Ten Must See Tourist Attractions In Australia
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Designed and built by Dorman Long and Co Ltd, the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932. Until 1967 it was, according to the Guinness Book of Records, Sydney’s tallest structure.
The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia. The bridge is locally nicknamed “The Coathanger” which is down to it’s arch-based design.
Adelaide Zoo
Adelaide Zoo first opened on 23 May 1883 and Australia’s second oldest zoo houses almost 300 native and exotic species, such as the Sumatran Tigers, Dusky Leaf Monkeys and Giant Pandas.
Many features of the zoo are of architectural importance and are heritage listed by the National Trust of South Australia, including the front entrance on Frome Road, and the former Elephant House.
It was founded by the South Australian Acclimatisation and Zoological Society which later became the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia.
Great Barrier Reef
The world’s largest coral reef system which consists of 2,900 individual reefs is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world and can be seen from outer space. Over thirty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef over the years, including the dwarf minke whale, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, and the humpback whale.
There are also 215 species of birds, 17 species of sea-snake, more than 1,500 species of fish and are at least 330 species of ascidians found on the reef system, to name but a few.
Ayers Rock
Known as Uluru by the local Pitjantjatjara people, Ayers Rock is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It is listed as a World Heritage Site and is sacred to the Aboriginal people of the area.
The rock stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high (863 m/2,831 ft above sea level) with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures 9.4 km (5.8 mi) in circumference. Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give tourists the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk.
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is a pristine natural haven teeming with Australia?s unique wildlife. The wildlife here thrives in its natural state with koalas sleeping away their days in the trees, platypus occupying local streams, and wallabies and kangaroos hopping across the open spaces.
Kangaroo Island is a must see for tourists to the area, there is no other spot on the Australian continent where wildlife viewing is so plentiful in a natural setting. This natural wonder is dotted with caves and striking rock formations. The area is also rich in history in locations such as Reeves Point on the island which was the first European settlement in South Australia.
National Sports Museum
Located within the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, the museum is dedicated to Australian sport and features exhibitions and galleries of items related mainly to Australian Rules Football, Cricket, the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, as well as Tennis, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Golf, Soccer, Basketball and Netball.
The Australian Racing Museum is to be absorbed into the National Sports Museum, which will result in Horse Racing standing alongside other prominent Australian sports.
Australia’s Big Things
Australia’s Big Things are a loosely related set of large sculptures and structures around the Country. There are an estimated 150 of these objects in Australia, the first being Big Scotsman in Medindie, Adelaide.
Most of The Big Things started out as tourist traps placed along major roads between destinations, and have become quite a cult phenomenon. They consist of structures like The Big Banana, a large building in the shape of a banana, The Big Bicycle, The Big Golden Guitar and The Big Rubik’s Cube.
Many of the Big Thing Sculptures are now considered a work of art and are in the process of been Heritage Listed.
Super Pit Gold Mine
The Fimiston Open Pit, also known as the Super Pit is Australia’s largest open cut gold mine. Owned by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd, the pit is located just off the off the Goldfields Highway on the south-east edge of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia.
At approximately 3.5 kilometres long, 1.5 kilometres wide and 360 meters deep the Super Pit can also be seen from Space. The mine produces 850,000 ounces (28 tonnes) per year of gold, and employs around 550 employees directly on site.
Visitors are welcome between the hours of 7am and 6pm and regular blasts occur and can often be viewed from a lookout located off the Goldfields Highway in Boulder.
Australian War Memorial
Located in the Australian capital, Canberra, the War Memorial is Australia’s national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia.
It was opened in 1941, and is widely regarded as one of the most significant memorials of its type in the world. The War Memorial consists of three parts – the Commemorative Area (shrine) including the Hall of Memory with the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, the Memorial’s galleries (museum) and Research Centre (records), it also has an outdoor Sculpture Garden.
Opera House
Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge the Opera House was largely built by Danish architect Jorn Utzon.
It boast a variety of venues including, “the concert hall”, with 2,678 seats, “Opera Theatre” a proscenium theatre with 1,507 seats, “The Drama Theatre”, with 544 seats, the 398 seater “Playhouse” as well as The Studio, The Utzon Room and the Forecourt, a flexible open air venue.
The Opera House was formally completed in 1973, having cost $102 million.
Posted on January 26, 2010 | Filed Under Travel
One Response to Ten Must See Tourist Attractions In Australia
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Australia is beautiful! Very interesting thanks for sharing, I love the pics used. Sydney Opera House is breath taking.