Your Australian Bucket list

Where is it? The Great Barrier Reef is located off the Queensland Coast in Australia. It is over 2500km long and is made up of over 900 islands. Most people stay in between Port Douglas and the Whitsunday Islands when visiting the reef. It extends as far south as Lady Elliot Island.

Why is it special? Visible from space, World Heritage Listed and sadly disappearing year by year the Great Barrier Reef is an amazing garden of sea-life.

Where can I find out more? I have a page all about visiting Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef or you might like to read what tourism Queensland has to say.

Image By Richard Ling via Wikimedia Commons

Where is it? This beautiful gorge is located 250km south of Darwin.

Why is it special? Over 12km long Nitmiluk (Katherine) gorge is a wilderness paradise. Katherine River has over time cut through the 70m high sandstone to make 13 individual gorges with a series of rapids and waterfalls. It is home to crocodiles, many species of birds and unique plant life found nowhere else on earth.

Where can I find out more? If you are considering visiting Nitmiluk you might want to base yourself in Darwin. See my Darwin travel page for more information about things to do in the area. You can read about the Nitmiluk National Park on their website.

By Toursim NT via Wikimedia Commons

Where is it? Kakadu National Park about a 3-4 hour drive from Darwin.

Why is it special? Along with unique wildlife and stunning waterfalls the aboriginal art in this park is considering some of the best of its kind in the world. Kakadu National Park is the size of Slovenia and half the size of Switzerland, much of the park is remote wilderness that remains untouched.

Where can I find out more? The Northern Territory Tourism website

Listen to a podcast from ABC Australia on Kakadu National Park

Image via wikitravel

Where is it? Margaret River is located 270km south of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.

Why is it special? Margaret River is home to over 180 wineries, a beautiful cave system, good surf beaches and beautiful natural bushland. It is also a gourmet food lover's dream.

Where can I find out more? The local tourism website for South Western WA has lots of great information and images. For information on the wine region visit the Margaret River Wine Region tourism website

For information about visiting the wineries at Margaret River

Where is it? The Bay of Fires is located in the North East of Tasmania. The nearest town is St Helens about 2 hours from Launceston.

Why is it special? The Bay of Fires was chosen by Lonely Planet as one of the world's hottest travel destinations. The bay offers white sand, crystal clear waters and red lichen stained rocks. There most popular activity is to undertake the Bay of Fires walk, a 38 km hike that can be completed over 3 days on an organized tour. You can also visited independently and walk a portion of the track.

Where can I find out more? Visit my Tasmania travel guide for more details about visiting the island of Tasmania. You can also find detailed information on the Tourism Tasmania website
.

Where is it? In Sydney of course - you can't miss it!

Why is it special? Because it really is as breathtaking as they say. These two icons set in one of the most beautiful harbours in the world are picture postcard beautiful.

Where can I find out more? I have a few pages on visiting Sydney on a budget, exploring the Sydney Harbour and 10 Great Walks around Sydney You can also visit the Sydney Tourism website

Where is it? Port Arthur is located in the South East of Tasmania, Australia's Island State.

Why is it special? Once home to 12,500 convicts from Great Britain the site has been preserved and along with it's haunting beauty offers a fascinating look at the lives of those interned here.

Where can I find out more? Visit my Tasmanian Travel Guide or Tourism Tasmania website for more information.

Image by JJ Harrison via Wikimedia Commons

Where is it? Kangaroo Island lays approx 160km off the coast of South Australia - a 45 min ferry ride will get you there.

Why is it special? It is a wildlife lover's paradise, home to hundreds of native Australian animals in natural habitats including Koalas, Kangaroo, Echidna, Platypus and penguins. There are also pristine beaches,

Where can I find out more? Tourism Kangaroo Island has a very detailed website that will help you plan a getaway to this beautiful place.

Image by Didier B via Wikimedia Commons

Where is it? Broome is in Northern Western Australia about 2000km from Perth or Darwin making it pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It is an historic pearling town with beautiful beaches that overlook the Indian Ocean.

Why is it special? Broome is the pearling capital of Australia. Its famous for its beautiful sunsets, beach camel treks, amazing red dirt photography and it's isolation. Cable Beach is a 22km long beach that offer's a sunset that WA tourism calls a "staircase to the moon"

Where can I find out more? The Western Australian tourism site for Broome has all the information you need to plan a holiday to Broome. There is also a local Broome Visitors Centre website with accommodation options.

Thanks to my friend James for this image

Where is it? Smack bang in the centre of Australia and only a 3 hour flight from most Australian capital cities.

Why is it special? Uluru is one of the largest monoliths in the world and a very scared place for Australian Aboriginals.

Where can I find out more? Try my Uluru Travel Guide for details about the things you can see and do here, along with practical advice on when to come and where to stay. Tourism Northern Territory also has a great website you will enjoy exploring.