Main Attractions of Australia
Uluru
Located in Australia’s Red Centre, Uluru/Ayers Rock can be accessed by an easy 40 minute flight from Alice Springs or as part of a 5-day Red Centre Way self-drive adventure.
Arguably Australia’s most famous natural icon, Uluru/Ayers Rock is best visited at sunrise or sunset. Seeing this 348-metre tall natural wonder glow in the changing sunlight is mesmerizing.
As ruggedly beautiful as it is culturally significant, visitors to Uluru/Ayers Rock are entranced by the unmistakeable spirituality of the region. See Uluru through the eyes of its traditional Aboriginal owners, the Anangu, by joining a cultural tour.
The adventure experiences on offer here are not for the faint-hearted. Get an Uluru experience with a difference and trek the 9-km Uluru base walk, take to the skies in a helicopter, jump on the back of a camel or feel the wind in your hair with a ride on a Harley Davidson.
Until recently, this monumental landmark was known as Ayers Rock, as named by European explorer William Gosse in 1873 and often misspelt as Ayres Rock. Today Uluru is jointly managed by the Anangu people and Parks Australia.
Twelve Appostles
The Twelve Apostles are giant rock stacks that rise majestically from the Southern Ocean and are the central feature of the rugged Port Campbell National Park.
The Twelve Apostles have been created by constant erosion of the limestone cliffs of the mainland that began 10–20 million years ago. The stormy Southern Ocean and blasting winds gradually eroded the softer limestone, forming caves in the cliffs. The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed rock stacks up to 45 metres high were left isolated from the shore.
Sunrise and sunset offer particularly impressive views as the Twelve Apostles change colour from dark and foreboding in shadow to brilliant sandy yellow under a full sun.
The Twelve Apostles are located just east of Port Campbell, along the Great Ocean Road. Parks Victoria has built boardwalks, tracks, and viewing areas to ensure you get spectacular views of the Twelve Apostles.
The Three Sisters
Did you know The Three Sisters are 922, 918 & 906 metres tall, respectively. That's over 3000 feet above sea level!
The Aboriginal dream-time legend has it that three sisters, 'Meehni', 'Wimlah' and Gunnedoo' lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe.
These beautiful young ladies had fallen in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, yet tribal law forbade them to marry.
The brothers were not happy to accept this law and so decided to use force to capture the three sisters causing a major tribal battle.
As the lives of the three sisters were seriously in danger, a witchdoctor from the Katoomba tribe took it upon himself to turn the three sisters into stone to protect them from any harm. While he had intended to reverse the spell when the battle was over, the witchdoctor himself was killed. As only he could reverse the spell to return the ladies to their former beauty, the sisters remain in their magnificent rock formation as a reminder of this battle for generations to come.
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is one of Australia's great scenic treasures and a must for anyone interested in travel to wilderness destinations.
Located 110 km (70 miles) south-west of Adelaide and easily accessible by Ferry or Plane. A mix of attractive small townships and fascinating wilderness;
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island.
Due to its size and the number of things to do and discover, it is impossible to see it all in a day or 2. If you only have one or two days available on your itinerary, choose places from the things that interest you most.