Australien rejsetips

Melbourne's city center is a beguiling mix of Victorian-era buildings, avant-garde architecture and mysterious laneways. The International features international works and a relaxing sculpture garden, while the Ian Potter Centre (located in Melbourne's award-winning architectural centerpiece, Federation Square) focuses on Australian art. Time for a refreshment? This city has a dizzying array of laneway bars, quality coffeehouses and great restaurants; locals make a sport of finding the latest hot spot. Tuck into tapas in a tiny bar, snack on yum cha in Chinatown, fine dine with river views at Southbank, or browse the stalls and taste some samples at Queen Victoria Market. Top off the day with an evening of theatre or a nightcap at one of the famous rooftop bars. Eating in Melbourne is also a joy, so bring your appetite! Inventive chefs abound and a culinary mix of European, Mediterranean and Asian cuisines.

VIVID, Sydney’s annual extravaganza of light and color, has become the city’s premier winter event, a must-see festival of illumination that is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the world’s leading creative celebrations. The 18-day-long celebration ushers in the new winter season with a free public exhibition of art sculptures and light installations all over Sydney’s most iconic buildings. The lighting displays sit dormant during the day but come to life every time the sun goes down for the duration of the festival. Paired with a cutting edge soundtrack to enhance the already incredible experience, VIVID is prepared by top-notch creatives for spectators from all over the world.

You won’t find a more charming urban enclave than lovely Battery Point, perched above the Salamanca Place warehouses and Sullivans Cove. The tiny streets are lined with gorgeous early-19th-century cottages, each boasting pristine flower beds and more than likely a resident tabby cat sunning itself on the brick wall, waiting for a pat. To get to Battery Point from Salamanca Place, follow the time-worn Kellys Steps. You’ll also get a rich sense of the colonial past at the Penitentiary Chapel site, especially if you take an atmospheric evening ghost tour. To get to grips with Hobart’s history, dive into the Maritime Museum of Tasmania and its collection of seafaring memorabilia. Aboriginal art and colonial relics are displayed at the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery, and the role of the army in colonial times is explored at the Military Museum. There’s more colonial history at Narryna Heritage Museum, giving you the chance to explore an 1836 Georgian mansion.

Kick off your time in Cairns with a dose of cuteness by heading to the Koala Café at Cairns Tropical Zoo for breakfast. It overlooks a lake where water-birds, turtles, dragons, pelicans and ducks cruise. Afterward you can see pelicans being fed, take an endangered exotic species walk, hand-feed kangaroos and, yes, cuddle a koala. Saddle up for an action-packed day trip where you'll take the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns, go shopping in the Kuranda Markets, ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, soar over the Great Barrier Reef on a scenic helicopter tour, take a lunchtime cruise on the reef, then spend the afternoon swimming, snorkeling or diving before cruising back to Cairns. Wow! Don't forget your camera! It's your last day and you cannot miss out on one of the absolute 'must-do' activities in this area – taking a hot air balloon ride. You'll never forget the wonder of a sunrise in Tropical North Queensland.

It is said that all the sand from the eastern coast of Australia eventually ends up at Fraser Island. This fantastic UNESCO World Heritage site is reachable from Hervey Bay by ferry (and also by small plane). 4WDs are the only vehicles allowed on the island, so the easiest way to get there and around is by booking a day tour. On the nature walks, you’ll keep your eyes peeled for a variety of rare birds, reptiles and unique mammals such as the phascogale, a carnivorous marsupial that lives in the trees. Be sure to swim near Lake McKenzie. This is where you’ll find the pure-silica beach, as well as one of the island’s most beautiful converges of sea, sand and sky. While you’re traveling the island, be sure to visit the wreck of the Maheno, a foundered luxury cruiser later used for bombing practice by the Australian military. Upon returning to Hervey Bay on your third day, book a snorkelling trip to nearby Lady Elliot Island.

In order to get as close as possible to the dazzling shower of sparks and percussive night-time display, consider making a trip to the Sydney Harbour itself. Here, just about every restaurant and cruise ship will be offering a New Year's Eve special, and the best do fill up well in advance. Some highlights include a special New Year's Eve Opera Gala at the Sydney Opera House with a specially timed interval so that you can enjoy the fireworks, a Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve Tall Ship Dinner Cruise where you'll have prime viewing of the fireworks after a wonderful BBQ meal or even a Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve Cocktail Cruise with drinks as the fireworks go off! New Year's Eve at Sydney's Bradleys Head is the perfect way to ring in the new year with your loved ones. Spend a wonderful evening with your family in an alcohol-free, family-friendly setting with front-row views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks at 9pm and again at midnight.

The Gold Coast is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Australia. It's tempting to dive headlong into party mode on a Gold Coast holiday, but why not start the day off with a sunrise hot-air balloon ride over the Gold Coast hinterland instead? Take in the almost tropical landscape before landing at O'Reillys Grand Homestead for breakfast and champagne. Now get your bearings on the ground with a full-day tour of the Gold Coast. Dip into the luxurious world of the Palazzo Versace and Marina Mirage before cruising along Broadwater Canal and venturing into the World Heritage-listed rainforest of Springbrook National Park. Finish up with a cocktail at your pick of the Surfers Paradise bars. The Gold Coast in synonymous with theme parks and it is home to some epic ones: Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet 'n' Wild Water World, Dreamworld and WhiteWater World. These slick parks are perfect for family getaways, with attractions designed to suit all ages.

Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is one of Australia’s most well-known features. A site of cultural heritage with deep significance to the local Aboriginal population, Uluru is a unique attraction and it’s easy to see why so many people visit it year after year. Accessed from the gateway of Alice Springs, there are many options for visiting Uluru from Alice Springs. How to Get to Uluru from Alice Springs By far the easiest way of getting to Uluru from Alice Springs is to organise some kind of tour. Hiring a car and driving yourself is of course an option, however it is necessary to book in advance and there are certain requirements for driving in such a remote location. A shuttle bus from Alice Springs to Uluru is a comfortable way to travel, and an informative guide teaches visitors about the flora, fauna and cultural heritage of the area along the way.

Adelaide’s festive center is the riverfront Adelaide Festival Centre, hosting the alternative fun of the February Fringe Festival and the classic concerts of the March arts festival. To get an idea of Adelaide’s riverside layout, take a morning sightseeing tour of the fine buildings lining lovely North Terrace. Modern Australian cuisine combines fine local produce and French culinary techniques, with particularly spectacular results in Adelaide. To see how much the locals love their food, visit the lively Adelaide Central Market to browse artisan cheeses, bakery goods, seafood and seasonal produce. The source of all that food lovers’ fresh produce is right on Adelaide’s doorstep, including award-winning wines from the Barossa Valley and Coonawarra regions. Wildlife lovers head south to Kangaroo Island, where seals, wallabies and sea lions frolic, and koalas graze on gum leaves.

There’s no question that you’ve come to northern Queensland to see the famous Great Barrier Reef, one of the most accessible and beautiful coral reefs in the world, teeming with marine life who are happy to swim right up to the glass of your mask to say hello. Spend your first day out there, snorkeling, floating, or just looking through a glass-bottomed boat. Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation are two of the most beautiful places in the world. No visit to north Queensland is complete without visiting these areas. From Port Douglas you’ll travel some of the most scenic coastal roads in Australia as you head north. Walk the beach of Cape Tribulation, experience the rainforest and the wildlife of the Daintree River. In case all that wasn’t enough for you, spend your final day seeing it all from a different angle. Take a hot air balloon ride, or a scenic train ride through the rainforest out to Kuranda where you can wander through a heritage market.

Perth is a city with the sun turned up to ten. Start exploring the city of Perth by shopping in the glass-towered city center, meandering through leafy Kings Park and lunchtime dining in Northbridge or Leederville. A hop-on, hop-off bus tour is great for out-of-towners to get their bearings. In the afternoon, splash on the beaches of Cottesloe or Scarborough before an al fresco sunset dinner in the café-lined heritage port of Fremantle. Take it down a notch on Day Two and glide along on a Swan River Valley lunch cruise for the day. Western Australia is famed for its wine - enjoy complimentary wine tastings on a laid-back wine cruise, or combine your cruise with a trip to Perth Zoo. Day trippers are spoiled for choice in Perth as it's the jumping-off point for so many exciting trips. Head southwest to the famous Margaret River wine region to indulge in WA's sumptuous gourmet lifestyle.

You've landed bang in the bull's-eye of the enormous continent of Australia. Yep, you're in Alice Springs. So what'll it be? Museums? Wildlife? Ballooning? May we suggest all of the above in this tailored 3-day itinerary? Day 1: Getting to know Alice Springs One of the easiest ways to acquaint yourself with a new city is to take a nifty tour of the highlights, and a half-day bus tour will do just that. In Alice Springs, highlights include spectacular views of the West MacDonnell ranges, the School of the Air, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and that famous outback landscape. Once you've got the lay of the land, get independent and spend the afternoon on a hop-on hop-off bus tour so you can go back and check out the places that caught your interest.

Ayers Rock (Uluru) is one of the most spiritual, awe-inspiring sights in the world. To truly appreciate the color and scale of Uluru, take to the skies with a helicopter flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta (a.k.a. the Olgas). These natural wonders are truly breathtaking. You'll see Uluru and the magnificent red desert all the way to the striking rock formations of Kata Tjuta. You won't be able to resist taking some spectacular aerial photographs! You've seen that natural wonder from above, now see it from…camel? That's right, spend your first afternoon and evening on a sunset camel ride, accompanied by an expert guide who will show you the desert wildlife and plant life, and regale you with stories of the region. One of the most amazing things about Uluru is the way it magically changes colour throughout the day. To admire its kaleidoscopic nature, take an Aboriginal Uluru Sunrise Lira Walk. You'll get to experience a magical sunrise overlooking Uluru.

Visit Canberra, Australia's capital, on a day trip from Sydney! These guided tours take you to all of the main sights of this modern and well planned city to show off both its imposing architecture as well as the beautifully kept gardens and parks. You're guaranteed to leave Canberra with new insight into the workings of the capital and of Australia in general.

Kings Canyon is one of Australia’s most legendary outback locations. Its palm-fringed waterholes, red gorges and eerie sandstone domes are ringed by walking tracks and camel trails for stupendous views over the surrounding Watarrka National Park. The remote canyon is in the Northern Territory, 323km (200 miles) southwest of Alice Springs. The best way to take in its remote grandeur is on a multi-day tour from the Alice. Accommodation in this far-flung location is offered by the Kings Canyon Resort, Kings Creek Station and the Yulara Resort at Uluru, or you can choose to sleep under the desert stars on a camping safari. Give yourself three days to explore the outback on a camping safari and you can include a must-do visit to Uluru (Ayers Rock). No visit to Uluru is complete without a guided walk around the base of the rock, and seeing the spectacular sunset and sunrise over Uluru.

Get your bearings with a tour – an Aboriginal-led tour will give you a great insight into the local area and history. Alternatively the hop-on, hop-off minibus visits most of the big sights in town. Darwin's city centre is compact, but the heat can be oppressive, so early morning and late afternoon are the best times for a stroll. Start with the galleries and gift shops of Smith Street Mall. Dinner by the water is a must-do in Darwin so head to the marinas for fish and chips wrapped in paper before easing on down to the vibrant Mindil Beach Sunset Markets (May - October) for beer and a spot of fire-juggling. Kakadu is Australia's largest national park. Its 20,000 square kilometres are World Heritage listed and you'll see why when you take a day tour from Darwin across the Marrakai Plains and into Kakadu. Spend the morning exploring the native fauna and viewing the superbly preserved Aboriginal rock paintings at Ubirr.