Australia travel tips - Sydney Opera House

Travelling in Australia

We're travellers too and we've though long and hard about what our customers want from an Australia holiday. You definitely don't want to miss the cosmopolitan atmosphere in Sydney, the vast emptiness of the Outback desert, a boat trip in search of crocodiles, diving at the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical beaches of the Pacific, so we've created our independent Australia adventures keeping these 5 main experiences in mind.

1. Sydney and surrounding area   Cosmopolitan Australia
The cosmopolitan city of Sydney is most commonly the starting point for those travelling around Australia. Australia Travel Plan will make arrangements for you to go on a sunset cruise past the famous Sydney Opera House and beneath the Harbour Bridge. Those who would like to spend some time on the beach here, can spend the night near Bondi Beach. We also recommend going on a daytrip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains, where you'll see adorable koala bears and Australia's iconic kangaroos. 
2.  Alice Springs and Ayers Rock     Star gazing in the Outback desert    
Spend the night looking up at the stars in a pitch black Outback desert, drive through seemingly endless empty deserts and watch the sun rise out above the red rock Uluru (the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock)... it's all a part of the Australia travel experience. For those looking to pick up a few Aussie skills there's an opportunity to learn how to throw a boomerang (and catch it again), blow into a didgeridoo (and get it to make the right sounds) and to ride a camel in the Outback desert (and not fall off).  

3. Darwin, Kakadu and surrounding area    Wetlands and crocodiles    
If you've seen the movie 'Crocodile Dundee' (or one of the sequels), you know what to expect here. Imagine going on a river cruise through swampland and watching massive crocs slide off the river banks into the water or simply listening to a real bush ranger tell you how you could survive in Australia's rugged natural wonderland. If you're interested in Aboriginal culture, you'll enjoy a visit to remote Arnhem Land in. This is an authentic Aboriginal area where much of their culture has been preserved. 
Travelling around Australia - Outback waterfalls
Travelling around Australia - Lay back and relax
4.  Great Barrier Reef    Coral reefs
As soon as you dive beneath the waters surface at the Great Barrier Reef, either fully outfitted with diving equipment or simply with your snorkel and flippers, a whole world of waving anemones, sea turtles, coral gardens, colourful fish and hammerhead sharks will open up to you. This incredibly large reef is so enormous that it actually be seen from the moon. Go diving, sailing, snorkelling, catamaran sailing and explore every island you find. Aside from this spectacular reef, the east coast also offers you a complete package of tropical surprises: travel from reef to rainforest and embark on a new land based Australia adventure in dense forests filled with ferns and hanging vines, waterfalls and lagoons. 

5.  Cairns and surrounding area    Palm tree beaches
This is the cherry on top of your Australia trip, a place where you can sit back at the end of your trip and look back on an incredible journey. The northeast province of Australia, Queensland, has a long coastline with many quiet, long stretches of beach. We've chosen two of our favourite beaches for you to stay at. One of the beaches lies along a beach where there's always something going on and there are plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy. You'll spend the night in a fine hotel with swimming pool on a golden beach. Our second beach is a tranquil palm tree beach. You'll stay in a bungalow at an eco-resort where you can book a massage or yoga class and get back to the basics of enjoying yourself and the beautiful surroundings. 

Freedom to travel your way   

Self-drive by campervan or car
If you want to travel in your own hire car and drive through Australia, you can. The roads are in excellent condition and the long distances will give you a great impression of this vast country. Since it does take so long to get from one place to another, many travellers go for a 3-week trip by car or campervan along the east coast. The east coast offers golden beaches in combination with sunny cities. Those who decide to hire a campervan usually go off on their own to explore Australia. However, if you would like to combine car hire with local accommodation anyway we recommend having a look at what Australia Travel Plan has to offer. Travel with us and you'll stay at a cattle station (cattle farm), at an Aussie home, at a wine farm, in a jungle lodge and in a beach cabana. If you would like to head out in your own campervan, then you may want to consider combining camper hire with other modes of travel. For instance you could fly to top attractions that you want to visit and hire a means of transport while you're in the area. This way you could visit Sydney, Ayers Rock, Darwin and Kakadu, the Great Barrier Reef and plenty of beaches. Our ideal trip through Australia, for those who would also like to do some driving on their own, is a combination of: kick starting your trip in Sydney, going on a daytrip to the Blue Mountains, then flying to Alice Springs, hiring a 4x4 or a campervan there for a trip through the Outback and to Darwin, then flying on to Cairns for a reef-trip and ending up on a beach at Palm Cove or Mission Beach. If you have even more time to spend in Australia, you can also drive back down to Brisbane or Sydney. 
Travelling around Australia by car

Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania

These areas are less popular than the east coast and the Outback and therefore you won't see as many as tourists around. They are the ideal locations for people who have more time to spend on holiday or who are visiting Australia for the second (or third, or fourth) time. We recommend visiting West Australia to those who have at least a month available to travel around, otherwise you'll simply be selling yourself short. The southern part of Australia is known for its charm and natural beauty. Starting out in Melbourne you could drive along the Great Ocean Road and hike through the mountainous area of the Grampians National Park. Another Australian gem, Tasmania, has been declared a World Heritage Site for approximately 50% and just simply a very rugged beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors during long walks. Finally, while in Adelaide you could visit the animals at Kangaroo Island and go wine tasting (or drinking) in the Barossa Valley. There's plenty to do and see for everyone.