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Country guide · AU
22 destinations & festivals · 4 etiquette rules
Before you go
Outside the flags there may be rip currents, and lifeguards cannot reach you in time.
Not yet verifiedSource: Surf Life Saving Australia: beach safety signs
The climb closed permanently on 26 October 2019; climbing breaks the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and is punished.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: climb closure
You can be issued an infringement notice; your visa may be cancelled, you may be refused entry and barred from returning for up to 3 years.
Not yet verifiedSource: Australian Department of Agriculture: travelling to Australia
There is no penalty; Australian wages do not depend on tips.
Not yet verifiedSource: Mozo: tipping in Australia
Places & local life
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A World Heritage Site of shells and sails: an architectural poem on Sydney Harbour
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A whole laneway as a canvas: the soul of Melbourne's street art
At sunset, little penguins waddle home — the homecoming ritual of the world's smallest penguin
A crescent of white sand, a regular on 'world's most beautiful beaches' lists
Happy home of the quokka, selfie mecca of 'the world's happiest animal'
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Thousands of limestone spires in the desert, like the surface of the moon
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A man-made beach in the city centre: the relaxed living room of the Sunshine State's capital
A 134-m climb on the 'Coathanger': the world's most spectacular city climb
A 1-km crescent of sand, the spiritual totem of Australian beach culture
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In the blue haze of eucalyptus oil: a canyon epic watched over by the Three Sisters
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A 2,300-km coral kingdom, the largest living structure on Earth
180 million years of ancient rainforest: a green time machine crossed by cable car and scenic railway
57 km of golden coastline: Surfers Paradise and the theme-park capital
A 348-m red heart: the spiritual origin of Australia
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Limestone apostles carved by the Southern Ocean: a temple of light at sunrise and sunset
The hand-held meat pie that's a must at Aussie rules football, once called 'Australia's national dish' by a state premier.
A meringue cake named after a Russian ballerina, fought over for a hundred years by Australia and New Zealand.
A limestone prison built by the convicts themselves, in use until 1991.
The prison for 'incorrigible' convicts, the best known of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage properties.
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Where the First Fleet landed in 1788: Australia's oldest European neighbourhood, with sandstone houses, narrow lanes and a weekend market.
Australians' most everyday weekend: bring sausages and bread and gather by the free electric barbecues in a seaside park.
Australia's coffee capital: independent cafés in the laneways, baristas happy to talk beans, and a proper flat white.
