The northern states don’t have a monopoly on gorgeous coastal drives. Victoria’s Great Ocean Road offers vistas that are somewhat more rugged, past cliffs hammered by eons of Arctic winds and some of the best surf in the country.

Oprah’s done it, Usain Bolt’s done it (probably faster), Hasselhoff’s done it – and so have scores of tourists over the last 26 years. Now, in additon to the original climb up the Harbor Bridge – group and private climbs are available –, guests have the opportunity to tackle the journey under the guidance of a First Nations storyteller who will share the history and culture of the city on the Burrawa – Aboriginal Climb Experience.

In just 90 minutes you can escape Sydney city and breathe deeply in this swathe of pristine bushland near the Illawarra. There’s a two-day hike from Bundeena to Otford; or, drive to Wattamolla to swim beneath a waterfall.

Picture this: a crimson sunset sky, the crash of waves rolling into shore, the sand stretched out far in front of you – and taking it all in atop a well-trained camel in Australia’s north-west.

Space travel seems unnecessary when you arrive at Mungo National Park in New South Wales’ far west. The landscape of sparse sand and clay is otherworldly and the history is just as staggering; artefacts uncovered date back some 50,000 years.

Join one of the many tours that leave from Adelaide daily and hit scene stalwarts like Rockford and Seppeltsfield to try one of the region’s renowned reds.

Locals and visitors alike adore the rambling walk to the still active Cape Byron Lighthouse, perched on the country’s most easterly point. The path skims the coast that overlooks Cape Byron Marine Park and The Pass, where there’s always a clutch of surfers waiting for their next ride.

One of Australia's many 'big things', this road-trip checkpoint is sure to trigger waves of nostalgia. The Big Banana, near Coffs Harbour, has been a memorable marker for families on their way to northern NSW summer holidays for decades. These days, it’s also home to a fun park.

We like to call it as we see it in Australia, which is why Coles Bay, on Tasmania’s mid-east coast, is known colloquially as Wineglass Bay. Water laps at the edge of its wide swipe of white sand like a blue-hued semillon.

The entire island of Lord Howe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place considered so safe people rarely lock their doors. Only 400 visitors are allowed on the isle at one time, meaning the many scenic walking trails overlooking the lagoon and lined with 100-year-old Norfolk Pines remain tranquil.

For two weeks every spring, the Bondi to Bronte stretch of the Sydney Coastal Walk becomes an outdoor art exhibition during this renowned sculpture fest.

If you went home without getting your hair wet, did you truly experience the Great Barrier Reef? It’s tricky to pick just one postcard-perfect snorkelling location (and many of the best dives are the ones you don’t expect) but an abundance of rays and reef sharks around Heron Island make it a memorable spot.

It’s almost like travelling through time. A fleet of historic ships – including some built way back in 1875 – travels up and down the Murray River in NSW daily, departing from several ports.

Whitewater rivers have nothing on this bizarre natural phenomenon, where the narrowing space between two cliffs creates a waterfall that’s laid out flat. Board a jet boat and whizz across these special rapids.

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to live beneath the earth, ask the locals of this South Australian opal mining town. The mercury above ground rises past 40 degrees in summer so most dwellings are dug into the sandstone, including the Desert Cave hotel.

Cottesloe – “Cott” to locals – sits halfway between Perth and the port city of Fremantle and high in the ratings of anyone who appreciates a glorious beach. It has more than a kilometre of white sand, Tiffany-blue water and blazing sunsets, all anchored by the Art Deco grandeur of the former Indiana Tea House.

Australia’s first Parliament House was never meant to be our last. The Stripped Classical-style building, which opened in 1927 and now hosts the Museum
of Australian Democracy, was designed to last 50 years. It held on for 61, witnessing nation-shaking debates and serving as a backdrop for the 1975 dismissal of the Whitlam government. The replacement (opened in 1988) is a symbolic feat of architecture atop Capital Hill – before security concerns stopped the practice, visitors could walk on the lawns to remind the politicians below that it was the “people’s house”.

With its broad arc of sand and carefree humanity stretching like a smile from the Icebergs Club swimming pool in the south to the northern headland known as Ben Buckler, Bondi is Australia’s –
if not the world’s – most iconic beach. We refer, of course, to 
the vivid carpet of beach towels holding tanned locals and pink-tinted tourists, the red and yellow flags that flutter at the water’s edge and the cloth-capped volunteer lifesavers who spring into action when swimmers get into strife.

Ask a Taswegian to nominate the place, the landmark, the thing, that defines 
their island home and, frankly, they struggle – because it’s not a thing; it’s
a genuine smile, a jaunty wave, a friendly chat and a cosy feeling of familiarity. It’s the vibe. Boiled down, it’s Hobart’s Farm Gate Market, where, every Sunday, locals wander around the marquees, filling their bags with wallaby fillets and local whisky, wildflowers and walnuts, warmth and wellbeing.

At the commencement of the wet season, a seething mass of crimson critters make their way to the sea at the same time. The annual Christmas Island crab migration sees tens of millions of female crabs crawl to the ocean to spawn.

Holding the title of ‘the world’s oldest open air cinema in operation’, this charming corrugated iron cinema in Broome has a fascinating history. The easiest way to check it out is to buy a ticket and find a deckchair under the verandah.

Between the towns of Ruyanyup and Patchewollock the Silo Art Trail stretches across wheatbelt country for 200 kilometres. These towering silos stand in the middle of near-isolated fields, adorned with art depicting scenes of stunning hyper-realism.

Australia’s ski slopes may be small by international standards but they’re certainly mighty. Each winter, Thredbo (and the nearby towns of Perisher and Jindabyne in New South Wales) come alive as powder hounds carve up the mountains.

For the best glass of cab sav in the country, you need to head west. Margaret River is a key Australian wine region, with big names including Vasse Felix and Leeuwin Estate leading the way with quality drops and destination restaurants.

Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is challenging its famous eastern counterpart in the bucket-list stakes, thanks in large part to the gentle giants that call it home between March and August. Several companies offer tours that will get you close to the sharks.

This World Heritage-listed spot on the Tasmanian coast is the best example of Australia’s past convict settlements, with the penitentiary and several cottages still standing. You can also pay your respects to the victims of the 1996 shooting at the memorial garden.

Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory is a place of untouched natural beauty. Along with unique indigenous experiences, this expansive region of savannah woodland and abundant rainforests hides some of the best fishing in the world. Everything from barramundi to Marlina and sailfish can be hooked, though only with licensed tour operators.

The impenetrable Simpson Desert has one pioneer who doesn’t baulk at its enormity. The Ghan, a fabled cross-country train, regularly traverses the dramatic landscape running legs between Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide. Although the track route has remained the same since 1929, the train that travels it has changed somewhat; gold service aboard The Ghan includes all dining at the on-board Queen Adelaide restaurant, which regularly includes everything from barramundi to kangaroo fillet.

Despite its sleepy, symmetrical appearance, Canberra is activity central – especially for families. Any visit to the nation’s capital usually loops in Parliament House and the War Memorial, as well as the National Gallery of Australia where permanent works include Claude Monet’s Water Lillies and Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles.

There are a handful of wine regions an easy drive from Adelaide and McLaren Vale is one of the finest, not least because of the varied villages and characters in the area. Old gum-shaded homesteads dole out wood-fired pizza, graffitied sheds hide rooms filled with bric-a-brac serving stellar wine and d’Arenberg and the mighty vineyard with the mightier ‘Cube’ offers unusual experiences (wine sensory room, anyone?) centred around vino.

These fierce and majestic creatures will earn your awe and respect if you’re brave enough to see them up close at Port Lincoln, a seven-hour drive from Adelaide. This is the only spot in the country you can cage dive with the predators.

Although it doesn’t sound like the type of pub anyone would want to frequent, Nambucca’s Pub With No Beer in New South Wales attracts visitors for reasons other than its misleading moniker. This public house has been pouring the good stuff for the better part of 100 years except for on one alleged evening that was immortalised by Australia’s country music star Slim Dusty in his song, The Pub With No Beer.

Dubbed the ‘Island of Smiles’, the Tiwi Islands is a gather of two main atolls, Bathurst and Melville, a half hour ferry ride from the Northern Territory coast. AFL is more than a game here – it’s practically religion – and every March there’s a wildly colourful celebration of the sport.

This Art Deco amusement park has stood sentinel by Sydney’s spectacular harbour for almost 100 years. Walk beneath the maniacal mouth that marks the park’s entrance and pick your thrill level from the rollercoaster, Ferris Wheel or carousel.

An experimental experience of mammoth proportions, Tasmania’s Museum of New and Old Art has put Hobart on the map. There’s a very chic on-site restaurant and bar on site as well as custom-made hand held devices that explain every art piece to visitors in stunning (and humorous) detail.

There are 74 islands in the Whitsundays, scattered off the coast of northern Queensland from Mackay to Townsville. The easiest way to cover as much ground as possible? Board a boat that will cruise past the reef’s highlights and landmarks.

Even if you’re not up to Margaret River Pro-standards, every surfer should test their skills on a break in this stunning part of Western Australia. Rather sit on the sand? You can watch talented athletes do their thing at almost any time of day.

The NSW South Coast is world-famous for its pristine beaches and one of the best ways to experience them is to set up camp at a site in this national park near Jervis Bay. Plan ahead if you want to visit in high summer; ticket ballots are allocated earlier in the year.

Afraid of heights? Look away now. A series of pegs that spiral around the trunk of this enormous tree form a unique treetop walk that was once used as a lookout point for firefighters. You’ll find it near Pemberton in Western Australia.

Many a country star has made their way through Tamworth, a rural New South Wales town with the Big Golden Guitar, in their time. An annual pilgrimage to the city is a must in January, when Tamworth expands with country music fans for a three-day festival that spreads through outdoor venues and country pubs.

The traditional owners of Australia have a knowledge of the land that the rest of us can only begin to understand. The Northern Territory has Australia’s highest proportion of Indigenous people; take the opportunity to appreciate their stories and songlines on a tour of Arnhem Land with a company such as Lirriwi.

For just two or three days a month between March and October, something spectacular graces the exposed tidal flats of Broome’s Roebuck Bay. Staircase to the Moon, a natural optical illusion that creates a stream of light that seems to lead to the moon, only happens at low tide so plan carefully to catch it.

Sydneysiders love an ocean pool and there are none more iconic this this whitewashed lap pool at Bondi's southern end. Come for a swim; stay for lunch in the club or third-level restaurant and bar.

Cyclists and hikers alike can enjoy Grampians National Park in Victoria, where wildflowers, sandstone mountains and brush-lined trails abound. The region is also home to a number of popular vineyards, so food (and wine) lovers can also get their fill.

Lakes don’t usually comes in shades of lemonade pink except at Lake Hillier, off Western Australia’s south coast. The striking colour is believed to be the result of high salinity of the water but whatever the cause, it certainly makes for a beautiful spot.

Every February and March, the city of Adelaide is ablaze with the spark of the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the world’s second largest annual arts festival. The hub is The enchanting Garden of Unearthly Delights that springs to life in Rundle Park/Kadlitpina but there are over 400 venues that host fringe acts across the season, with shows spanning comedy to cabaret.

There’s little that’s not on the menu in the town of Orange, four hours drive west of Sydney. The ever-elusive truffle resides here, as do great wineries, cafés and artisan bakers—Orange Food Week is the best time of the year to sample them all.

Known as The Sunken Garden, this oasis in South Australia’s Mount Gambier was a cave until the roof collapsed. It’s transformation into a possum-riddled garden is thanks to James Umpherston’s efforts in the late 1800s.

Adelaide’s south hardly lacks stunning stretches of sand but Port Willunga has something extra special. From the carpark above the cliff-edged coast a jagged staircase leads down to the sea and though climbing up is arduous, it’s worth it for the downward descent.

Thanks to their city’s coastal geography, Sydneysiders love a swim. Some of the most picturesque spots are the many ocean and harbour pools; Freshwater pool is often a local’s only deal and Maccallum Pool at Cremorne Point is a spot even longtime residents overlook.

The Olkola people lay claim to the stunning one-million-hectare area of wetlands, rock art, rainforest and ancient bora grounds at Cape York, the northernmost point of Australia’s mainland. You’ll know when you’ve arrived—there’s a famous sign that reminds you: “You are standing at the northernmost point of the Australian continent.”

The tiny town of Derby in Tasmania’s northeast has experienced a discernible boost in interest thanks to its network of world-class mountain-bike trails that trace over 125 kilometres through lush forest. All skill levels can take advantage of the tracks, including beginners and kids.

The labyrinthine laneways of Victoria’s capital lend the city a European feel but the art they wear is all Melbourne. Photo opps abound in spots such as Hosier and Union Lanes, as well as ACDC Lane, where even Banksy has left his mark.

Bruce Munro's incredible illuminating artwork has been transfixing visitors since April 2016. More than 50,000 LED lights bloom among tufts of spinifex in the shadow of Uluru, and the work has been so popular that its closing date has been pushed out several times.

How many cuisines can you squeeze into a marketplace? Prepare to be joyfully overwhelmed by choice at Adelaide Central Market, one of the southern hemisphere’s biggest undercover markets, at stalls serving fine cheeses air-freighted from France, Colombian-influenced meals and a native Australian butcher.

The other states put up a fight but Melbourne is arguably the best place in Australia to indulge in authentic Italian food. Head to Tipo 00 and Osteria Ilaria in the CBD or Cafe Di Stasio in St Kilda.

It takes two days of off-roading from Alice Springs to reach the small township of Apultula (Finke). This great desert migration of quads, bikes, cars and buggies is known as the Tatts Finke Desert Race and it happens every year over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

Why the Great Barrier Reef Should Be at the Top of Your Bucket List