Respect the surf
Always swim between the red-and-yellow flags at patrolled beaches, and ask lifeguards about rips. Calm-looking water can still have strong currents.
Country hubOceania
Where to stay in Australia
A continent-sized country best seen city by city, coast by coast.
Australia is a long way from everywhere, which is why most trips last longer than planned. The east coast cities are the easiest first route, but the distances are real: Sydney, Melbourne and the Great Barrier Reef do not belong in one week. Cities are safe and walkable, beaches are part of daily life, and the sun is stronger than visitors expect.
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Australia
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1 city guide
Country hub
- City guide
- Sydney
- Country hub
- Oceania
- On the desk
- Melbourne · Brisbane · Perth
City guide
1 city guideCity guides in Australia
One city, deeply mapped — more are being researched.
Before you book
The country-level things that change the stay.
Australia · Country hub
Use sunscreen daily
The Australian sun is intense and burns quickly, even in cooler months. Use high-factor sunscreen, a hat and long sleeves in the middle of the day.
Plan for distance
Distances between cities and coasts are much larger than in Europe or the UK. Pick one region, or accept that you will spend a full day travelling between them.
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Not sure which city to start with?
Tell me how long you have and what you want from the trip. I’ll help you choose the city and the base.
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Ask about your routeA note from the editor
“I’d rather tell you which area to skip than sell you another list of ‘best hotels’.”
The guides are independent. Booking links may earn a commission; they never change the shortlist.
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