Australia · best-of list
22 Top Things to Do in Australia
All 22 things to do our route editors picked in Australia, across 7 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect sights and experiences, with Sydney contributing the most (5).
Our curated picks
22 things to do in Australia, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Sydney 5 picks
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Sydney · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Free gallery with Australian and First Nations art, plus the Sydney Modern building.
Photo: Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4.0
BridgeClimb Sydney
Sydney · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Guided climb over the arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, 134 m above the water.
Tip: Dawn and twilight climbs cost more but give the best light.
Photo: Servite et contribuere · CC0
Manly Ferry
Sydney · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
30-minute public ferry across the harbour from Circular Quay to Manly's surf beach.
Tip: Sit on the right outbound for Opera House and Heads views.
Photo: File:Entrance to Manly Ferry Wharf July 2022.jpg: Nick-D derivative work: Georgf · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sydney Opera House
Sydney · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Jørn Utzon's sail-roofed performing arts center, with daily tours and a full program of shows.
Tip: Take the one-hour tour or catch any performance to see inside.
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · CC0
The Rocks
Sydney · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Sydney's oldest quarter of sandstone lanes, pubs and a weekend market.
Photo: J Bar · CC BY 3.0
Blue Mountains 4 picks
Govetts Leap Lookout
Blue Mountains · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Lookout over the Grose Valley and Bridal Veil Falls near Blackheath.
Photo: Govetts Leap lookout · Google
Scenic World
Blue Mountains · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Steep railway, cable car and skyway over the Jamison Valley, with rainforest boardwalks.
Tip: Buy tickets online and ride the railway first.
Photo: MrActiniuM · CC BY-SA 4.0
Three Sisters
Blue Mountains · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Three sandstone pillars above the Jamison Valley, seen from Echo Point Lookout.
Tip: Come at sunrise or late afternoon to avoid coach tours.
Photo: SidyBee · Google
Zig Zag Railway
Blue Mountains · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Heritage steam and diesel trains running down the 1860s zig-zag line from Clarence near Lithgow, with sandstone cuttings and viaducts.
Tip: Book the 90-minute run to Bottom Points; drive via Bells Line of Road.
Photo: Richard Taylor · CC BY 2.0
Cairns 3 picks
Kuranda Scenic Railway
Cairns · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Heritage train climbing the Barron Gorge to the rainforest village of Kuranda.
Tip: Ride the train up and the Skyrail cableway down.
Photo: Ladymaggic · Google
Reef Magic Cruises
Cairns · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Fast catamaran to a pontoon on Moore Reef for snorkeling, diving and a semi-submarine.
Photo: Reef Magic Cruises · Google
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Cairns · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
7.5 km gondola over the Wet Tropics rainforest with boardwalk stops along the way.
Photo: Skyrail Rainforest Cableway · Google
Melbourne 3 picks
ACMI
Melbourne · On our Great Ocean Road route
Free museum of film, TV and video games at Federation Square.
Photo: Chris Lo · Google
Hosier Lane
Melbourne · On our Great Ocean Road route
Laneway covered in street art opposite Federation Square.
Photo: Han · Google
National Gallery of Victoria
Melbourne · On our Great Ocean Road route
Free permanent collection under the stained-glass Great Hall ceiling.
Photo: Shkuru Afshar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Torquay 3 picks
Australian National Surfing Museum
Torquay · On our Great Ocean Road route
Museum of surf history and boards at Surf City Plaza.
Photo: Australian National Surfing Museum · Google
Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
Torquay · On our Great Ocean Road route
Timber arch honoring returned soldiers who built the road.
Photo: Glenn Rohrbach · Google
Split Point Lighthouse
Torquay · On our Great Ocean Road route
White lighthouse at Aireys Inlet with guided tours to the top.
Photo: Split Point Lighthouse Tours · Google
Port Campbell 2 picks
12 Apostles Helicopters
Port Campbell · On our Great Ocean Road route
Scenic flights over the Apostles and shipwreck coast.
Photo: 12 Apostles Helicopters · Google
Twelve Apostles
Port Campbell · On our Great Ocean Road route
Limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean.
Tip: Visit at sunset or sunrise.
Photo: Develop Poon. · Google
Port Douglas & Daintree 2 picks
Daintree River Cruise
Port Douglas & Daintree · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Small-boat cruise looking for saltwater crocodiles, birds and tree snakes on the river.
Tip: Morning cruises at low tide give the best croc sightings.
Photo: Daintree River Cruise Centre · Google
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
Port Douglas & Daintree · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Wildlife park with tropical habitats, cassowaries, koalas and breakfast with the birds.
Photo: Wildlife Habitat · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Australia?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 22 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Australia has the most things to do on this list?
Sydney has the most (5 of 22), followed by Blue Mountains (4) and Cairns (3).
Are any of these free?
9 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Twelve Apostles, Three Sisters, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Govetts Leap Lookout, ACMI, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Australia
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Sydney 5 on this list
- Blue Mountains 4 on this list
- Cairns 3 on this list
- Melbourne 3 on this list
- Torquay 3 on this list
- Port Campbell 2 on this list
- Port Douglas & Daintree 2 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.