Australia seems to us a mysterious and distant country. Thinking about it, kangaroos, the ocean, crocodiles, and “antipodes” walking upside down from Kipling’s Alice in Wonderland come to mind. What other sights can you see in Australia?
Australia’s Top 8 Sights
We bring to your attention only the most famous sights of Australia with names, photos and brief descriptions. You will surely be interested in this amazing country and will be motivated to go on an amazing journey to the other side of the world.
Great Barrier Reef
Perhaps the most interesting natural place in Australia, known to every schoolboy is the Great Barrier Reef. Indeed, it is the world’s largest living coral reef, located in the northeast, near the coast of this continent. Interestingly, it is on the famous UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
This giant natural reef can be seen from space and is considered a true wonder of the world.
Australian aborigines have been using the coral islands that make up the Great Barrier Reef for tens of thousands of years. The infamous Captain James Cook arrived here in the late 18th century. The reef is in its third century of research and study by biologists from around the world. Today it is a favorite place for divers and boaters. Here you can see the underwater and above-water sea world in all its glory. This unique reef has been named a great marine park by the national government.
Sydney Opera House
It is one of the most famous musical theaters in the world. The Opera House has become a symbol and a calling card of the city of Sydney, the main cultural attraction in Australia. The theater stands in the harbor of Sydney, where once there was a fort. His building looks like a sailing ship sailing on the sea. The architecture of the theater is classified by specialists as New Expressionism. It was opened in 1973, and today it is on the UNESCO list.
It is an architectural wonder of the world, which even today fascinates specialists and ordinary people with its arrangement, external beauty and magnificent interior decoration. The Sydney Opera House has the best classical and contemporary opera singers and world-renowned opera directors. It is one of the centers of world opera. This building is also called the Opera House.
If you visit this city, be sure to go to its opera house, you will truly enjoy its opera and architectural personality.
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
This unique natural landmark in Australia is a beautiful oval orange rock that originated many hundreds of millions of years ago. The nearby airport is named after her. At the base of Uluru there are many caves, the walls of which are covered with the most ancient rock paintings and carvings. For the aborigines this is a sacred place, near the rock they still conduct their rituals to this day.
This rock in the middle of the desert was discovered for Europeans in the second half of the 19th century, and was first named after a local statesman. Only a hundred years later she was given back the name given to her by the natives. Uluru is composed of red sandstone. It is capable of imputing color within 24 hours: black, purple, magenta, red, pink, gold. These changes look fantastic. Today the whole area is a national park, it was visited by about half a million tourists.
Cape Byron
This cape was discovered for Europe in the second half of the 18th century by the famous James Cook. He gave it the name of the famous British navigator, John Cook, an ancestor of the poet Lord George Byron. This landmark on the map occupies the easternmost point of Australia. Cape Byron is very popular with tourists who like to walk the trail to it to be the first to see the sunrise in the country.
From Cape Byron you can admire the life of humpback whales, sharks, turtles, and dolphins living in the unusually clear and clean sea water. Here you can see a volcano that has been extinct for thousands of years and the magnificent Minyan waterfall in the national park. Separately, the lighthouse at Cape Byron, it is considered one of the most beautiful in Australia. The lighthouse was built at the beginning of the last century, and since then you can see all the splendor of the Pacific Ocean from its observation deck.
Cape Byron is part of Byron Bay, which has all the necessary tourist infrastructure: excellent hotels, beaches, places for yoga, surfing, diving, mud massages, wraps, etc. The city is called the “Beginning of Paradise”.
Byron Bay has long been beloved by people with non-traditional sexual orientation, fans of modern youth culture, hippies, etc.
Central Park Skyscraper
This skyscraper is located in the largest city of Perth in Western Australia, has a height of over 200 meters and 51 floors. The building has a steel structure and concrete frame, and around it is the park that gave it its name. The skyscraper was put into operation in 1882, and its construction, using the latest technology, cost almost two million dollars. Today it is the pride of the city and the object of admiration of tourists from all over the world. If you want to see the modern sights of Australia, the Central Park skyscraper is in front of you.
Kakadu National Park
This amazing park is located in the north of the country, and the nearest starting point for the trip may be the city of Darwin. Many people immediately think that the park was named after a beautiful bird, but this is not the case. The fact is that these lands are the historical fiefdom of the local Aboriginal tribe with a similar-sounding name. Even now most of the territory belongs to their heirs.
Australia’s amazing Kakadu National Park is protected by UNESCO. Its boundaries are clearly marked by nature itself, and highlighted by a ridge of steep cliffs. The reserve is now home to about 500 people of natives and is home to exotic species of animals and birds.
Such entertainment for the tourist can be a serious challenge, and the self-guided hike in the park should be taken extremely seriously, taking care of their safety.
Sydney Tower
This tower is the tallest building in Sydney. It has a hyperboloid design, like our Shukhov Tower. Interestingly, the Sydney Tower has nothing to do with television, but is simply one of the most interesting places in Australia and Sydney for tourists from around the world. It has stores and a restaurant inside, where you can have a great time. You can get to the tower by elevator or by spiral staircase, which has more than a thousand steps.
The tower was under construction for several years and was put into operation in the early 1980s. The observation deck of the Sydney Tower is set at a height of 250 m, from here you can see the whole of Sydney and the ocean. And it itself has a height of more than 300 m. Today it is a source of pride for the city and for Australians. They call the tower Central Point and like to show off to tourists and travelers from around the world. Fireworks are launched from here during the holidays.
Phillip Island
If you can’t decide what to see in Australia, then Phillip Island will be a real eye opener for you. The nature park on this island is one of the most visited in Australia. First of all, it is worth visiting the Koala Sanctuary. Here among the eucalyptus bushes you can observe the life of these marsupials, very similar to cubs. And at Nobbiz Rock – enjoy the view of the ocean, see the nesting seabirds, and on the distance – to see the rookeries of seals of many thousands.
The penguin parade on Phillip Island is a real treat for aesthetes as hundreds of these birds come ashore in the evening, carrying their young to nest. Depending on the time of year, you can see young penguins molting, building nests, laying eggs, and feeding little penguins here.
This park is home to about a hundred species of Australian fauna: kangaroos, koalas, wombats, bats, owls, cockatoos, emus, and more. This is a paradise for children just beginning to explore the world around them.
Video overview of sights in Australia
When deciding what to see in Australia, remember that in a couple of days to see the whole country is simply impossible, because it – too huge and diverse. In order to see and love Australia, you need to travel around its vast expanses for at least a month.
