essay about australia tourism

8 of the best places to visit in Australia

Dec 3, 2023 • 8 min read

Narrow down the places you want to go with this guide to Australia © Nigel Killeen / Getty Images

Being tasked with choosing the best places to visit in Australia  is no easy assignment.

There is no shortage of spectacular places that could make the potential shortlist, from culturally diverse cities with rich Aboriginal history dating back tens of thousands of years, to the Great Barrier Reef and the raw outback landscapes in between.

Unless you’ve got months – or even years – to spare, the country’s immense scale and the sheer diversity of experiences on offer means it’s impossible to do it all in one trip. That’s why we’ve rounded up just eight of Australia’s best places to go to help you make your own shortlist – and maybe even give you reasons to visit more than once.

1. The Red Centre, Northern Territory

Australia’s most iconic outback experience

Nothing will take your breath away like a trip to the red heart of Australia in the Northern Territory . Here you can watch the sunset over Uluru – arguably the world’s most famous monolith, and spiritually significant site to the Anangu people – or be inspired by the sheer size of the 36 red domes at nearby Kata Tjuta, within the same national park. The desert’s natural beauty is only further enhanced by  immersive art installations , like the new Wintjiri Wiru experience at Uluru (which tells part of an Anangu sacred story using more than 1100 drones), Bruce Munro’s Field of Light and the Light-Towers at King’s Canyon. 

While there are plenty of adventure activities, like scenic flights and camel riding, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the world’s oldest continuously living culture. Walking tours and art lessons led by First Nations guides can be found near Uluru and Watarrka National Park.

Planning tip: Accommodation in the Red Centre, including campsites, is limited during the peak visitor season of June to September. Book ahead for tours and to secure accommodation.

2. Northern Rivers region, New South Wales

Best for exploring back roads

Bohemian Byron Bay – which has become a favorite destination for celebrities and backpackers alike – is probably the best known destination in northern New South Wales. But it’s just a small part of the Northern Rivers region. Head inland towards the hinterlands and you’ll find quaint villages and laid-back towns equally worth exploring. You can swim in Killen Falls, wander through the charming community of Newrybar, or sample the goods at the surrounding macadamia plantations and from farmgate stalls.

One experience not to miss is the Tweed section of Northern Rivers Rail Trail , which opened in 2023. The 24km (15-mile) abandoned railway corridor connects the region’s historic villages, best explored by bike.

Planning tip: Visit Mullumbimby Farmers Market on a Friday morning. Held at the showgrounds, you’ll be supporting micro-farmers and rubbing shoulders with locals.

3. Sydney, New South Wales

Australia’s best city for outdoor activities

Sydney  is rightfully considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities, where the natural splendor of  cityside beaches collides with incredible urban architecture, including the Opera House . It owes much of its good looks to its massive natural harbor, which is surrounded by a blend of skyscrapers, national parks and multimillion dollar homes.

During the summer, you can cool off at one of the eastern beaches (such as perennial favorite, Bondi ) or in one of the harbor’s 20 sheltered swimming spots. Try Marrinawi Cove, a new terraced sandstone swimming spot. Since opening in 2023 at  Barangaroo , it’s been widely embraced by nearby office workers on their lunch breaks.

In the winter, don’t miss seeing the harbor lit up for Vivid Festival . The foreshore is transformed into a canvas for light installations and projections. The cooler daytime temperatures also make this the perfect time of year to take on the Sydney Loop walk, which covers 26km (16 miles) of Harbour foreshore.

Planning tip: Don’t miss a journey to  Manly  from Circular Quay on the ferry . It's an incredibly budget-friendly way to explore the harbor, taking in Parliament House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. 

4. K'gari, Queensland 

Best for off-grid adventuring 

With a return to its traditional name in 2023, K’gari – the world’s largest sand island – has seen a surge of visitors keen to connect with Indigenous Butchulla culture. Formerly known as Fraser Island, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is rich in history and culture, but it’s also one of Australia’s best 4WD adventures.

Abounding in natural attractions, this is where you can swim in the crystal clear waters of Boorangoora/Lake McKenzie, spot dingos playing on the beach, or relax in a natural ocean spa at the Champagne Pools. Visitors can camp, stay in one of the island’s resorts or even walk nearly the full length of the island on the 90km (56 mile) K’gari Great Walk . Whatever option you choose, you’ll soon understand why “K’gari” translates to “paradise.”

Planning tip: Always carry a list of tide times, as access to some of K’gari’s most popular spots is tide dependent. The sand on the island is deep and soft, so if you’re not familiar with driving a 4WD, it may be best to book a tour with a local operator.

5. Melbourne

Best Australian city for nightlife

Melbourne is a 24-hour city, and come nightfall, the party gets started. Hit the laneway bars for drinks and bites, and don’t miss a live show: iconic St Kilda  music venue the Espy offers three stages for live acts. Meanwhile over in Collingwood, the Tote is so beloved that locals crowdfunded to keep it open.

Melbourne is also famous for its comedy clubs. Check out Spleen Bar  or  Basement Comedy Club , or time your visit to coincide with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival , held every autumn (March to April).

When the gigs are done, settle in for a drink at one of Melbourne’s signature late-night bars like Nick & Nora's and Cherry Bar , or if you’re feeling hungry, fill up at Stalactites .

Planning tip: Melbourne has a specific set of Night Network trains, trams and buses , which operate on Friday and Saturday nights to make sure you can get from bar to bar safely and back home again with ease.

6. Margaret River, Western Australia

Best for wineries and adventure

From New South Wales to South Australia , Australia is spoiled for wine regions. What sets Western Australia’s  Margaret River apart is that its food and wine offerings are complemented by incredible natural attractions. Located just south of Perth , this corner of Australia is considered one the world’s biodiversity hot spots. It has a high concentration of endemic species, including numbats (a marsupial with behavior similar to a meerkat), Western ringtail possums and around 8000 species of vascular plants, 80% of which are found nowhere else on earth. 

The wine is just as notable, with roughly 95 wineries producing award-winning sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, semillon and chardonnay. And when you need to work off all the food and drink, you can paddle out in the legendary southwesterly swell at some of state’s best surf beaches, go deep underground on a tour of the region’s limestone cave systems, or walk a portion of the 123km (76-mile) Cape to Cape track along the coast.

Planning tip: Learn more about the traditional owners of the land, the Wadandi (Saltwater) people at Koomal Dreaming , which offers guided walks and food experiences.

7. Kangaroo Island

The best place for an Australian wildlife safari

Just across the water from Adelaide is Kangaroo Island (KI), a haven for wildlife, including its namesake kangaroos alongside wallabies, koalas, echidnas and platypus. You can watch the island’s little penguins waddle to their dens at Penneshaw and see (and smell) the world’s third-largest sea lion colony lounge amongst the limestone cliffs at Seal Bay Conservation Area . If you’re lucky, you might also catch a glimpse of the endangered glossy black cockatoo with their red tails, or the exceptionally shy Kangaroo Island dunnart, a type of tiny marsupial endemic to the island. 

KI isn’t just a refuge for wild things; though. It’s also home to countless local producers , including distilleries, wineries and beekeepers, the latter of whom produce honey made from the only purebred Ligurian bee colony left in the world. Needless to say, there’s a reason we named it one of the best places to visit in 2024 .

Planning tip: Many of Kangaroo Island’s native species, including kangaroos, are more active at night. As such, it’s advisable to avoid driving at this time.

8. Tasmania

Best for igniting all the senses 

Home to a thriving festival scene, a world-class art gallery and an unbridled wilderness adored by nature lovers, Tasmania is one of Australia’s most diverse destinations, capable of stimulating all your senses.

Here, you can taste whisky at Lark Distillery , Australia’s first carbon-neutral distillery on Hobart ’s waterfront, eat freshly shucked oysters on Bruny Island , or dine at restaurants like Stillwater in Launceston , a UNESCO City of Gastronomy (one of only roughly 50 world cities to earn this accolade).

You can see weird and wonderful art at the controversial Mona (Museum of Old and New Art). You can hear international music at the popular Dark Mofo and Mona Foma winter and summer festival. You can feel the ground beneath your feet as you explore one of the state’s hiking trails. And you can smell the fresh sea air while on a boat tour around some of the world’s highest sea cliffs . 

Planning tip: Renting a car can be tricky during Tasmania’s busy summer season, so it pays to book ahead. Likewise, if you plan to take the car ferry from the mainland , the route often sells out. Bookings may be made up to 11 months in advance.

This article was first published Jun 17, 2021 and updated Dec 3, 2023.

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16 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Australia

Written by Karen Hastings Updated Jul 22, 2023

Australia is a land of dreams. According to Aboriginal legend, in the Dreamtime, the great spirits created its thriving coral reefs, luxuriant rainforests, and red-earthed deserts. Today, these spectacular ecosystems host some of the quirkiest wildlife on the planet and lure nature lovers and adventure seekers from around the globe.

Australia is also a land of staggering contrasts and spectacular beauty. Along the coast, you can explore vibrant cities, vast sand islands, and one of the planet's most awe-inspiring natural wonders: the Great Barrier Reef. In the Outback, rugged national parks and remote deserts offer the ultimate travel adventures rich with Indigenous history.

Top it all off with a laid-back feel and friendly people, and it's no wonder Australia scores top billing on bucket lists around the world. Bring your travel dreams to life and plan the best places to visit with this list of the top attractions in Australia.

1. Sydney Opera House, New South Wales

2. great barrier reef marine park, queensland, 3. uluru-kata tjuta national park, northern territory, 4. sydney harbour bridge, new south wales, 5. blue mountains national park, new south wales, 6. melbourne's culture, victoria, 7. bondi beach, new south wales, 8. daintree national park, queensland, 9. k'gari (fraser island), queensland, 10. kakadu national park, northern territory, 11. great ocean road, victoria, 12. broome, western australia, 13. kangaroo island, south australia, 14. cradle mountain-lake st. clair national park, tasmania, 15. horizontal falls & the kimberley region, 16. train trips across the outback.

Mention "Sydney, Australia" and most people think of the Opera House. Shaped like huge shells or billowing sails, this famous building on Sydney's Bennelong Point graces the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is one of the world's great architectural icons.

The location is stunning. Water surrounds the structure on three sides, and the Royal Botanic Gardens border it to the south.

Danish architect, Jørn Utzon won an international competition for its design but withdrew from the project after technical and financing problems. Construction was finally completed in 1973 at a cost of 10 times the original budget. By this time, Utzon had left the country, never returning to see his magnificent creation.

Today, you can enjoy a performance here, dine at one of the restaurants, or see the highlights of the Sydney Opera House on a guided tour. The structure encompasses theaters, studios, a concert hall, exhibition rooms, and a cinema.

Touring the interior of the Sydney Opera House is rewarding, but its striking architecture is perhaps best appreciated from a distance. One of the best sites to photograph this top Sydney tourist attraction is Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Better still, hop aboard a harbor cruise or ferry and capture a photo from the water as you glide past.

In 2023, the Sydney Opera House is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a packed calendar of special events. During your visit, be sure to check out the newly renovated Concert Hall, part of an almost $300-million "Decade of Renewal."

Author's Tips: If you're visiting Sydney in late May/early June, you can see the white sails of the opera house light up after dark at the Vivid Sydney festival each year.

You can't leave Australia without seeing the Great Barrier Reef. This World Heritage-listed natural wonder is one of the largest living structures on the planet . It's so vast, you can see it from outer space. For divers, snorkelers, island aficionados, and nature lovers, it's a bucket list destination .

In 1975, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established to protect its fragile ecosystems. These include more than 3,000 coral reefs; 600 continental islands, including the beautiful Whitsunday group ; 300 coral cays; and inshore mangrove islands.

One of the seven wonders of the natural world , the park stretches for 2,300 kilometers along the state of Queensland, on Australia's east coast (that's about the distance between Mexico and Vancouver).

Not surprisingly, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best places to visit in Australia for diving and snorkeling. The astounding array of marine life includes soft and hard corals, more than 1,600 species of tropical fish, sharks, dugongs, dolphins, turtles, rays, and giant clams. Prefer to stay dry? You can see the reef from underwater viewing stations and glass bottom boats.

Travelers have many options for visiting the Great Barrier Reef . You can cruise around the islands, hop aboard a sightseeing flight, take day trips to the islands, or snorkel and dive the reefs. On the mainland, the main launching points for tours are Cairns , Port Douglas , and Airlie Beach .

Deep in the heart of Australia's Red Centre, Uluru ( formerly Ayers Rock ), is one of the most photographed natural wonders in the country. The striking red monolith forms the centerpiece of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park , a World Heritage Site jointly managed by Parks Australia and the traditional landowners, the Aṉangu people.

Uluru, meaning "shadowy place" in the local Aboriginal dialect, rises to a height of 348 meters from the surrounding plain. Most of its bulk is hidden beneath the Earth's surface.

Also in the park, about a 30-minute drive from Uluru, are the red dome-shaped rocks called Kata Tjuta (formerly called the Olgas). Equally impressive as their more famous neighbor, and often less crowded, they should not be missed while you are in the park. You can admire their beauty on the 2.6-kilometer-return trek to Walpa Gorge or the 7.4-kilometer Valley of the Winds circuit.

Prime time for photographing these striking landforms is at sunset, when visitors gather to watch the colors of Uluru and Kata Tjuta transform in the shifting light.

Note: In 2019, the Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park board outlawed climbing Uluru out of respect for the Anangu people, the traditional owners. The best way to appreciate these sacred sites is on walks led by Aboriginal guides and rangers.

Along with the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia's top architectural icons. Affectionately called "the Coathanger," this impressive feat of construction is the largest steel arch bridge in the world . It was completed in 1932, 40 years before the Sydney Opera House.

Rising 134 meters above the harbor, the bridge spans 500 meters, connecting Sydney's North Shore to the central business district. In addition to the pedestrian path, two railway lines extend over the bridge, as well as eight lanes for road traffic, and the direction of each lane can be switched to accommodate traffic flow.

One of the top things to do in Sydney is a guided ascent to the top of the bridge. Standing on its summit, connected only by a carabiner, you can breathe in spectacular 360-degree views of the harbor and city. It's a great way to truly appreciate the layout of the city as you gaze out over the fingers of water that snake their way into beautiful blue bays.

For an overview of the bridge's history and construction, visit the museum on the southeastern pier.

Fun fact: Paul Hogan, of Crocodile Dundee fame, worked as a painter on the bridge before rocketing to international stardom.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Sydney

A UNESCO World Heritage Site , beautiful Blue Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise and a popular day trip from Sydney . It lies an easy 81-kilometer drive west of the city.

Named for the blue haze emanating from the many eucalyptus trees, this stunning park protects more than 664,000 acres of wilderness. On a visit here, you can explore dramatic gorges, waterfalls, Aboriginal rock paintings, and 140 kilometers of hiking trails.

The most famous attractions in Blue Mountains National Park are the towering sandstone rock formations called the Three Sisters . Other highlights include the Katoomba Scenic Railway , the world's steepest, which whisks passengers down the Jamison Valley through a cliff-side tunnel into an ancient rainforest; and the Skyway, Scenic Cableway, and Scenic Walkway, which all offer elevated views of the dense forests.

Hiking, abseiling, rock climbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding are all popular things to do in the park.

Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, is a popular stop on many Australian itineraries — especially for culture vultures. Galleries, theaters, restaurants, shops, and its distinctly European feel are the main draws of this sophisticated city on the Yarra River.

It's also a green city, with parks, gardens, and open spaces occupying almost a third of its total area.

The cultural highlights of Melbourne are many. Gape at the masterpieces at the National Gallery of Victoria , watch a performance at Arts Centre Melbourne , or head to Federation Square . Here, you can browse Australian artworks at the Ian Potter Gallery and learn about the nation's screen culture at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) .

Feel like getting back to nature? Follow the Aboriginal Heritage Walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens . And if sports culture is top of your agenda, catch a game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground . In summer, cricket is the sport of choice; in winter, it's Australian Rules football.

Melbourne is also rich in history. You can see it in the Grand Victorian buildings funded by the Gold Rush, and you can feel it as you shop in the elegant arcades and Queen Victoria Market , which has been selling goods to Melburnians for over a century.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Melbourne

Bronzed bodies, blond sand, backpackers, and surf — throw it all together and you get one of the world's most famous beaches. Only 15 minutes by car from Sydney's city center, Bondi Beach is a great spot for a taste of Sydney's beach culture. Bask on the golden sands, surf the breaks, or take a cool dip on a hot summer's day (but stay between the flags).

Few cities in the world lay claim to such an enticing slice of sand and sea so close to the city. No wonder it's one of Sydney's best beaches . And you'll find some history here, too: Bondi hosts one of the oldest Surf Life Saving Clubs in the world .

Away from the shore, you'll find plenty of things to do in Bondi. Take a stroll along the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk. It begins at the southern end of the beach and follows the coastline for six scenic kilometers along sandstone cliffs. You can also hunt for bargains at the Sunday markets or swim some laps in the ocean pool. And if you work up an appetite, you'll find plenty of cafés and restaurants nearby.

One of the best places for a meal with a view at Bondi Beach is the famous Icebergs dining room. The menu spotlights modern Italian cuisine, and you can enjoy a meal of fresh-cooked fish watching the waves wash over the ocean pool.

Bondi also has a wild side. Crowds of tourists and locals gather here to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year. It's a favorite spot for travelers.

A word to the wise: If you're taking a dip at Bondi, make sure you swim between the red and yellow flags. Strong rip tides often sweep unsuspecting swimmers out to sea, especially at the southern end of this kilometer-long strand. There's a reason the Aussies made a reality TV show called Bondi Rescue .

A Wet Tropics World Heritage Area , Daintree National Park in Far North Queensland is among the most ancient ecosystems on Earth. The area belongs to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people, and many of its natural features hold great spiritual significance.

The park encompasses two main sections: Mossman Gorge, where crystal-clear waters gush over granite boulders, and Cape Tribulation, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Australia. Here, rainforest meets reef along the white sandy beaches of the Coral Sea. This stunning stretch of coast is one of the few places in the world where two of the planet's richest ecosystems converge.

The park's astounding biodiversity includes more than 18,000 plant species and a vast array of animal species, including the cassowary, crocodile, giant blue Ulysses butterfly, and the secretive Bennett's tree kangaroo.

The resort town of Port Douglas just south of the park, is a great base to arrange wilderness safaris into the park.

World Heritage-listed K'Gari (Fraser Island) is one of the most unique places to visit in Australia. Sitting between Bundaberg and Brisbane off Australia's east coast, this is the largest sand island in the world . Here, you'll find seemingly endless stretches of sand and sea, turquoise lakes, emerald rainforests, rippling dunes, and fascinating wildlife.

Looking for an adrenaline rush? A 4WD trip along its surf-thrashed shores is one of Australia's top outdoor adventures . Along windswept Seventy Five Mile Beach , you can see the rusted hulls of shipwrecks, the colored sandstone cliffs of The Cathedrals , and the bubbling fish-filled rock pools called Champagne Pools .

Thirty years ago, you could drive for miles and not see another soul. Today the beach can feel like a sandy highway, with a steady stream of 4WD vehicles and tourist buses plying the sands.

Venturing inland on the rugged tracks is a good way to escape the beach traffic during the peak summer months. Highlights include crystal-clear freshwater creeks and lakes, some fed by springs, others perched amid towering sand dunes; and ancient rainforests filled with an amazing diversity of plants and animals.

Sharks, dolphins, and whales swim these waters, and on land, you can see dingoes, bats, sugar gliders, and more than 300 species of birds.

Nature lovers will find plenty of other things to do on K'Gari Fraser Island . Hop aboard a whale watching trip, take a sunset cruise, hike the rainforest trails at Central Station , float down Eli Creek, or soar over the striking landscapes on a scenic flight.

Access to Fraser Island is by ferry from Rainbow Beach and Hervey Bay , the two main gateway towns. Four-wheel drive vehicles are essential, as the island has no sealed roads.

When it comes to wilderness areas, Kakadu National Park showcases the best of Australia. Covering more than 19,840 square kilometers in the Northern Territory, it's the second-largest national park in the world .

Within its borders, you can explore monsoon rainforests, mangrove swamps, rivers, gorges, ancient rock paintings, wetlands, and waterfalls.

Kakadu is also home to an astounding diversity of wildlife. In addition to the many mammals, reptiles, and fish, more than 300 different species of birds make their home here, and both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles lurk in the wetlands.

To explore the park's diverse ecosystems, hop aboard a cruise along the waterways, or hike the vast network of trails. You can also take a scenic flight.

Visiting Kakadu National Park from Darwin is easy during the dry season. It's about a three-hour drive from the Northern Territory capital. In the wet season (Nov-April), many roads and attractions close due to heavy flooding, but the waterfalls and wetlands can be at their best.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Australia's Northern Territory

Great Ocean Road is one of the world's top scenic drives. Built to provide employment during the Depression, the road stretches for 300 kilometers along Australia's rugged southeast coast, winding along plunging sea cliffs. It stretches from the surfing town of Torquay to the town of Allansford , near Warrnambool .

One of the top attractions of Great Ocean Road is Port Campbell National Park . This is where you can see the wind- and wave-sculpted rock formations known as the Twelve Apostles , London Bridge , the Arch , and Loch Ard Gorge . From the air, these rock formations look like giant puzzle pieces adrift along the coast, lashed by the pounding surf of the Southern Ocean.

You'll find plenty of rewarding things to do along Great Ocean Road. Stop by the Australian National Surfing Museum at Torquay, surf the famous swells at Bells Beach, linger in the seaside resort of Lorne, or go whale watching in Warrnambool .

Nature lovers will also enjoy exploring the eucalyptus forests, fern-filled rainforests, hiking trails, and waterfalls in Otway National Park .

Author's Tip: If you're short on time, my favorite way to experience Great Ocean Road is on a helicopter ride along the coast. Gazing down at the giant rock formations carved from the coast by wind and water is a humbling experience. Lashed by the pounding surf of the Southern Ocean, the rock formations look like giant puzzle pieces adrift on a turbulent sea.

Broome, in Western Australia's north, was once the pearl capital of the world. Today, it's a booming tourist town and the gateway to the spectacular Kimberley region.

Broome's star tourist attraction is Cable Beach. This seemingly endless stretch of white sand and turquoise water is one of Australia's best beaches , and riding camels at sunset is one of the most popular things to do here.

Tourists also flock to Town Beach to witness the Staircase to the Moon. This phenomenon occurs during certain conditions between March and October, where the moonlight creates an optical illusion of steps leading to the moon.

Other Broome highlights include the red cliffs of Gantheaume Point, and the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park, where you can get up close to crocs, cassowaries, and kangaroos. If you're looking for things to do in town, you can brush up on some local history at the Broome Historical Museum or catch a movie in a deck chair under a star-studded sky at Sun Pictures.

Pearl farm tours, whale watching trips, and Kimberley adventures are also high on the things-to-do list in Broome.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Western Australia

Nature takes center stage at Kangaroo Island. On this unspoiled island off South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, kangaroos hop along the powdery shores, sea lions and penguins frolic in the crystal-clear waters, and koalas cling to the fragrant eucalyptus trees.

Diving is also excellent. You can spot sea dragons in the temperate waters, and dive shipwrecks off the island's coast.

Kangaroo Island's top attractions are made by Mother Nature. See the striking, wind-sculpted rock formations, known as the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch in Flinders Chase National Park . Explore vast cave systems. Surf towering dunes and look for wildlife on scenic hiking trails along soaring sea cliffs and through pristine forests.

Foodies, too, will be in heaven. Creamy cheeses, Ligurian honey, and fresh seafood grace the plates in local restaurants.

To get here, you can fly direct to the island from Adelaide, or catch a ferry from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Kangaroo Island is recovering well from the 2020 bushfires. In fact, several new eco-friendly lodges are slated to open here in 2023.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in South Australia

Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park is one of Tasmania's tourism treasures and a nirvana for nature lovers. Sparkling lakes, serrated dolerite peaks, alpine heathland, and dense forests characterize the raw, glacier-carved wilderness here. One of the park's most distinctive features is the 1,616-meter Mount Ossa , the highest point in Tasmania.

As you might expect, hiking here is fantastic. Favorite trails include the Weindorfer Walk , a six-kilometer loop through dense forests, and Lake Dove Walk , with breathtaking vistas of Cradle Mountain (1,545 meters). Stand on the summit of Cradle Mountain, and you can soak up stunning views of the central highlands. Experienced hikers can also tackle the famous 80-kilometer Overland Track , which runs south from Cradle Valley to stunning Lake St. Clair , Australia's deepest lake.

While you're exploring the park, keep an eye out for Tasmanian devils, wombats, wallabies, pademelons, and platypus among the many species of weird and wonderful wildlife.

Adventures abound in the Kimberley. Covering Australia's northwest corner, this remote and rugged region of red rocks, gaping gorges, scorched deserts, and cliff-fringed coast is ripe for exploring.

One of the top adventures in the Kimberley is the Horizontal Falls. Powerful tides of up to 11 meters gush through two narrow gorges, creating this jaw-dropping phenomenon. Hop aboard a jet boat and zoom across the sea through the seething falls.

Broome is the gateway. From here, you can soar along scarlet sea cliffs and gaze down upon the 800-plus islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago. Fly farther north to the wild beaches of Cape Leveque, and visit remote pearl farms and Aboriginal communities. Take a 4WD safari along the Gibb River Road , one of Australia's most famous 4WD tracks.

The Kimberley is also home to the spectacular Mitchell Falls and UNESCO-listed Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park . These spectacular beehive-shaped rock formations were only discovered in 1983. Hike the trails, visit sacred Aboriginal ceremonial sites and rock paintings, or soar over the park on a scenic flight and visit the Argyle Diamond mine.

Driving through the Outback can be tough logistically — the distances are vast across this sun-scorched desert region, and you can drive for days without seeing another soul. But gliding through on a luxury train makes exploring Australia's red-hot heart a breeze. It's also a great way to see multiple Aussie attractions in one trip.

You have several train trips to choose from depending on where you want to go. One of the best is the Indian Pacific , Australia's longest train journey. This four-day luxury train trip travels between Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney, whisking you across three states in four days.

Highlights include the Blue Mountains, Broken Hill's art galleries, South Australia's pink lakes, the seemingly neverending Nullabor Plain, and a series of mouthwatering foodie experiences. You can also upgrade your experience with a post-trip tour of vibrant Perth.

Hop aboard The Ghan for another iconic Aussie train trip. From the comfort of a luxury cabin, you can gaze out on the elemental beauty of the desert, while you traverse some of the most remote areas in Australia, including the opal-mining town of Coober Pedy and the Flinders Ranges. Choose between three different routes : Adelaide to Darwin (three days and two nights), Adelaide to Alice Springs (two days and one night), or Darwin to Alice Springs (two days and one night). All these trips can also be taken in reverse.

And if a shorter trip is more your style, opt for the Spirit of the Outback . This 26-hour journey travels from Brisbane to Longreach , in Outback Queensland, where you can delve into some Aussie nostalgia at heritage mining towns like Blackwater and Emerald and visit the Stockmen's Hall of Fame in Longreach.

More on Australia

40 Reasons to Visit Australia

Written by: Katie Tobias

Australia. The land of sun, nature and endless stretches of surf beach. The very fact that the entire country is surrounded by ocean, reef and thousands of islands makes for a pretty epic backpacking destination. Travelling inland from the sea will have you stumble upon National Parks, Rainforests and the mighty Outback. The weather is great for most months of the year and getting around as a traveller is easy. There's a little something for every kind of backpacker, from parties to secluded beaches, from unique animals to endless swimming spots and of course, the laidback locals. Here's a few reasons why we think Australia is BEST backpacking destination in the world.

1. The very existence of  Goon ensures that you can drink every single day and still keep within your budget.

2. There are 11,000 beaches to choose from!

3. You have over 500 National Parks in Australia to explore.

4. You can Snorkel or Scuba Dive in the world's largest living organism - the Great Barrier Reef.

5. And snorkel alongside the gigantic Whale Sharks in Ningaloo Reef.

6. Or the playful Sea Lions in Port Lincoln.

7. It is home to Whitehaven Beach in the  Whitsunday Islands , which is continuously voted in the Top 10 World's Best Beaches lists.

8. You can climb the highest rock in the world in Western Australia - Mt Augustus.

9. You can eat Avocados every day, with almost everything and not get frowned upon.

10. You can drink everyday of the week, at anytime of the day and not get frowned upon.

11. You can eat the country's national emblems and not get frowned upon - the Emu & Kangaroo.

12. Each State has a unique landscape.

By Ruth Ellison from Canberra, Australia (Flickr) [ CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

13. Even if you travelled the entire length of Australia's  East Coast , you still have the entire Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania to explore.

14. You can find $4.95 Dominos pizza in most parts of Australia.

15. Australia's major cities have some of the best Rooftop and Outdoor Beer Gardens in the world.

16. If you were to visit a new Australian beach every day - it would take you 27 years to see them all.

17. Don't forget to visit Hyam's Beach in NSW - with the world's whitest sand.

18. Although boring, you can visit the world's oldest living organism in Western Australia - the Stromatolites.

19. And did you know that Western Australia has a bright Pink Lake?

By Jebayventures (Own work) [ CC BY-SA 4.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

20. You can get a selfie with some of the strangest and unique animals in the world - the Kangaroo, Emu, Koala, Echidna, Quokka and the Platypus - just to name a few!

21. & You can visit Australia's BIG Things - the BIG Banana, the BIG Koala, the BIG Bogan - the list goes on!

22. You can wear Thongs "flip flops" in the northern parts of Australia almost all year round.

23. Vegemite.

24. Tim Tams.

25. Pavlova.

26. Did we mention Goon?

27. Australia is surrounded by 8,022 islands.

28. Including the world's largest sand island -  Fraser Island .

29. There are so many unique places to see...

30. Such as a gigantic Salt Lake in the Outback - Lake Eyre.

31. And the gigantic waterfalls of Kakadu and Litchfield National Park south of Darwin.

By Nigel Malone (Nigel Malone) [ CC BY-SA 1.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

32. And the  Great Ocean Road 's 12 Apostles.

33. And the Sydney Opera House.

34. And the very eerie Pinnacle Desert in Western Australia.

35. You can swim alongside Crocodiles at Darwin's Crocosaurus Cove.

36. It's the ultimate road tripping destination.

37. You can stay in the world's most liveable city -  Melbourne .

38. And the world's most friendliest city - Sydney.

39. You can tick off 19 UNESCO World Heritage Listed sites.

40. And chill out in Tasmania which has the world's cleanest air.

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Notes From Abroad: I Went All The Way To Australia And All I Got Was The Best Customer Service Of My Life

I had to travel all the way across the world to Australia to experience the most memorable customer service experience of my life. It was in Sydney, specifically, at the Old Clare Hotel , a 62-room boutique in the heart of the city’s vibrant Chippendale district . Like many of the hyper-cool neighborhoods in the world’s great cities, Chippendale was once a slum that has transformed over time into a mecca of art, design, and food. I was there during Vivid Sydney , a three-week long arts and culture festival held each May/June that bills itself as “the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas.”

Now, here’s the scenario that produced the aforementioned bit of memorable customer service: The night before I was to fly to Australia, the Golden State Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in game six of the NBA’s Western Conference Finals, forcing a game seven. Based on everything I’d seen, I knew that game seven would be one that I just couldn’t miss, no matter where in the world I was. So without really thinking too much about it, I tossed a line out on Twitter, hoping that maybe someone who follows me might be able to assist in pointing me in the direction of an American-basketball-friendly bar.

“Now I’ve got to find a bar in Sydney to watch game 7,” I tweeted . “Anyone know of one? I’m guessing the Warriors have some fans there because of Bogut.”

In the past, I’ve found this to be a quite effective recommendation-gathering tool when traveling, but in this case I really didn’t get much help from anyone. I suppose my base of followers doesn’t consist of many NBA fans who’ve traveled to Sydney during the season. “Oh well,” I thought, “I’ll figure it out.” Surely, there would be a way to stream the game online or something. I’d worry about that later, as the next day I was to board a Virgin Australia jet for my 14-hour flight Down Under.

When I checked in to the Old Clare and made my way to my room, I discovered that someone on the staff had apparently checked my social media accounts prior to my arrival and noticed the tweet about a place to watch game seven. My tweet was printed out and framed and accompanying it were some hotel coasters with recommendations listed on them. They also tossed in some facial products from Triumph & Disaster (which I loved) for extra measure. I can only presume that digging though my Twitter archive they must have also noticed that I’m a man who loves a good exfoliation every now and then.

https://twitter.com/thecajunboy/status/737419836964249601

I later learned that this sort of thing is something the hotel does regularly. The Old Clare social media staff will often check the social media accounts of people with upcoming reservations to see if they can spot any way to proactively enhance the guest’s stay prior to arrival. It’s so simple, but so uncommon, and rather genius at the same time. There’s also something about it that’s mildly creepy, but hey, this is the world we live in. In 2017, anything we post online is there for the whole world to see, so why not have merchants that seek to make our lives easier and more pleasurable use what we post to do just that?

With that anecdote unpacked, here are a few more of the things I did/saw/heard/felt when I spent a week in Australia in June of 2016.

— Speaking of the Old Clare Hotel in Sydney, the robe in my room was the most luxurious-feeling hotel robe I’ve ever experienced. I loved mine so much that I bought it and brought it home (It cost me just over a hundred bucks to do so). I’m actually wearing it right now as I type this! And the scrambled eggs served at breakfast — which Australians call “brekky” — at Kensington Street Social, one of the hotel’s two great restaurants, were arguably the best I’ve ever had.

— Visiting Sydney during Vivid Sydney turned out to be an extraordinarily fortunate occurrence for me. I got to see two of my favorite musical acts — Bon Iver and Polica — perform at the Sydney Opera House, one of the world’s iconic performance spaces, and I found myself utterly mesmerized by the displays of lights all over the city each night. Think of it this way: one of the world’s most beautiful cities was literally lit every night. I can only imagine how much better it would have been had I experienced it on acid, but I refrained. The timelapse video below demonstrates how captivating this was much better than I could possibly convey in words.

— When I tuned in to the local news that first night at the Old Clare, news from America dominated the top of the program. The top news of the night was a story about Harambe (Australians were obsessed with the killing of Harambe), with the second story of the night being about Trump and whatever ridiculous things he said on the campaign trail that day. (Interestingly, Australia had its own presidential election that would take place just a few weeks later, in July , but it was dwarfed by interest in the U.S. presidential race.) The third story on the news that night was about a woman who had died in a crocodile attack after she and a friend were at the beach and ventured out into waist-deep water for a night swim. (Coincidentally, I did everything I could to avoid going into the ocean during my time in Australia.) Oh, and another story on the news when I arrived in Australia — a kangaroo attacked a woman riding a bike, causing her breast implants to rupture. I am not making any of this up, I swear.

— Around the corner from the Old Clare is a street called “Spice Alley” that features literally every kind of Asian cuisine imaginable. Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese…you name it. It was heavenly.

— The morning I landed in Sydney everyone was consumed by how “cold” it was . As I was being driven by a livery driver to my hotel from the airport, I heard a morning radio host say that it was the coldest day Sydney would have in five years. Curious because it didn’t really feel all that cold to me, I checked the weather app on my phone to get the temperature — it was 46 degrees Fahrenheit. In other words, a mild fall day for most Americans.. By the afternoon the temperature would rise to the mid-60s, but the locals were running around in heavy coats and scarves and mittens and whatnot.

— Public wifi was oddly difficult to find in Sydney. Most coffee shops do not offer it, unlike in the U.S. Because of that, presumably, this is a place where internet cafes continue to exist and thrive. It was very surprising for one of the world’s most modern cities.

— It’s not usual when traveling abroad to see American 7-Elevens all over the place, but Sydney is chock full of them.

— Bars in Sydney close early — at 1:30am. If you want to drink past that time you have to go to one of the local casinos, where booze is served deep into the night. I wonder how much the casino companies paid off local politicians to make this a thing?

— One of the cab drivers I had in Sydney was an Indian man who had a gazillion questions about the gun laws in America. I think he was hoping that I could help him make sense of them, which I could not. He mentioned that he had family members living in the U.S., including a daughter who was attending a university to get her Ph.D in physics. He told me that he worried about them and has been asking all of his family to leave the U.S. and move to Australia. “America is just too dangerous,” he said. And to think that this was before two Indian engineers were the victims of a shooting spree in Kansas at the hands of a man who thought he was shooting Iranians .

— After a few days in Sydney, I took a short flight up Australia’s Eastern coast to the town of Byron Bay. It is here that I have determined that I would like to die. Specifically, at the beachfront resort I stayed while in Byron, the Elements of Byron. Embedded below is a video tour of the property. Perhaps after viewing it you’ll understand why I favor it as a place to die. For the record, I would not mind living here, either. To both live and die in Byron Bay, Australia would not be all that bad. Maybe this could be the town’s new slogan: “Byron Bay: a great place to live, but a better place to die.”

— The property that the Elements of Byron sits on, and is surrounded by, is one of the most breathtaking stretches of land I’ve ever set foot on. The resort features just over 100 villas that are spread out along miles of coastline which feel somehow virtually untouched by man. Even better, because it was “winter” in Australia and few people were staying at the resort while I was there, I had miles and miles of stunning beach to myself each day I was there. I literally never encountered another person on the beach at any point during my time there, and I went for hour-long walks on the beach each morning and afternoon. It almost didn’t seem real.

I was so moved by the scenery that I even tried doing yoga and meditating for the first times in my life. I mean, when in Rome and whatnot, right?

On the last day I was there — after having not seen another human being on the beach for days — I stripped off all my clothes and walked for miles naked that morning. I discovered that walking naked on the beach as a cool breeze blows while the sun rises over the horizon is intoxicatingly liberating. Any walks on the beach for the remainder of my life will pale in comparison to this one. So yeah, I love Byron Bay, Australia and I recommend staying at the Elements of Byron if you go there. (Also, go during the winter . Trust me on this.) If the beach isn’t your thing, the pool situation at the resort is way above average.

And this is what sunrise looks like from the beach at the Elements of Byron. I was naked when I took this photo, btw.

— Byron Bay is quite small, with a total population of around 9,000. To drive there from Sydney would take about 10 hours because of the rugged terrain one would encounter along the route, while a flight only took about an hour and a half, if that. The area was first popularized due to surfers flocking to the area once word got out about its pristine beaches and crystal clear waters. The area’s most famous local landmark is a lighthouse that was built in 1901 and it situated on the most eastern part of Australia’s mainland.

— And here’s the view of the ocean down below from atop the hill where the lighthouse sits. I almost plunged to my death to get this shot, so I hope you all appreciate it.

— After spending a few days in Byron, I returned to Sydney where I experienced the only real disappointment of my trip. I was to spend my last two days of my trip in Bondi, the beach-y part of Sydney. For weeks leading up to my trip, everyone I spoke to who’s been to Sydney raved about Bondi and told me how much I would love it. But a bad weather system passed through upon my arrival and stuck around for the remainder of my trip. And when I say “bad weather system,” I’m talking dangerous winds and torrential rains, weather so extreme that the local surfers — who usually flock to the sea during storms for the big waves — were implored not to go out. Things were so bad that multiple motorists drowned in their cars after being stranded by floodwaters. One man was apparently sitting on rocks near the ocean and was swept into the sea by a huge wave.

Needless to say, I didn’t get in any good beach time at Bondi and spent most of my time there in my hotel room. On the bright side, the hotel I stayed at — the QT Bondi — was utterly fabulous with a staff that was extraordinarily helpful and accommodating. I’d put staffs of all three places I stayed in Australia — the Old Clare, Elements of Byron, and the QT Bondi — up against any hotel staffs in the world. I remain to this day completely blown away.

— On my last full day in Sydney I had had a private tour of the city with a man named Richard Graham, who runs a local tourism company called My Detour . Richard typically conducts his tours in a 1964 Holden, a classic Australian car, but because of the shitty weather and risk of flooding we had to do this one in an elevated mini-van. Richard was an encyclopedia of local knowledge and just a really fun dude to spend four hours in a vehicle with — something I can’t say for most human beings. My only regret is that I didn’t do the tour with him at the beginning of my trip. Having the knowledge I received from him would have helped me appreciate parts of Sydney so much more.

It was a vital lesson to learn though: I know schedule any guided tour at the beginning of any trip I take rather than towards the end. A good guide will help you get an immediate grasp on a city, the highlights and quirks of its various neighborhoods, not to mention its history.

— The best meal I had during my entire time in Australia was probably the dinner I had at Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta . The pizza was f*cking fantastic, everyone in the place looked like they’d walked out of the pages of a magazine, and a thickly-bearded DJ played disco tunes at a set of turntables next to the restaurant’s cappuccino machine. It was kind of an absurd scene, which made it perfect in my eyes.

— The best bar I visited while in Australia was a delightfully weird little dive called The Bearded Tit. It was pretty much everything you’d imagine it to be, something you’re more likely to find in a place like New Orleans or Amsterdam than you would Sydney. You never know what to expect each time you walk in there.

— You may have heard that Australians are extremely friendly people. I can confirm this. In the just over a week I spent in the country, every person I encountered was impossibly warm, polite, and welcoming. There was not a single asshole to be found. Look, I’m sure Australian assholes exist, but I certainly didn’t run in to any.

— The portions for every meal I had in Australia were strikingly huge. Now, I say that as an American born and raised in the South, so I’m used to ridiculously large portions of food. But some of the portions that came with meals I ordered in Australia were simply too much for me to eat. I’ve no idea how they do it over there and manage to not have the obesity issues we have in America.

— I’ve determined that there needs to be some sort of worldwide governing body whose sole purpose is to conceive and enforce universal coffee drink terminology. It took me a hot minute to figure out how to order coffee in Australia because of the coffee terminology that’s unique to the country. I find this is often the case in just about any foreign country I visit.

For example, the most popular coffee drinks in Australia are the “Long Black” and the “Flat White.” Aside from “Long Black and Flat White” sounding like the title of a video you might find on Blacked.com (a very NSFW site that is exactly what you’d imagine it to be, FYI), making it difficult for me to order either without breaking into a giggle fit, the first Australian baristas I encountered seemed completely incapable of explaining to this dumb American what they were exactly. I had to use the computer in my pocket to Google for answers and, quite simply, a “Long Black” is an Americano and a “Flat White” is a cappuccino.

Also, I’m a simple kind of guy when it comes to coffee. More often than not, I just want a cup of plain old drip coffee with cream and sugar, which isn’t an option in most coffee shops and cafes in Australia, or anywhere abroad.

— I wore an LSU cap on one of the days I was in Australia and I was stopped numerous times by people wanting to talk to me about Ben Simmons, the Australian basketball prodigy who played his college ball there.

— Residents of Sydney are called “Sydneysiders” in Australia. I found this endlessly amusing for reasons I’m still not quite sure of.

— At lunch one day I heard an Australian woman tell her male, British dining companion, “We only get twenty days paid time off per year here.” To which the British man replied, “Yeah, that’s not a lot.” It was yet another reminder of how much more the rest of the world values and encourages workers to take time off.

— Finally, you know the whole “throw some shrimp on the barbie” thing popularized by Paul Hogan so many years ago? It’s bullshit. Shrimp are call prawns in Australia. And now you know.

And here are a few additional photos from Vivid Sydney , just for good measure.

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Essay on Australia

Students are often asked to write an essay on Australia in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Australia

Australia’s location.

Australia is a country in the Southern Hemisphere, located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It’s the world’s smallest continent but the sixth-largest country by total area.

Natural Beauty

Australia is famous for its natural beauty. It has unique animals like kangaroos and koalas. The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, is found here.

Culture and People

Australia is a multicultural country with people from many backgrounds. English is the main language. Australians are known for their friendly and laid-back nature.

Australia has a strong economy, with sectors like mining, agriculture, and tourism playing key roles.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Australia
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250 Words Essay on Australia

Introduction.

Australia, often referred to as “Down Under”, is a unique country that is also a continent. It is renowned for its rich culture, diverse ecosystem, and vibrant economy.

Geography and Biodiversity

Australia is the world’s smallest continent but the sixth-largest country by land area. It boasts a diverse geography, from the arid deserts of the Outback to the snowy peaks of the Australian Alps. This diversity extends to its wildlife, with species like kangaroos and koalas that are found nowhere else on earth.

Australian culture is a blend of its Indigenous roots and more than two centuries of immigration. This multicultural mix has created a vibrant, inclusive society that values diversity. Australians are known for their laid-back attitude and friendly demeanor, often characterized by the term ‘mateship’.

Australia has a strong, stable economy, ranked 13th largest in the world. It is rich in natural resources, including coal, iron ore, and gold. The services sector, including tourism, education, and finance, also plays a significant role.

Australia is more than just a country; it’s a unique blend of diverse cultures, landscapes, and wildlife. Its robust economy and multicultural society make it a fascinating study for students of geography, culture, and economics. Despite being geographically isolated, Australia’s impact on the global stage is significant and continues to grow.

500 Words Essay on Australia

Australia, also known as “the land Down Under,” is a country known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse ecosystems, and progressive economy. The country is characterized by its unique flora and fauna, captivating landscapes, and vibrant cities that blend modernity with tradition.

Australia is the world’s sixth-largest country by total area and is located in the Southern Hemisphere. It is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, featuring a wide range of geographical landscapes, from arid deserts and stunning beaches to lush rainforests and snow-capped mountains. This geographical diversity has resulted in a unique biodiversity. Australia is home to a myriad of endemic species, including the kangaroo, koala, and emu. The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, is another testament to Australia’s rich biodiversity.

Australian culture is a blend of its Indigenous heritage and multiple waves of immigration. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the country’s original inhabitants, have a rich cultural history dating back at least 65,000 years. Their stories, traditions, and living cultures are a significant part of Australia’s identity.

Influences from British colonization are also evident in Australian culture, particularly in its legal and political systems. More recent immigration waves from Europe, Asia, and Africa have further diversified the cultural fabric, making Australia a multicultural society with a high degree of social integration.

Australia boasts one of the world’s largest mixed-market economies. It is particularly strong in sectors such as mining, agriculture, and services. The country is known for its significant natural resources, including gold, iron ore, and coal. Australia’s economic stability is also attributed to its robust financial sector, sound regulatory systems, and a strong emphasis on innovation and technology.

Education and Research

Australia’s education system is highly regarded globally. The country is home to several world-class universities that attract international students from around the globe. Research and development play a crucial role in Australia’s economic and social progress. Australian researchers have made significant contributions in various fields, including medicine, climate science, and technology.

Australia is a vibrant and dynamic country with a rich history, diverse culture, and robust economy. Its unique biodiversity, commitment to education and research, and multicultural society make it a fascinating subject of study. Understanding Australia’s complexities and nuances provides valuable insights into how diverse elements can coexist and thrive in harmony.

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Indigenous Tourism. Torres Strait Islanders Essay

Aboriginal torres strait islanders, market and indigenous tourism, issues of control in atsi tourism, ethical research in aboriginal and torres strait islands communities.

In many countries and cultures throughout the world, tourism is a large source of income for many individuals. Being able to support oneself and family through the education of tourists about their culture has to be a rewarding experience. Unfortunately, there are also people that are so eager to earn money that they exploit other individuals in their quest for money that massive damage occurs to the country and culture. This effect is increased when there is an indigenous culture involved. These cultures that are living by the traditions of their culture can be vulnerable to unscrupulous individuals creating complications within their culture and the very industry that requires that culture draw visitors.

The success of Indigenous tourism depends upon a tripod composed of the draw that the indigenous cultures have on creating a unique destination on a global scale, the government who balances the need for economic opportunities within these communities which allows the government to proportion its money in other areas with the third leg of the tripod limiting the amount of damage both cultural and environmental that the increase in tourism can bring to an area. Balancing these needs requires that compromises be made along each side so that the tourism that brings in much-needed revenue to these areas is not responsible for the destruction of the areas that bring the tourists to the area in the first place. Therefore considering the situation a win-win one is very optimistic, these three legs of the tripod end up competing with each other as they try to ensure that their individuals’ needs are met rather than considering what the effects will be on the industry as a whole.

The specific area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) has increased in the level of importance throughout the last few decades due to the increased marketability of this area’s aboriginal culture in overseas markets. As the international exposure continued to grow the area received more revenue from the tourist industry but also has to balance the demands of tourism and the effect that the increased visibility from global exposure will have on their traditional lifestyle. There is a concern that the government’s use of the aboriginal arts and music to promote the tourist industry to Australia in general rather than to specific areas where the aboriginal art and culture is created in the ATSI area of Australia. Effects of this while it does increase the number of tourist dollars into the country there is only a slight benefit to the tourist business owned or operated by the ATSI individuals.

The relationship between government-sponsored tourism and indigenous cultures has the ability to either help or hurt the industry. In order to best promote these cultures, they must be given enough autonomy to protect their culture but combined with partnerships that are well thought out in enhancing the cultural history of the tribes while protecting that very same history. If the indigenous population becomes mainstreamed or destroyed in other ways the tourist industry will also be destroyed. The combination of using the indigenous cultures to increase the amount of revenue into the economy must balance the gains to the economy and minimize the damage done to the indigenous cultures.

When the average computer literate individual searches for information on Australia on the internet there are several very good websites that are brought up. The first of this website is www.australia.com. The website is sponsored by the government of Australia so that the aspects of the culture that are most popular and therefore the most marketable are promoted. While the culture of Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, and Melbourne’s culture there is also the promotion of the Uluru and Kakadu Aboriginal cultures. The website www.tourism.australia.com starts with a slide show of people enjoying the various cultural aspects of the country with individuals enjoying themselves. These two websites through operated by different organizations emphases the vast amount of experiences that a tourist can enjoy while visiting the country. This is also known as promoting the “Brand Australia” in a visually appealing manner so that more tourists will visit. These websites also promote the unique aboriginal culture that can only be found in Australia.

When going through these websites the images throughout the website depict the culture of the Aboriginals through specific individuals, their art, and their history. This promotion is part of a very smart campaign to convince tourists that they would not be able to get an experience anywhere else in the world like they would be able to get when they visit Australia.

The promotion of Australia through a specific brand was a unique concept that changed the way countries promoted themselves to individuals who wished to travel. By combining the characteristics of the country with the attitudes and various lifestyles was a departure from the traditional methods of attracting tourism to the country. By combining these characteristics there was a better chance of convincing individuals to travel to Australia since they would not find a similar experience anywhere else in the world.

The promotion of the Aboriginal cultures of Australia specifically the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders was helped with the creation of a Tourism Industry Strategy in 1997 which created several brochures that promoted the experience that could be had by visiting the various tribes with advice on behavior combined with focused information on different areas and offerings. These brochures were designed to enhance the desire to visit Australia in order to be able to experience these activities and the culture firsthand rather than merely reading about them.

This promotion of nations indigenous population occurs throughout the world as each country competes in a global economy based around tourism. These countries that have been blessed with an aboriginal culture use that culture to stand out from other countries to entice more tourist dollars into the country. While these promotions due increase the number of tourists who visit a country each year they also produced stereotypical images of the countries that continue throughout the world. Images of the outback and “Crocodile” Dundee are the images that most commonly come to mind when thinking about Australia. These images are an aspect of the promotional campaign put in place several years ago by the government. While this is not a bad image necessarily it is the stereotypical image of Australia and the individuals that live there.

Concern by the Aboriginals over the use of their land has led to more control being returned to the Aboriginals from the government. In several instances, the Aboriginals upon regaining this level of control enter into partnerships with their government in hopes that there the joint leadership over the land will help increase the revenue generated by the land. This joint leadership allows the indigenous people to have control over their land and activities but also the support in business matters from the government.

While this is happening in Australia it is also happening around the world. The indigenous population of Hawaii is allowed control over one of the islands and only native Hawaiians are allowed to live on that island. While it is a measure of control and they have the ability to live a traditional lifestyle on that island the other islands in Hawaii are marketed throughout the world as premier tourist destinations. The native Hawaiians have received a measure of control and protection of their way of life from the government but are severely limited in where that control is exercised.

This global phenomenon of the governments of the world using their indigenous citizens as a draw for tourists sparked a controversial debate in March 2002. Indigenous leaders from 19 different countries gathered in Mexico to discuss the opportunities and problems that result from ecotourism with specific examples from their own experiences. This meeting produced the “Oaxaca Declaration” which prompts the indigenous cultures around the worked to participate in the sharing of information that will allow other cultures to learn from the experiences of others so that the damage to the indigenous cultures around the world could be minimized while supporting tourism interest in their culture.

This meeting was a groundbreaking event for the indigenous populations due to the fact that there are many institutions that are working toward the creation of standards for certification of both ecotourism and sustainable tourism with very little input from the cultures that are at risk with these efforts. In order for true policies on ecotourism to be created the indigenous populations need to be a major participant in these discussions so that their traditional way of life receives the benefits of more exposure to other cultures but that the cultures that visit them limit the damage that they can cause to both the traditional culture and the environment that sustains that way of life.

I think that it is unfortunate that the indigenous people have to fight to regain control over their lands through the legal system and then once that control has been regained sign contracts with either individuals or government agencies that while they might want to help them become more self-sufficient also pose a threat to the survival of their way of life. Signing a lease for over 90 years is not helpful to the tribes but it is to the government that is using the same tribe as a magnet for tourism.

In today’s world, the standards for conducting research on humans are incredibly strict and the penalties for not following the guidelines and standards are severe. Unfortunately, this was not always the case and for cultures that pride themselves on oral traditions of history the word research drags up unpleasant memories and mistrustful feelings.

A lot of the early research among the aboriginal cultures was done in an effort to prove that they were an inferior culture that did not deserve the right to make decisions for them or own their own land. While these studies were done under the scientific guidelines of the times and in order to answer questions for the scientific community the results of the studies were also used to have the legal right to take away their land, culture, and heritage.

These studies included measuring the skulls of indigenous populations in order to prove that the size of the skull and therefore the size of their brain indicated that they were an inferior form of the human race and therefore unable to take care of themselves or their lands. While this was done under the scientific standards of the time and the expected result was expanding the research on the theories of race that were popular during the time of the experiment. Unfortunately, it is a common side effect that research done on indigenous populations during that time period resulted in negative consequences through changes in government policies such as land ownership.

The results of other studies have caused negative effects inside the tribe such as danger to the lives of the participants from other members of the tribe or the research gathered was the folklore and superstitions of the tribe with very little scientific validity. It was in response to the unintended consequences and collection of research that was not valid that brought about the changes to how the research was conducted among human subjects with emphasis on the indigenous populations.

When researchers of today go into these areas they need to understand that their relationships with the individuals of these cultures must be treated with respect and dignity and realize that responses and situations in the tribes will be in part based on the memories of past research expeditions. Even if those expeditions happened 50 or 150 years ago.

The standards that are in place currently include treating the individuals with respect and dignity, informed consent, and the creation of a formal document outlining the proposed research and the expected outcomes. These outcomes need to be relevant to both the scientific community as well as the native community for the research to be done with the respect and dignity that the standards demand but also human decency.

While it would be nice if the damage that previous research has done to the tribes; that is not a possible solution. Because of that, the best situation is for the scientists to go forward with the understanding gained from the previous research studies combined with the current standards on conducting ethical research among these communities.

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IvyPanda. (2021, October 3). Indigenous Tourism. Torres Strait Islanders. https://ivypanda.com/essays/indigenous-tourism-torres-strait-islanders/

"Indigenous Tourism. Torres Strait Islanders." IvyPanda , 3 Oct. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/indigenous-tourism-torres-strait-islanders/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Indigenous Tourism. Torres Strait Islanders'. 3 October.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Indigenous Tourism. Torres Strait Islanders." October 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/indigenous-tourism-torres-strait-islanders/.

1. IvyPanda . "Indigenous Tourism. Torres Strait Islanders." October 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/indigenous-tourism-torres-strait-islanders/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Indigenous Tourism. Torres Strait Islanders." October 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/indigenous-tourism-torres-strait-islanders/.

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Tourism in Australia

Tourism is one of the most important industries in the Australian economy and is growing rapidly. It is predicted that the number of tourists visiting Australia will double by the year 2020. Tourism is an important source of local employment and income generation. However, consideration should be made with regards to sustainable development. – Define the term sustainable development and its relationship to tourism. – Select a case study of Uluru and explain its location and importamces to answer the following questions: a- Research the social, economic and environmental impacts that increased tourist numbers will have on Uluru’s region. b- Identify four stakeholders in Uluru’s region and explain their attitude towards this growth. c- Recommend ways for maintaining the sustainability in Uluru’s region. IMPORTANT NOTE: – at least 5 paragraphs. – organize and communicate the paragraphs. – respond in a logical sequence, using REPORT FORMAT. – at least 4 different references and use in-text referencing where required.

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Tourism Essay for Students and Children

500+ Words Essay on Tourism

Tourism Essay – Tourism is a major economic activity that has developed significantly over the years. It’s an activity that can be recognized in both developed and developing nations. In general terms, tourism is the movement of a person from one place to another to visit and mesmerize the beauty of that place or to have fun. Moreover, the concept of traveling is considered a luxury and only people with higher income can afford this luxury.

The Growth of Tourism

Earlier our ancestors used to travel by sea routes as it was a convenient and most affordable medium but it was time taking. Due to, technological advancement we can now easily travel to any place without wasting time we can travel thousands of miles within a few hours. Technological advancement has shrunk the earth into a global village. Besides, the modern modes are much safer than the modes that our predecessors used.

Effect of Tourism on a Country

For any country, tourism generates a lot of money especially a country like India. Due to the Taj Mahal (one of the seven wonders of the world) every year the government raise a huge sum of revenue. Also, because of tourism other industries also bloom. Such industries include transportation, wildlife, arts and entertainment, accommodation, etc.

Moreover, this ultimately leads to the creation of job and other opportunities in the area. But there are some drawbacks too which can affect the lifestyle and cultural value of the country.

Importance of Tourism

Traveling is a tiring and difficult thing and not everyone is able to travel. But at the same time, it’s a fun activity that takes your tiredness away. Travelling adds flavor to life as you travel to different places that have a different culture and lifestyle. Also, it’s an easy way to learn about the culture and tradition of a place. Besides, for many areas, tourism is their main source of income.

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India- A Tourist Attraction

The Taj Mahal is not the only destination in India that attract tourist. Likewise, there are hundreds of tourist destination that is spread over the Indian plateau. India has a large variety of Flora and Fauna. Besides, the equator divides the geographical land of India into almost two equal halves that make India a country where six seasons occurs.

Moreover, in almost every city of India, there is a historical monument made by the rulers in their time period.

Benefits of Tourism

Tourism not only benefits the government but also the people that live in the local area. It also creates a business as well as employment opportunities for the local people which ultimately help the government to earn income.

Benefits Due to Tourism

As we know that tourism contributes a lot to the revenue of the country. Also, the government uses this income for the growth and development of the country. Likewise, they construct dams, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, Dharamshala and many more.

In conclusion, we can say that tourism is a very productive activity both for the tourist and the government. As they support each other simultaneously. Also, the government should consider improving the conditions of the country as more and more number of tourist visit their country.

Above all, tourism is one of the fastest-growing industry in the world that has changed the scenario of the world.

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American Airlines' Latest Sale Has Discounted Flights to Australia and New Zealand — When to Book

Escape winter by flying to the Southern Hemisphere for as low as $770 roundtrip.

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American Airlines has discounted several flights to Australia and New Zealand this winter — the perfect time to visit when it’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

“Together with Qantas, we offer you a seamless, more rewarding travel experience to Australia and New Zealand,” American shared on its website . “Explore Australia’s Outback and New Zealand’s Fiordland. Visit world-famous Sydney Opera House or iconic Hobbiton.”

The sale, which ends on Tuesday, May 28, has the following nonstop routes to Auckland and Brisbane up for grabs:

• Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland (AKL): $770
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Auckland (AKL): $770
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Brisbane (BNE): $970

The eligible sale flights will be operated by either American or Qantas and already include government taxes and fees in the ticket price. Travelers with American Airlines miles can also book these same flights for as low as 35,000 miles one-way or 70,000 miles round-trip.

Even better, there are plenty of available travel dates for later this year and into 2025, making this a great way for travelers to get to Australia or New Zealand on a budget. Sale flights to Auckland are available between January 28 and February 28, while flights to Brisbane can be booked for travel between October and December 4 and from January 28 to March 29. 

However, other travel dates and routes are available at higher prices, according to American. For instance, travelers can also fly between Los Angeles (LAX) and Sydney (SYD) this fall for $1,054 or Dallas (DFW) and Sydney (SYD) for $1,485. 

American Airlines operates a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to operate some of its longest flights, and its economy seats are configured in a 3-3-3 configuration. Travelers may have the opportunity to upgrade to premium economy seats or business class after booking, which can help make the 17-plus hour flight more comfortable.

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Brisbane / Meanjin  to host the Australian Tourism Exchange in 2025 

The Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) will return to Brisbane / Meanjin next year with Australia’s largest annual tourism trade event to be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from Monday, 28 April 2025 to Thursday, 1 May 2025.

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ATE returns to Brisbane for the first time since 2007 and it will be the fourth time the city has held the event, having also hosted in 2001 and 2002.

Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell, said ATE is an important event each year which provides the Australian tourism industry with the chance to meet with tourism wholesalers and retailers from 30 countries around the world.

"The Australian Tourism Exchange is an important event for Australian tourism businesses to sell their products and show the world why there is no place like Australia,” Mr Farrell said.

“With Queensland gearing up to host the Olympics in 2032, it’s terrific to see ATE returning to Brisbane next year connecting international buyers and local businesses to take advantage of the green and gold decade.”

“Queensland is home to some of the most beautiful and authentic Australian experiences and will be an excellent host for ATE in 2025.”

Queensland’s Tourism Minister, Michael Healy, said Queensland is the country’s favourite holiday destination and usually has the largest delegation of tourism providers at ATE.

“ATE is our industry’s marquee event and we can’t wait to welcome hundreds of international buyers and sellers to Brisbane once again, with the city thriving in new tourism infrastructure and opportunities,” Mr Healy said.

“Queensland always puts on a great show for ATE and we know when we are the host, demand is high for our incredible familiarisation and event program.

“We’ve previously helped Tourism Australia reach one of their highest delegation numbers in the event’s history and we look forward to reaching new heights in 2025.”

Tourism Australia Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, said with the Australian tourism industry on the cusp of full recovery the focus at ATE25 in Brisbane will help to drive the sustainable growth which will take the industry forward.

“Melbourne has once again done a great job hosting ATE and we look forward to taking this great event back to Queensland which is home to so many tourism operators and experiences,” Ms Harrison said.

“By the time ATE returns to Brisbane next year we expect that the Australian tourism industry would have surpassed the 2019 numbers we have been using as a benchmark and will once again be firmly focused on the future,” Ms Harrison said.

Tourism and Events Queensland CEO, Patricia O’Callaghan, said Team Queensland is ready to showcase our state to the world.

“We are proud to be Australia’s number one holiday destination so it’s great to welcome ATE back to Queensland which we estimate will benefit the Queensland economy by $8.5 million,” Ms O’Callaghan said.

“Queensland hosts many key trade events as we understand the importance they play in growing tourism in our state, but it is fair to say ATE is the cream of the crop. The long-term benefits from ATE are substantial – the relationships and future business it establishes will help us build to our goal of reaching $44 billion by 2032 in overnight visitor expenditure.”

Brisbane Economic Development Agency CEO, Anthony Ryan said Brisbane will be ready to roll out the welcome mat for tourism businesses from around the world in 2025 for the country’s biggest annual travel industry event – the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE); 18 years after it was last hosted in Brisbane.

“Lonely Planet, The New York Times, TIME Magazine and travel guide publisher Frommer’s, have all recently named Brisbane among the globe’s top destinations, and now having Brisbane chosen as the host city of ATE 2025 is another coup for our ever-evolving and beautiful city,” Mr Ryan said.

“This is Brisbane’s time. Hosting ATE will provide an invaluable platform for Brisbane to shine on the world stage, with tourism operators nationwide able to connect and conduct business with international buyers from around the world in our city.

“We look forward to welcoming ATE 2025, and we’re ready to showcase an abundance of new attractions, hotels, dining experiences, and cultural gems across Brisbane, ensuring an unforgettable visit for all attendees.”

ATE25 will be delivered by Tourism Australia in partnership with Tourism Events Queensland, with support from the Brisbane Economic Development Agency.

For media enquiries contact: Beau Mitchem M: +61 413 254 708 E:  [email protected]

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We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

*Disclaimer:  The information on this website is presented in good faith and on the basis that Tourism Australia, nor their agents or employees, are liable (whether by reason of error, omission, negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any statement, information or advice given in this website. Tourism Australia wishes to advise people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent that this website may contain images of persons now deceased.

• Travel Advice

World’s best airline for 2024 revealed

The wait is over – the winner of the world’s best airline for 2024 has been revealed, with two Aussie carriers scraping into the top ten.

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Qatar Airways is the world’s best airline, according to AirlineRatings.com.

The Doha-based carrier nabbed the prestigious Airline of the Year title for 2024, having nudged out last year’s winner, Air New Zealand, for the top spot.

Qantas and Virgin Australia/Atlantic came 9th and 10th, respectively.

The judging panel, which consists of five editors, consider a range of criteria that include safety and product rating, fleet age, profitability, serious incidents, passenger reviews from several sources, innovation and forward fleet orders.

Between the judges there’s more than 100 years of industry experience.

“In our objective analysis Qatar Airways came out number one in many key areas although it was a very close scoring for the top 10,” AirlineRatings.com editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas said in a statement.

“The passenger reviews however scored Qatar Airways ahead of all airlines and its consistency and high standard of service delivery came through in the feedback.”

Coming in second on the Top 25 list is Korean Air followed by Cathay Pacific Airways.

Air New Zealand fell back to spot four while Emirates secured fifth place followed by Air France/ KLM, All Nippon Airways and Etihad Airways.

In 2023, both Qantas and Virgin Australia secured sixth and seventh spot, but this year they fell back to ninth and 10th spot respectively.

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways also picked up Best Business Class for the fifth year running and Best Catering and Air New Zealand won Best Economy Class .

Singapore Airlines won Best First Class , while Virgin Australia won Best Cabin Crew .

Best-in-Flight Entertainment and Best Premium Economy went to Emirates .

It is the ninth year that Emirates has won the entertainment awards. It was one of the first to introduce seat-back videos for economy passengers back in the early 1990s.

According to Airlineratings.com.au it has led the field ever since and today the system has 6,500 channels “making it a clear winner for Best Inflight Entertainment”.

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Qantas picked up Best Lounges, while Etihad Airways picked up Best Environmental Airline for the third year running.

Qatar Airlines’ success comes as the group reported a strong financial performance for the first half of 2023/2024.

It reported a net profit of QAR 3.736 billion ($A1.537 billion) which represents an increase of 113.8 per cent compared to the same period last year 2022/2023. The Group’s total revenue for first half of fiscal year 2023/2024 increased to QAR 40.126 billion ($A16 billion)), up 7.4 per cent compared to the same period last year 2022/2023.

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Don't "fall in love" with your travel destination

I’ve been to wales 30 times in 40 years. i’d rather have my tongue pierced than say i "fell in love" with it, by pamela petro.

I cringe when I read that so-and-so fell in love with someplace.

Come on , I think, you can do better than that.

“I fell in love with _____!” (Fill in the location of your choice — everyone does.) It’s the most over-used sentence in travel writing . I’ve been to Wales 30 times in 40 years, yet I’d rather have my tongue pierced than say I fell in love with it. Editors and publicists often try to push me into the love corner, but I snap and growl, as cornered creatures do.

I know I sound grouchy. But only because I want to get this right.

I love a woman — my partner of 36 years. I love a dog — my Welsh Corgi of three years. My parents are dead, but I still love them. I also love ice cream and seasons 1 and 3 of "Ted Lasso ." And I’m OK with all that. Love is an elastic verb.

When I was 23 and an American graduate student in Wales, the rolling pastures of Ceredigion at dusk, sweet-smelling of dung and the day’s photosynthesis, quiet with sheep and centuries of secrets, teetering on the edge of darkness, silence, and poverty, brought me to my knees with an aching need to do more than testify to their existence. More than take a photo or write a description. I needed to know the Welsh countryside in time as well as space. I strained against the edges of mortality to grasp the whole of it in a way off limits to humans. I felt compelled to imagine, to resurrect all those who’d stood alongside the darkening fields before me, tending animals, dreaming of home, praying to gods whose names were unknown to me.

Up until I was 20, when I studied in Paris, I thought I’d find my place in France. It turns out I found Marguerite instead.

Is this love? Is love wanting to scream in frustration because even though all you did was watch the sun set over a line of receding hills, it felt like the planet was offering you a gift you didn’t have the age or wisdom to be able to accept?

I don’t know, but it’s where I draw the line. To say I fell in love with Wales collapses the relationship of person and place into something sentimental and two-dimensional, in a way that saying I fell in love with my partner, Marguerite, does not. Maybe that’s because when we apply love to people we understand that the verb “love” turns and twists like a multidimensional kaleidoscope — we’ve all seen the colors and patterns change, been dazzled, furious, confused, contented. And we know what “I love mint chocolate chip” means, too. We understand that “love” contracts in that sentence to convey something like flavor lust + icy mouth feel = ten minutes of happiness. And nothing more.

Love of place is just as complex as love of people, but we’re not used to excavating all that the word can mean when we say, “I fell in love with Wales.” There’s a whole lot more going on than a hearty appreciation of sheep, interlaced, rolling hills and Iron Age forts.

Up until I was 20, when I studied in Paris, I thought I’d find my place in France. It turns out I found Marguerite instead. France — a place I deeply admire — embraces centrality. Paris is the center of France and France is (arguably) the center of the universe. I didn’t articulate any of this at the time, but a previously unknown, murky appendage in my brainstem lifted its head and howled disagreement.

When I arrived in Wales three years later, it changed its tune. Wales is central to … well, nothing. As I wrote in my 2023 book, " The Long Field – Wales and the Presence of Absence, a Memoir ," the very name “Wales” is a Saxon word meaning “Home of the Foreigners.” The name Wales calls itself, in Welsh, is Cymru (KUM-ree), which means “Home of Fellow Countrymen.” The difference between the two is the difference between “Us” and “Them.’ To the world at large, after Wales became the first colony of the future English empire in 1282, it was defined as a negative: This is the place where we are not . It became the home of “Them.”

Ever since, the view from its minority rung on the UK geopolitical hierarchy has been alternative. A strong social­ist bent in politics, nonconformist in religion, working class. The Welsh language has been a marker of difference, too. Far more so than other Celtic strongholds in the British Isles — Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Cornwall — Wales has hung on to its tongue, about which shifting opin­ions have formed over the years. It’s preserved our identity; no, it’s held us back. Whichever you believe, Welsh remains stubbornly spoken in shops, on TV and radio, in kitchens and government conference rooms throughout the country.

The landscape’s clarity sliced through my memories of over-built New Jersey, slicing down to the mental bedrock beneath — a primary place of understanding where memory and concept conjoin.

As a young woman lurking on the edges of Welsh sheep pastures, I sensed Wales’ marginality before I understood it. While there was a grandeur to the geography, the towns’ and farmhouses’ lack of studied prettiness—a hallmark in England—testified to Wales’ exclusion from generic British prosperity. It was far from London; it was hard to get to; it was different. And you know what? That felt familiar. I was a middle-class kid from New Jersey, but like a poultice, this ancient, colonized country drew out an answering difference from my bones.

I grew up as part of an American anti-establishment generation against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Watergate, and the feminist movement. All of that led me to shy away from the center and naturally embrace the edge. Not to mention my hunch, shoved into the depths of my psyche, that I might be gay.

Marguerite and I had already met in Paris, but it was Wales’ nearly two-millennia-old embrace of its alternative path in the UK — the place where people speak “that funny language with no vowels” ( not true: “w” and “y” are vowels in Welsh, so it actually has more vowels than English), where there are more sheep than people, where Americans don’t visit—that suggested to me that an alternative path might not be so bad. More than that: it helped me realize I’d already been on one, all my life.

When I went home to New Jersey after grad school friends demanded a sentence about my experience. “School was OK, but I loved Wales,” would’ve sufficed. Yet every time I gave in and said something along those lines, I felt like I was betraying the extraordinary experience the Welsh call cynefin. (I was relieved that my family never used the “L” word; they just called my connection to Wales, “Pam’s Welsh thing,” as in, “Is Pam over her Welsh thing yet?”)

When I was researching "The Long Field," Gillian Clarke, the former National Poet of Wales, introduced me to the word cynefin . (Pronounce it Kun-EV-in. In Welsh a single f is pronounced as a v  — it takes two f s to make the noise in “fight” — and the emphasis is always on the penultimate syllable. Even speaking English the Welsh stress the second-to-last sound. I love the soft way they skid into “seven,” pronouncing it SEV-un, dragging out the “ev” and swallowing the “un.” When they say that I hear the tide receding.)

Gillian wrote in an email, “Cynefin is the word used for the way a sheep passes on to her lamb, generation after generation, the knowledge of the mountain, the exact part of the mountain that is hers.” I understood why that would matter to the lamb, but not to me. Then Gillian continued: “Or it can mean that sudden sense you have that you belong to this particular place though you may never have set foot in it before.”

Ah ha! I understood. Cynefin is a way of describing the threshold where the interior imagination meets the outside world — the place where love resides.

It wasn’t just marginality that coaxed cynefin from me in West Wales. It was the landscape, too. I’d grown up in suburban New Jersey, where the geography of the planet is hidden beneath a barnacled crust of 20th-century houses, highways, and shopping malls. As a child I felt there was nothing to hold me in place — no anchor in space or time to keep me from floating away. And then I went to rural Wales and found a world with few trees and a distant horizon. A place where you could climb a hill and understand instantly how the earth had been made, where the glacier had passed and how rivers sculpted out valleys. The landscape’s clarity sliced through my memories of over-built New Jersey, slicing down to the mental bedrock beneath — a primary place of understanding where memory and concept conjoin. And that place looked like Wales. I’d always seen it in my mind’s eye, and now here it was beneath my feet. I remember writing in my book, "I felt I’d found the key to a map I’d carried in my head since I was a little girl but had never before been able to read. And until I could read that map, I’d had no perspective on my species’ place on the planet," and shivering with the understanding I’d never written truer words.

Surely this is love—but I didn’t fall into it. Falling is just too easy. Although cynefin may be sudden, it requires preparation. There has to be longing first, and a fiercely imagined “geography of the soul,” as novelist Josephine Hart calls it, before there can be cynefin. And only once you’ve felt it comes the real effort. I had to work for decades to earn the right to love Wales. I had to learn its language—well…let’s say I had to try to learn it — and its myths and history, to read its poets and novelists, to listen to its hymns and folk songs and bands, descend into its mines and walk its paths. Let its rain soak my hair and creep inside my bones. If anything, my love for Wales has been more of a climb than a fall. I suspect it’ll take a lifetime to reach the summit.

personal stories about travel

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Pamela Petro is the author of " The Long Field — Wales and the Presence of Absence, a Memoir " (Arcade Books, 2023).

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