From Sydney Harbour to coral reefs and the red desert
The sails of the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne's café laneways, the colours of the Great Barrier Reef and the red rock of Uluru. A guide to travelling Australia through its breakfast culture and outdoor life.
November 14, 2026 · 2 min read
Australia is both a country and a continent. Landscapes range from lively coastal cities to the red deserts of the interior, from tropical rainforest to the largest coral reef in the world. Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons run the other way round: summer is December to February.
Sydney: the harbour and the beaches
The Sydney Opera House, opened in 1973 with its sail-like roof, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Together with the Harbour Bridge it makes up the city's postcard.
Life in Sydney revolves around the water: crossing the harbour by ferry, a morning swim at beaches such as Bondi or a walk along the coastal paths is the city's daily rhythm.
Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road
Melbourne is known for the cafés tucked into its narrow laneways, its street art and its coffee culture. In this city, breakfast and brunch are almost a way of life.
The Great Ocean Road, stretching west from Melbourne, is a famous drive past ocean cliffs and the limestone stacks rising from the sea known as the Twelve Apostles.
The Great Barrier Reef and Uluru
The Great Barrier Reef off Queensland is the largest coral reef system in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. Seeing the colourful corals and marine life by snorkelling or diving is one of the high points of any trip to Australia.
Uluru, rising from the red centre of the continent, is sacred to the Anangu, the traditional owners of the land. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and climbing the rock has been banned since 2019; watching it change colour at sunrise and sunset is unforgettable.
The table: brunch, barbecues and seafood
In Australia the table is laid outdoors: parks and beaches have public barbecues anyone can use. Fresh seafood stands out in the coastal cities, and in the mornings, avocado on toast and carefully made coffee.
The meat pie, a pastry filled with minced meat, is a favourite at matches and as a street snack. In the multicultural cities you can find every cuisine from Asia to the Mediterranean.
Good to know
- Traffic drives on the left.
- The sun is very strong; a hat and sunscreen are a must.
- Distances between cities are long; domestic flights are common.
