Traveling the world is a great experience that more and more people are doing nowadays. Having the ability to travel, and just the act of traveling, gives a person the sense of freedom; and that is what a lot of people want. The stresses and schedules of life are becoming increasingly overwhelming and we tend to seek an escape from our lives.
Australia is the perfect location to escape to! With its laid back lifestyle and beautiful sights, the Land Down Under has a lot to offer and plenty to take your mind off of the rest of your world. Lots of sun, lots of culture; a journey to Australia is just what we all need.
Pack your swimsuit and sun screen, book your accommodations, buy your travel insurance (in case things don’t go as planned), and get on that plane! You will not regret checking out some of the places discussed below.
City Life
The cities of Australia can be very exciting! Though there are not many in terms of metropolitan-sized locales, they can still compete with the rest of the world in culture and cuisine.
● Sydney
Where else can you go for some great fun in the sun. Between the beaches perfect for swimming and surfing, and the open marketplaces, Sydney is a city for tourists (it is the tourist capital of the country). A walk up the Sydney Harbor Bridge is the perfect place to view the city and the harbor below.
Seeing the Sydney Opera House from that vantage point, you can truly appreciate the splendor of the concert hall. Ferries take you along the waterways, another great way to see the Opera House and the entirety of the city.
● Melbourne
Instead of open-air markets as in Sydney, Melbourne replaces them with alleys and laneways full of smaller shops, restaurants and cafes, and little boutiques. It is also a major cultural center full of museums and botanical gardens, along with being a big sporting city. Cricket is played in the Fall (Northern Hemisphere Spring) while Australian Rules Football is played in the Spring (Northern Hemisphere Fall).
Outback Journey
The Outback takes up the large majority of the island continent. This provides you with a plethora of outdoor adventures and natural sites to see.
● Great Ocean Road
If you start out west from Melbourne, you will eventually end up on the Great Ocean Road. Travel along this 150 mile long stretch of paved roadway to see some of the most amazing sites along the country’s southern coast. Beautiful natural scenery will take your breath away as you drive along the edge of the ocean. Limestone pillars known as the 12 Apostles rise out of the water and remain a testament to their unwillingness to crumble into the sea. This is truly a spectacular sight to witness as the waves continue to crash against their bases.
● Uluru
Another of the country’s spectacular sights you probably have seen in photographs. Uluru is the mountainous slab of sandstone reaching for the sky. Over 1000 feet high, this Australian monument is surrounded by an arid environment full of local wildlife and color. It has been smoothed by millennia of rainfall and covered with ancient aboriginal rock art. If you like hiking through the wilderness, this would be an amazing place to start.
● Great Barrier Reef
Finally, no trip to Australia would be complete without a snorkeling journey through the Great Barrier Reef. With thousands of species of sea life beneath the waters of the Pacific, the colors and reach of the coral reef are astounding! Hundreds of islands surround the reef for added enjoyment and wildlife watching. If you take a trip to the Land Down Under, do not miss the opportunity to experience the awe of the Great Barrier Reef!
