It is no secret that Australia is one of my favourite countries. It has great weather (even in winter), the people are laidback and friendly, the lifestyle is chill… it’s just awesome! But one thing that really stands out about this enormous country is that there is SO much to see and do!
In this blog, I’ll give you 5 places to visit on Australia’s East Coast that you really should visit…
#1 The Whitsundays
This is genuinely one of the most beautiful and breathtaking places on earth! Whether you do a sailing multi-day trip, speedboat day trip or scenic flight, this will be one of the best places you will visit. I would recommend doing a multi-day sailing trip to get the most out of the Whitsunday Islands – there are 74 islands in the group but at least you will visit a few of the main islands if you do a multi-day tour. The main and largest island is Whitsunday Island and this is home to the iconic Whitehaven Beach. On the island, you can hike up to a gorgeous viewpoint to take in the incredible view of the white sands and blue waters. You can also go down onto the beach and see the stingrays. The whole area is packed with awesome snorkelling spots which the multi-day tours take you to. I also think that the sailing tours are super relaxing and just a great way to see the country from a different perspective. The Whitsundays are definitely one of my top highlights of travelling around Australia!
#2 Great Barrier Reef
If you are a scuba diver or snorkeller, your trip will not be complete without a stop on the Great Barrier Reef! The reef is the planet’s largest living structure and is around the sme size as Japan. In recent years, terrible coral bleaching events have occurred in various regions but not all of it. I did a 3 day liveaboard trip to maximise my time on the GBR. While I went in with low expectations and anticipated I would see large scale bleaching and dying reef, I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to visit some of the healthiest, abundant, beautiful areas of reef. I scuba dived each day for 3 days, seeing a whole load of fish, sharks and turtles! Despite bad weather above the waves, below the surface it was tranquil and therapeutic. Dreamy! The whole liveaboard experience was really fun – we had great food, there were plenty of people to talk to and share stories with and it was great to unplug from technology for a few days. Not going to lie, I really enjoyed being rocked to sleep at night too. Well worth the experience!
#3 K’Gari (Fraser Island)
For the adventurers out there, you have to check out K’Gari (Fraser Island)! I would definitely recommend doing a multi-day tour to squeeze the most out of your time on K’Gari. You could also rent a 4x4 and do your own trip or there re, of course, organised day tours. Top spots to visit on K’Gari are the Champagne Pools, Eli Creek, SS Moreno wreck, Lake Mackenzie and Lake Wabby. Keep an eye out for dingoes and goannas! If you visit during whale migration season (May to November), keep an eye on the ocean to see these amazing animals swimming passed. This was one of my highlights not only because it was so much fun but because the places we visited on the island were absolutely beautiful and there was such a contrast between each spot. It was amazing!
#4 Daintree Rainforest
Step back in time and visit one of the oldest rainforests known to humankind. Honestly, this beautiful rainforest was like going into Jurassic Park, complete with it’s own dinosaur, the Cassowary (not really a dinosaur, just a very big and dangerous flightless bird; I saw 3 chicks, they run like velociraptors…). You can also look for giant Saltwater Crocodiles (also known as salties) in the river systems, they were so cool to see in the wild. The rainforest itself is simply and peacefully beautiful. With many trails and walkways to take you through this ancient forest, you’ll get to experience a truly magical place.
#5 Sydney
Slightly biased with this choice but Sydney should not be missed because this is the city with everything! I’ve been very lucky to call Sydney home both on my first and second working holiday visas. Coming from a small island, I never thought I would be a city girl, especially in one of the biggest cities I’ve ever been to. But Sydney is like no other city. It’s got the CBD (central business district), great transport options, eastern suburbs, inner west, mountains, beaches, a beautiful harbour and so much more! There is so much to do in the city and its surrounding area. Australian cities seem to spread out over a large area so aren’t just contained to the CBD.
I hope you get the chance to visit these wonderful places some day. Make sure to pack your camera and charge your phone because I promise, you will take hundreds and thousands of photos!
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