When you visit Australia, you can expect to be mesmerized by the dazzling beaches, medley of mountains, deserts, forest and cities full of culture and wonders. So it’s no surprise why we picked it as this week’s destination.
As the 18th-most urbanised country in the world, you can expect to have a lot of fun in Australia. In Sydney, you will find a glamorous collusion of beaches, boutiques and bars. Melbourne is all about the arts and Australian Rules football. Brisbane is a beautiful subtropical town that is starting to make its mark, and then there are many more cities each with their own unique qualities. In Australia, you will find something to do or place to go whatever your interest.
In any country it’s important to see as many sights as you can, and there isn’t a more perfect place to start than the Sydney Opera House. This amazing building is Australia’s most recognisable icon, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s. It is architecturally an astonishing creation, and quite rightly as notable architect Louis Kahn said, ‘The sun did not know how beautiful its light was until it was reflected off this building.’
Sadly, after construction started in 1959, ego clashes, delays, death and cost blowouts let Utzon to quit in 1966. The Opera house consequently didn’t open until 1973, and Utzon did not return until 2004 when he was commissioned along with his son for renovations. Tragically, however he died in 2008 having never seen his finished masterpiece.
Inside the Opera House there are six auditoriums where dance, concerts, opera and theatre are staged, plus the left-of-centre Studio for emerging artists. One-hour guided tours are also available and depart every half an hour. The tours show archival video footage of the buildings historic construction, but the main highlight is a visit to the Utzon room, the only part of the House to have an interior designed by the architectural genius himself.
Queensland Cultural Centre is the epicentre of Brisbane’s cultural confluence. This huge compound includes an enormous conference and convention centre, a concert and theatre venue, and a modern concrete edifice that contains three museums and the Queensland State Library. The Gallery of Modern Art which is also described as an art mecca, is also next to it.
Inside the Queensland Museum, you will find a collection of exhibits that depict Queensland’s history including a skeleton of the state’s own dinosaur, Muttaburrasaurus, and the Avian Cirrus, the tiny plane in which Queensland’s Bert Hinkler made the first England-to-Australia solo flight in 1928. If you venture upstairs you will also find a display on Queensland’s’ endangered species and a fantastic reconstruction of the host of mammoth marsupials that roamed the shores of Queensland more than 100,000 years ago. The museum is also home to an excellent Sciencentre, which has over 100 hands-on, interactive exhibits that teach visitors about life science and technology in a fun way.
Also in the Cultural centre is the Queensland Art Gallery which houses a fine permanent collection of mostly domestic and European artists. Australian art from the 1840s through to the 1970s is specifically showcased in the gallery.
The natural light filled Gallery of Modern Art’s exhibition halls also showcase Australian art, but only from the 1970s to modern times in an assortment of changing exhibitions and media.
Karijini National Park is one of western Australia’s most impressive attractions and is the perfect place for visitors who want to hike, swim or simply soak up an incredible scenery. It’s no wonder the park is so popular with its deep gorges, spectacular waterfalls, pristine swimming holes, as well as its beautiful wildflowers and vibrant wildlife.
One amazing new attraction in Moorilla you have to see is its $75 million Museum of Old and New Art or for short MONA (a play on words maybe?). Moorilla owner David Walsh describes the museum as 'a subversive adult Disneyland'.
The extraordinary installation consists of three underground levels concealed inside a sheer rock face. The museum is definitely eccentric but worth seeing al the while, and if you’re a serious art fine you’ll definitely want to see the ancient antiquities which are also showcased next to more recent works by Sir Sidney Nolan and Damien Hirst.
The State library of Victoria is a huge part of why Melbourne was named Unesco City of Literature in 2008. It has been forefront of Melbourne's literary scene since it opened in 1854, storing over two million books within its walls. The octagonal La Trobe Reading Room is the library’s epicentre whose structure was completed in 1913, was completed in 1913. The Reading Room’s reinforced-concrete dome was the largest of its kind in the world and its natural light wonderfully illuminates the ornate plasterwork and writers who come here to pen their work.
Kings Park & Botanic Garden is Perth’s pride and joy, and the perfect spot for a picnic under the trees or to let your kids roam free in one the playgrounds. If you climb the ascent of the steep stairs from the river, you will be rewarded with wonderful views and probably a great workout.
In the heart of the park is the 17-hectare Botanic Garden that contains over 2000 plant species indigenous to Western Australia. A highlight is the Lotterywest Federation Walkway, a path through the gardens that includes a wonderfully designed, 222m-long, glass-and-steel Bridge that beautifully passes through the canopy of a stand of eucalypts. To top it off the main road leading into the park happens to be lined with towering lemon-scented gums that are lit at night.
The Great Barrier Reef is deservingly one of the seven wonders of the natural world, larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing visible from space, it’s safe to say we are all impressed. Stretching along the Queensland seaboard, the 2000km conglomeration of colourful coral makes for some the most magnificent diving landscape imaginable.
Cable beach is another beauty and Western Australia's most famous landmark. The beach offers visitors beautiful turquoise waters and amazing white sand that curves of into the sunset, it’s simply picturesque. On the north side of the rocks, clothing is optional, while on the south side walking trails lead to the red dunes of Minyirr Park, a spiritual place for the Rubibi people. Cable beach is also known for its camels so make sure you enjoy an early evening Camel ride across the beach.
If the name ‘The Gold Coast’ is anything to go by you can bet that this place won’t disappoint. With 35 beaches, 300 sunny days and four million visitors a year the Gold Coast is an Aussie paradise. The beaches here are more than spectacular, and with outstanding waves at Burleigh Heads, Currumbin and Kirra it's one of the best places to learn to surf in Australia.
Behind the beach there is a shimmering strip of high-rise apartments, bars, clubs and theme parks. Things get a bit calmer as you head south, where you will find Broadbeach with its sandy chic, Burleigh Heads’ seaside charm and Coolangatta’s laid-back ethos.
Westfield Bondi Junction is undoubtedly Australia’s flashiest shopping mall. It has a whopping 438 stores set over six levels, so you’ll definitely need a map or some sort of GPS to guide you through it. Don’t let that discourage you however, you’ll still find all the shops you love and more, like big international brands Hugo Boss, Armani and G Star. There is also Australia’s two big department stores Myer and David Jones and other Australian favourites like Jurlique, Mecca Cosmetica and RM WIlliams . All the walking around will leave you hungry so it’s a good thing there is an abundance of food courts and supermarkets, and numerous bars if you wanted to sit and have a drink.
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The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa offers guests the finest and most luxurious accommodations, so they can fully enjoy a rejuvenating stay. The spacious suites feature a kitchen and a separate lounge and dining area, as well as 2 enclosed balconies with great views.
On site facilities, include a spa and wellness centre with a 25-metre infinity pool, sauna and daily yoga sessions.
The Restaurant at The Byron at Byron delivers a seasonal menu of Northern River’s local produce and boasts a rainforest backdrop.
If you are considering Australia or another dream destination for your next vacation, why not drop us a line at info@roomsuggestion.com to help us book you your dream holiday with highly negotiated near-corporate rates? All you need to do is send us your ideal destinations, group size and preferences and we will take it from there to make this autumn the best ever yet.
