NomadicLife.com.au

Live Life on the Road.........

Sightseeing around Australia. 

To help you find the way use an interactive Map

ACT: NSW: NT: QLD: SA: TAS: VIC: WA: Where ever you are never miss sending a card for a birthday or event

To book a flight anywhere around Australia
Flight Centre - Australia's #1 Travel Agency

Also see Public Transport for transport options. Send us an email and tell us about the special places you have found. Include a picture if you have one, but be sure to not send large files, so reduce the size for emailing please.

In the early days of Australia had to be concerned about water for the arrivals, which means most towns and later the Cities were build around rivers. Water was a huge issue of survival then. Not much has changed really, because water is still a vital issue, which has not yet been resolved. But if is rains while you want to go sightseeing then check out the Entertainment page for alternatives.

ACT

ACT Tourism as their site says: "Canberra’s attractions hold and share the treasures of our nation. Celebrate Australia’s proud sporting achievements, delve into our unique political history, and reflect on our young nation’s experience on the international stage. See our country and people through the eyes of our artists and experience Australian character through sound and film, books and exhibitions".

All the above are available, and most are easy to access via public transport. There are many museums, art galleries, and man-made wonders to see. Visit Canberra during Floriade (mid Sept to Mid Oct each year) or while there is a special Art Exhibition, or just for the sites which Canberra has to offer, such as in Spring for the flowers, or Autumn for the colour of the trees.

Visit Old and New Parliament House, see where they battle it out in the Political Forum. Visit the Australian War Memorial, and honour our fallen Service Men and Women. Canberra is one of the only Capital cities which is not based on a River, but it does have the rather impressive, Lake Burley Griffin, named after Canberra's designer, Walter Burley Griffin.

^ top of page

NSW

Sydney Tourist Information Sydney does not have a river as it's central theme, like most other Australian capital cites, it has a huge Harbour, where the First Fleet landed. They landed and built the "Town" around The Tank Stream, and the magnificent and prolific Bays. The original area, has in many instances been built over, except The Rocks, where much of the surviving buildings from the birth of this Great Nation still stand. It is amazing the area survived, and was in danger of being destroyed, but Jack Mundey and the unions put a green ban on the area Dec 1971 and halted the work. This Oasis of trees and old buildings is a Mecca for tourists these days. Sites like the Opera House, the Botanic Gardens, the Harbour Bridge, help make make Sydney Harbour one of the most spectacular Harbours in the world. Add sites like Darling Harbour, the Ferries and the many Bays and Beaches mean there is much to see and do. Water is the main theme in Sydney, where bridges and ferries are a major part of Sydney life. Be they for recreation, or work, it is hard to go anywhere without encountering them.

If Cities are not your thing then go to the Blue Mountains, Royal National Park, any of the numerous beaches, take a ferry, catch a Jetcat to Parramatta and see Old Government House. Go see the galleries, museums, Zoo, Wildlife Parks, North Head, or West Head, and see Aboriginal carvings. Go down to La Perouse and see how close we came to speaking French (or perhaps Dutch if Abel Tasman had landed). Then on to Kurnell and see where Cook first landed.  Why not have dinner in Norton St Leichhardt, and you might think you are in Italy, or the Spanish Quarters in Liverpool Street Sydney, or perhaps Chinese food in China Town. there are so many Nations represented, choose a different one every night as there are over 200 countries represented, and most, if not all, have a food outlet of some sort.

What about 4x4 driving on Stockton Beach near Newcastle, or somewhere like that? Contact a club and see if they are going somewhere, and you can join them. It is more fun if it can be done as a group, and there are others to help you if you get stuck in the sand Try this one Rare Breed in Western Sydney. There is so much to see, and do around NSW, the list just goes on.

Or what about some Skiing, but don't forget insurance. Welcome to Ski Insurance, Australia’s specialist insurer of winter sports holidays.

^ top of page

NT

Map of NTDarwin Tourist Information is so huge and diverse, where do you start? Why not try Darwin 50 things to do or perhaps the Art Galleries, for information on Palmerston, and the Tiwi Islands. Alice Springs Tourist Information or what about the Alice Springs Masters which attracts a more mature crowd it seems (Mid October). See Kakadu, Katherine Gorge, The Devil's Marbles or Kings Canyon. Have a yarn and a beer in an outback pub, see a crocodile up close (well not too close).

Find out about Pearling, Abalone and Barramundi or try some Bush Tucker. Learn about Aboriginal life, Art and culture. Follow in the footsteps of the early explorers, but hopefully not their hardships. It is a harsh environment, but full of beauty and wonder, if you come prepared for it. Travel to Alice Springs and Uluru and experience the awesome wonder of the "The Rock" and its ever changing colours. Find out about the history of the area and the original inhabitants. Understand the vastness, and why they have the Royal Flying Doctor service, and School of the Air to help bring the people closer together.

Or how about one of Great Train Journeys see Public Transport or Hot air ballooning, white water rafting, or a more sedate cruise down some of the many rivers. There is so much to see and do, something for everyone.

^ top of page

QLD

QLD Tourism Brisbane is built along the Brisbane River. There is an old saying about Queensland, which is "Beautiful one day, perfect the next". They have warmer, and in some cases a drier heat in the summer (inland), and a milder winter, than down south. Visit places like the Gold Coast, The Sunshine Coast, or in fact any of their great beaches. Go to Maleny markets, or Montville and buy something unusual in the way of fashion, jewellery, crafts, or gourmet foods.

Tropical fruits and vegetables are one of the fantastic features of Queensland, so buy some. From Pineapples and Bananas, to Ginger and Avocados, and not forgetting Sugar Cane are all best grown in the Queensland sunshine. Visit one of the attractions like The Big Banana, or The Big Pineapple, or see sugar cane being harvested.

Go snorkelling on The Great Barrier Reef, swim with the Dolphins, or do some Whale watching. Travel through a Rain Forest, or any number of Wild Life Reserves.

Cuddle a Koala, take a ferry ride, up or down the Brisbane River. Go back to your childhood by visiting a Theme Park. Perhaps visit one of Queensland's Islands.

^ top of page

SA

Tourist Information Adelaide is a parkland City based on the Torrens River, with its many cultural pursuits, and easy to travel around by bus, or even a take a tram to Glenelg. See some of the many wonderful stone buildings, which are so typical of the Adelaide.

See the Adelaide Hills which has many places of interest, like one of the most famous towns: Hahndorf - Established in 1839, which is Australia's oldest surviving German settlement. You can travel back in time, visit many of the old buildings, or visit the former home and studio of Sir Hans Heysen - The Cedars. There are several good wineries in the area, as well as plenty of places to eat, or go shopping.

Perhaps visit the Childrens' Farm and get up close and personal with cuddly, and not so cuddly animals, good for Adults as well. Visit Cleland Wildlife Sanctuary where you can wander among kangaroos, wallabies, emus and waterbirds and much more. Handfeed kangaroos and experience a koala close-up. Or for a walk on the wilder side try Monarto Zoological Park, and travel in a vehicle through the animal enclosures, to experience the animals up close. It is almost like being on a Game Reserve in Africa. Travel to places like Kangaroo Island or Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

Drive along the Eyre Peninsular, or up into the Flinders ranges. Go to the Birdsville Track and experience the Desert, and the rea "Outback".

No trip to South Australia would be complete without a visit to a winery. There are several places, because SA is a great place to grow grapes. Try the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, the Clare Valley, the Coonawarra, Eden Valley, and the Adelaide Hills, which are some of the areas well known for their wines.

^ top of page

TAS

Tourist Information Tasmania has an abundance of unusual wildlife, and not all of it is "in the wild". There is plenty nightlife available for those who wish to participate, but nature and its wonders are all around you in Tasmania, so why not see the natural wonders, and then visit the nightlife perhaps.

Don’t know what a pademelon looks like? What about wombats, wallabies, bettongs, bandicoots, platypus, kangaroos and Tasmanian devils, just to name a few - are easy to spot, and click here to read more about all of Tasmania's unique animals.

Or is history your "thing"? There are many places of interest around this Island State. From Port Arthur or Salamanca Place in Hobart, through some of the spectacular World Heritage areas, and on to Launceston, Devonport and Burnie.

There are many fabulous places to visit, be they man-made History or Natural History, Tasmania has plenty of both. Tasmania has had some rather unpleasant history, but thankfully the future looks brighter. Travel to Tasmania by ferry and take your caravan with you, there is plenty to do see, so don't miss any of it.

^ top of page

VIC     

 Tram Tourist Information A fun thing to do in Melbourne, and it is FREE, catch the red Tram (number 00) it does a round trip circling the city, so you can see around the City from it. Because it stops in many places, you can get on and off where you want, and as many times as you want. This has to be a better option than driving.

Melbourne is built around the Yarra River, which is a good place to visit especially in Autumn, when the trees are just amazing. Or try the Yarra River Shuttle Service and discover Melbourne from a different perspective. It is a hop on hop off service and operates November–March.

Get away from the City and visit Philip Island for the fairy penguins to racing. Try Ballarat or Bendigo for the Gold Rush experience. Take the Great Ocean Road  and see what is left of the 12 Apostles, or go inland and see Mount Elephant in Derrinallum, but whatever Road get to Warrnambool and see things like Flagstaff Hill and the Shipwreck Coast experience. Travel to Australia was a very hazardous experience in the time of sail. Arguably Victoria's beaches may not be as good as some other States, but they have Bell's Beach, which is for serious surfing.

Or what about some Skiing, but don't forget insurance. Welcome to Ski Insurance, Australia’s specialist insurer of winter sports holidays.

^ top of page

WA

Tourist Information (http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au) Perth is built along the Swan River, like many Australian Capital cities. No visit to Perth should miss out on going to Kings Park for a grand view of the city. Visit in the Spring and see the profusion of flowers. WA is as well know for beer as it is for the wine, so all tastes are catered for. Perth was perceived as the distant cousin for a long time, but these days it not the country bumpkin it used to be. The America's Cup coverage let the rest of the world know it was there, and the tourist came to see what it was all about. These days it is a bustling Cosmopolitan City. The Port of Fremantle, which was built to serve it, is now a well preserved example of a 19th Century Port town. With the dwindling shipping the town is more a haven for the fishing fleet, than commercial shipping these days. The social life in the form of Markets, restaurants and coffee shops form an important part of their economy.

Travel East from Perth to the Swan Valley and experience some of the taste sensations on offer. Your taste might run to wine, chocolate, olives, cheese or beer. Or perhaps the Avon Valley for hot air ballooning or Jazz? Travel into the Perth Hills for a Nature experience, an open-air cinema, or amphitheatre. Drive along the York Peninsular for some great scenery, and visit York Motor Museum. Travel North to The Kimberley's' or Pilbara Region for sites like the Bungle Bungle Ranges, which look more like a Moon Scape than something here on Earth. If you are feeling jaded and in need soothing try Monkey Mia and get up close and personal with the dolphins.
What about a trip to Rottnest Island, and see a quokka, or the World War II tunnels? WA some of the newer wine growing districts, of which Margaret River is one of them. The are was planted about 40 years ago, which is new for a wine growing district in Australia. They also have some fabulous beaches, gourmet foods and much more.

^ top of page

Images from around Australia
Hut in Flinder RangesSA  FlindersRangesSA  12 Apostles Gt Ocean Rd VIC  SofalaNSW  ElliotFallsFNQld  Opera House Night  Vines
The Rock NSW  SilverCity StocktonBeach NSW  Elim Qld  Cape York a tense Moment  The Rocks NSW  River NSW  Pittwater NSW
Kings Park Sunset  View from Mt Elephant  Cape York  Turon Gates NSW  Emu  Country Vic  Fairy Penguins Vic