If you are heading to Australia this year then you will probably already have figured out that making an itinerary isn’t the easiest thing in the World. This is not because it is tough to find things to do, on the contrary, it is because there is simply so much damn stuff to do in this incredible country. Having visited Oz on more than one occasion I can honestly say that my favorite part of visiting the country is hitting its many cities, renting a car from Budget and driving through the cities, down the coast and to another one. Depending on which coast you are visiting this year, here are my favorite cities in Oz that I think you simply have to factor in to your vacation.
Sydney
King of the pile, Sydney is not only Australia’s most famous city with iconic landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, both set in that incredible harbour. Sydney also offers tourists beautiful beaches, bouncing nightlife and a real California-style feel to it with trendy streets, great food and a real tapestry of different cultures making up the social landscape.
Melbourne
Melbourne is regularly voted by magazines around the World as the most lively and ‘happening’ of all the Australian cities and it is difficult to disagree with them, Melbourne is easily the food capital of Australia, here you will find fine dining, street food and plenty of bustling markets selling almost every type of fresh food under the sun. The sport scene is alive in Melbourne with regular cricket, Aussie Rules, rugby and soccer games going on and the sports stadiums double up as music venues of an evening attracting some of the biggest entertainment acts on the planet. Sydney is a perfect for the outdoorsy types but if you prefer to roam around bars, restaurants, museums and entertainment venues then cool-melbourne is for you.
Perth
Perth is one of Australia’s most isolated cities, it sits on the west coast and is over 1,000 miles away from its nearest city. This isolation is doubtless what gives the city its laid back attitude and the locals here mimic the same mood. Here in Perth you will find beautiful parks, fresh and relaxing beaches that contrast starkly with the bustling tourist beaches of Sydney as well as beautiful landscapes across the water as the Swan River meets the sea. Perth appeals much more to nature lovers and there is plenty to do in the great outdoors here from walking tours to camping out under the stars.
These are just my favorite cities and if you are looking for cities where you can spend a great bit of time inside them and exploring them, then these are my recommendations. If you are looking as a city as a jumping off point for something else then other considerations should be places like Cairns and Hobart or even Canberra which is a massively underrated city. Wherever you choose in Australia, you can guarantee that you will have an awesome time down under.
