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15 Best Things to Do in Australia (2026 Local Guide)

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⏱ 3 min read📖 665 words📅 May 2026
Table of Contents
  1. The 15 best things to do in Australia
  2. Helpful Packzup guides
  3. Frequently asked questions

Quick verdict: Australia is the 6th-largest country with reef + desert + cities + beaches + unique wildlife. This guide ranks 15 essential Australian experiences for 2026.

The 15 best things to do in Australia

1

Snorkel Great Barrier Reef

Where: Cairns / Full dayCost: $200-300

World’s largest coral reef. Outer reef boats from Cairns or Port Douglas. Best snorkel/dive site on Earth.

2

Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge

Where: Sydney / 3 hoursCost: $250-380

Iconic bridge climb (134m) with Opera House views. Different times of day (dawn, day, twilight, night).

3

Visit Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Where: Northern Territory / 2 daysCost: $200-500/day

Sacred Aboriginal monolith. Sunrise + sunset are world-class. Field of Light installation at base.

4

Drive Great Ocean Road

Where: Victoria / 2-3 daysCost: $200-500/day

300km coastal drive past Twelve Apostles + Loch Ard Gorge. From Melbourne. Australia’s most scenic road.

5

See Opera House inside

Where: Sydney / 90 minCost: $45-200

Iconic building tour. Or attend a performance ($60-500). Best Sydney experience beyond beach.

6

Bondi to Coogee coastal walk

Where: Sydney / Half dayCost: Free

6km cliff-top walk past 5 beaches. Bondi Icebergs + Bronte + Tamarama + Clovelly + Coogee. Best Sydney walk.

7

Sail Whitsunday Islands

Where: Queensland / 2-3 daysCost: $300-1000

Whitehaven Beach + 74 island archipelago + Great Barrier Reef. Boat charter or day tour.

8

Wine tasting in Margaret River

Where: WA / 2 daysCost: $150-300/day

Premier Australian wine region. Cabernet Sauvignon + Chardonnay specialists. Less touristy than Hunter Valley.

9

Hike Cradle Mountain

Where: Tasmania / 2-3 daysCost: $100-300/day

Tasmania’s iconic peak. Overland Track (6-day trek) or day hikes. Wombats + Tasmanian devils.

10

Watch penguins at Phillip Island

Where: Victoria / EveningCost: $30-200

Little Penguin parade at sunset. Thousands waddle to nests. Family-friendly Melbourne day trip.

11

Surf at Bells Beach

Where: Victoria / Half dayCost: $50-100 rental

Australia’s most famous surf spot. Easter Rip Curl Pro tournament. Beginner-friendly lessons available.

12

Visit Melbourne laneways

Where: Melbourne / Half dayCost: Free

Hosier Lane (street art) + Degraves Street (cafes) + Centre Place. Most Melbourne experience. Hidden bars + cafes.

13

Snorkel with dolphins (Rockingham)

Where: WA / Half dayCost: $200-300

Swim with wild dolphins. 90 min from Perth. Most accessible wild dolphin encounter.

14

Cage dive with sharks

Where: Port Lincoln SA / Full dayCost: $500-800

Great White cage dive in South Australia. April-September peak. Only place legally allowed in Australia.

15

Try Aboriginal cultural tour

Where: NT, WA, QLD / Half dayCost: $80-200

Authentic Indigenous experience. Walking tour + traditional food + dot painting. Most meaningful Australian connection.

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Helpful Packzup guides

Frequently asked questions

How many days for Australia?
14 days minimum for east coast (Sydney + Cairns + Melbourne + Uluru). 21+ days for west coast or Tasmania add.
Best time to visit Australia?
September-November + March-May. Avoid December-February (hot inland) and June-August (cold south).
Australia on a budget?
$80-150/day mid-range. Expensive country – hostels $30-60, mid-range hotels $150-250/night.
Australia visa for Americans?
ETA visa $20 online (3 months). Easy approval. eVisitor visa for some passports also available.
Best Australian region for first-timer?
East coast: Sydney + Cairns/Great Barrier Reef + Uluru + Melbourne. Most iconic. West coast for repeat visits.

Updated 2026. Some links on Packzup are affiliate links.

John Morrison

Written by

John Morrison

John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.