Best for families: Melbourne is a good base for a family holiday in Australia. Melbourne City’s Southbank is a lively cosmopolitan area with lots of places to eat and drink. From Melbourne it takes less than two hours to drive to Phillip Island to see the famous Penguin Parade where, just before sunset, hundreds of penguins gather on Summerland beach. (Best to book a viewing place at the Melbourne Visitor Centre). Visit the Dandenong Range of mountains just outside Melbourne and ride the famous century-old Puffing Billy steam train. And, of course, there’s Melbourne Cricket Ground. Just don’t mention the Ashes.
Best for beach-lovers: Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands is made of pure silicone sand. Yachties, sun-worshippers and well-travelled beach fans claim it as Australia’s best beach. There are 74 Whitsunday islands, off the coast of Queensland. Hamilton Island is probably the most commercially developed Whitsunday and it has its own airport but no cars are allowed on the Hamilton Island Resort and you travel around on golf carts.
Best for a longer stay: You can’t beat a trip down the East Coast. For a fantastic Australian experience, start in Cairns with a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. Then drive down the coast to Brisbane stopping off at some of the biggest tourist attractions in Queensland and its stunning beaches. Hiring a campervan is a good way to travel long distances and surprisingly tourist-friendly.
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