Australia At A Glance

A vacation to Australia awakens all senses. From diving the Great Barrier Reef to driving Melbourne's Great Ocean Road and from the white western beaches to the even whiter Sydney Opera House, a whole continent of adventure awaits you.

Photo: Twelve Apostles rock formation on the Great Ocean Road

The famous Great Ocean Road, near Melbourne is an excellent route that brings you through charming seaside towns and breathtaking coastal landscapes. Built by returned soldiers, the 243km long road is the world's largest war memorial dedicated to casualties of World War I. You can explore the area eighter by car or by helicopter. Not to be missed are the Twelve Apostles rock formation, a collection of eight remaining limestone stacks off the shores of the Port Campbell National Park. The Great Ocean Walk hugs the rugged coastline, stretching over 100km, from the idyllic resort town of Apollo Bay, to within sight of the magnificent Twelve Apostles. The Great Ocean Walk includes deserted sandy beaches, thick forests and some of Australia's highest sea-cliffs.

Photo: Sleepy turtle, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

With more that 1500 species of fish, sea turtles and marine life, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best scuba diving destination in the world. Located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, it was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. The best accomodation resorts are the city of Cairns, the international gateway to the region, Port Douglas, boasting a superb tropical climate, and Palm Cove, the ultimate honey moon resort. I don't know about you, but this really makes me want to hop on one of the first flights to Australia and explore this underwater labyrinth, discover its hidden gems, either by snorkeling with a marine biologist guide, by going on a semi-submersible vessel tour, by scuba diving, by renting a sailboat or by flying over the Great Barrier Reef in a helicopter.

Photo: Hiding Nemo, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

You can not leave Australia, without experiencing the unique native wildlife. Australia's national parks, state forests and reserves are home to unique and fascinating native fauna, and although many of the furry mammals are nocturnal, like the tree-kangaroos, the birdlife is vibrant, noisy and colourful during the daylight.

On Phillip Island, Melbourne, you can watch the Penguin Parade at sunset. For supreme koala-spotting, head to Magnetic Island in Queensland, Kangaroo Island in South Australia or Apollo Bay on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. Another fruitful region for seeing Australian wildlife is Tasmania, home to the Tasmanian devil, made famous by the Warner Bros. cartoon. The Daintree Rainforest will introduce you to an incredible array of native Australian wildlife. You can cuddle a koala in the Cairns Tropical Zoo or the Featherdale's Wildlife Park near Sydney, walk among the sea lions on Seal Bay or you can explore Kakadu, Australia’s largest national park, sheltering a variety of habitats and wildlife, including saltwater crocodiles.

Photo: Koala Mother and Child

You can also adventure yourself into the Outback's wild interiors, to the Flinders Ranges National Park and explore the dramatic mountain range. This area is world-renowned for its geological history, Aboriginal rock art sites, impressive fossil remains and its ruins of early European settlements. You can either camp or stay at a five-star retreat, or chose anything in between, as all kinds of accommodation are available.

Photo: Little Penguins at Featherdale Wildlife Park, Australia

And as the Australian spring is just around the corner, you won't want to miss Floriade, the celebration of spring and the biggest flower festival in Australia. Floriade is held annually in Canberra's Commonwealth Park and features spring flower sculptures, amazing garden bed designs, artistic entertainment, engaging exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops.

Amazing landscapes, wild adventures, welcoming natives, the combination of all these great experiences will make you fall in love with this country as big as your imagination.

If you are looking for a confy hotel where you stay while visiting Melbourne, HotelClub.com can help you out.

Some of the photos are under Flickr Commons