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Australia has some damn fine tourist attractions.
From the world renowned Sydney Opera House to the lesser known secluded beaches, it’s not surprising travelers fly up to 2 days to visit Australia.
As an Australian born in Victoria, I thought I’d list some of the best tourist attractions and some of the worst tourist attractions in Australia.
These tips include an ultimate list of Australia’s ‘BIG THINGS’, famous beaches, and tourist traps to avoid.
Please note, these are my personal opinions on Australian tourist attractions, and to be taken lightly!
Many will be sure to disagree, and of course, every traveler has different priorities when visiting a new destination.
If you’re considering visiting this nation, this list will assist you in your travel planning.
Pin for later 🙂
BEST AUSTRALIAN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
You may be wondering ‘what are the main Australian attractions?’ or ‘what are the top 10 tourist attractions in Australia, if you can dedicate one month to prepare and enjoy each?’
This list below is a travel guide only, taking into consideration the amount of time you have to travel in Australia.
THE FAMOUS BEACHES
There are many well known beaches in Australia, which are well worth visiting. Here is my list of some of the famous beaches in Australia.
Bells Beach
Made even more famous by the film Point Break, one of the popular places to visit in Australia is Bells Beach.
Situated next to Jan Juc in Victoria at the beginning of The Great Ocean Road, Bells Beach holds an annual Rip Curl Pro world surf comp each Easter.
Gold Coast
One of the best things to do on the Gold Coast Australia, is visit the surf beaches.
Surfers Paradise is the most popular and busiest beach on the Gold Coast. Broadbeach, Burleigh and Kirra are also some of the best beaches along the Gold Coast coastline.
Byron Bay
Byron Bay is one of my top 5 tourist attractions in Australia and is famous for its many accessible surf breaks and holiday, hippie lifestyle. Best beaches include Clarkes, Tallows, The Pass, Wategoes and The Wreck.
St Kilda Beach
St Kilda Beach on the south side of Melbourne is a popular city beach, set alongside the artistic and famous suburb of St Kilda.
One of the best Melbourne tourist attractions, St Kilda Beach hosts the annual St Kilda festival each February. The free festival began in 1980 and now draws over 400,000 people to the foreshore.
Bondi Beach
One of the well known places to visit in Sydney is Bondi beach.
Bondi Beach is 7km from central Sydney and is one of those places where stuff seems to happen- another one of the popular places to visit in Australia. This area has a rich history, and also has its own TV show in Australia, “Bondi Rescue”.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island has no cars, with only 4wd vehicles allowed, as the island is predominantly covered in sand.
Home to the popular Lake McKenzie and wild dingoes, this island is famous for its naturalness, 4w driving and turquoise blue lakes.
Wineglass Bay
An impressive Tasmanian beach within the Freycinet National Park, 3 hours from Hobart.
Noosa Beach
Noosa in Queensland has sheltered conditions. An optimal beach for dolphin spotting makes this a popular holiday destination for families.
For The Best Secret Beaches In Australia, See This POST.
THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD
The Great Ocean Road is on every tourist attraction list in Australia, and on best road trip lists throughout the world, for a reason.
One of the best things to do in Victoria Australia is visit The Great Ocean Road, a scenic road which winds around the beachside for the most part, between small towns.
The views are picturesque, and with housing mostly on the inland side of the road, road trippers have the best view of the ocean at all times.
Beginning at Torquay, and heading west all the way to Allansford, it takes approximately 9 to10 hours to drive the Great Ocean Road from beginning to end.
Notable Towns Along The Great Ocean Road:
Torquay
Beginning of the Surf Coast HWY
Anglesea
A quiet fishing town still not too far to Melbourne.
Aireys Inlet
Fun holiday spot over summer, plenty of holiday rentals for families.
Lorne
A popular holiday destination over summer, hotels and accommodation, variety of restaurants and cafes and clothes shops along the foreshore.
Wye River
A popular family camping spot where the river meets the ocean.
Apollo Bay
A seaside older style town, not far from Cape Otway.
Johanna
A secluded town with sought after surf spots and camping or stunning accommodation options.
Princetown
A small fishing town with bush retreats and other accommodation options.
Port Campbell
A seaside surf town near the 12 Apostles.
Peterborough
A very quiet seaside town. More locals than tourists.
Allansford
A small older style town close to Warrnambool.
Related Post:
7 LIFE CHANGING ROAD TRIPS IN AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
I still find the Sydney Opera house building inspiring and an impressive Australia tourist attraction each time I visit Sydney.
Another popular place to visit in Australia, the incredible pieces put together to make the stunning piece of architecture on the harbour, is impressive and original, even in one of the most tourist driven, top cities in Australia.
SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE
Sydney Harbour Bridge arches across Sydney Harbour, one of the famous tourist attractions in Sydney.
The Bridge carries pedestrians and cyclists between North Shore, Sydney, and Sydney City Business District. Definitely one of the popular places to visit in Sydney.
THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST
Situated at the top northeast of Australia, the Daintree rainforest is another of my top 5 tourist attractions in Australia.
‘The Daintree’ is a tropical paradise and an unspoiled area with popular tourist attractions including Mosman Gorge and Cape Tribulation.
The Daintree rainforest is unique, due to being the home for a large amount of Australia’s animal population, including frogs, bats, butterflies, and many insects.
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
The Great Barrier Reef, off the northeast coast of Australia, is a stunning and popular reef to visit while in that part of Australia. The world’s biggest coral reef comprises a unique range of ecological species.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most interesting natural ecosystems in the world.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the best places to visit in Australia but is under huge threat due to global warming. Some predictions say we may only have 10 years before 90 percent of the living coral will be gone.
Learn more about saving the Great Barrier Reef
ULURU
Uluru, the incredible rock in Central Australia is also known as Ayers Rock and is one of the most well known Australian tourist attractions.
The large sandstone formation of rock in the southern part of the Northern Territory is known as the red centre and is a breathtaking sight.
Uluru is one of Australia’s most popular and famous landmarks.
WORST AUSTRALIAN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
PORT ARTHUR
Although some travellers defend this Tasmanian destination as one of the best tourist attractions. I wonder, why would we visit somewhere that was the location of a horrible mass shooting in 1996?
Port Arthur was previously a prison for convicts, and now the ruins have a double history to present to tourists. My advice is research before visiting!
RAINBOW BEACH
Rainbow Beach is a lovely town, but what i’m referring to is the “beach” part, which is supposed to be rainbow.
An exciting idea to add to your list of tourist attractions, until on arrival on an overcast day and the “rainbow” sands seem to be 70 shades of brown.
THE GOLD COAST
I previously mentioned Surfers Paradise and visiting the beaches is one of the best things to do in the Gold Coast Australia, but its worth noting that the Gold Coast is sometimes very crowded and it’s worth avoiding peak times over summer to avoid the crowds.
The beaches and weather are enticing but it can be overrated, making it both one of the Best and The Worst Tourist Attractions in Australia.
Tall buildings line the seaside and ‘schoolies’ (high school graduates) party hard in November and December.
The nearby hinterland is recommended, and Surfers Paradise to be avoided if you prefer more quiet natural beach settings.
AUSTRALIAN HISTORY THAT OMITS INDIGENOUS HISTORY
Yes, Australia has centuries- old buildings, which offer interesting detail of the history of the more recent settlers in Australia.
But any Australian history tour which doesn’t include the Indigenous people, their stories and culture from up to 80,000 years ago is not a tour to take.
In addition to this, some places sell Aboriginal arts and crafts, paintings, digeridoos, and boomerangs. If you are buying these, ensure you are paying for the real thing, and that the artists fairly are compensated.
The best place to buy Indigenous Aboriginal art is in Indigenous Aboriginal protected reserves.
There are also legitimate art galleries selling quality indigenous art in all Australian states. Research beforehand to ensure you are buying the real thing.
THE NEIGHBOURS TOUR
I cannot be too harsh on this Australia tourist attraction as I have loved similar things when traveling overseas, like visiting the sets of Jay Leno and Letterman.
If you’re a die hard Neighbours fan, you will get something out of this tour.
The popular tourist bus leaves Melbourne CBD every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
What I am saying is to visit the set of the tv soap series may not be on everyone’s tourist attractions list and that’s fine.
Your ticket includes a behind the scenes tour of Ramsey Street, and of the real houses used for filming the television series.
Fans will be happy to know that also included in this “Ultimate Fan Tour” is a visit to Global Television Studios. You’ll see the exterior sets of the Lassiter’s Complex including Harold’s Store, The Waterhole, and Lassiter’s Lake.
If this sounds fun to you, of course, book it in!
My point is don’t feel like you have to do it if there are other priorities to see in Melbourne and Victoria.
And please do some research before booking the tour!
Here are some of the unimpressed Tripadvisor reviews, to provide a realistic glimpse of the tour:
“Tour bus was late (due to traffic) .. ‘STAR’ was also running late (Due to traffic) .” –Dissapointed
“..all you can see is the top of the house’s then we were told by our guide that they were filming so no meet with neighbours star” -A waste of money
“Tour guides mic was broken but he was alright” -Disappointing
Image: Travel Blog
What tourist traps should people avoid in Sydney?
One of the top cities in Australia, and most famous and world rated destinations, Sydney, New South Wales has the ultimate list of tourist attractions and notable places to visit in Sydney.
We know the ones to add to our travel list, but before you fall for the classic Australia tourism images of travellers having fun in Sydney, here are some tips on some you may choose to avoid.
SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE
Paid tours are expensive and sometimes very crowded, making this bridge both one of the best and the worst places to visit in Sydney, Australia.
BONDI BEACH
Sometimes crowded and not very close to inner Sydney CBD
SYDNEY MARKETS
Big markets, similar to other cities.
SYDNEY’S CHINATOWN
A Chinatown area, similar to other cities.
AUSTRALIA’S ‘BIG THINGS’ (NOT BEST OR WORST!)
Depending on your preferences, the ‘Big Things’ of Australia are not essential to visit, especially if you have limited time in Australia, and are only keen to visit specific destinations or the top cities in Australia.
Alternatively, if you are cruising along on a road trip, with time to see many aspects of the country and have a sense of humour, these big novelty “statues” provide funny pic opportunities and show how random Australian culture is at times.
This list of Australia’s ‘Big Things’ definitely falls under both the best and the worst Australia tourist attractions.
The big novelty things such as the Big Pineapple, Big Banana and Big Prawn are all architectural statues or sculptures. These are in every state and territory of Australia, with over 150 this far.
Most of these big things started as tourist attractions, along major roads, noted by travellers while on a road trip.
ULTIMATE LIST OF ‘BIG THINGS’ IN AUSTRALIA
New South Wales
Big Ant
A bull ant sculpture by artist Pro Hart.
Big Apple (Batlow)
Located 3 km north of Batlow.
Big Apple (Tallong)
Located at Jim Watling Park on Caoura Rd.
Big Apple (Yerrinbool)
Big Avocado
Located at Tropical Fruit World.
Big Ayers Rock
A 1/40 size model of Uluru.
Big Banana
Stated to be the very first Big Thing in Australia.
The Big Beer Can
Complete with a Tooheys New design.
Big Bench
The Big Blue Heeler
The Big Bogan
Big Bowl
A 3 metre tall lawn bowl sculpture, made of 1.5 tonnes of concrete and steel.
Big Bunch of Bananas
Located south of Coffs Harbour.
The Big Bicycle
Big Cheese
Located at the old Bodalla cheese factory
Big Chook (Moonbi)
Big Chook (Mount Vernon)
Big Funnel Web Spider
The Big Gold Panner
The Big Gold Pick and Pan
The Big Golden Guitar
Based on the Golden Guitar trophies from the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The Big Knight
The Big Hammer
The Big Headphones
The Big Kookaburra
The Big Lamb
Big Mosquito
Located at the Hexham Bowls Club.
Big Murray Cod
Located near the Murray River.
Big Orange
The Big Oyster
The Big Playable Guitar
The largest playable guitar in the world, located in Narrander.
The Big Peg
A huge clothes peg is located between Cargo and Canowindra.
The Big Potato
The Big Poo
Built by locals protesting Sydney Water’s decision to not reuse wastewater in the area.
The Big Prawn
Located at the Bunnings Warehouse carpark, Ballina.
Big Rabbit Trap
Located on top of the Rabbit Trap Hotel.
The Big Rocket
Located in Moree.
Big Rubik’s Cube
A painted cement cube located at Maroubra Beach.
The Big Soldier
Located at Hassett’s Military Museum, Uralla.
The Big Spider
The World’s Biggest Sundial
The Big Swan
Located at the Swan Motel in Dunedoo.
Big Tennis Racquet
The Big Trout (Adaminaby)
Located in the town of Adaminaby.
The Big Trout (Oberon)
The Big Turtle (Forster)
Big Ugg Boots
The Big Windmill
The Big Wine Barrel
Located at the McWilliam’s Winery.
The Big Wine Bottle
Located at the Hunter Valley Gardens.
The Big Wine Cask
Red Pillars
The Biggest Smallest Town
Mullumbimby is located on the NSW far north coast, in the shire of Byron.
Northern Territory
The Big Aboriginal Hunter
Located at the Aileron roadhouse, 150 km north of Alice Springs.
Anmatjere Woman and Child
Sculpture by Mark Egan, who also sculpted the “Anmatjere Man”.
Big Barramundi
Located in Katherine.
Big Beer Can
Located outside the Kulgera Pu.
Big Books
Located at the Alice Springs Library.
Big Buffalo
Big Frogs
Located outside The Ramada, Darwin.
Big Gold Nugget
Located outside the Douglas Daly Historic Hotel.
Big Owl
Located in front of the Supreme Court in Darwin.
The Big Stockwhip
The Big Stubbie
Located in Larrimah.
Big Wine Bottle
Located on the back of ute in front of the Daly Waters Pub.
Queensland
The Big Apple (Thulimbah)
Big Apple (Acacia Ridge)
Banana the Bullock
Big Banana (North Mackay)
Big Bowling Pin
Big Barrel
A visitors’ centre at Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.
The Big Barramundi (Normanton)
The Big Barramundi (Daintree)
Big Boomerangs
Located in Nindigully.
The Big Boot
The Big Brolga
Big Brolgas and Snake
Big Bulls
Initially two bull statues, which have grown to seven.
The Big Cane Toad
Located in Sarina.
The Big Captain Cook
The Big Cassowary
Located at Mission Beach.
The Big Cockatoo
The Big Cow
Located in Highfields.
The Big (Mud) Crab
Located in Cardwell.
Big Crab
Big Crocodile (Daintree)
Big Crocodile (Wangetti)
Big Crocodile Normanton
Big Deck Chair
Located at the Royal Theatre, and claimed to be the world’s largest.
The Big Dugong
The Big Easel
The Big G
Located at the entry to Gracemere Park.
Big Golf Ball
The Big Golden Gumboot
The Big Gun
The Big Hard Rock Guitar
A large guitar in front of all Hard Rock Café’s.
The Big Macadamia Nut
Located in Woombye, 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) south of Nambour.
The Big Mandarin
The Big Mango
Big Map of Australia
The Big Marlin
Matilda The Kangaroo
Built as a the mascot for the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Located South of Gympie.
Big Meat Ant
Big Melon
Big Merino
The Big Miner
The Big Mower
The Big Ned Kelly
Located in front of the Ned Kelly Motel.
The Big Orange (Gayndah)
The Big Orange (Lockyer Valley)
The Big Paperclip
The Big Peanut
The Big Pelican
The Big Pick, Shovel and Sieve
The Big Pie
Big Pineapple Gympie
The Big Pineapple (Woombye)
Located on the Sunshine Coast in South East Queensland, Australia.
The Big Pumpkin (Beaudesert)
The Big Pumpkin (Gumlu)
The Big Red Elephant
The Big Redback
The Big Rig
The Big Rum Bottle
Located outside the Bundaberg Distillery.
The Big Sapphire
The Big Sapphire Ring
The Big Sausage King
The Big Shell
The Big Shell is the entrance to a tropical lifestyle store.
Big Teepee
Big Thermometer
Located in Stanthorpe.
Big Watermelon
The Big Whale
William the Wombat
Located in Thallon, Queensland.
ACT
Big Acorns
Architectural sculpture of large acorns made into children’s play equipment.
Big Bogong Moths
Big Coins
A building for the Australian Royal MINT representing Australian currency.
Big Galahs
Located at Antill Street, Watson.
Giant Mushroom
Located in the Belconnen Markets.
Big Pears
Big Pool Ball
Located at the Yarralumla Play Station.
South Australia
The Australian Farmer (aka the Big Farmer)
Located in Wudinna.
The Big Ant
Located at the Poochera Roadhouse.
The Big Bob-tail Lizard
Located in Port Lincoln.
The Big Church Block Bottle
The Big Cockroach
Part of the Port Wakefield sculptures.
The Big Dice
The Big Galah
Located at the Halfway Across Australia Shop, in Kimba.
The Big Hat
The Big Hills Hoist
The Big Kangaroo
The Big Lobster
Located in Rosetown.
The Big Olive
Located at Tailem Bend, aimed at drawing tourists to The Big Olive processing plant.
The Big Orange
The Big Oyster
Initially built as a festival float.
The Big Pelican
Initially a float for a Mardi Gras parade.
Another Big Pelican
The Big Ram
Located in Karoonda, and recognising the importance of the sheep industry in the area.
The Big Rocking Horse
The Big Santa (Father Christmas)
The Big Scotsman
The Big Teddy Bear
The Big Winch
The Big Windmill
The windmill museum includes the largest windmill in Australia.
The Big Wombat
The Big Yabby
Built in 1973 by Henry Jones.
Tasmania
The Big Coffee Pot
Located in Deloraine.
The Big Penguin
The Big Platypus
The Big Rock Lobster
Located the roof of Hursey Seafoods, Stanley.
The Big Slide Rule
The Big Spud
The Big Tasmanian Devil
The Big Thumbs Up
The Big Wickets
Located at the front of the local cricket pitch, Westbury.
Victoria
The Big Abalone
Big Lizzie
The Big Apple
Big Cigar
Big Coffee Maker
Located outside Georges Gourmet Coffee, Brunswick, Melbourne.
Big Cows
Located outside the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory.
Big Dead Fish
Fairfield Industrial Dog Object (FIDO)
Located next to Fairfield Railway Station.
The Big Flower
The Big Golf Ball
Big Koala
The Giant Koala
Located in Dadswells Bridge.
Big Lizard
Big Mallee Bull
Big Mallee Fowl
Big Mallee Root
A real Mallee Root instead of an oversized statue.
Big Miner
Big Ned Kelly
Located on the eastern side of Ballarat with the Big Miner.
Giant Murray Cod
Big Cherry
The Big Ned Kelly
The Big Pheasant
The world’s largest rolling pin
Located on top of a bakery, Wodonga.
Big Smoke, also known as the Big Cigarette
The Big Sphinx
Big Strawberry
Big Tap
Big Wave
Located at the Island Surf Experience, Newhaven.
Big Wine Bottle
Big Wool Bales
The Giant Worm
Public Purse
Located at the end of the Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne.
Giant Pocket Watch
Located in Melbourne Central Shopping Centre.
Western Australia
Big Apple
Big Banana
Located in Cranavon.
World’s Tallest Bin
Located on Hannan Street, Calgoolie.
The Nannup Clock Tower
Big Bobtail
The Big Camera
Cow on the Corner
The Big Crocodile
The Big Lobster
Located in Dongara.
The Big Marron
The Big Mushroom
Big Orange
The Big Prawn
Located south of Exmouth.
The Giant Ram
Leeuwin Way Whale
King Neptune
Initially constructed for Atlantis Marine Park.
CONCLUSION
While I love a tourist spot for its novelty factor (I was the only one to venture into Kuta, from Seminyak while in Bali years ago. NO REGRETS 😊), it is true that a lot of Australia’s incredible experiences are often found behind the scenes.
In the laid back coastal campgrounds. In the vibrant and multi cultural inner suburbs of most cities. In the country escapes and relaxed wine regions. In the family orientated arts and music festivals. In the produce at the farmers markets. At the rooftop bars of Melbourne.
The outdoor lifestyles of Sydney, Perth, and everywhere north of those cities! The surf culture. The indigenous culture and history. The openness of the land, once venturing into the desert.
If you’re wondering what to do in Australia, aside from the usual tourist attractions, some research and talking to locals will take you far.
Whether you’re into music festivals, wine and cheese, art galleries, road trips, breathtaking and quiet beaches, the novelty BIG THINGS, beer skulling, cane toad racing, or slang speaking Aussies, there is something for everyone.
From the cities to the country towns, it’s up to you to decide on your preferences tourist attractions to visit when traveling Australia.
From New South Wales to Western Australia or Tasmania to the Northern Territory, there are heaps of Australian tourist attractions.
All this makes Australia a destination well worth the visit from overseas, or embarking on a shorter road trip as an Australian tourist.
If this list of the best and the worst tourist attractions in Australia, was fun to read or you have any recommendations, i’d love to hear your comments!
