Australia, New Zealand, and a few neighboring islands make up the part of Oceania known as Australasia, although there are slight variations to its definition. Australia considers New Guinea also to be a part of Australasia while New Zealand only includes Australia and itself as part of this region.
Australasia is a land of contrasts, with snowcapped mountain peaks, stunning beaches, a desert region, and breathtakingly beautiful fjords. It’s renowned for the spectacular Great Barrier Reef which has a myriad of marine life and also for its beautiful islands with their diverse yet unique flora and fauna. The history of this region visible in the rock art of the Kakadu National Park goes back 20,000 years while the gleaming spires of modern cities is a testament to the huge strides towards the future that the region has taken. Its cities are continuously ranked in the top category of the most livable cities in the world, with Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and Auckland making the top cut. It is also home to one of the cleanest cities in the world, Brisbane. Although the indigenous population is a minority in both countries, the Aboriginal and Maori influences are evident in the music, dance, and art.
Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, is the most isolated capital city in the world. It is not quite the bustling metropolis that Sydney is, nor does it boast the quirkiness of Melbourne’s coffee connoisseurs and music lovers, but Perth is a vibrant, energetic city whose claims to fame includes picture-perfect beaches with Mediterranean…
If there is one city where everyone feels at home, that is Melbourne. This beautiful metropolis is made up of people from all over the world, 38% of its population was born overseas. Victoria’s vibrant capital is a wonderful city that is often ranked amongst the world’s most livable each year. It is a city…
Our visit to Auckland was a learning experience from beginning to end. Tamaki Makaurau as Maori people call it, is a city with singular culture, huge range of outdoor activities, very warm and affectionate people. Most people do not know that Auckland was the capital of New Zealand for 25 years from 1842 until 1865 which led it to become…
New Zealand’s capital city of Wellington is located on the southern end of the North Island between beautiful steep hills and the ocean. Because of its diverse ecosystem, visitors can be climbing up a mountain, going to coffee tastings, touring boutique vineyards, and sailing near the coast all in one afternoon. [booking_product_helper shortname=”wellington”] Wellington Cable…
Hobart is the southernmost city of the Australian continent that is situated on the island state of Tasmania. The beautiful Hobart is also a very popular tourist destination as it offers a number of beautiful and picturesque locations to all the tourists. The city is often considered to be a hub of history, culture, food,…
Gold Coast is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia (just an hour’s drive from Brisbane). Situated in the eastern state of Queensland, this place is all about sandy beaches, amazing waterways, surfing sports, and some of the most amazing amusement parks. Thus, all the tourists are surely going to have a great…
Canberra, the capital city of Australia is the political hub of the country. At the same time, this city also happens to be one of the most sought-after tourist destinations for tourists at large. Every year, a majority of tourists plan their itinerary in this beautiful city of Canberra and the city doesn’t disappoint them…
Situated on the eastern coast of North Queensland, Australia, the city of Cairns is famous as the gateway to one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef. Once known for gold mining, the present Cairns is a sprawling urban township and a major port for the export of Australia’s natural…
Brisbane one of the oldest cities in Australia, is the capital of the Sunshine State, Queensland. The city was established in 1825 but suffered a major developmental setback in the Great Fire of Brisbane in 1864. Another natural calamity in 1893, the Great Brisbane Flood also caused considerable damage to the developing city. Today the…
Adelaide is known to be the capital city of South Australia. The city is considered to be a very sophisticated and vibrant city that entertains a very rich cultural heritage. The tourists here are often intrigued by the beautiful sights of some of the most amazing gardens, museums, and markets here. This makes the city…
Queenstown, a sophisticated holiday resort set in the magnificent landscapes of the Southern Alps of New Zealand, is probably one of the prettiest places in the world. Lush mountains rising from turquoise waters may seem too good to be true, but you will just have to trust your eyes! Queenstown is the party capital of New…
One of the largest cities in New Zealand, Christchurch is known for its breathtakingly beautiful parks, gardens, and old historical buildings. However, in recent years the city has been the unfortunate target of a natural disaster. Two massive earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 resulted in the demolishment of almost 80% of its buildings in the…
The fun never seems to stop in the Land Down Under. There’s always something to see and do for every type of travelers. That includes Brisbane. A lot of people think of Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth when it comes to visiting Australia. But the real fun actually lies in Brisbane. First of all, the city’s…
Cosmopolitan Sydney has long been one of the world’s favorite vacation destinations, and its vibrant gay culture makes it an LGBT hotspot too. It’s one of Australia’s most gay-friendly cities, along with Melbourne and Canberra. A great portion of the action revolves around western Oxford Street. So, it was no surprise that many of the…
The utterly gorgeous Far North Queensland is one steamy, tropical, and world-class destination for exploring the Great Barrier Reef. The charming Port Douglas overlooking the Coral Sea is the jewel in the crown and is equal parts vivacious and hedonistic. It boasts an ethereal Four Mile beach, a million-dollar marina, and excellent opportunities for scuba…
Perth sits right at the western end of Australia and might just be one of the most remote cities ever. However, don’t let the ‘isolation’ fool you. Underneath a near-permanent blue sky, the Western Australian city brimmed with exceptional cuisine, utopian beaches, and the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Perth also happens to be…
While LGBT travelers might be hard-pressed to find exclusively gay hotels in Melbourne, Australia, there are hundreds of excellent gay-friendly alternatives. Victoria’s capital city enjoys a worldwide reputation for being warm and welcoming to all, including those who fly the rainbow flag. And that flag sure soars, particularly during the annual queer-tastic Midsumma Festival. Like…
The capital of the Australian island of Tasmania, Hobart, is the country’s smallest and most historic capital. It sits at the southeastern edge of the River Derwent, overlooking the Tasman Sea. Besides the obviously mesmerizing meld of culture and art, we also loved Hobart and its quaint Colonial architecture, for which it’s famous. What’s more,…
The dazzling strip of sand that is the Gold Coast in Australia’s Queensland is the country’s most iconic holiday destination. It begins a little south-southeast of Brisbane and continues almost till Coolangatta, which is the last town before New South Wales. With shimmering high-rises, pristine white sands, and the blue waters of the Coral Sea,…
The gorgeous Daylesford in Victoria, along with its neighboring twin Hepburn Springs, is one of Australia’s most famous spa retreats. The Italian-Swiss-founded town lies an hour northwest of Melbourne in the Great Dividing Range. Its origins might go back to the Gold Rush, but now as we stepped into it, we saw some 70-odd hot…
The capital of the Northern Territory, Darwin, is the only tropical capital in Australia. It’s a famed gateway to the Top End, which is widely considered Australia’s last frontier. In fact, it felt removed from the rest of the country, and Bali feels like it’s right across the Timor Sea, which it actually is! Besides…
Since becoming Australia’s capital in 1927, Canberra has been the definition of cool. For it’s home to exquisite culinary and top-notch cultural experiences in the form of museums and more. And a short jaunt out of the city even brought us to the gorgeous lakeshore and fauna-filled bushland reserves. What’s more, Australia is also an…
It’s hard to believe that the buzzing Australian city of Cairns overlooking the Coral Sea was once a boggy swamp and a gold rush port. Today, Cairns, pronounced ‘cans,’ is the top destination for exploring Far North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. The unabashed tourist town and its surroundings are also home to the…
Sun-kissed Brisbane has been overturning stereotypes to become Australia’s new ‘It’ city. The capital of Queensland sits pretty on the banks of the eponymous Brisbane River on Australia’s east coast. Brisbane has grown out of the shadows of Melbourne and Sydney to become a destination in its own right. It’s toasty even in the winter…