The wonderful country of Australia is composed of the large mainland and numerous smaller islands. It is the 6th largest country in the world and also one of the wealthiest. It is a very popular tourist destination, with millions of people visiting Australia from all over the world every year.
Australia is also the perfect place to take a gap year. Lots of people enjoy taking a year out to travel around this huge, beautiful country and explore the incredible scenery, interesting culture and amazing cities. If you’re thinking about travelling around Australia for a year, there are definitely a few places you don’t want to miss out on.
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system and is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. This stunning site can be seen from outer space and was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1981.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to an array of wildlife and sea creatures, including 30 different species of whales, dolphins and porpoises. You can go snorkelling or scuba diving to experience some of the incredible sea life first hand and take in some phenomenal sights. Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is truly a once in a lifetime experience that you simply have to do if you’re touring around Australia.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populated city in Australia and home to the iconic Sydney Opera House, which hosts a variety of performing arts shows. Other notable attractions in Sydney include the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Tower and some 40 beaches.
There are several popular museums including the Australia Museum, Australian National Maritime Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Sydney is a wonderful city to visit to experience some of Australia’s South Eastern culture and sites. If you’re visiting Australia for a year, you can definitely afford to spend a good few weeks in Sydney to really get a feel of the amazing city life.
Adelaide
If you’re interested in the arts, or want to experience a variety of contemporary and unusual sites, Adelaide is the place to visit. The performing arts flourish in this beautiful city, which holds numerous festivals every year including The Adelaide Film Festival, the Cabaret Festival and the infamous Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Festivals such as those listed above attract tourists from across the world; they all come to showcase their talent and work at these fantastic festivals. Touring around Australia for a year means that you can pop in and out of Adelaide at different points, capturing all the best festivals throughout the seasons.
Perth
Perth is located in Western Australia and is the perfect place to visit for a rest while you’re travelling Among many other parks, Perth is home to King’s Park, which is the largest inner-city park in the world, and the perfect spot to relax on a warm day.
You can also take a leisurely walk around Perth Zoo, and experience some of the world’s most exotic creatures from around the globe. Interestingly, Perth Zoo also breeds giraffes very successfully.
Melbourne
Melbourne is an international cultural centre and welcomes millions of tourists every year. The city is also the birthplace of Australia’s film, television and football, as well as the Melbourne shuffle dance move.
Melbourne boasts fine architecture, rich culture, and interesting history. Visiting Melbourne is simply a must if you’re touring around Australia for a year.
Conclusion
Australia has many incredible places to visit, but these five are definitely must-see’s if you’re touring around for a year….or in fact, any length of time at all!
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Article by Natalie Moody