Australia has considerable urban energy and an increasingly great food and drink scene, but where it excels is the happy-go-lucky outdoor lifestyle. It’s a place for public barbecues by the beach and watching surfers ride the waves.
It’s also a country that embraces nature, with extensive reef systems, coastal reserves and a vast network of forested national parks. Kangaroos hang out in campgrounds, koalas sleep in trees along walking trails and dolphins frolic in the bays.
Australia also excels in epic. Endless blue skies stretch over rumpled outback scenes – and hugely rewarding road trips lace through seemingly untouched landscapes.
Current travel restrictions and entry requirements
Visitors to Australia need a visa. For the vast majority of people coming from the UK, this will be the subclass 651 eVisitor, which is free and can be completed online.
Most Covid restrictions have been ditched. There is no need to test or show proof of vaccination before entry. However, masks on inbound flights are still mandatory, and you will still have to isolate if you test positive for Covid while in Australia. The rules in each state are slightly different. The Department of Health site links to each state’s restrictions.
Best time to go
Weather-wise, the best time to visit varies massively by geography. Aim for May to October in the tropical north, and the opposite in the south. Spring (September to November) is a sweet spot with less rain than autumn. Prices and crowds ramp up in January, the main school holiday period. It can also be excruciatingly hot at this time.
New Year’s Eve in Sydney is popular and truly memorable but violently expensive for accommodation. Other events to throw yourself into include the Melbourne Cup horse race (second Tuesday in November), Adelaide Festival (March) and Anzac Day (April 25).
Top cities and regions
Sydney
Indisputably one of the greatest cities on earth, Sydney offers natural beauty around the harbour, a legion of envy-inducing beaches along the coast, plus hip urban energy in inner suburbs such as Surry Hills and Chippendale. It genuinely works as a beach holiday destination and a city break, with big ticket activities such as climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge offset by cost-free days in oceanside rock pools. The Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley wine region are within day-trip distance.
Melbourne
With an emphasis on culture rather than looks, Melbourne crams in the galleries, museums and arts venues. But the real joy…
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