It is one of the most distant places for us Europeans to reach, and yet Australia remains one of the most fascinating and best-loved destinations. In the popular imagination this continent is the land of immense open spaces, unspoilt nature and wildlife found nowhere else on earth.

Those about to set off dream of coming face to face with kangaroos, koalas, emus, platypuses, whales and many other animals, as well as soaking up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the big cities and enjoying the breathtaking landscapes of cliffs, deserts, mountains and beaches.

Australia offers countless opportunities: it is no coincidence that those who have visited once wish to return in the future to explore more deeply places that are unique, from both a natural and a cultural point of view.

Sydney, “the most liveable city in the world”

Australia’s largest city is famous the world over: despite being a great metropolis, it is a place where the quality of life is high. It offers a wealth of opportunities to residents and visitors alike: museums, restaurants, attractions, parks and beaches.

The harbour on which the city stands deserves a boat trip to admire the celebrated skyline and the sinuous forms of the Sydney Opera House, now one of the city’s symbols. The building, designed by the Danish architect Jørn Utzon, draws countless visitors who, after touring this architecturally spectacular structure, can admire the view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the panoramic bridge linking the two shores. Not far away you can relax amid the greenery of the Royal Botanic Garden, an enchanting park home to thousands of plant species.

A visit to the historic The Rocks district is a must: among its criss-crossing lanes you can shop, stop off in one of the historic pubs or dine in renowned restaurants. This lively quarter is also home to the Museum of Contemporary Art, which offers visitors exhibitions by local and international artists.

Lovers of views from on high cannot miss the Sydney Tower Eye, a building offering a breathtaking 360° view over the whole city; from a full 250 metres up you can even make out the mountains and beaches of the surrounding area.

Just as spectacular is the famous Sea Life, the city aquarium, home to a collection of more than 650 marine species and offering the chance to walk through glass tunnels running beneath the water level of the harbour.

Around Sydney

The area around the city also deserves a visit, and within a few hours’ drive you can reach wonderful places such as the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rock formations alternate with eucalyptus forests to create breathtaking panoramas; there are countless walking trails that let you enjoy nature to the full and reach a variety of lookouts. Inside the park you can take a scenic cableway up to a summit from which numerous high-altitude excursions set off.

Just as close is Featherdale Wildlife Park, where you can see, stroke and even feed emus, koalas and kangaroos; this destination delights all nature lovers, but above all children, who can at last meet in the flesh the animals they have seen in their books.

Discovering the Aboriginal spirit

Anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge of Aboriginal culture and its development cannot fail to visit Uluru – Ayers Rock, the rocky massif in the Northern Territory, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. It is an enormous sandstone monolith, a full 380 metres high and extending 7 km beneath the earth’s surface; linked to two other mountains, Kata Tjuta and Mount Conner, this complex offers a wealth of opportunities for visits, excursions and breathtaking landscapes to photograph at dawn or dusk.

Uluru is a place closely bound up with Aboriginal mythology: there are many legends linked to this rock, its caves and its waterholes; it is no coincidence that in many of the caves it is still possible to admire ancient Aboriginal paintings.

At the Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre you can learn more about the craft culture of the Aboriginal people, discovering all the stories linked to the close bond between the mountains and the Aboriginal population.

The ancestral relationship the Aboriginal people have forged with nature is equally evident to those who choose to visit Alice Springs, the famous town of the Australian outback. There are many excursions allowing visitors to admire the natural beauty of the surroundings, closely connected with the Aboriginal world.

The town centre captivates visitors with its cultural mix of Aboriginal history and colonial influences; these two cultural strands are constantly interwoven in many places, making them of real historical and cultural interest. Walking the streets, you can see and understand what life is like in a remote corner of the earth, deeply connected with nature and with the traditions of a culture thousands of years old.

Of particular interest are the art galleries, where you can admire many fine examples of Aboriginal art.

Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road

Melbourne is a city of strongly cosmopolitan character that captivates visitors with its distinctive atmosphere and its vibrancy. Cultural attractions such as the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia (with its vast collection of Aboriginal artworks) and the many art galleries offer visitors an intriguing insight into the continent’s artistic development; hopping on the city trams you can explore the centre, pausing for a break in the many cafés, bars and restaurants serving culinary specialities from almost every corner of the world.

From Melbourne starts the celebrated Great Ocean Road, the third most beautiful scenic road in the world, which for a full 253 km treats those who travel it to spectacular views of curiously shaped rock formations such as the Twelve Apostles.

Driving this road in its entirety is almost a “journey within the journey”, discovering wonderful beaches, views plunging down to the ocean, small coastal towns and natural wonders such as the rainforest. But even a short stretch of coast allows travellers to immerse themselves in the spirit that animates these parts.

The allure of unspoilt nature

Australia offers the chance to forge a deep connection with nature thanks to a series of natural wonders that we Europeans dream of visiting for years.
Barron Gorge National Park, easily reached from Cairns, is a unique place in which to discover the flora and fauna of the rainforest; on an excursion here you feel as if you have stepped into a documentary, such is the richness and allure of the pristine forest. A ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, the scenic cableway that glides above the rainforest, is not to be missed, offering unique views.

The other great dream of visitors from all over the world is to see the Great Barrier Reef, which at 2300 km is the largest coral reef system in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers endless opportunities for lovers of the sea, of wildlife and of snorkelling; a boat trip allows visitors to plunge into a parallel universe of a thousand colours, where turtles, fish and many other forms of marine life can be admired in their natural habitat.

A journey to Australia is a true experience you will remember for the rest of your life; many are the travellers who, years later, still recall the emotions they felt in these fascinating places.

Guiness Travel offers you the opportunity to set off on a 16-day tour specially planned to let you discover the very best of Australia.

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All Guiness itineraries are 100% independently planned and carefully designed and tested, allowing our product to evolve constantly and to reach a high, wide-ranging cultural standard.

The Guiness Exclusive Tour is a unique travel experience, mindful of sustainability, that offers you considerable advantages:

  • organisation;
  • attention to detail;
  • carefully selected services on the ground (designed to give you maximum comfort, leaving you free to think of nothing but enjoying the moment).

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