Top 5 Cities in Australia
Until you’ve been out there, it’s difficult to have a full grasp of Australia’s size. That’s exactly why it’s best that you find out pinpoint a location, before you take a flight to Oz. You might have a specific attraction in mind, but end up miles away from where it was, because you chose to go to the capital – Canberra – when you meant to go to Sydney instead.
Here’s a rundown of Australia’s top cities and what each of them have to offer, to get thousands of visitors each year:
1. Sydney. As the host city to the 2000 Olympics, Sydney has long been confused for Australia’s capital, but has its reasons for being more well-known than Canberra is. Home to the Sydney Opera House, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the White Rabbit Gallery, it’s a city full of the country’s most popular attractions and never ceases to disappoint.
2. Melbourne. The country’s second most populated city is another top spot for foreign tourists, as it’s a hub of economic activity in the country. The Bolte Bridge, Southern Cross Station and St. Paul’s Cathedral are a handful of the world-recognised features of Melbourne and are well worth visiting.
3. Gold Coast. For the holiday-goers who’d like to enjoy the sun and would like great access to the coastlines, Queensland’s Gold Coast is the ideal location. Suprisingly, you can expect months like December, January and February to be the warmest, while June July and August stay low, so it’s worth bearing in mind beforehand.
4. Cairns. Another coastal location is Cairns, which is noted for being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Forest. For the sightseers among you, this will satisfy your needs in ways that you wouldn’t be able to imagine. Traverse the rain forest in cable cars, shop to your heart’s content in the city centre, explore its wonders.
5. Perth. A city detached from the rest of the country, it’s an isolated hub which is noted for its beaches and strong, independent economic presence. It can get wet in Perth on occasions, but it’s another that you’d go to for the coastline.
Top Attractions in Perth, Australia
You may be surprised by just how many people take flights to Perth each year, until you get a grasp for the fantastic sights you can discover there. Australia has such a massive landscape that Perth is actually considered to be the world’s most remote city and its nearest city is a massive 1,307 miles away. As this is the case, they specialise in making up for their isolation by packing the city with everything its residents and tourists could want. If you fancy a holiday out there, it would be a good idea to find out where’s best to look for.
Below is a quick rundown of 5 of Perth’s top attractions:
1. Perth Zoo. There’s no excuse not to pay this one a visit – it’s only a five minute journey away from the city centre. From there, you’ll get to see all of the animals native only to Australia – like kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and more – and have a picnic right next to them. Who could resist that?
2. Burswood Park. Another location which is within walking distance of the city centre, Burswood Park offers a range of interactive recreational facilities to get the most out of your experience in Perth. Go to the visitors centre and get a taste for the range of things you can get up to.
3. Perth Swan Bell Tower. The massive tower is made from a glass spire, which houses 18 bells; thus making it the largest change ringing instrument in the world. When would you get chance to see something else like that?
4. Kings Park and Botantic Gardens. The 400 hectares of parkland and gardens is a grand location which draws huge crowds, simply down to its great aesthetic value and feeling of freedom. As a place known mainly for its coastline, this gives another reason to make the flight over to Perth.
5. The Perth Mint. Established way back in 1899, this is the country’s oldest mint still in operation and gives a taste for Australia’s historical value. Today, you’ll find a sizable collection of gold nuggets to marvel over.
New Zealand – A Diverse Holiday Destination
Most may know New Zealand as that far way land which is found near to Australia, but be aware of little else of what it has to offer. Often a mistake people make is assuming that because Oz attracts far bigger numbers of visitor each year that New Zealand doesn’t have a much to offer. Don’t let the size fool you – it’s a beautiful place and is able to offer a holida experience which you wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere. So have you thought about flights to New Zealand at all? If you haven’t, make today the day when the tables turn and your focus turns towards the ‘Paradise of the Pacific’.
What is New Zealand Like?
New Zealand is of two main island – North and South island – as well as a number of smaller ones. Typically, a holiday there would be two one of the larger islands, but you’d be free to travel its fascinating landscape once you’ve touched down at one of the airports. The country’s temperate climate may not have the scorching hot highs which you’d find in western Australia (in Perth, for example) but temperatures of mid-20s (°C) provide enough incentive to book a flight out there. If that doesn’t seem like enough, the wait until you see the volcanoes, glaciers and towering mountains which await you.
What Can You Do in New Zealand?
A trip to New Zealand is likely to be a cultural excursion, where you drench yourself in the ways of the people and spend you time trekking to see what wonders the islands have. As previously mentioned, the natural wonders which are scattered throughout the landscape are one of the main attractions, but you can also spend your time getting used to the urban areas too. Cities like Auckland, Wellington (the capital) and Hamilton allow tourists to get familiar with what new Zealand life if like, whilst shopping, visiting exotic Maori sights and generally seeing what makes the country tick. If you have the time, jet skiing, golfing and tasting the local wine are just a handful of the adventurous stuff you can get up to in New Zealand.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Sydney
Sydney is the type of city where you have to cram in lots of activities in. Unlike your typical relaxed beach holidays, this can be a once in a lifetime opportunity to tick off lots of boxes. Flights to Sydney rarely lead to dull holidays. The city is literally packed with things to do, which is why more people are aware of it than they are Australia’s actual capital, Canberra. So where do you start?
Here’s the top 10 places to visit in Sydney:
1. The Sydney Opera House. An architectural wonder, the performing arts centre is one of the country’s attractions, so it would be crazy not to pay it a visit, while you’re passing through the city.
2. The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Known as ‘The Coathanger’ for its distinctive shape, the bridge was once Sydney’s tallest structure and still towers over much of the landscape. It’s distanct can be trekked on foot, so make a challenge of it.
3. The Museum of Contemporary Art. The Art Deco-styled structure is home to some of the country’s most celebrated works and is a place which you’d find difficult to pass by without seeing what’s inside.
4. Bondi Beach. At a kilometer in length, the sizable beach is known to attract massive numbers of tourists for the scenic beach experience and all that comes with it.
5. Glebe Markets. This is one of Sydney’s most well-known Saturday markets and offers its tourist to have a real taste for Australia, its people and its culture.
6. Botanics Gardens. If nature is where you get your kicks, this is where you’ll satisfy your cravings.
7. The Rocks. This is an unmissable part of any trip to Sydney, as The Rocks is an all-inclusive centre for entertainment, shopping and everything in between.
8. Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair. One of the country’s great (nearly) natural formations, the mammoth-sized rock was carved into the shape of a bench in 1810 and is a sight you have to see for yourself to understand.
9. Blues Point. For those who’d like to collect some of the best pictures that they can in their Australian stay, Blues Point – a New South Wales habourside location – is one of the best spots.
10. Sydney Tower. To round things off, this is an observation deck which is like Sydney’s Empire State Building.