Australia’s east coast and is the world’s largest coral reef. It stretches all the way from beyond Queensland’s northern tip in the north to near Fraser Island in the south.

Given the vastness of the Great Barrier Reef, it is not surprising that there are many locations where the tourist can go. Two of the most popular tourist destinations are Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands. We focus our discussion below on these two destinations.

Cairns and Port Douglas

Cairns is the northernmost major town on Australia’s east coast and has a population of around 150,000. There are a number of international flight options to get you to Cairns airport. Upon arrival, you may wish to find accommodation in Cairns. For a more laid back option, you may want to take the beautiful scenic drive north to Port Douglas. From both Cairns and Port Douglas most people choose one of the many cruise operators as their means to get out on the reef. Most of these cruises will take an hour or more to ferry you out to the reef to offshore pontoons where you will spend the day.

If you are scuba certified there are many scuba diving options. Alternatively, you can jump straight in with a snorkel. Once you get into the water, you will see an incredible variety of aquatic life that you will never forget.

For land loving options, we recommend the scenic coastal drive between Cairns and Port Douglas. We also recommend a day trip to the Daintree Rainforest where you can take a river cruise for crocodile spotting.

The Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsunday Islands are located off the Queensland Coast near the town of Airlie Beach, around 450 miles south of Cairns. You have a few options when it comes to getting to the Whitsunday’s. We recommend flying either to Proserpine airport on the mainland or Hamilton Island airport. If you fly to Proserpine, you would then take a ferry to get to out to the islands.

When you arrive at the Whitsunday’s you will not be disappointed. The Whitsunday’s offer the spectacular crystal clear water, pristine white sands, and the palm tree-lined bays that you have seen on postcards. When you arrive in the Whitsunday’s one amazing option is to get on board an overnight yacht charter to cruise the various islands. This is a great way to explore and to make some new friends.

Melbourne

If Sydney is the world famous sun-kissed, beachside city of Australia, then Melbourne is her urban, alternative sister. Melbourne’s inner city is famous for its cafes and graffiti littered, winding laneways and has a more understated and grungy vibe than Sydney.

Melbourne’s international airport has a complete network of incoming flights. Upon arrival, the SkyBus will get you to the city center in just over half an hour.

When in Melbourne…

Melbourne’s central business district is cool and really easy to navigate. Remember to spend some time checking our Federation Square and Flinders Street Station. From there, you can stroll along the Yarra River up Collins Street to grab a bite or some local artisanal coffee. Also, stop by “MoVida” for some delicious tapas eats.

If you are looking for some cool neighborhoods to explore, we suggest Carlton Fitzroy and Collingwood north of the city. Here, you will find no end of trendy bars and restaurants to explore for an evening or two. Take a stroll down Lygon Street in Carlton and you will find some great Italian dining options.

The sporting capital of the world

Melbourne claims to be the sporting capital of the world, and for good reason. While all of Australia is sports crazy, the city of Melbourne is host to the more world-class sporting events than nearly any city in the world. Each year Melbourne hosts the world-renowned Formula 1 Grand Prix, and Australian Open Tennis and a wide variety of Australian sporting events that make the locals go wild. Would you believe that Melbournians even get a public holiday once a year for the Melbourne Cup horse race! Whatever your fancy, we recommend that you check local sporting calendars while you are in Melbourne and get along to see the action if you can.

Outside Melbourne

Just outside of Melbourne, The Great Ocean Road is a favorite road trip adventure that stretches from Torquay (just over an hour southwest from Melbourne) to Warrnambool (around 250 km in total). The trip is filled with breathtaking cliff coastlines that will have you reaching for your camera, as well as the beautiful Australian wilderness. Highlights include:

• The famous Bells Surfing Beach where you can paddle out and catch a wave.
• The limestone cliff “12 Apostles”.
• The Kennett River Koala Walk where you will see dozens of wild Koalas hanging about in the eucalyptus trees.

Perth, Rottnest and Margaret River

Perth is one of the most isolated cities in the world. Actually, Western Australia is one of the most isolated states in the world. For many people, this is the reason why they never make it out to the west coast (we know, another 5-hour flight from Sydney does not sound appealing after your already long journey to Sydney or wherever). However, maybe that is exactly the reason why you need to visit Perth!

Perth International airport has many international flight options (did you know you can even fly direct from London to Perth these days!). When you arrive in Perth, a bus will get you to the city center in just under an hour.

When in Perth

This might be getting repetitive, but Perth also has beautiful sandy beaches. Locals claim that these beaches are more beautiful than those of any other Australian city. Also, they can be accessed in just 10 minutes by car from Perth’s city center! We recommend you check out Scarborough and Cottesloe. When you are done splashing about, we recommend you settle into one of the beachside watering holes to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. Try the “Ocean Beach Hotel” or the “Cottesloe Beach Hotel”.

These beachside suburbs are also a great accommodation option, as is the old maritime suburb of Fremantle. After a couple of days in Perth, it’s time to get out and see the surrounds.

Around Perth

Rottnest Island can be accessed by ferry from Fremantle and the journey will take you about one hour. When you get to Rottnest, take your snorkel and explore some of the nearby reef adorned beaches. In the afternoon, go find a quokka to join you in a “quokka selfie”. These creatures are native only to Rottnest and some other nearby locations, and are widely considered the “happiest animals in the world”.

Another great option outside of Perth is the Margaret River region, which is around three hours south of Perth by car. Margaret River is littered with beautiful wineries that any tourist will love and is also home to some of the most famous surfing beaches in Australia.

Anything else?

We have listed some of our favorite tourist options above, but we would like to make an honorable mention to the following:

• Uluru and Australia’s Red Center.

• Road Tripping Australia’s East Coast from Sydney to Brisbane and beyond.

• Australia’s North West including Broome, The Kimberley, and Ningaloo Reef.

If you happen to be traveling in the Asia Pacific region, check out our post on the Philippines: https://thebearsnacks.com/1-week-in-the-philippines-el-nido-and-coron-island-palawan-welcome-to-the-place-of-your-dreams/

* Thanks again to my dear friend Chris. I can’t wait to visit your amazing land with you. Loads of adventures are waiting for us!