Australia’s a holiday destination like no other. Unique animals like koalas and kangaroos are understandably on a tourist’s must-see list, as are the oft-photographed Sydney Harbour Bridge and the red glow of Uluru (Ayers Rock). But for those who travel all that distance, there are countless other incredible sights to see.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge and red Ayers Rock are well-known symbols of the Land Down Under, and every tourist comes home from Australia with a collection of photographs of kangaroos and koalas. But there are hundreds of other things to see and do in Australia: swim with dolphins, walk around in the red desert, or even watch penguins returning to their homes at night.
In and Around Sydney
Everyone knows Sydney, but not everybody knows that “The Rocks” area in the center of Sydney is a real-life walkthrough of where the city started. Back on 26 January 1788, this was the place where sailors from the First Fleet landed and established the first British settlement. This day is celebrated every year as Australia Day, although it is now also remembered that Australia has been inhabited for much longer than this two hundred odd years, with the Aboriginal people having lived in Australia for many thousands of years. “The Rocks” includes many historical buildings that are well preserved and cared for, although they are now usually operating as bars or cafés rather than old shops. Millions of tourists and locals alike visit “The Rocks” every year, and the area is easy to find as it’s next to the ferry docks and that famous coat hanger, the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
If you travel nearly two hours inland from Sydney, you’ll find the Three Sisters. No ordinary sisters, these ones are in fact made from rock. The three natural structures jut out from a cliff and the scenic view of the valley and national park around them makes it a very popular destination. The best part, however, is the story behind how the Three Sisters got their name. An old Aboriginal legend tells that there were once three sisters who fell in love with three brothers from another tribe – yet unfortunately the tribal law stated they couldn’t marry men from a different tribe. The brothers began a battle and tried to capture the sisters, but a witch doctor tried to protect the sisters by turning them into stone. During the battle, the witch doctor was killed, and as nobody else had the powers required to turn the sisters back from stone, the three sisters still stand there today, as a reminder of this battle over love.
The South-East Corner
There are still more famous rocks and stones along the south-east coast of Australia, on a highway appropriately named The Great Ocean Road. The most famous set is the Twelve Apostles, a collection of huge rock columns standing up straight out of the ocean - although there are no longer twelve of these structures left. The limestone columns were formed when wind and water erosion separated them from the cliffs, and even today they are constantly changing as erosion continues. The tallest column is about 150 feet high and the cliffs nearby are even higher, so the views along the coast here are astounding. There are other interesting formations nearby, including one named London Bridge, although part of the “bridge” has now collapsed. Geologists think these formations are around twenty million years old.
If you continue further south, you’ll reach Tasmania, the island state of Australia that is quite unique for its climate, animals and industry. Exploring nature in Tasmania is a well-liked activity and one of the most beautiful parts is the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area. Hiking along the Overland Track, seeing Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair, is a popular trek. There are mountains, cliffs, gorges and of course, the huge Lake St Clair: it is Australia’s deepest freshwater lake at a depth of 650 feet. When so much of Australia is covered in desert, this often green national park – which even gets some snow in winter – is a completely different corner of Australia, more often compared to New Zealand or Europe.
In the Outback
Speaking of the desert, many people know of the “big red rock” in the middle of Australia called Uluru (the Aboriginal name for what settlers named Ayers Rock). Less famous but equally impressive is nearby Kata Tjuta (or the Olgas). The aboriginal name Kata Tjuta means “many heads,” and this is a very suitable name for the field of about thirty tall, dome-shaped rocks which really resemble a group of very tall people standing together. In fact, the tallest is almost 1800 feet high, 650 feet higher than Uluru. There are several interesting walks that can be taken through Kata Tjuta, although they are quite often closed when the desert temperature is too high and unsuitable for walking.
Australian Animals
Of course, many people think of animals if they think of Australia, especially the most famous symbols: koalas, kangaroos and emus. Yet these are not the only animals which attract tourists. What do you think you might find at Monkey Mia, in the middle of the coast of Western Australia? It sounds like there will be monkeys there, but in fact, you can swim with dolphins instead. About forty years ago, a group of bottle-nosed dolphins started visiting the shore of the beach each day, and they allowed people who were swimming there to touch and feed them. Now they come almost every day, and today’s dolphins have grown up with human contact, so they are very tame and not at all afraid. Although Monkey Mia is in an isolated place – the nearest city, Perth, is about 500 miles away – many tourists visit this special place to meet the dolphin celebrities. Nobody’s really sure why the town is called Monkey Mia, but the most popular story is that a boat named “Monkey” was ship-wrecked nearby many years ago.
The other popular animals to meet in Australia are penguins, which are found in several parts of the country. Perhaps the best place to find them – and in fact, the most popular tourist destination in Australia after Uluru – is the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, not far from Melbourne. At sunset you can watch the penguins returning to their homes after swimming and fishing all day. The penguins at Phillip Island are classified as Little Penguins and are the smallest kind in the world – usually less than a foot tall. Yet despite their small size, when you see them returning home at night, they have probably managed to swim about twelve miles during the day, searching for fish.
So the next time you’re daydreaming of a trip to Australia, think about all these wonderful places to see and things to do. From most parts of the world, it’s a far-away country, but a fascinating one.
External Links:
Tourism Australia - Start here for all the info on visiting the Land Down Under