Australia Things to Do

Phillip Island is best known for its population of fairy penguins. Being just 87 miles (140km) to the south of Melbourne, Phillip Island is often visited on a day trip. In fact, about 3.5 million tourists make it down to Phillip Island every year – and yes, a majority of those people are drawn in to see the Penguin Parade.

Cruising to and around Australia shows no sign of decreasing in popularity. With beautiful ports and harbors, and spectacular weather and natural attractions, exploring the country of Australia by way of water seems like the perfect route.

Twelve years have passed since the last visit of the British & Irish Lions to Australia, and 2013 is shaping up to be the follow-up to top all previous rugby meetups of this kind. This year will see 9 official games between the British & Irish Lions and the mix of Australian Super Rugby teams with expected attendance of nearly 400,000 people.

The Northern Territory capital of Darwin gets visited less often by travelers passing through the country given its geographic location and overall seclusion. Those who are lucky enough to make it to this section of Australia will be rewarded with access to unforgettable scenery and national parks.

Sun-seekers and sun worshippers tend to migrate to the Australian state of Queensland which fittingly possesses the slogan of The Sunshine State. Known for an overall sunnier and warmer climate than the southern states of New South Wales and Victoria, people visiting Queensland provides for a very large portion of the economy as tourism is the leading service industry.

If you’re visiting Australia between March and September and have an interest in sports, you may want to consider taking in an Australian Football match.

Before preparing for a trip to Australia, an item at the top of your packing list should probably read “extra cash”. As a country with 3 major cities in the top 20 most expensive in the world, according to Australia’s BusinessDay, travel has a way of simply cutting a couple of holes in your pockets. In order to travel, one must do so wisely, being sure to think about the budget along the way. Here are some budgeting tips for Australia – a land that simply doesn’t know the meaning of the word.

Possessing over 41,000 miles of coastline, there is no shortage of beaches in the country of Australia. In fact, there are over 10,000 different beaches to choose from, including popular (and always crowded) ones like Bondi and secluded (and unpatrolled) beauties found on Magnetic Island. Beaches tend to drive tourists to the land Down Under, especially when trying to escape the harsh winters found in the Northern Hemisphere.

Combined with the romantic depiction of said lifestyle thanks to the 2008 movie Australia, the Australian Outback is almost synonymous with cattle ranches, as well as a tourism destination for some of the more adventurous travelers down under.

A trip to Perth, or Western Australia for that matter, is bound to be a largely outdoors affair. And where there’s nature, there is sure to be enticing experiences for kids. Animals, parks and sports are just a few of the reasons Perth makes a family-friendly getaway, and for those considering this destination for an upcoming itinerary, we’ve listed some more of the activities that make it special.