My Wishlist
1.800.557.2841or Contact Your Travel Advisor
Twelve Apostles in beautiful low sunlight along the Great Ocean Road
Home/Destinations/Australia & New Zealand/Australia/Travel Guide/Top 5 Australian Bucket List Travel Experiences

Top 5 Australian Bucket List Travel Experiences

Australia is a top bucket list destination for all types of travellers. Blessed with abundant natural beauty, stunning beaches, and unique wildlife, the country beckons nature enthusiasts, honeymooners, and families by the droves. A road trip along the scenic Great Ocean Road, endless walking and cycling trails, and enthralling 4WD safaris ignite the adventurer in you. Australia's major cities offer awe-inspiring architecture, a multicultural vibe, and mouth-watering culinary experiences. With a wide range of accommodations to suit all budgets, Australia is accessible to travellers from all over the world.

When planning your Aussie vacation, you may want to include these travel experiences, which routinely feature on bucket lists.

Woman sitting out in the meadows in Australia feeding wild Kangaroos
Woman sitting out in the meadows in Australia feeding wild Kangaroos

1. The Great Barrier Reef

No surprises here! The Great Barrier Reef's breathtaking coral gardens, diverse marine life, and vibrant underwater world make it immensely popular among locals and tourists alike. On a day cruise, you can dive, snorkel, or marvel at the corals in a glass bottom boat. Use Cairns as a convenient base for your reef adventures and for exploring other popular spots like Michaelmas Cay, Mooe Reef, Green Island, and Hastings Reef.

2. Kuranda Scenic Railway

The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a tourist railway service operating along the Cairns to the Kuranda rainforest village via Freshwater. It passes by spectacular rainfalls and into the stunning Barron Gorge. Rising from the sea level to over 1,000 ft (304 m), the journey offers breathtaking views of the lush rainforest and natural beauty. Kuranda station is famous for its tropical gardens and historic charm. It is one of the most photographed railway stations globally.

3. Brisbane

The capital of Queensland offers a wide range of relaxing and exciting activities. Stroll around South Bank Parklands, the city's premier lifestyle and cultural destination, visit the Queensland Museum, walk along the picturesque Brisbane Riverwalk, picnic at New Farm Park, kayak down the Brisbane River, and scale the Story Bridge on an adventure climb. Visit the Australian Zoo, set up by Terri Irwin and the late Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter, and feed wild dolphins by hand at Tangalooma Island Resort.

Uluru Dawn Northern Territory
Uluru Dawn Northern Territory

4. Red Centre in the Northern Territory

An Aussie outback experience at the Red Centre, consisting of Alice Springs, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and Kings Canyon region, is not to be missed. Witness the gorgeous outback sunsets, explore ancient Aboriginal culture, take a sunrise camel ride, camp under the stars, marvel at the incredible red rock formations of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, and spend a night at the Field of Light with a sunset bush BBQ dinner. 

5. Sydney Icons: The Sydney Harbour Bridge & Sydney Opera House

You can't visit Australia and not see Sydney Harbour. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the iconic landmarks in the city. Make sure to climb to the top for stunning views of the city. Enjoy a drink at a waterfront bar, soaking in the harbour views and electric atmosphere around you. Do what tourists and locals love: take a ferry ride and enjoy the sights along the way. Another Australian icon, the Sydney Opera House, is located to the south side of the harbour, east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can join a harbour sightseeing cruise to view the iconic building or take a tour of the building to explore its world-famous design and learn about its history.

Remember, these are just a few of the many activities you can enjoy on a trip to Australia. Explore Goway's Australia vacations to find one that suits your requirements.

What do the experts say?

Erin Hutchinson

Erin Hutchinson

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Tasmania is under the radar for many travelers, but it’s great for hikes, natural landscapes and now modern art!
Erin Hutchinson

Erin Hutchinson

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Sydney and Melbourne are a great combination for first-time visitors to Australia, with Brisbane, Adelaide and/or the Outback added in, depending on how much time you have. Returnees should take in Perth, Darwin and the Kakadu National Park area and/or Tasmania if they can, plus spend some time in the cities they loved the first time around
Erin Hutchinson

Erin Hutchinson

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
It might sound cliche, but you really can visit year-round. Australia is a big country, so there is always somewhere with amazing weather!
Alice Teramoto

Alice Teramoto

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Goway’s trips to Australia are not stock itineraries. We can put together trips of a few weeks or a few months, allowing you to see as much of the land Downunder as you can. And we offer a mix of travel options, from self-drives to train journeys to long stays.
Alice Teramoto

Alice Teramoto

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Goway has partnerships with many unique inns and hotels in Australia. Among the most memorable are Qualia on Hamilton Island, Longitude 131 at Uluru and Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island.

Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.

With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.
Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
Newsletter signup visual
ExcellentBased on 5,321 Reviews
Verified
Suzzette and her team provided exceptional support throughout our year‑long planning process for our Bali group. Despite multiple changes, updates, and last‑minute cancellations, she remained organized, responsive, and solution‑focused. Asia Trails Indonesia delivered a seamless experience from arrival to departure, and our guides, Dayu and Adit, were outstanding; prompt, knowledgeable, and attentive to every detail. The coordination across multiple departure cities, the curated excursions, and the overall flow of the itinerary were executed beautifully. My group thoroughly enjoyed the trip and is already asking about returning. I highly recommend Suzzette as a group coordinator for her professionalism, dedication, and high‑quality service.Anchored Memories Travel
Verified
Mike K. graciously provided us with a perfect itinerary, offering us flexible high quality options for our trip. We added in a few complex details and he maneuvered around them creating smooth transitions. Planning an overseas 11 day trip can be overwhelming and Mike made everything feel easy. I highly recommend!Amy Challgren
Verified
Goway staff was available to us throughout our entire trip to Costa Rica. Their involvement was seamless and surprisingly smooth between them and all of our hotels and tours. We have been totally impressed with their involvement with our travel agent and their complete resolution of the only problem we had during the 2 different international trips that we have taken.Diana McCrory
Verified
Thank you to Goway for a great and enjoyable 7 day tour in China, for our Canadian group of 14! Very special thanks to the local guides in Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing ( Richard, Richard and James) who were second to none! Each was a knowledgeable ambassador for their home city, working hard to ensure our enjoyment and comfort, and to showcase the beauty of each area and its current and historical sites. They very kindly and patiently assisted everyone, and especially accommodated 2 of our group who encountered unexpected wellness challenges. The local bus drivers for our group were experts too, keeping us on time and safe on the roads and highways. Hotels were beautiful, welcoming, well located and appointed, quiet, comfortable and clean. Additional travel arrangements by air and high speed train went off without a hitch. KATHLEEN LLOYD
Verified
This was the first time we used Goway Travel and Brooke Theron was absolutely the best to deal with. Our safari in Africa was fabulous and we were able to have all four questions answered before we left. It was a trip to remember and we would recommend both Brooke and Goway to other who are looking for a great experience. Thanks Brooke and Goway.Joyce Robinson
Verified
We decided to go to France for 3 weeks in September and knew we needed help planning the trip (we made this decision in August so a very short time frame. We had traveled with Goway a few years ago and were hoping they could help. Our specialist, Farnaz Bagheri, was fantastic, she listened to what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. She literally arranged everything with her French partners. The guides and drivers were wonderful the accommodations were excellent. Communication was easy from the first discussion to the time we got home. Farnaz planned for us an exceptional trip in a very short time frame. Promise next trip we will contact Goway much earlier. Thanks againSue Blake
Verified
Our experience was amazing! The booking process went great. We just had to pack our clothes and everything else was taken care of thanks to Goway Travel… Lori Mezzomo!!! Lori was fantastic. Everything from flights to transfers to excursions was perfect! Can’t wait to go back and i would definitely use Goway Travel again!!!Marie Idol
Verified
Maria Spitman provided exemplary service to us! Her expertise, attention to detail, timely replies and kindness were unmatched. We will definitely recommend her to others who we know are considering travel to Asia. Alice Staniforth
Verified
Michael Keon and his crew did a fine job coordinating our trip to Turkey. His contact in Turkey, Mr. Omer was in contact with us almost daily reminding us of our schedule and pick up info. He was terrific. Very informative and insightful guides. And large comfortable vehicles on every trip. Awesome trip. Tom and Sharon Tom and Sharon, Toronto, Canada
Verified
We loved the trip itinerary and everything was organized so well! Lori was always very responsive and answered our questions promptly. Thank you for an amazing trip!Jelena Poprzen
Follow Us On
instagramfacebook
Contact UsCustomer ServiceGeneral Inquiries
Featured in
Travel + LeisureAfarCondé Nast TravellerSmithsonian
Accreditations & Memberships
ASTA — American Society of Travel AdvisorsUSTOA — United States Tour Operators Association
 
© Copyright 2026. Goway Travel