Australia’s exotic landscapes and wildlife make it a destination that nearly everyone wants to visit. It’s also one of the easiest countries to travel around, especially for backpackers—once you make the long journey to get there, of course! What felt strange to me was being able to explore tropical rainforests and remote wilderness, then return to a modern city and shopping mall the next day. I was used to visiting rainforests in developing countries, so experiencing that combination was completely new to me.
What I wanted to see most on my first trip was the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rainforests of northeastern Australia. I started in Sydney, which I found to be one of the most beautiful and colorful cities in Oceania, but I was so focused on getting north that I mistakenly spent only a few days there. In 2011, I returned to Australia to visit Darwin and the Northern Territory. There’s still an enormous amount of the country I’d like to explore, especially Tasmania.
Explore Darwin
Isolated along Australia’s northern coast, Darwin is a long way from the country’s other major cities and can be an expensive place to reach. For those who make the journey, Darwin offers fascinating World War II history, more crocodiles than you could possibly imagine, and access to some of Australia’s wildest and most remote national parks.
Explore Litchfield National Park
With crocodiles dominating so much of the Northern Territory’s waterways, Litchfield National Park is especially rewarding for anyone looking for a place to cool off without risking their life. The park has beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes, enormous termite mounds, and plenty of opportunities to see wildlife such as wallabies and native birds.
Explore Sydney
Australia’s largest city, Sydney has almost everything you could want from a major destination. It combines famous landmarks and a beautiful harbor with some of the country’s best beaches, nightlife, museums, restaurants, and entertainment. I didn’t give Sydney nearly enough time on my first visit, and it’s one of the places in Australia I’d especially like to return to.
Explore Cairns
Surrounded by tropical rainforest and sitting just offshore from the Great Barrier Reef, hot and humid Cairns is one of Australia’s best bases for tropical adventure. The reef can be reached by boat for snorkeling and scuba diving, while the surrounding region offers rainforest hiking, camping, whitewater rafting, hot-air ballooning, and countless other outdoor activities. Cairns was exactly the kind of Australia I had traveled halfway around the world to experience.
