If you love landscapes that change from place to place, dizzying beaches, bustling cities, strange animals, and outdoor adventures (aka hiking and camping), Australia is definitely a top travel destination for you. The Land Down Under always surprises the lucky person who gets to visit the huge island, which is also a continent.
Here are six remarkable things that you might only see on a trip to Australia.
1. Cute, Cuddly Animals
Not all of Australia's animals are scary. Native to the continent, Koalas are known around the world for their cuteness. They resemble bears but are actually marsupials and carry their young in pouches, like kangaroos.
Wallabies, also marsupials, resemble small kangaroos. They begin life the size of a jelly bean and crawl to their mother's pouches for nurturing. And, you can see full-sized kangaroos in their natural habitat at Kangaroo Island off the coast of Adelaide.
But not all of Australia's cute and cuddly animals are wild. While here, you'll notice a lot of Cavoodles, a hybrid dog breed with Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's parents. Aussies love them for their loyalty, cuddly looks, and hypoallergenic coats. Although they were likely around first as "accidents," the first recorded litter was born in Australia in the 1990s.
2. One of the Seven Wonders of the World
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef on the planet and has made the list of The Seven Wonders of the World. It's so big it can actually be seen from the moon. The reef is comprised of more than 3,000 reef systems and is teeming with marine life. Divers can explore 400 types of coral and 1,500 species of fish.
The Great Barrier Reef is a must-see while traveling the continent, especially since environmentalists say it's disappearing. One study found that climate change and the warming of the ocean waters have caused the reef to lose over half of its corals since 1995.
3. World's Largest Sand Island
If you want to sleep under the stars, there's no better place than on Queensland's beautiful Frazier Island. Made entirely of sand, the island is the world's largest of its kind. The shifting sands make every visit here look different.
Go "glamping" at the luxurious Rainbow Beach or pitch a teepee tent and rough it at Poverty Point or Freshwater. Named for its stunning colorful sand and water, Rainbow Beach is one of the best beaches the Sunshine Coast has to offer.
4. Big, Scary Animals
Australia is home to some of the strangest animals in the world. For example, the Pteropus, the world's largest bat species. It's commonly called a "flying fox" because that's exactly what it looks like. It has the body and face of a fox and wings for flying. Then, there's the weird beast-worm that grows up to a metre long and can live as long as eight years. And, pythons are so common that around Brisbane, they slink from tree to tree in parks looking for ring-tailed possums to feed on. Fortunately, they are neither poisonous nor aggressive, but they can swallow small pets like house cats whole.
Strong teeth, a gaping jaw, and a bad temper give the carnivorous marsupial from the island state of Tasmania the name Tasmanian Devil. It's mainly a scavenger that feeds on roadkill but has been known to attack poultry.
5. World's Largest Fish Market
There's nothing quite as tasty as fresh seafood, and you can sample some of the world's freshest and finest at the Sydney Fish Market, the largest one of its kind in the world. It's all in one building by the beautiful Sydney Harbour. So, while you're awing at the variety and amazingly low prices and nibbling on delicacies like lobster mornay, scallops, and chili crab, you'll have stunning views of one of the world's most famous harbours.
6. An Iconic Scenic Drive
You'll find one of the world's best scenic drives on the Great Ocean Road, a 243-km road along Australia's gorgeous southeastern coast between the Victorian cities of Allansford and Torquay. The iconic highway is listed as an Australian National Heritage Site. Rent a car for the trip and keep in mind that Aussies drive on the left side of the road. You'll go past spectacular views like The 12 Apostles, a collection of limestone rocks towering over the rainforests.
There's much more to see in Australia that you won't likely see anywhere else. After all, it's the largest country in the Oceania Region and is surrounded by numerous smaller islands.
