| If you're planning a trip down under, try to visit some or | | | | can journey across the valley in the only switching, |
| all of these outstanding attractions. | | | | glass floored cable car in the world and enjoy views |
| FRASER ISLAND | | | | of the valley, Katoomba Falls and the famous Three |
| This, the largest sand island on the planet became a | | | | Sisters rock formation. |
| UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. Lush rainforests, | | | | KAKADU NATIONAL PARK |
| impressive sand cliffs and memorable freshwater | | | | Rock paintings and archaeological sites are testament |
| lakes leave a lasting impression on the thousands who | | | | to 40,000 years of continuous habitation. The Kakadu |
| visit the island each year. Apart from its long beaches | | | | National Park, a World Heritage site, covers almost five |
| of white, glistening sand, Fraser Island also draws | | | | million acres in Australia's Northern Territory. Today, |
| people hoping to catch a glimpse of its famous dingo | | | | around 300 Aboriginals live amongst the savannah |
| population. The island covers over four hundred acres | | | | woodlands and tidal wetlands. |
| and lies of the east coast of Australia within the | | | | SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE |
| jurisdiction of Queensland. Some visitors opt to take | | | | Since its opening in 1973, The Sydney Opera House |
| day trips, but most choose to spend a night or two on | | | | has been an Australian icon. Danish architect, Jorn |
| the island. One of the more unusual tourist attractions | | | | Utzon, created one of the twentieth century's greatest |
| is ship that ran aground during the cyclone of 1935. | | | | edifices. Standing on the Bennelong Point, the building |
| SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE | | | | receives more than four and a half million visitors each |
| Known locally as 'The Coat-hanger', Sydney Harbour | | | | year. Tours including backstage and front of house are |
| Bridge is instantly recognisable to many people around | | | | available. |
| the world. Of the 1,400 men who constructed the | | | | PORT ARTHUR |
| bridge, 16 were killed before completion in 1932. The | | | | Formerly a timber station, Port Arthur became one of |
| braver amongst you can do the 'Bridge-climb', an | | | | the most notorious penal colonies in Australia. |
| escorted walk to the top. As you ascend, the cars | | | | Regarded as 'Hell on Earth, the prison housed inmates |
| below become smaller and smaller. 'The Rocks', | | | | as young as nine. The life of the prison stretched from |
| regarded as Sydney's birthplace, is situated at the foot | | | | 1833 to 1877 when it was renamed Carnarvon in an |
| of the bridge. Today it is bustling with restaurants, | | | | attempt to shake off its murky history. However, in |
| shops, galleries and cafes, a far cry from the scene | | | | 1927, it regained its title of Port Arthur. These days, the |
| which would have met those arriving from Plymouth in | | | | prison doors are passable in both directions, with |
| 1788. | | | | guided tours and harbour cruises available. |
| GREAT BARRIER REEF | | | | ULURU-KATA TJUTA NATIONAL PARK |
| Another UNESCO World Heritage site, The Great | | | | Uluru, formerly known as Ayres Rock, stretches over |
| Barrier Reef is probably the most well known | | | | 2 miles in the otherwise anonymous scrubland of the |
| protected marine site in the world. It covers a | | | | park. At 1,142 feet high, it is the largest rock monolith in |
| staggering 86 million acres along the coast of North | | | | the world. Uluru is revered amongst the Aboriginal |
| East Australia. At 1,429 miles long, the reef is home to | | | | people who believe its origins date back to the |
| 1,500 species of fish. Its area is actually larger than the | | | | creation of the Earth. |
| combined size of Tasmania and Victoria. Apart from | | | | AMP TOWER CENTREPOINT |
| the natural beauty found here, there are 30 | | | | At just over 1,000 feet high, the Sydney Tower is the |
| shipwrecks which are regarded as being of historical | | | | highest building in the city. Spectacular views across |
| significance. | | | | the harbour are afforded from the observation deck |
| SCENIC WORLD BLUE MOUNTAINS | | | | and the revolving restaurant. |
| The Jamison Valley is home to the steepest railway | | | | NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA |
| journey in the world. In the valley floor, you'll find over | | | | Many of Australia's finest art collections are housed in |
| two kilometres of boardwalk through woodland and | | | | the National Gallery. A permanent collection of more |
| rain forest. You can return via the scenic cable car, | | | | than 100,000 works shares the building with international |
| which incidentally, is the steepest cable car journey in | | | | art and photography exhibitions. |
| the southern hemisphere, and if that's not enough, you | | | | |