To help you plan your time in Australia please find city guides below.
Destination Guide
Brisbane Attractions
Kayak the Brisbane River
The Old Naval Stores of Kangaroo Point on the Brisbane River are now home to rather less intimidating vessels than in the old days – rather than warships, you’ll find the Riverlife Adventure Centre and its kayaks for hire. Lazily paddling along the river is a thoroughly enjoyable way of exploring the city – and being at duck’s eye level offers an altogether different perspective on how the city’s various areas fit together, to the one you’d get on a typical sightseeing boat.
The outings are even more special on Friday and Saturday nights, when you can go for a 90-minute paddle, the water lit by a light fixed to the bow of your kayak, before sitting down to a riverside prawn dinner (Friday) or barbecue (Saturday). Not only do you get a social event thrown in, but you get to see Brisbane looking its most beautiful as the shimmering city lights refelect on the water.
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Brisbane is one of Australia’s most laidback, outdoors-y cities, with adventure the name of the game. You can climb the iconic Story Bridge over the river, soak in the views from Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane’s tallest mountain, or try your hand at rock climbing and abseiling at Kangaroo Point.
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Sydney Attractions
Race a yacht on Sydney Harbour
The idea of letting landlubbers race yachts around Sydney Harbour is either brilliant or foolhardy, but it’s a risk Sydney By Sail is prepared to take. Its Social Racing outings take place on the third Saturday of every month, and are a fun combination of sightseeing, learning and a sprinkling of friendly competition.
If you want to just sit back and enjoy the cruise, you can. If not, throw yourself into raising the sails, have a go behind the wheel and assist the skipper as he tacks across the busy waterway. And if you get bitten by the sailing bug, why not try a two-day introductory sailing course? You’ll learn the basics such as rope work, sailing into the wind, de-rigging, how to tack and gybe, how to read the wind and rudimentary navigation techniques – all from a fully qualified instructor.
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Whether it’s climbing the Harbour Bridge, catching a show at the iconic Sydney Opera House or seeing the spectacular harbour views from Taronga Zoo, Sydney is a treat for travellers. You can take the ferry to Manly Beach to find surfing, swimming and beach walks galore, or check out stunning Rose Bay, where seaplanes land to drop diners off at the stunning Catalina restaurant.
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Melbourne Attractions
Snorkel with weedy seadragons
You’ll struggle to find a weirder-looking creature than the weedy seadragon. These colourful, craggy little things, which look like beautiful, ethereal aliens, exist only along Australia’s south coast, and a colony of them lives just off the Mornington Peninsula on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay, around 90 minutes’ drive from downtown Melbourne. Bayplay takes groups of snorkellers out to see them from the seaside resort of Portsea.
The two-hour snorkel tours are designed for beginners and wetsuits are mercifully provided – the bay can get chilly. Port Phillip Bay might not be the Great Barrier Reef, but there’s a surprising amount to see once you’ve got your mask in the water. The coral against which the weedy seadragons try to camouflage themselves is vivid, with hermit crabs and puffer fish scuttling around its nooks and crannies.
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Charming, cosmopolitan Melbourne is home to some of Australia’s best eating, drinking, culture and sport. From watching Aussie Rules at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground to cycling the riverside Yarra Trail, eating fresh seafood on the beachfront at St Kilda or exploring the funky boutiques of Fitzroy in North Melbourne, there’s plenty to discover.
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