Places to See:
Perth
Perth is an upcoming city, it is the destination of hopeful people from the east coast and abroad, lured by the city's energy and uninhibited lifestyle. Buoyed by its mineral wealth and foreign investment, Perth is growing steadily. The discovery of vast mineral deposits in the 1970s came as a boon to the place as it jump-started the area into catching up with the rest of the country.
The skyline of Perth is dotted with High-rise buildings, and an influx of immigrants has provided a healthy diversity. Perth is a beautiful clean city with great beaches. Fremantle or 'Freo' as the locals call it has lots of old buildings and a great social life - lots of pubs and restaurants.
Attractions
Kings Park
Kings Park has superb views. The park includes a 17 hectare (42 acre) Botanic Garden and a section of natural bushland, which represents Perth as it was in the older days. In spring, there's a cultivated display of Western Australia's famed wild flowers.
Barracks Arch
Barracks Arch is a brick monument, earlier represented as the headquarters of the Pensioner Forces, which was demolished in 1966. Though is little left of it.
Perth Zoo
The most popular zoo in Australia is the Perth Zoo. Popular attractions include the Wetlands, the Penguin Plunge, the African Savannah, and the Alinta Reptile Encounter.
Cohunu Wildlife Park
The 16-hectare (40-acre) Cohune offers visitors a cuddle session with a live koala daily from 10-4. Visit the other native animals in their natural surroundings, too. Cohunu has a walk-through aviary that's the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Kids will love the park's miniature railway. The park also has a revolving restaurant overlooking the city.
Perth Mint
All that glitters is Gold at Perth Mint. Perth Mint which handles one ton of gold everyday. One can actually hold a gold bar or even mint your own coins, security is quite tight here.
Berndt Museum of Anthropology
This is one of Australia's finest collections of traditional and contemporary Australian Aboriginal art and artifacts. It combines material from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory and the south-west, desert and Kimberley regions of WA.
Beaches in Perth
Some of the the best city beaches in Australia are found in Perth. Though they can get a bit unpleasant and windy in the afternoon. There are calm bay beaches on the Swan River at Crawley and Peppermint Grove. Or you can try a whole string of patrolled surf beaches on the Indian Ocean coast, including Perth's very popular nude beach at Swanbourne. It is known for its beachside café society, and is great for experienced surfers and sailboarders. Infact the best beach of all is on secluded Carnac Island. Over the past fifteen years lots of nice places to eat and drink have come up.
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New South Wales
New South Wales witnessed the first colonization of Australia starting with Botany Bay. Sydney, Australia's largest and most populous city sprawls around the harbour, the waterfront, encompasses the bay and its surrounding hills. New South Wales has 1900 km of some of the world's most pristine beaches and spectacular views running along its coastlines.
Its coastal waters promise endless numbers of perfect places to go surfing, diving, snorkeling or sailing. The Snowy Mountains is ideal for skiing and trekking. The Blue Mountains, just a couple of hours from Sydney, are as blue as they sound and as beautiful. Miles upon miles of coastal beaches run on the eastern coast, northern rainforests and the wide expanse of the bush to see.
New South Wales, Sydney
Australia’s largest and oldest city, where the first settlers landed in 1788. Sydney is a major tourist destination and attracts the majority of Australia's immigrants and the city's predominantly Anglo-Irish heritage has been revitalized by large influxes of Italians, Lebanese, Turks, Greeks, Chinese and Vietnamese. This intermingling has created a cultural vibrancy and energy that were missing only a generation ago. Sydney is a city in a hurry. In Sydney one can see tall buildings, the most expensive real estate, the finest beaches, and the seediest nightlife of any Australian city.
Visiting this city is an essential part of an Australian experience. This great cosmopolitan city has everything from style great looks and sophistication. The Olympic Games were held here in 2000. Sydney has been ranked as one of the most fashionable destinations of the new millennium.
Attractions
Centrepoint Tower
Built in 1981, 305 mt tall (that's 1,000 ft) - the best view of Sydney and surrounding areas. This is the tallest building in the city.
Harbour Bridge
A huge steel arch spanning the harbour and connecting the North Shore with the city, one can even join a tour which climbs the inside.
Opera House
Sydney Opera House, an architectural masterpiece and Australia's foremost tourist attraction, is one of the great performing arts centers of the world. Up close it's even more amazing to see.
The Rocks
Old Sydney is full of interesting historical buildings close to the city. It's also full of pubs.
Centennil Park
Centennil Park is the most famous and fashionable place. A number of activities take place here like cycling and horse riding. Bikes and blades can be hired.
Museum of Sydney
This museum depicts Sydney's early period of European colonization. Remnants of Aboriginal and early European inhabitation can be seen here.
Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens are Sydney's finest gardens with groves of palm trees, duck ponds, a cactus garden, a restaurant, greenhouses, and acres of lawns. The wonderful collection of plants and trees are both native Australians and exotics from around the world, and garden highlights include the Sydney Tropical Centre, housed in the Pyramid and Arc glass houses, and the lush Sydney Fernery.
Taronza Zoo
Taronza Zoo set up in a natural bush setting on the northern shore of the harbor, has a large collection of Australian fauna, including the marsupial the Koala.
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Queensland, Brisbane
The capital of Queensland - Brisbane is Australia's third largest city. It is the epitome of sunshine, warm, friendly, happy-go-lucky. The city curves around the Brisbane River, its streets lined with mauve-flowering jacaranda and shady palm trees.
Brisbane is a lovely city, not too big but has all the major shops and things but very laid back. The inner city, metropolitan Brisbane is surrounded by leafy, sometimes very hilly, suburbs. The city beach is a wonderful place to take the kids to and do have a ride on a "sea cat" on the river which slides through the city. Not far from Brizzy is Moreton Bay. Then there's Bribie Beach looking out to Stradbroke Island Lovely for a day's picnic.
In southern old the great sandy islands of Fraser (World heritage listed), Moreton and Stradbroke are fantastic. Moreton and Fraser both require that you have 4WD vehicles to get around. There are a number of day tours to Fraser Island that leave from Hervey Bay and most are reasonable value. Moreton and Stradbroke Islands form Moreton Bay just to the east of Brisbane and are only accessible by barge. Moreton is a beautiful place with plenty of scuba diving, long empty beaches and good fishing.
Another highlight in this area is canoeing on the Noosa River in the Cooloola National Park. This gentle coastal river passes through significant stands of coastal rainforest into a wilderness area only accessible on foot or in the canoe.
Lamington National Park
Lamington National Park is another World Heritage area on the doorstep of Brisbane. This park covers the rugged ranges that form the border of NSW and Old just west of the Gold Coast. It has the largest graded track system of any National Park in Australia with over 100 km of official walks. A large portion of the park is also wilderness area with no official tracks.
Queensland, Cairns
Cairns City is one of the safest tropical cities in the world. Cairns has magnificent botanical gardens.
More than 2,000 km (1,200 mile) long and as much as 80 km (50 mile) wide, the Great Barrier Reef parallels the Queensland seaboard from the Sunshine Coast near Brisbane north to Papua New Guinea are the distinctive features of Cairns.
The Great Barrier Reef is the richest marine resource in the world - and it has the most remarkable diving and snorkeling areas. Cairns plays host to some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving locations to be found anywhere in the world. From the novice to the professional the experience is unforgettable, due mainly to the excellent diving conditions of clear, warm water, abundant marine life and the diversity and colour of the coral.
Queensland, Canarvon Gorge National Park
In central western Queensland is the Canarvon Gorge National Park. This park is centered on an extensive gorge system that is cut into the sandstone cliffs. The gorge has a significant gallery of Aboriginal rock art and was of great importance to the local people as one of only a few sources of permanent fresh water in the area. It is located about 10hrs drive (800 km) north west of Brisbane.
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Victoria, Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria, located on the banks of the Yarra River and the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The city is renowned for its sense of style. Glamorous events are a trademark of the city. There are countless shows, exhibitions and galleries to entertain. It overflows with eminently stroll able boulevards and outdoor cafés, and the parks and gardens in and around the city are among its most impressive features.
Melbourne society has more European influence than Australian. Melbourne has some of the countries best schools and universities. People of Melbourne are sports freaks - there sportsman spirit can be seen, when it comes to the glorious, freewheeling Melbourne Cup.
Melbourne has pleasant weather all the year round and there are no extremes in temperature.
Attractions
Yarra Bend Park
Along the Yarra River is the Yarra Bend Park. Boats and canoes are available for hire, and waterfalls, amphitheatres and outdoor cafes await the visitors.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
One of the largest in the world and has soccer and cricket facilities. In the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the Olympics 2000 this will the venue for soccer matches. There is even a Cricket Museum, which maps out the history of cricket in Australia.
Royal Botanical Gardens
The Royal Botanical Gardens are amongst the finest in the world and have a variety of wildlife. You can spot eels, fruit bats and other animals.
Fitzroy
Fitzroy reflects the 'bohemian' side of Melbourne. It's home to the city's vibrant sub-cultures. Brunswick Street is the focus of the area, and has a host of ethnic restaurants and a fantasy bazaar of exotic alternative lifestyle shops. It's a great place for retro and second hand furniture shopping and the eating experience of Portuguese or African food.
City Centre
The City Centre of Melbourne has all the trappings of one, with the state parliament, state library, town hall, huge malls and Chinatown.
Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum labeled as the largest and most innovative museum in the southern hemisphere has an Aboriginal centre, a living forest gallery, a 3D interactive theatre and major exhibition galleries.
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