New South Wales (NSW)
-- Australia's most populated state is also the most
visited by tourists. They come to see
Sydney
-- and who can blame them? It's one of the most
glamorous and beautiful cities in the world, with
dozens of harbour and ocean beaches in and around
it, and a mixture of bushland and city development
around Sydney Harbour. Sydney is also a good base
for day trips or overnight excursions inland,
especially to the scenic
Blue
Mountains and the wineries of the
Hunter Valley. [MORE] |
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Northern Territory(NT)
-- The ever changing colours and the ethereal
silence of Uluru, also known as
Ayers Rock, is what draws everyone to the
sprawling ochre sands of the Red Centre The
lesser-known nearby domes of Kata Tjuta, or "the
Olgas," are even more spectacular (if that's
possible). A half-day's drive from the Rock brings
you to Kings Canyon, an awesomely lovely desert
gorge popular with hikers. Spend at least a few days
in
Alice Springs. This laid-back Outback town has
the best Aboriginal arts and crafts shopping in
Australia, Aboriginal tours, a world-class desert
wildlife park, stunning scenery, hikes through the
stark MacDonnell Ranges, an Outback ranch to stay
at, and even camel rides along a dry riverbed.
Near the tropical city of Darwin, the territory's
capital, is
Kakadu National Park, where you can cruise past
crocodiles on inland billabongs (ponds), bird-watch,
and visit ancient Aboriginal rock-art sites.
Darwin
as the gateway for the Red Centre of the Northern
Territory is a very sophisticated yet laid back
tropical city that has its own attractions,
activities and culture and a must visit. [MORE] |
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South Australia (SA)
-- Stretched between Western Australia and Victoria
is the nation's breadbasket, South Australia. The
capital,
Adelaide,
is a stately place known for its conservatism,
parks, and churches. It makes an ideal base for
exploring Australia's illustrious wine region, the
Barossa Valley. It’s less than an hour from the city
with some major wineries of Australia as well many
boutique wineries to also experience! [MORE] |
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Tasmania (TAS) --
Last stop before Antarctica is
the island state of Tasmania
with its striking capital city
of
Hobart.
Visit the Apple Isle for its
beautiful national parks,
stretches of alpine wilderness
and gloomy forests, fruit and
lavender farms, the world's best
trout fishing, and an
exquisitely slow pace of life
rarely experienced anywhere
else. If extreme sports is your
thing, you could tackle the
Overland Track, an 85km
(53-mile) hiking trail between
Cradle Mountain and Lake St.
Clair that passes through
highland moors, dense
rainforests, several mountains
and stunning scenery every step
of the way. [MORE] |
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Queensland (QLD) –
Blessed by Mother Nature. Without a doubt, the
biggest draw for visitors to Queensland is the
Great Barrier Reef. The Reef stretches
more than 2,000km (1,240 miles) along Queensland's
coast, as far south as
Bundaberg,
384km (238 miles) north of
Brisbane,
the state capital. The reef is a paradise for
kayaking, snorkelling, diving, fishing, hiking,
water sports, birding, and bareboat sailing.
Queensland is also known for its white-sand beaches.
Other big attractions are pristine and primeval
rainforests such as the
Daintree
north of
Port
Douglas and
Cairns
and Southeastern part of the state. The
Sunshine Coast - an ideal beach holiday
destination. The
Gold
Coast is non-stop energy with its beaches, theme
parks, nightlife, events & more.
Brisbane,
the vibrant cultural capital of Queensland offers
something for everyone with accommodation to suit
every budget. [MORE] |
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Western Australia (WA)
-- This is one of Australia's most wild and
beautiful regions. The seas teem with whales in
season, and thrill-seekers can swim alongside
gigantic but gentle whale sharks on the Northwest
Cape every fall (Mar - June). This cape is home to
one of Australia's best-kept secrets, a second
barrier reef called
Ningaloo Marine Park, which runs for 260km (161
miles). You can snorkel with manta rays here
or try the fantastic diving. In the southwest lies
the
Margaret River wine region. Ancient forests,
thundering surf, dramatic cliffs, rich bird life,
and wild kangaroos make it one of the country's most
attractive wine regions. The state's capital,
Perth,
gives the visitor both a beach environment as well
as a cosmopolitan city to experience.
Fremantle
is a restored 19th-century port with a fun
atmosphere and great museums. In the
Kimberley, you can visit ancient gorges & farms
where the world's best South Sea pearls grow. Make
sure to visit the charming town of
Broome. [MORE] |
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Victoria (VIC) --
Australia's second-largest city,
Melbourne,
is the capital of Victoria. Melbourne is more
stately and "Old World" than Sydney, and offers an
exciting mix of ethnicities and the country's best
fashion shopping. Nearby Phillip Island is famous
for its Penguin Parade. The historic gold-mining
city of Ballarat is not far away. Victoria is also
the site of one of Australia's great road trips, the
Great Ocean Road. It stretches for 106km (66
miles) along the southern coast, where the eroded
rock towers named the
Twelve Apostles stand tall in the sea as well as
other spectacular scenery. [MORE] |
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Australian Capital Territory
(ACT) -- Surrounded entirely by New South Wales
is the Australian Capital Territory. The ACT is made
up of bushland and the nation's capital,
Canberra,
a planned city similar in architectural concept to
Washington, D.C. Also renown for great museums and
restaurants. [MORE] |
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