6 Cool Places to Visit in Australia

George St, Sydney. (Source)

In this article, we’re going to look at six of the coolest cities to visit in Australia.

With so much to choose from in this colossal country that is on almost everyone’s bucket list, it can be useful to have a little direction to work out what suits you best.  Of course, there’s the obvious attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock, but this list focuses more on the cities that you’re likely to have offered up to you.

1. Cairns

Cairns itself isn’t the most attractive of places, yet the surrounding rainforest and incredible turquoise waters that are the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef make it a popular place to visit.  Indeed, Cairns is somewhat inundated with tourists and whilst there are many cool bars, hotels, and food outlets the city isn’t really comparable to Melbourne or Sydney in terms of things to do.

It’s definitely worth a stop off though, especially if you’re heading to places such as Daintree National Park or the Wet Tropics of Queensland.

Cairns, Queensland. (Source)

2. Adelaide

This is a laidback city with a much more peaceful vibe than most cities in the world.  It has quiet streets that are lined with bars and great music venues - making it a fun place to go out, despite it being a somewhat sleepy city.  It’s nicknamed the ‘city of churches’ due to how many churches it has dotted around and there are lots of green spaces to enjoy a picnic. Adelaide is more the place to go if you enjoy museums and a more slow paced style of tourism.

Adelaide, South Australia. (Source)

3. Perth

Perth is known as one of the most livable cities in the world due to its chilled out vibe, employment opportunities, and cultural sites where a particularly youthful crowd reside.  Perth has great beaches and is almost always sunny making it a great place to visit, but also live. The city of nearly two million offers a range of activities from wonderful shopping opportunities to more sedate cultural activities as well as plenty of active pursuits.

Perth, Western Australia. (Source)

4. Sydney

Sydney has to be one of the coolest cities on the planet, and is often considered to be up there with London, New York and Tokyo.  That said, it can be somewhat expensive and a little chaotic - not quite to the scale of Tokyo or New York, but it’s best to make sure you have a decent amount of time here to fully explore all that’s on offer.

Sydney is defined by its scenic harbor and ferries take people on cruises under the Sydney Harbor Bridge and past the Sydney Opera House, which is a “must do” for most visits.  There are lots of museums, theatres and great things to do within Sydney, yet it’s not just about city life.

You have Bondi Beach nearby, which is an incredible beach famed for its surfing culture (if you’re looking for somewhere great to stay that overlooks Bondi Beach visit www.bondi38.com.au).  There’s a relaxed yet vibrant vibe to Bondi Beach and it epitomises the Australian culture of working to live rather than living to work… as it’s not just tourists you’ll find at this beach, many people that work nearby and live nearby, that are wanting to get in their daily surf session.

Sydney, New South Wales. (Source)

5. Brisbane

Brisbane is a lively city that is a popular tourist destination that enjoys sunshine all year round.  It’s Australia’s third largest city, after Sydney and Melbourne, so it’s a serious city yet it’s also a friendly city.  It’s the biggest city in the Sunshine State with the Brisbane River cutting through its centre, and beautiful beaches not too far away, it’s a great place to visit if you like to be near the water and the amazing climate makes it ideal for outdoor activities such as cycling, climbing and hiking.
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It’s a fun and friendly city that has a vibrant foodie scene, music scene and bar scene making it one of the best all-round cities in Australia.

Brisbane, Queensland. (Source)

6. Melbourne

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and offers a cosmopolitan vibe that makes it feel like Australia's cultural capital.  There are tons of art galleries, museums, a great music scene and plenty of food trucks - at times it feels akin to San Francisco, yet due to its high quality of life people from around the world have made Melbourne their home, and it has a unique vibe that is hard to find elsewhere in the world.
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It remains Australian but has an almost European feel about it due in large part to the architecture, green spaces, and tree lined streets.

Melbourne, Victoria. (Source)

If you would like further information regarding the best time of year to visit the land of Oz, check out Bookmundi's post on the Best Time To Visit Australia.
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