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07
2 hours
Swan Valley
Swan Valley is a recognised tourism and wine-producing region situated in the upper reaches of the Swan River, northeast of Perth's central business district.
- Must see
- Activity
- Perth
Country guide
1 to 2 hours in Australia — page 2
Australia covers 7,688,287 km², sixth largest in the world, and close to 4,000 km separate its east coast from its west. Nearly 28 million people live here, abo...
Photograph · Corey Leopold · CC BY 2.0
50,740
Places
5Cities
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Australia covers 7,688,287 km², sixth largest in the world, and close to 4,000 km separate its east coast from its west. Nearly 28 million people live here, about 80 per cent of them within 25 km of a mainland coastline 35,821 km long — which is the fact that governs any trip taken across it. The cities form a rim around an interior that stays largely empty; Sydney and Melbourne pass five million each, and Canberra, the capital, is neither of them. Six states and ten territories, and a sensible visit chooses two of them rather than the map.
Checked 2026-08-25
Cities
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
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Sydney
Photograph · W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sydney 18,874 places -
Melbourne
Photograph · Shkuru Afshar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Melbourne 12,435 places -
Brisbane
Photograph · Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4.0
Brisbane 9,969 places -
Perth
Photograph · Samuel Wiki · CC BY 4.0
Perth 5,079 places -
Adelaide
Photograph · Photograph by Doug Barber · CC BY-SA 3.0
Adelaide 4,383 places
Practical information
- Language spoken
- English is the principal language; no federal official language
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +61
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AUD)
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 000
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type I · 230 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Safe from treated public supplies
- Follow local notices in remote communities and after disruptions
Planning a visit
Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.
- January: seasonal closure recorded
- February: seasonal closure recorded
- March: seasonal closure recorded
- April: seasonal closure recorded
- May: seasonal closure recorded
- June: seasonal closure recorded
- July: no seasonality data recorded
- August: no seasonality data recorded
- September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
- October: no seasonality data recorded
- November: seasonal closure recorded
- December: seasonal closure recorded
- Seasonal closure recorded
- No data recorded for this month
- The current month
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
90 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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08 2 hoursHahndorf
Hahndorf is a township in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia, approximately 28 kilometres east of Adelaide's central business district. Established in 1839 by Prussian Lutheran immigrants, it holds distinction as Australia's oldest surviving German settlement.
- Must see
- Activity
- Adelaide
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09 2 hoursHoward Smith Wharves
Howard Smith Wharves is a heritage-listed riverside precinct beneath the Story Bridge in Brisbane. Originally constructed as wharves in the 1930s, the site was redeveloped into a dining and entertainment destination.
- Must see
- Activity
- Brisbane
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10 2 hoursBrisbane City Hall
Brisbane City Hall is a heritage-listed municipal building located in King George Square, serving as the seat of the Brisbane City Council. Completed in 1930 after a decade of construction, it remains one of the city's most prominent civic landmarks.
- Must see
- Activity
- Brisbane
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11 1 hr 30 minState Library of South Australia Mortlock Wing
The Mortlock Wing is a heritage-listed reading room and exhibition space within the State Library of South Australia on North Terrace in Adelaide.
- Must see
- Art and culture venue
- Adelaide
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12 2 hoursNorth Terrace
North Terrace is a premier boulevard in Adelaide, South Australia, forming the northern edge of the Adelaide city centre grid. It functions as a significant cultural precinct, hosting major state institutions along its length.
- Must see
- Activity
- Adelaide
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13 2 hoursOptus Stadium
Optus Stadium is a major sports and entertainment venue located in Perth, Western Australia. It serves as the primary home ground for Australian Football League matches featuring the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers.
- Must see
- Entertainment venue
- Perth
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14 2 hoursMatagarup Bridge
Matagarup Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist bridge spanning the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia. The bridge connects the East Perth and Burswood precincts, providing access to the Optus Stadium area.
- Must see
- Activity
- Perth
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15 2 hoursBrisbane Powerhouse
Brisbane Powerhouse is a former power station redeveloped as a contemporary arts and cultural venue. Located on the Brisbane River at New Farm, the industrial heritage building now hosts theatre, dance, music, comedy, visual arts and festivals.
- Must see
- Activity
- Brisbane
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16 2 hoursHillarys Boat Harbour
Hillarys Boat Harbour is a recreational marina and leisure precinct located approximately 20 kilometres north-west of Perth's central business district, within the City of Joondalup local government area.
- Must see
- Activity
- Perth
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17 2 hoursFortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley is an inner-city suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, situated immediately northeast of the central business district. Historically an industrial and working-class area, it evolved into a prominent entertainment precinct from the late twentieth century.
- Must see
- Activity
- Brisbane
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18 2 hoursFremantle Fishing Boat Harbour
Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour is a working harbour located in Fremantle, a port city within the Perth metropolitan area in Western Australia. It serves as a base for commercial fishing vessels and has developed into a significant visitor destination.
- Must see
- Activity
- Perth
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19 2 hoursAdelaide Festival Centre
The Adelaide Festival Centre is South Australia's principal performing arts venue and the heart of Adelaide's cultural precinct. Located on the banks of the River Torrens, it was Australia's first multi-purpose arts centre when established.
- Must see
- Activity
- Adelaide
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20 1 hr 30 minWA Maritime Museum
The WA Maritime Museum is a maritime history museum located in Fremantle, Western Australia. It sits at the entrance to Fremantle Harbour, occupying a prominent waterfront position at Victoria Quay.
- Must see
- Museum
- Perth
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21 2 hoursFremantle Arts Centre
Fremantle Arts Centre is a public arts venue located in the port city of Fremantle, part of the greater Perth metropolitan area in Western Australia.
- Must see
- Art and culture venue
- Perth
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22 2 hoursQueensland Performing Arts Centre
The Queensland Performing Arts Centre is a major performing arts venue located in Brisbane's South Bank cultural precinct. It serves as Queensland's premier destination for theatre, music, dance, and opera.
- Must see
- Art and culture venue
- Brisbane
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23 1 hr 30 minState Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales is Australia's oldest library, established in 1826. It occupies a prominent position on Macquarie Street in Sydney's central business district, adjacent to the Royal Botanic Garden.
- Must see
- Art and culture venue
- Sydney
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24 1 hr 30 minState Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland is the principal reference and research library of the state, located in the Queensland Cultural Centre on the South Bank of the Brisbane River.
- Must see
- Art and culture venue
- Brisbane
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25 2 hoursAdelaide Town Hall
Adelaide Town Hall is a working civic and cultural landmark at 128 King William Street, not a museum with a fixed visitor circuit.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Adelaide
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26 1 hr 30 minArmy Museum of Western Australia
The Army Museum of Western Australia is a military heritage institution located in the Perth metropolitan area. It preserves and presents the history of the Australian Army in Western Australia, covering conflicts from colonial times through to contemporary operations.
- Must see
- Museum
- Perth
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27 2 hoursWaite Arboretum
Waite Arboretum is a botanical collection situated in Adelaide's southern suburbs, within the grounds of the University of Adelaide's Waite Campus at Urrbrae. The arboretum occupies land bequeathed through the Waite Agricultural Research Institute legacy.
- Must see
- Activity
- Adelaide
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28 1 hr 30 minCockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour, positioned where the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers meet. It forms part of the Australian Convict Sites UNESCO World Heritage property.
- Must see
- Museum
- Sydney
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29 1 hr 30 minAustralian Museum
The Australian Museum is Sydney’s natural-history and cultural museum on William Street, opposite Hyde Park and St Mary’s Cathedral. Its collections and exhibitions connect Australian wildlife, geology and biodiversity with First Nations cultural material.
- Must see
- Museum
- Sydney
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30 1 hr 30 minHyde Park Barracks
Hyde Park Barracks is a historic Georgian building on Macquarie Street beside Hyde Park in central Sydney. Built in the early nineteenth century, it first housed transported convicts and later served as an immigration depot and government offices.
- Must see
- Museum
- Sydney
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31 1 hr 30 minSydney Mint
The Mint
The Mint is a heritage building in Sydney associated with Australia’s colonial period and the early development of the city. Its sandstone construction reflects the architectural character of historic Sydney.
- Must see
- Museum
- Sydney
Common questions
How long should a first trip to Australia be?
Ten to fourteen days should cover one coast, one city pair or one city plus a nearby landscape, not the continent. Sydney and Melbourne can share a southeastern route; Perth, the tropical north and the Red Centre each demand separate flights and more time.
What entry documents are needed for Australia?
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs is the authority for Visitor visas and electronic travel permissions. Select the product for the passport and purpose, complete required declarations, and remember that visa approval does not remove Australia’s strict biosecurity obligations.
What is the best way to travel around Australia?
Flights are usually the efficient link between distant states. Rail and coaches serve selected corridors, cars become important outside cities, and urban fare cards are local rather than national; remote drives require fuel, water, communications and realistic distance planning.
When is a practical time to visit Australia?
Australia’s seasons and hazards vary dramatically by latitude. Southern-city summers, tropical dry seasons and Red Centre heat create different windows, so choose dates for the selected region and check official fire, cyclone or flood advice before road travel.
What money and payment basics apply in Australia?
The Australian dollar is the sole recorded currency. Contactless payment is common, but remote roadhouses and small services justify a backup card or cash; check surcharges at the point of sale and budget fuel around long gaps rather than metropolitan prices.
What practical safety details should I save for Australia?
Use 000 for urgent police, fire or ambulance assistance; Australia uses Type I power at 230 V. Treated public tap supplies are recorded as safe, but remote-site notices take precedence, and travellers should save the state emergency service relevant to their route.