As the sixth largest country in the world – and biggest island – Australia offers plenty to see, whether you crave outdoor adventure, cosmopolitan cities or a mixture of both. The land Down Under has it all, and our tour comparison Australia is there to help you pick just the right itinerary.
Tourism Australia and an endless array of choice
Tours in Australia tend often start in the major cities of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin and Perth, but there are options beginning in Cairns, Yulara, Alice Springs and Broome as well. Regional Australia tours offer the chance to visit Uluru, the sweeping east coast home to more sandy white beaches than you will know what to do with, the quieter west coast where sunset rides atop camels await, and the unique southern state of Tasmania.
One bonus of joining a tour in Australia is the scheduled internal flights, pre-arranged island boat transfers, and comfortable transport provided for the long journeys required. Entrance to national parks is included, as is camping equipment when needed, not to mention the knowledgeable guides able to navigate their way through the lively cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and somewhat sleepier Canberra.
There are plenty of shorter tourism Australia options as well, including Great Ocean Road journeys, Whitsunday cruises, and 4WD drive tours on Fraser Island. These activities are included on many longer tours, where travellers also have the option of choosing additional excursions like surf lessons, ziplining, scuba diving, adventure sports, Australia Zoo – home of the Irwins, wine tasting and sailing trips.
On our tour comparison Australia you will see the fun does not end there, with itineraries offering cattle station farm stays, ‘swag’ camping, overnight stays on tropical islands, hikes around Kata Tjuta and Uluru, and traditional Aussie barbecues. For those interested in the Indigenous culture, there is an opportunity to learn, take in ancient cave art and even try your hand at spearfishing.
Last but not least, there are VIP nightlife tours, discounts on restaurants and excursions – which are comparatively expensive across Australia, and visits to local wineries in South Australia’s Barossa Valley. Travellers will also enjoy free time to explore the thriving cities or laze at the beach.
Ready to head Down Under? Compare holiday packages Australia and find the right itinerary for you.
Counting down the days to departure? Get to know Australia a little better with our list of ‘Did you know?’ facts below, and be ready to impress your travel buddies.
- Australia’s natural beauty is recognised far and wide, but there are many attractions many travellers may not have heard of before visiting the land Down Under, such as the vast desert known as the Red Centre, the spectacular mountains of the Great Dividing Range, and the star formation: the Southern Cross, which appears on the national flag
- After being ‘discovered’ by Captain James Cook, who was the first European to make recorded contact with the east coast, Australia was circumnavigated and identified as a continent for the first time by Matthew Flinders and an Aboriginal man named Bungaree
- There is much more to the Northern Territory than Uluru – its neighbouring rock formation Kata Tjuta offers its own mystical beauty, Alice Springs is home to some fascinating culture including a strong presence of Indigenous art, and Darwin has endured some tough times as showcased in its museums
- Australia is surrounded by three different bodies of water – the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and the Tasman Sea
- There is a significant movement in Australia to preserve Indigenous culture, with some notable champions of the campaign including Eddie Koiki Mabo and Vincent Lingiari
- Australia is a country with a love for sport and its icons. Some of the most beloved include cricketers Donald Bradman, Shane Warne, Ritchie Benaud and Glen McGrath, track athlete Cathy Freeman and swimmer Ian Thorpe – both multiple Olympic medallists, tennis stars Rod Laver, Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt
- Western Australia offers a completely different experience of Australia with its mining influence, the famous surfing beaches in Perth, and the wilderness of The Kimberley
- Melbourne consistently ranks at the top of lists for the world’s most liveable cities, and with forward-thinking food and culture scene, its bohemian alleyways and markets, and its many coffee houses, it’s easy to see why
- Former Prime Ministers of Australia include Sir Robert Menzies, John Howard, Gough Whitlam, Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard – the first female Prime Minister of the country
- Sydney’s major attractions include the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, while the country’s capital of Canberra is home to parliament and some of the coldest weather in the country
- Australia has brought the world many big fashion brands including UGG boots, which Aussies wear as slippers only around the house, surf brands like Rip Curl and Billabong, Sass & Bide, Witchery and Mimco.
- South Australia is known especially for its wines, with the Barossa Valley producing some of the world’s best, but there are plenty of other attractions such as the city of Adelaide and its Fringe Festival
- Tasmania is a unique part of Australia with flora and fauna unlike that of the mainland, beautiful colonial architecture, and quiet countryside punctuated with spectacular sights like Cradle Mountain and the Bay of Fires
- A number of major international stars call Australia home, such as Crocodile Dundee’s Paul Hogan, Hugh Jackman, Mel Gibson, Errol Flynn, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman. Alongside Crocodile Dundee, Mad Max and Muriel’s Wedding are two iconic Australian film classics.
- The subtropical capital of Queensland, Brisbane, is a great starting point for exploring the endless beaches of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, reaching Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, hopping over to sandy Fraser Island, or heading south to soak up the hippy vibes at Byron Bay
- Some of Australia’s most important historical figures include war General Sir John Monash, prisoner of war during WWII Sir Ernest Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop, and the Robin Hood-like outlaw Ned Kelly
- Singers like Kylie Minogue, Paul Kelly, John Farnham, Jimmy Barnes, Jimmy Little, music bands INXS, AC/DC, Savage Garden, and opera’s Dame Nellie Melba are all from Australia
- Popular sports include cricket, rugby league and union, Aussie Rules (AFL), horseracing with the important Melbourne Cup held every November, and the iconic Surf Lifesaving Association
Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC
