Australian states and territories

Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Capital Territory although the smallest territory, it is one of Australia’s handsomest landscapes with a mix of heritage towns and villages, rural landscapes, beautiful waterways and fertile farming country. It is also the home of Australia’s capital, Canberra, with no skyscrapers and less traffic than other cities in Australia you can take a quiet stroll around Lake Burley Griffin. It is an excellent touring region through numerous orchards, wineries, and renowned wool and cattle properties.

New South Wales

Australia’s big outdoors, breathtaking beaches and coastlines, World Heritage National Parks, snow-capped ski fields, lush farming country and the dazzling city lights of Sydney, Australia’s biggest and liveliest city. The Blue Mountains and famous Three Sisters lay to the South-west of Sydney with world-famous bushland. The NSW south coast is ideal for a leisurely car tour running from the city of Wollongong which has a dramatic cliff entry through to Stanwell Park down the small coastal towns of Kiama, Berry and Nowra and past the scenic Jervis Bay. To the south lies the lush rainforest gardens of Minnamurra set in a sandstone canyon. The Snowy Mountains, Australia’s high country, are an alpine wonderland. In winter (June to October) the ski resorts at Thredbo, Perisher and Mount Selwyn come alive while through summer the towns of Jindabyne and Cooma are the places to be close to the Kosciuszko National Park.

The Murray is one of the world’s great rivers, flowing through river red gum forests, wetlands teeming with birdlife, rich agricultural land and busy river towns such as Albury and Wodonga.

Explorer Country, Australia’s Central West is an area steeped in history from the gold rush with towns such as Sofala, Hill End, Orange and Mudgee. The area is perfect farmland for then remote sheep stations which run for miles. To the North-West, just 7 hours from Dubbo, guarded by the Lofty mountains the Warrumbungles Range and National Park attract many visitors for it’s unusual rock formations.

To the North West is New England, the ‘Big Sky Country’, where you can find the country music capital Tamworth, New England and Guy Fawkes National Parks.

Australia’s premier wine growing region, the Hunter Valley, includes Singleton and the Upper Hunter reflects rural heritage and small country townships. Experience the World Heritage listed Barrington Tops which features rugged mountains, gorges and dense forest.

Australia’s favourite holiday destination is the Mid-North Coast with magnificent lakes, white beaches, the Great Dividing Range and emerald green hinterland. Stretching from Port Stephens to Coffs Harbour and inland to Dorrigo and Bellingen. Further north is Yamba, an anglers dream, up to the surfing haven of Byron Bay the most easterly point of Australia and the lush National Parks of Mount Warning and Nightcap. There are endless pristine surfing beaches including Shoal Bay, Old Bar, Cresent Head and Nambucca Heads where the lifestyle is laid back.

Outback Australia, vivid red earth, blue skies, endless horizons and the mining ghosts towns of Broken Hill (where Priscilla Queen of the Desert was filmed), Cobar, Silverton and White Cliffs. The Darling River runs from Bourke to Wentworth where the Darling meets the Murray Mungo National Park. The Mutawintji historical site contains one of the best collections of Aboriginal art.

Queensland

Queensland is known by the locals as the Sunshine State, people from all over the world come to soak up the sun and experience the relaxed, friendly lifestyle. Tweed Heads is considered the most southern town of QLD that heads north up to the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast has a sweeping 70 kilometer coastline and offers over 35 clean beaches. The beach front esplanades of vibrant centers like Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach and Coolangatta are all sun soaked, tranquil settings. Inland is Gold Coasts Hinterland, famous for it’s stunning Lamington National Park.

Brisbane, QLD’s capital city and gateway to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts where life mainly revolves around the superb Brisbane River. Brisbane is slower placed then other big cities, it has several distinct communities as well as the central area. Mt Glorious lies to the northwest of Brisbane in the Brisbane Forest Park.

The southern most town of the Sunshine Coast is Caloundra, meaning the beautiful place, in Gubbi Gubbi country, where Aboriginal people once came down from the hills to feast on seafood. Popular family destinations include Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headland and Maroochydore. Heading north is Coolum, the luxurious Noosa Heads, one of the few places in Australia that are famous for preserving the natural environment and integrating it with modern accommodation, and the splendid Hervey Bay. Kondalilla National Park is a nature lovers paradise with 80 metre Kondalilla Falls which drop into a rainforest valley.

Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island where magnificent humpback whales come to frolic in the sheltered waters between World Heritage Fraser Island and Hervey Bay. Several shallow lakes appear on Fraser, Lake McKenzie being the prettiest. Fraser also has a continuous rich Aboriginal heritage with middens, artifacts and significant sites scattered over the island.

Gulf Country is an expansive landscape with clear starry nights, west from Brisbane the Warrego Highway climbs the steep escarpment of the Great Dividing Range to the university town of Toowoomba, in Barunggam country. The next 200 kilometers takes you through the rural country towns of Dalby, Chinchilla and Miles. Many of the valleys and plains in this area are Dreaming sites, important to Aboriginal creation beliefs and law.

The Capricorn Highway runs parallel with the Tropic of Capricorn, at Longreach, the Tropic meets the Highway. Further west is the Simpson Desert National Park, a vast arid land where there are no roads, no walking trails and no facilities. Birdsville is the closest town to the Simpson Desert situated in Yarluyandi country. Further North lies Mt Isa in Kalkadoon country, the silver and lead mines at Mt Isa are the largest in the world. Lawn Hill National Park can be found in the remote north-western highlands of Queensland in Wakaya country.

Tropical North Queensland is a vast region stretching from reefs and islands, through to beach and coastal wetlands to mountains, tablelands and Gulf Savannah grassland. The Whitsunday group of islands lie northeast of Mackay, blessed with the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef along with many tropical islands, the famous Whitehaven Beach and the buzzing coastal town of Airlie Beach. Daydream, Hayman, Hook, South Mole, Whitsunday, Hamilton, Lindeman, Long and Brampton Islands are the most renowned.

The twin cities of Townsville and Thuringowa together form Australia’s largest tropical city, Mt Isa and Cloncurry are only 30 minutes drive north of Townsville. The main offshore islands are the Magnetic Islands each with its own unique charm. Hinchinbrook Island, accessed from Cardwell 80 kilometers north of Townsville is Australia’s largest island national park. The major North tropical center is Cairns located on coastal mud flats that attract an abundance of native bird-life. To the west of Cairns is Kuranda and the beautiful Atherton Tropical Tablelands, travelling further west you come to the Gulf Savannah with its rich history of gold rushes, bushrangers and wandering Aboriginal tribes. The virgin rainforests of Daintree are amongst the most ancient ecosystems on earth, the area stretches southerly from dense jungles to the north of Port Dougals. Cape York Peninsula remains a land of few people and teeming with wildlife, North of the Bloomfield River along the rugged Bloomfield Track the road leads to Cooktown with the North of Cooktown being where the real isolation of the Cape begins.

Northern Territory

The regions capital city Darwin with a population of around 87 000, lies in Larrakia country at the Top! The area is abundant with unique and ancient species of birds, plants, reptiles and mammals. Adelaide River, East of Darwin, is where you can get a great view of the dangerous saltwater crocodiles. The Mary River Wetlands extend from the Adelaide River south to the border of Kakadu National Park.

Further east is the World Heritage listed Kakadu with roughly five districts each with centralized facilities South Alligator, East Alligator, Nourlangie, Jim Jim and Mary River. The town of Cooinda is a center for the South Alligator area. Jabiru is the main center of Kakadu found between the East Alligator and Nourlangie regions. Ubirr Rock is found near the East Alligator River with many Aboriginal rock art galleries, Nourlangie Rock, south of Jabiru, is another fine Aboriginal rock art site that includes paintings of Namaragan, the Lightning Man. Jim Jim Falls is further south again, with a 215 meter drop into a large pool below and the Twin Falls are nearby with spectacular waterfalls thundering over the edge of a high plateau. The Mary River region at the southern end of Kakadu is much drier and less visited than the rest of the park. To the east of Kakadu lies the untamed Arnhem Land with the magnificent sandstone gorges of Katherine Gorge, waterfalls, wetlands and wildlife. The region extends from Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the south to Milingimbi in the Crocodile Island Group in the West Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala are the main town centers in Arnhem Land. Permission to enter Arnhem Land MUST be obtained from the Northern Land Council.

Tennant Creek is situated in the ’Golden Heart’ of the Northern Territory, 506km north of Alice Springs, this region extends from Barrow Creek in the south to Newcastle Waters in the north, and east to the Queensland border. The Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is south of Tennant Creek in Warumungu country. The marbles are a collection of huge, red granite boulders scattered across a shallow valley in the Davenport Ranges.

Alice Springs, Central Australia, is surrounded by red desert and lies in Arrente country. Alice can be used as a base to travel to the magnificent Simpson Desert, MacDonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon, The Olgas and famous Uluru/Ayers Rock.

Western Australia

Northern WA is the Kimberley Region an area covering more than 420,000 square kilometers and home to only 25,000 people. Gibb River Road runs through the Kimberley Region, the road cuts through King Leopold Range, Philips Range, Barnett Range, Gibb Range, Mosquito Hills, Pentecost Range and Cockburn Range. On the coast is the township of Broome, a tranquil tropical spot, world famous for its pearling industry close to the soft clean sands of Cable Beach. Travel further north where you will find the Buccaneer Archipelago or ’Thousand Islands’.

In the Pilbara Region there are three world-class national parks, including Karijini, Millstream and the world’s largest rock Mt Augustus. The North West coast begins at Exmouth, leading down south towards the Cape Range and Coral Bay reef. Tour the Gascoyne region including the heritage fishing town of Carnarvon and Denham close to the fabulous Shell Beach. Monkey Mia is a natural phenomena teeming with dolphins, dugongs, whale sharks nestled in the beautiful Shark bay. Perth enjoys more hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia and is set between the sparkling Indian Ocean to the west, the Darling Ranges to the east and Swan River winding through it’s heart. Perth is an ideal base from which you can explore the diverse surrounding attractions such as the Great Southern region which has one of the largest wine regions in Australia, close to the gorgeous Margaret River, the Sterling Ranges and Mt Barker wine region to the north. The dramatic Southern Ocean coastline passes the townships of Denmark and Albany set on a grand sweeping harbour. Heading further east takes you by the town of Esperance, the Bay of Isles, onto the Nullabor Plain and Eyre highway before hitting the Great Australian Bights coastline.

South Australia

Adelaide in Kaurna country is South Australia’s capital known as the city of churches and parks, it is a small elegant city. Set beside the Torrens River between the Adelaide Hills and the Gulf of St Vincent, it is probably Australia’s best-preserved capital city. From Adelaide you can easily reach the Fleurieu Peninsula and Murraylands riverland only a two-hour drive east of Adelaide and includes approximately 300km of the Murray River.

The Eyre Peninsula, Banggarla country, stretches 1000km from Whyalla in the east to the Western Australian border, and 400 km from the Gawler Ranges in the north to Port Lincoln in the south. The region is known for its 2000km of ruggedly beautiful coastline, vast desert plains, the Gawler Ranges and golden hinterland. South of Whyalla is the jade mining town of Cowell, the worlds largest source of black nephrite jade. Further south along the protected eastern side of the peninsula, the area becomes Nawu country and where you will travel through the coastal towns of Arno Bay, Port Neil and Tumby Bay. The town of Port Lincoln is found almost at the end of the peninsula nestled on the beautiful, blue Boston Bay, three times the size of Sydney Harbour. Jutting out from the peninsula is another peninsula, Jussieu that is mostly covered by the Lincoln National Park. Across the Eyre Peninsula, on the western side, another piece of land juts out to create what is known as the Coffin Bay Peninsula.

The Nullarbor Plain and Great Australian Bight continue from WA into SA following a spectacular coastline 107 kilometers northwest of Streaky Bay the landscape becomes drier and you arrive at Ceduna. Once you hit Nundroo the Great Australian Bight Marine Park begins with turquoise waters crashing against limestone cliffs. Further inland from the coast is the Nullarbor National Park and the beginning of the flat, dry land.

The Flinders Ranges and Outback is a vast region extending from the southern Flinders Ranges near Melrose to Innamincka in the State’s far north nearly 1100 kilometers from Adelaide. The Outback borders the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales. The region contains seven significant National and Conservation Reserves. The mining town of Coober Pedy, in Kokatha country which is the heart of South Australia’s outback. Temperatures here are so extreme that homes and even churches are built underground.

Port Augusta is a thriving industrial city, 308 kilometers north of Adelaide, in Nukunu country. Situated at the head of Spencer Gulf, Port Augusta is the intersection of the Sydney-Perth and Adelaide-Alice Springs railway lines as well as the major Sydney-Perth and Adelaide-Darwin highways.

The Clare Valley wine region is very much a boutique wine region. This delightful valley is around 150 kilometers east from Adelaide and is noted for its rieslings and cabernet sauvignons. The township of Mintaro contains a series of small stone buildings that create a feeling that you have stepped back in time. The township of Clare also has some interesting historic attractions as well as heritage walks. Heading further south around fifty wineries dot the Barossa and Eden Valleys in between historic buildings, galleries and cafes only 60 kilometers south east from Adelaide. Coorong National Park begins less than 120 kilometers south east of Adelaide in Ngarrindjeri country. The highway to the Coorong follows the eastern side of the lagoon system so the scenery is both unique and intriguing. The Naracoorte Caves Conservation Park is located 12 kilometers south of the township of the same name. World Heritage listed, Victoria Cave, contains some remarkable fossils such as a giant boa-like snake, marsupial lions, hippo-sized wombats and gigantic kangaroos.

Kangaroo Island is only 13 kilometers from Cape Jervis at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula. With 480 km of coastline, the Island is the third largest off the Australian mainland.

Coonawarra Wine Region - There are only about twenty wineries in Coonawarra, all located along a stretch of highway which makes this pretty area very easy to tour. Penola is the main country town in the Coonawarra region.

Victoria

Hugging the tip of the Australian east coast, Victoria is Australia’s second smallest state. The capital of Victoria, Melbourne, is a friendly, multicultural city home to people from over 140 nations and traditionally on Woiworung country. The city is located on the banks of the Yarra River where it meets Port Philip Bay. The Dandenong Ranges National Park is just 35 kilometers east of Melbourne including the Yarra Valley and The Ranger parks.

Phillip Island is situated 142 kilometers east off the coast of Melbourne. Cowes is Phillip islands main town and a popular summer resort with safe, clean beaches. Phillip Islands most popular drawcard are it’s cute, little fairy penguins.

To the west of Melbourne winds the Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Port Fairy, around the cliff tops, with the surf of the great southern ocean swelling and crashing onto rocks and beaches. Near Point Otway, the impenetrable parts of the Otway Ranges force the road inland through the rainforest oasis of the Otway National Park, between Geelong and Portland you will travel through Wathaurong, Gadubanud, Giraiwurung and Gunditjmara countries. The superb coastal scenery continues as you travel 45 kilometers from Lorne to Apollo Bay where the road then closely follows the coastal cliffs of Gibson Steps, Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge which are the highlights before reaching Port Campbell and the natural limestone London Bridge. Inland from the great Ocean Road lies Ballarat currently Australia’s largest inland city, in Wathaurong country. Ballarat, like Bendigo, was created on the seat of the gold rush. Further inland Bendigo, in Djadjawurung country, remains a strong city where French and Italian Renaissance architecture can be found but are quite often combined with the very Australian verandahs. Further west the Grampians National Park massive folded sandstone series of weathered ranges run north to south for about 100 kilometers. Further inland will take you to Horsham, in Jardwadjali country, the town is the intersection of three main highways and so has a lot of traffic.

North West is the Mildura & Murray Outback, fertile Murray River wetlands, gracious historic townships and exquisite restaurants famous the nation over. The Mallee outback terrain follows through the townships of Mildura, Broken Hill and Swan Hill.

North Eastern Victoria is known as Legends, Wine and High Country. The town of Echuca began in 1853 when an ex-convict saw the need for a river ferry at the Echuca crossing and lies in Baraba Baraba country close to Ngurraiillam and Yorta Yorta country. Approximately 30 kilometers upstream from Echuca is Barmah Forest, the largest red gum forest in the world. This land was once roamed by the Australian bushranger gang, led by Ned Kelly called Taungurong country. The region’s small cities include Benalla And Glenrowen, famous for the Glenrowen Inn where the kelly gangs last stand against police was held.

Albury And Wodonga, these two towns lie on either side of the Murray River, which is also the border between New South Wales and Victoria in Waveroo country. Albury is 559 kilometers from Sydney and Wodonga is 306 kilometers north east of Melbourne.

The Victorian Alps lie to the north east of Melbourne and stretch seemingly endlessly towards the New South Wales border where the Victorian Alps meet the Snowy Mountains and Mount Kosciuszko National Park. Lake Mountain, Mount Baw Baw, Mount Stirling, Mount Buffalo, Falls Creek, Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain all offer cross-country skiing in the Alpine wilderness between the months of June and October.

Tasmania

Hobart, Tasmania’s Capital is Australia’s second oldest city. The city is spread over seven hills between the banks of the Derwent River and the summit of Mount Wellington. The Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas are less than an hour away from Hobart and the Port Arthur Historic Site lies on the Tasman Peninsula.

The West Coast is quite solitary with the wonderful craggy mountains and World Heritage Area wilderness, you’ll see thousands of millions of years captured in the ancient rocks and wrought in volcanic fire.

North West runs from Burnie with its industrial heritage and busy port down the Bass Highway following the coast westward, always within sight of the Bass Strait.

In the North region the Bridgewater Bridge crosses the Derwent north of Hobart where you can explore the Lyell Highway. The city of Devonport is found where the mouth of the Mersey River meets the mighty Bass Straight. The car and passenger ferry that operates between Australia’s mainland and Tasmania uses Devonport as it’s main port. Launceston, Tasmanias second largest city is nestled along the Tamar River Valley where the North Esk, South Esk and Tamar Rivers meet together. Cataract Gorge, a fifteen-minute walk from the towns center, is situated in a delightful reserve park. The magnificent Ben Lomond National Park is only 50 kilometers southeast of Launceston and is Tasmania’s highest mountain. Longford and Evandale just south of Launceston are outstanding examples of well-preserved Georgian-period townships.

Tasmania’s East Coast runs from Launceston to Hobart, joining up with the Midland Heritage Highway southwards. Situated on Georges Bay, is the tranquil city of St Helens leading further south past Scamander, Bicheno, Swansea, Triabunna and Ross which are all located along the coast, mostly set in sheltered inlets but with easy access of beaches and fishing grounds. Near Bicheno on the Freycinet Peninsula is the beautiful coastal scenery of the Freycinet National Park. At the tip of the peninsula is the isolated Schouten Island only a 1 kilometer boat ride from the peninsula. The Freycinet park is set between Mt Amos and Mt Mayson providing sweeping views of Coles and Wineglass Bay. Before arriving to Hobart, a diversion through the quaint village of Richmond is worthwhile only 26 kilometers away from Hobart.