Australia - Oasis of Kangaroos and Penguins
Diverse landscapes, rich wildlife, snow capped mountains, breathtaking vistas, coastal wilderness, aboriginal culture and what not !! That is what makes Australia one of the most visited country in the world. It is also one of the dream destinations for every avid traveller. Find below the list of activities you should not miss when you are in Australia.
Climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge
The Sydney Harbor Bridge also known as the Coat Hanger is the world's most iconic bridge. When you are in Australia, it is a must to have an exhilerating adventure of climbing this bridge. Various tour operators arrange for the bridge climb. Before you actually climb the bridge, you will first be demonstrated for the safety and all the required safety equipments would be provided to you. Your group would be lead by a trained personnel. Once you are on top of the bridge, you will be amazed to see the panoramic views of the Sydney Harbor, Opera House, Blue Mountains and the Sydney Skyline. Climb to the bridge during night time is even more fun and an unforgettable experience.
Watch an Opera Performance at the Sydney Opera House
Your trip to Australia remains incomplete if you miss out on an opera performance at the world famous and a UNESCO World Heritage site: the Sydney Opera House. A symbol and icon of Australia, the Sydney Opera House is a example of marvellous architecture in the world. The Opera House is famous for hosting around 1500 performances that are viewed by more than a million people from around the world every year. You can enjoy a performance and then have a fine dining experience at the Opera Cafe. The backdrop of the pretty Sydney Harbour adds to your dining experience making it an unforgettable one.
Watch the Penguin Parade at the Philip Island Nature Park
One of the must do activities in Australia is to watch the little penguins waddle ashore to their sand dunes during sunset at the Philip Island Nature Park. Watching these cute creatures is real fun and is an exciting experience for kids. A special elevated viewing platform has been created on the Summerland Beach which allows the visitors to watch these playful creatures from a distance.
Apart from the Penguin Parade, you can also go for watching the Koalas in the their natural habitat at the Koala Conservation Center in the Philip Island Nature Park. Close viewing areas have been specially set up for visitors so that they can closely watch the activities of Koalas.
Take a Ride Through the Great Ocean Road
A ride through the spectacular coastline of the Great Ocean Road gives the tourists an opportunity to have mesmerizing views of the mountain ranges, spot shipwrecks at the charming fishing village of Port Fairy, lookout for whales or laze around the golden sand of Lorne. The must thing to lookout for is the Twelve Apostles which are the craggy limestone stacks emerging out majestically from the Southern Ocean. They will definitely leave the visitors spellbound.
On your way through the Great Ocean Road, you can also visit the Great Otway National Park where you can cruise through the spectacular gorges, pass through the stunning caves watching hundreds of fur seals at the Cape Bridgewater, see Koalas and Kangaroos in their natural habitat, lookout for ancient limestone towers that seem to float in the ocean at the Bay of Islands or enjoy the light show put up by the glow worms at the Melba Gully.
Experience the Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River
Have you ever seen the jumping cocodiles? Well, if you have not then taking a cruise through the Adelaide River is the best opportunity to see these wild creatures jumping next to your boat. These salt water Australian crocodiles live in their natural habitat and put up a great show as ships and boats cruise through the waters of the Adelaide River.
Swim with Wild Dolphins at the Rockingham Bay
If you are an adventure buff, then have an exhilerating lifetime experience of swimming with the wild bottlenose dolphins in the calm blue waters of the ocean. You would be swaddled into neck-to-toe wetsuits, provided with the snorkeling equipment and would be slided into the waters lead by an experienced guide who will give you instructions about the doings once you are in water. Watching the dolphins feed, play and mate with each other from such a close distance would be a memory that you will cherish throughout your life. If you are not interested in swimming with the dolphins, then you can even go for a dolphin watching tour that allows you watch the activities of the dolphins from the comfort of your boat decks.
Soak Yourself in Ayers Rock Adventure
Ayers Rock, also known as Uluru is a 350 meters high huge monolithic rock which also extends more that 2 kms below the ground. The rock is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is believed to be created 600 million years back. It is located in the Kata Tjuta National Park which is around 5 hours drive from the Alice Springs. Visitors can either ascent the rock or can take a guided walking tour around the rock to explore the cave paintings, carvings and rock art. The best view of the Ayers Rock can be observed during sunrise and sunset when the rock changes its color and gives a violet-blue tinge.
After seeing the Ayers Rock, you can carry on your journey to the Olgas which are at a distance of around 40 km the Ayers Rock. Also known as the geological cousin of the Ayers Rock, the Olgas are 36 dome shaped monoliths separated by steep sided gorges and valleys. The highest peak of Mt. Olga is around 550 metres high (much higher than the Ayers Rock). If you want to have spectacular views of these rocks and valleys, then visit them during sunrise and take the walking trail through the 'Valley of the Winds'.
One of the most interesting ways to explore the Uluru and Olgas is through a scenic helicopter flight. If you have time crunch but still want to see this magnificently beautiful landscape then there are various tour operators who can be contacted to arrange for the helicopter ride.
Visit the Pinnacles Desert at the Nambung National Park
The Nambung National Park in Australia is home to the famous Pinnacles desert. Your visit to Australia is incomplete without visiting this unique and natural attraction. This is the site where you will find thousands of rock spires or limestone pillars of Pinnacles emerging out of the yellow sand dunes. It is believed that these were created around 25000 to 30000 years back. The setting sun lit these pinnacles in spectacular colors making it an amazing sight to watch. You can visit the nearby discovery center where you can learn about the history and origin of these pinnacles.
In the Park, you can also indulge yourself in water sports like surfing, snorkelling and swimming at the white beaches of the Hangover Bay. You can also spot the herd of Kangaroos at the Kangaroo Point on the beachside during dusk and dawn.
See the Magic of the Underwater Wonderland at the Ningaloo Reef
The Ningaloo Reef is a UNSECO World Heritage Site and and underwater wonderworld where you can come face to face with around 300 varieties of coral and 500 species of fish and turtles. It is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with the whale shark between late March and mid July. Between June and November, you can spot here the humpback whales. January to February is the season when you can witness the sight of turtle nesting and hatching.
Indulge into Dolphin Watching at Monkey Mia
One of the most famous dolphin watching destinations in Western Australia is the bay of Monkey Mia where friendly dolphins come ashore to be fed every day. The sight of these friendly dolphins is more frequent during early hours in the morning. Thousands of visitors every year throng to this place to feed the dolphins and watch them play and jump in the ocean waters.
From the Monkey Mia you can take a jetty ride to the floating pearl farm where you can learn about the process of making black pearls.
Get a Glimpse of Ancient Rock Paintings at Kimberly
The rock art paintings at Kimberly in the Northern Australia are believed to be the oldest figurative rock art paintings in the world. Also known as the Bradshaw rock art paintings, these paintings have become a part of the rocks and they are so old that their radio carbon dating has become impossible. According to the archaelogical studies, these paintings are believed to be 25,000 years old. There are thousands of paintings lot of which remain hidden inside the inaccessible rock shelters. A research is still on to find out all these rock paintings.
Go Exploring the Bungle Bungles Range in the Purnululu National Park
Enlisted as a World Heritage site, the Purnululu National Park in Western Australia is a home to the world famous Bungle Bungle range which comprises of the 20 million years old sandstone towers that have been eroded over years to form orange and clack striped beehive shaped cones. You will be definitely amazed to see how climatic, erosional and geological phenomenon over the years can result in to such awesome structures. These structures are of great importance and interest to geologists around the world.
To explore the Bungle Bungle range you can either take a helicopter ride, enjoy some trekking or even camp out in the Purnululu National Park exploring its geological wonders and hidden gorges.
Take a Romantic Camel Ride during Sunset on the Cable Beach at Broome
The crystal clear turquoise water and stretches of white sand is what describes the beautiful Cable Beach of Broome. From pearl diving to romantic camel rides during sunrise and sunset are some activities which you can indulge into during your visit to the Cable Beach. Visitors gather here in large numbers during evening from March to October to marvel at the natural phenomenon of the 'Staircase to the Moon' (the moon rises over the Roebuck Bay creating a mesmerizing optical illusion of a staircase reaching to the moon). You can also visit the Gantheaume Point at the southern end of the beach to have a look at more than 100 million years old dinosaur footprints. If you get on to the Gantheaume Point Lighthouse, then you can spot some dolphins and whales in the ocean. Take a cruise to a local pearl farm and learn how the South Sea Pearls are cultured. You can even shop for some pearls from the farm as a souvenir.
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