aus travel reddit

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 June 2021 and updated December 2023

Explore related stories

Tips & Advice

Apr 15, 2024 • 10 min read

From chilling on the beaches of Bora Bora to eating shellfish in Cape Cod, USA, here are the best places to visit in June.

Apr 4, 2024 • 5 min read

Mar 30, 2024 • 4 min read

Mar 29, 2024 • 19 min read

Mar 26, 2024 • 8 min read

Feb 27, 2024 • 6 min read

Feb 15, 2024 • 7 min read

Feb 9, 2024 • 12 min read

Jan 31, 2024 • 6 min read

Jan 30, 2024 • 9 min read

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Australia’s 20 best travel experiences, ranked by Lonely Planet

Choosing Australia’s top travel experiences is not easy, and while many usual suspects appear in Lonely Planet’s list, some may even surprise locals

At 7.6m sq km, spanning eight climate and three time zones, Australia is a big country. So where do you start?

In making their new book, Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Australia Travel List, the travel guide publisher began by compiling every highlight in their existing books. “We then asked our writers, editors, designers and cartographers in Australia to reveal their favourite spots and experiences,” they say. From there, they solicited votes from a panel of travel experts and members of their community.

The result, “with hundreds of votes cast and a bit of mathematical alchemy, as well as a keen eye on sustainability practices”, is a new book of 500 experiences. They also ended up with “one very clear winner”.

Here is that winner, along with the rest of the book’s Top 20 experiences.

1. Fall silent before the majesty and gravitas of Uluru

Northern Territory/ Anangu Country

The landscape of Uluru changes dramatically with the shifting light and seasons. In the afternoon, Uluru appears as an ochre-brown colour, scored and pitted by dark shadows.

As the sun sets, it illuminates the rock in burnished orange, then a series of deeper and darker reds before it fades into charcoal. A performance in reverse, with marginally fewer spectators, is given at dawn.

Uluru is a beautiful, charismatic place. Its dimensions are one thing: it is 3.6km long and rises 348m from the surrounding sands (867m above sea level). If that’s not sufficiently impressive, remember this: two-thirds of the rock lies beneath the sand.

Uluru is a monolith textured with layers of profound spirituality and timeless beauty, the epitome of desert stillness and, in the plays of light and shadow that dance across its surface, one of the richest shows in nature. The sunset viewing areas are once-in-a-lifetime experiences understanding its singular beauty when surrounded by the vast desert around it.

You can also get up close by taking one of the walks that encircle the base. There are many options, but most fold into the Uluru Base walk, a 10.6km circumnavigation of the rock. Along the way, it passes caves, paintings, sandstone folds and geological abrasions and generally initiates you into the scope and detail of this remarkable place.

Sacred sites are everywhere; entry to and knowledge of the particular significance of these areas is restricted by local law, and knowing this only adds to Uluru’s mystery.

The walk takes you away from the crowds – very few visitors spend long enough here to get to know Uluru this well. There is no better way to experience the rock.

Around 1km from the rock itself, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre adds depth and perspective to your Uluru experience. Displays and exhibits focus on Tjukurpa (Aboriginal law, religion and custom) and on the natural and human history of the park. Park rangers can supply the informative visitor guide, leaflets and walking notes, as well as other park information.

2. Be confronted and inspired by art at the extraordinary Mona

Tasmania/ Palawa Country

Undeniably eccentric, the Museum of Old and New Art (almost universally known as Mona) has ushered Hobart on to the world’s cultural stage.

Opened in 2011, and housed in a Nonda Katsalidis-designed three-storey bunker burrowed into the Triassic sandstone of a peninsula jutting into the Derwent River, Mona is a showcase for founder and owner David Walsh’s remarkable collection of ancient, modern and contemporary art, which is loosely curated under the themes of sex and death.

All cultural roads lead to Mona in January (for Mona Fofa, or Mofo for short) and June (for Dark Mofo) for Tasmania’s largest contemporary music festival.

SEE IT! Mona is 12km north of Hobart’s city centre. The best way to get here is on the museum’s ferry, which departs from Brooke St Pier.

3. Be mesmerised by the Great Barrier Reef

Queensland/Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sea country

The Great Barrier Reef isn’t just the world’s largest living organism. Visible from outer space, it’s also one of the planet’s most precious ecosystems – and a gobsmackingly beautiful one to boot.

Home to more than 600 hard and soft coral species and a colourful array of other marine creatures, from tiny nudibranchs (sea slugs) to huge manta rays, this World Heritage-listed area also has cultural significance to more than 70 local Indigenous groups, their connections to the reef dating back some 60,000 years.

It’s no secret, of course, that the Great Barrier Reef faces a number of threats. Yet from coral planting dive trips to Indigenous-led reef tours, there are more opportunities than ever to experience this fragile ecosystem sustainably, helping to ensure that this incredible slice of nature can be enjoyed for generations of visitors to come.

4. Find freedom on the Great Ocean Road

Victoria/ Gadubanud and Girai wurrung Country

As its name rightfully declares, the Great Ocean Road is no ordinary stretch of bitumen. This is one of the world’s bucket-list drives, a 243km blockbuster of breathtaking coastal vistas, koala-speckled gums, nostalgic holiday towns and rolling dairy farms. Officially bookended by Torquay and Allansford, the route takes in the arresting beauty of Port Campbell national park.

The entire drive can be tackled as a long day trip from Melbourne, though it pays to stay longer. Spend at least a few days riding waves and horses on Fairhaven Beach, chomping on fresh crayfish at Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-op and snooping around time-warped sites like Cape Otway Lightstation.

The Great Ocean Road weaves through Great Otway national park, where walking trails lead through temperate rainforest splashed by waterfalls. If you fancy a multi-day trek, ditch the wheels altogether and hit the 104km Great Ocean walk, the most intimate way to experience this fabled stretch of surf.

5. Walk alongside Australia’s highest sea cliffs on the Three Capes track

Tasmania/Palawa Country

Any list of epic Australian bushwalks is bound to contain the Three Capes track. Traversing a well-maintained path alongside the lofty sea cliffs in Tasman national park, this four-day, 48km trek kicks off after walkers are dropped by boat at the Denmans Cove trailhead.

The route links the cove with Cape Raoul, Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy before finishing on the sandy shores of Fortescue Bay. Scenery includes eucalypt forests, coastal heathland and ocean views for as far as the eye can see.

Accommodation is in ranger-supervised camps with architect-designed huts that are almost as good looking as the eye-popping coastal scenery.

You’ll walk up the slopes of Crescent Mountain and Mt Fortescue and down to Ellarwey Valley, seeing native flora and fauna aplenty. Daredevils can scale the well-named Blade Rock formation at Cape Pillar and plunge into the icy surf at Fortescue Bay. The track is described as being achievable for most ages and abilities, but some bushwalking experience is recommended.

WALK IT! Tasman national park is 100km south-east of Hobart. Boats collect walkers at Port Arthur. Daily walker numbers are capped, so book well ahead .

6. Explore the weird and wonderful rock formations of Bungle Bungles

Western Australia/ Jaru And Gidja Country The bizarre, ancient, beehive domes of the World Heritage-listed Purnululu national park will take your breath away. Known colloquially as the Bungle Bungles, these remote rocky ranges are the finest example of cone karst sandstone anywhere in the world.

The distinctive rounded rock towers are made of sandstone and conglomerates moulded by rainfall over millions of years. To the local Gidja people, “purnululu” means sandstone, with Bungle Bungle possibly a corruption of “bundle bundle”, a common grass. The park is rich in fauna and flora, the walks take you through shady palm-fringed gorges, and the sunsets here are sublime. There’s refreshingly little infrastructure and it’s never crowded.

SEE IT! Access is via a rough, unsealed, flood-prone 4WD-only track from the Great Northern Hwy north of Halls Creek, or by air on a package tour from Kununurra or Warmun. For more information, visit www.parkstay.dpaw.wa.gov.au .

7. Enjoy the ultimate rainforest experience in Daintree national park

Queensland/Kuku Yalanji Country

The oldest tropical rainforest on the planet, the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest is like a real life Jurassic Park, complete with living dinosaurs, from cassowaries to crocs.

South of the Daintree River, the Indigenous-run Mossman Gorge is the most accessible of the park’s two sections. Here an elevated boardwalk tracing the crystal-clear Mossman River connects to a scenic 2.4km rainforest circuit. Learn more about the Kuku Yalanji connections to this verdant oasis on a tour with Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks.

Some say you haven’t been to the Daintree until you’ve visited the Cape Tribulation section of the park north of the Daintree River, where rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. Allow several days to soak up this lush wilderness, dotted with rainforest boardwalks and idyllic croc-free swimming holes.

SEE IT! From Port Douglas it’s a 20-minute drive west to Mossman Gorge, and a 40-minute drive to the Daintree River Ferry.

8. Set sail for Kangaroo Island’s wilderness and wildlife

South Australia/Kartan Country

Kangaroo Island (KI) was scorched by bushfires in Australia’s “Black Summer” of 2019–20, but remains a veritable zoo of seals, birds, dolphins, echidnas and (of course) kangaroos. Island produce (wine, seafood, gin, beer), surf beaches and the kooky rock formations of Flinders Chase national park are also highlights.

These days, KI is rurally paced with a scattering of laid-back towns – the kind of place where kids ride bikes to school and farmers advertise for wives on noticeboards. The excellent five-day, 64km coastal Kangaroo Island Wilderness trail was ravaged by the fires, but trail reconstruction is under way: watch this space.

SEE IT! KI is big! You can’t see it all in a day. Bring your car on the ferry and explore over a weekend.

9. Marvel at the Milky Way in the Warrumbungle Dark Sky Park

New South Wales/Kamilaroi Country The night sky unrolls around you each night in the Warrumbungle national park, Australia’s first and only Dark Sky Park. The 233 sq km park has been internationally recognised for its stunning views of the stars due to its high altitude, low humidity and carefully monitored light pollution.

With four observatories to choose from, you can stargaze well into the night. Siding Springs Observatory is home to the largest optical telescope in Australia – with a mirror measuring 3.9m, the Anglo Australia telescope is capable of viewing quasars up to 12bn light years away.

The Warrumbungles still have plenty to offer once the sun rises. Avid bushwalkers are sure to enjoy the rugged volcanic landscape. The Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk will bring you close to the park’s most impressive formations. With over 190 bird species recorded within the park, birdwatchers should be sure to look out for emus, wedge-tailed eagles and the southern boobook owl.

For a more relaxing option, take a trip along the world’s largest Virtual Solar System Drive. The dome of the Siding Springs Observatory represents the sun, with scaled model planets stretching the whole 200km to Dubbo.

10. Light up your time in Sydney at the Vivid festival

New South Wales/Gadigal Country

During Vivid Sydney, video art and massive images are projected on to Sydney’s iconic architecture, with the sails of the Opera House, the arches of the Harbour Bridge and the sandstone buildings of the Rocks all transformed into leviathan canvases for a shimmering collage of spotlights, laser beams and electrified sky-high street art.

Journey on the harbour at night on the Manly Ferry for brilliant views, or join a chartered boat trip to take in the best of the glowing spectacle. Beyond the illuminations, music is also a stunning part of the Vivid experience, from big international artists to more intimate performances from the best of Australia’s emerging talent.

SEE IT ! The festival is held annually for three weeks. The 2022 festival will take place from 27 May to 18 June.

11. Go wild on mainland Australia’s southernmost point, Wilsons Prom

Victoria/Brataualung Country

Hitting rock bottom is a good thing when it involves Wilsons Promontory. Occupying the southernmost point of mainland Australia, the 305 sq km national park claims some of Victoria’s most varied, magnificent natural landscapes: salt-white Squeaky Beach, the Saharan dunes of the Big Drift, the lushness of Lilly Pilly Gully.

Walking tracks lead over ridges, across heathland and through headily scented bush alive with kangaroos, wombats, echidnas and iridescent birdlife. The Telegraph Saddle to Sealers Cove route (10.3km) is especially memorable, weaving through fern gullies and swampland to a forest-backed beach. It’s the first section of the challenging, multi-day Southern Circuit (59km), whose stops also include the monumental Oberon Bay.

A much quicker way to admire the bay’s sweep is from panoramic Mt Oberon, an easy 6.8km return hike from the Telegraph Saddle car park. Head up at sunset and pinch yourself. SEE IT! Tidal River is the park’s hub, with visitor information, a general store and accommodation. Avoid school holiday periods and book accommodation in advance at www.parks.vic.gov.au .

12. Experience wildlife and Indigenous history in Kakadu

Northern Territory/ Bininj/Mungguy Country

Kakadu ranks among the world’s great national parks. Its wetlands and escarpments shelter abundant wildlife and rock art that dates back 20,000 years. This is the land of the Bininj/Mungguy, whose presence brings soul and spirituality to any visit here.

In just a few days you can cruise on billabongs bursting with wildlife, examine millennia-old rock paintings under the care of an Indigenous guide, swim in pools at the foot of tumbling waterfalls and hike through ancient sandstone escarpment country. Ubirr and Nourlangie are the main rock-art sites, Jim Jim has the best falls, Cahill’s Crossing is terrific for crocs, and Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) is great for birds and other wildlife. Kakadu is very popular and can become crowded – in the Dry at least. But this is a vast park, and with a little adventurous spirit you can easily get off the beaten track and be alone with nature.

13. Be wowed by white sands and crystalline water at Wineglass Bay

The show-stealing centrepiece of Freycinet national park, curvaceous Wineglass Bay is Tasmania’s most famous beach for good reason. Its blindingly white sand and pink granite headlands splashed with flaming orange lichen are almost ludicrously photogenic, and a walk along its length to Hazards Beach is almost as rewarding as a swim in its gin-clear water.

Views of the bay are best appreciated from the Wineglass Bay Lookout, a 90 minute walk from the national park’s walking track car park. From here, 1,000 steps lead down to the beach. Those who choose to stay longer and walk further can set off on the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit, a three-day, 30km trek around the peninsula from Hazards Beach south to Cooks Beach, then across the peninsula over a heathland plateau before descending to Wineglass Bay.

SEE IT! Wineglass Bay is 200km north-east of Hobart, via the Tasman Hwy (A3) and C302.

14. Hit the Grampians for an epic hike in Victoria’s Garden of Eden

Victoria/ Jardwadjali and Djab wurrung Country

Hitchcock couldn’t have directed it better himself. A long, eerie crevasse; a sharp left turn, then – BAM! – Pinnacles Lookout and its knockout vista over ranges and plains.

Gotcha moments are thick on the ground when hiking Grampians national park, its sandstone peaks rising like petrified gods. While there are plenty of short strolls – the 4km Mt William (Duwul) Summit walk is breathtaking – the Grampians Peaks trail is the ultimate lace-up adventure.

A 160km long, 13-day odyssey, it spans the entire length of the Grampians (Gariwerd), from Mt Zero (Mura Mura) in the north to the culinary hamlet of Dunkeld in the south. Along it, precious landscapes unfurl, from woodlands and waterfalls to cooling fern valleys. Harboured within: red-tailed black cockatoos, endangered pincushion lilies and the haunting handprints and figures of Aboriginal rock art shelters like Ngamadjidj and Gulgurn Manja.

HIKE IT! See www.grampianspeakstrail.com.au for trail information. Foodies should book a night at Dunkeld’s Royal Mail Hotel.

15. Elevate your Sydney experience on the Bondi to Coogee clifftop walk

Say good morning to the perfect way to take in the best of Sydney’s coastal scenery. The simply sensational 6km Bondi to Coogee walk leads south from Bondi Beach along the clifftops via Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly, interweaving panoramic views, patrolled beaches, sea baths, waterside parks and plaques recounting local Aboriginal stories. Pack your swimmers if the weather’s warm.

WALK IT! The trail begins at the southern end of Notts Ave near Bondi’s Hunter Park, and completes its view-friendly route near Dunningham Reserve at the northern end of Coogee.

16. Immerse yourself in the remarkable desert rocks of Kata Tjuta

There’s nowhere on earth quite like Kata Tjuta (formerly the Olgas), a striking group of domed rocks huddled together about 35km west of Uluru. The deep valleys and steep-sided gorges contain sites which are sacred to the local Anangu people.

The tallest rock, Mt Olga (546m; 1,066m above sea level) is higher than Uluru. The Valley of the Winds loop, one of the most rewarding bushwalks in Australia’s Red Centre, winds through the gorges and past surreal domes in hues of the deepest red offset by the blue of the desert sky. Elsewhere, Walpa Gorge is especially beautiful in the afternoon, when sunlight floods the gorge. The views from the Sand Dune Lookout, off the road to Uluru, put everything in perspective.

17. Revere Port Campbell national park’s Apostles

Victoria/Girai wurrung Country

You couldn’t ask for a grander finale to the Great Ocean Road. As it shakes off the tortuousness of the Otway Ranges, forest turns to weather-beaten scrub, the sky bursts open and the route shoots west along a flat, narrow escarpment dropping away to terrifying ocean-pounded cliffs. This is Port Campbell national park, home to Victoria’s geological superstars, the Twelve Apostles.

Out of cold, savage waters they rise – monumental limestone stacks, abandoned by the retreating coastline. In truth, there are fewer than 12, but this fails to diminish their impact.

Less famous but no less spectacular are the Bay of Islands and London Bridge rock stacks, just west of sleepy Port Campbell township. Once a double-arched rock platform, London Bridge indeed fell down in 1990, leaving two terrified tourists marooned on the world’s newest island – they were eventually rescued by helicopter.

To the east of the Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge is where the Shipwreck Coast’s most famous and haunting tale unfolded, when two young survivors of the wrecked iron clipper Loch Ard made it to shore. From the clifftop, a path leads down to the cave where the pair took shelter.

The best time to visit is at sunset, not only for the optimal Instagram opportunities (and to beat the tour buses), but also to catch a glimpse of little penguins returning. Sightings vary, but generally the penguins arrive 30 minutes after sunset; don’t forget your binoculars!

18. Reconcile the laid-back splendour of Rottnest Island with its gruesome past

Western Australia/ Noongar Country

With warm water, sunken wrecks, diverse marine life and 63 beaches, it’s little wonder people flock to “Rotto” to swim, fish, laze, dive, snorkel, surf and sea-kayak their cares away. And of course, no trip to Rottnest is complete without the obligatory selfie with the incredibly cute, furry and all-too-trusting quokka.

Highlights include “The Basin”, a family- friendly seawater pool, and the 20m Wadjemup Lighthouse on the island’s highpoint. Wadjemup is a Noongar word meaning “place across the water where the spirits are” – rather apt, given at least 373 unmarked graves hold the victims of a harsh and cruel prison for Aboriginal people operating during the 1800s.

19. Catch the Manly Ferry across one of the world’s greatest harbours

New South Wales/Guringai Country

The Manly Ferry is one of Sydney’s best bargains for visitors to the city. Take in Opera House and Harbour Bridge views before sliding past the ritzy suburbs of Point Piper and Rose Bay and exiting the rocky promontories of the Sydney Heads.

Opposite Manly Wharf, refresh with a beer at the 4 Pines brewpub before strolling along the Corso to the surf, sand and Norfolk pine-lined esplanade of Sydney’s second-most famous beach. Pretty good for around $10.

CRUISE IT! The Manly Ferry departs from Wharf 3 at Circular Quay and takes around 20 minutes.

20. Dive into Queensland’s Museum of Underwater Art

Queensland/Bindal and Wulgurukaba Sea Country

As if the Great Barrier Reef wasn’t epic enough, you can now explore an underwater sculpture garden. The second instalment of the Townsville region’s Museum of Underwater Art, the Coral Greenhouse features 20 human figures performing conservation work in and around a submerged conservatory.

Designed by the renowned sculptor, Jason deCaires Taylor, in collaboration with Indigenous groups, the installation complements the Ocean SirTen sculpture.

DIVE IT! Dive tours to the Coral Greenhouse run from Townsville and Magnetic Island.

This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Australia Travel List , $39.99. Available now.

• Australia holidays
• Australian lifestyle
• Queensland holidays
• South Australia holidays
• Victoria holidays
• Western Australia holidays

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

The best ways to use points and miles to fly from the US to Australia

Editor's Note

From the teeming waters of the Great Barrier Reef to the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House, the vast deserts of the Red Centre, the wineries of the Barossa and the sophisticated restaurants and galleries of Melbourne, Australia is a one-of-a-kind destination with experiences for all types of travelers.

The country reopened to vaccinated tourists on Feb. 21 , and many U.S. travelers are itching to book their first trip. Luckily, there are plenty of points options for flying there from the U.S., many of which are possible thanks to the transfer options from major programs like American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

At the time of writing, flights to Australia are not yet at their pre-pandemic network makeup, but many routes have returned. For example, Qantas has put many of its flights to Australia back on the schedule, including its ultra-long-haul route from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Sydney (SYD).

Related: Consistency is key: Qantas (787-9) business class from Melbourne to Perth

Further, there is a lot of demand for flights from the U.S. to Australia with the news of its reopening, so it might be hard to find award space. But if you search consistently — and enlist ExpertFlyer's (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures) help — you can fly Down Under for a reasonable price.

Let's take a quick look at your best options for booking flights from the U.S. to a soon-to-reopen Australia.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

In the time that Australia has been closed to tourists, Alaska joined Oneworld . The alliance is also home to American and Qantas, who both fly directly from the U.S. to Australia.

American has suspended flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD). Thankfully, Qantas flies from Sydney to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX), and from Los Angeles to Melbourne (MEL). Likewise, service to San Francisco is set to resume later this year.

Alaska also offers awards to Australia on Fiji Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. Unfortunately, U.S. transit passengers are banned from Cathay Pacific's Hong Kong (HKG) hub due to the coronavirus pandemic, while Korean Air and Singapore Airlines awards aren't priced competitively.

Fiji Airways:

• Economy: 40,000 miles.
• Business: 55,000 miles.
• Economy: 42,500 miles.
• Premium economy: 47,500 miles.
• First: 70,000 miles.

Of those, the most interesting option is probably Fiji Airways for economy, since you need just 40,000 miles each way (though only 2,500 more miles on Qantas). Plus, you can leverage Alaska's free stopover on award tickets to spend time in French Polynesia on your way to Australia.

Redeeming Alaska miles for premium economy tickets on Qantas is also compelling. You need just 47,500 miles to book a ticket from the U.S. to Australia in this class of service, which can easily cost hundreds of dollars more than an economy ticket on this route.

Likewise, the best deal for business class is on Qantas. Direct flights cost just 55,000 miles one-way from the U.S. and Canada, though award space is tough to come by. Remember, you can connect to one of Qantas' U.S. gateways on an Alaska Airlines flight for no additional mileage.

Transfer partners: One downside to Alaska is that it's only a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy , and transfers process at a 3:1 ratio. You'll also earn a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. You could open cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and move those points to Alaska to book award flights.

Award searches and availability: Use alaskaair.com to search for awards.

ANA Mileage Club

We often pinpoint this Japanese carrier's program as one of the best options for booking awards on its Star Alliance partners due to low award costs. Just note that you must book round-trip awards with ANA and that its online search tool isn't the most intuitive.

ANA has a zone-based chart , with different prices for ANA-operated awards and partner-operated awards. Here's a look at ANA Mileage Club's partner award chart (all prices are round-trip):

• Economy: 75,000 miles.
• Business: 120,000 miles.
• First: 225,000 miles.

On ANA's own flights — which connect through Japan — you'll pay a different number of miles depending on when you fly. The award chart is split into three seasons (which you can view on ANA's website ). Here's how it breaks down for flights from the U.S. to Australia:

The good news is award availability on ANA itself tends to be quite open year-round, even in business class. One of ANA's partners is United Airlines, which flies from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and Houston (IAH) to Australia. With United's new route to Brisbane launching in Oct. 2022, United will offer nonstop service to Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL) and Brisbane (BNE) from select U.S. hubs. But some routes won't resume until the winter season and award space is harder to come by in business class.

Transfer partners: You can transfer points from both American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to ANA.

If you need to top up your Membership Rewards balance for a trip to Australia, consider applying for the American Express® Gold Card . It currently offers 60,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on the card in the first six months of account opening. You can leverage that bonus and the card's earning rate of 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar) and restaurants worldwide to quickly build up enough points for your trip.

Award searches and availability : ANA's award search engine tends to find most of the award availability on partners, including flights on United and Air Canada (though not necessarily all of it, so be sure to cross-check with searches on United.com and Aeroplan.com ).

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific's mileage program is often overlooked but should remain under consideration thanks to its plethora of transfer partners.

Asia Miles has one of the most complicated sets of award charts to decipher. The award you book will depend not only on the distance flown — you look at the one-way distance of your flight — but also which airlines you fly. Unfortunately, it doesn't publish an official partner award chart, but pricing on these flights tends to be in line with its Cathay Pacific award chart with an additional mileage surcharge.

Let's assume you're flying from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) or Vancouver, British Columbia (YVR), to Sydney (SYD) with Qantas. Here's what you can expect to pay with Asia Miles:

• Economy: 47,500 miles.
• Premium economy: 60,000 miles.
• Business: 90,000 miles.

Transfer partners: Here's why Asia Miles makes it onto this list. The program is a transfer partner of four major points programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card currently offers 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening.

Award searches and availability: Asia Miles' search engine is effective at finding awards on Cathay Pacific and Qantas. Unfortunately, you cannot find American Airlines award space on the Asia Miles website, so you'll need to find flights on AA.com and call Asia Miles to book your award ticket.

The other thing to be aware of is that Asia Miles passes on fuel surcharges, so you could pay more than $400 in surcharges on round-trip award tickets, depending on who you fly. Remember, U.S. transit passengers are currently banned from the Hong Kong airport , so you cannot fly Cathay Pacific from the U.S. to Australia at this time.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Though U.S.-based flyers might first consider Delta SkyMiles for booking awards on Delta, the airline also partners with a number of other carriers, including Virgin Atlantic .

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club recently devalued Delta awards , but it can still provide an OK deal on flights to Australia when compared to SkyMiles. Here's what you can expect to pay for a flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) under Flying Club's distance-based Delta award chart:

• Economy: 45,000 points
• Business class: 165,000 points

For the same economy flight, it's nearly twice the price on Delta, and the taxes and fees are roughly the same.

Transfer partners: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club partners with American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Award searches and availability: You can book awards directly with virginatlantic.com.

Bottom line

Award tickets to Australia can be some of the hardest airline trips to book, so it pays to look beyond the typical U.S. mileage programs like American AAdvantage and United MileagePlus to some international frequent flyer programs.

Many, like Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, have several transfer partners, allowing you to top up your account with the necessary miles quickly. Others, like ANA's Mileage Club, have some amazingly low redemption requirements on certain tickets that make them a downright bargain.

If you are thinking of visiting Australia and would like to use miles, do your homework, figure out your options and consider these programs.

Additional reporting by Kyle Olsen and Andrew Kunesh.

• Australia Tourism
• Australia Hotels
• Australia Bed and Breakfast
• Australia Vacation Rentals
• Flights to Australia
• Australia Restaurants
• Australia Attractions

Australia Travel Forum

• Australia Photos
• All Australia Hotels
• Australia Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Australia
• Australia Motels
• Australia Campsites
• Australia Hostels
• Australia Luxury Hotels
• Spa Resorts Australia
• Romantic Hotels Australia
• Australia Casinos
• Australia Green Hotels
• Australia Resorts
• Australia Ski-In / Ski-Out Hotels
• Australia Family Hotels
• Business Hotels Australia
• Australia Beach Hotels
• 4-stars Hotels in Australia
• 3-stars Hotels in Australia
• 5-stars Hotels in Australia
• Australia Hotels with a Pool
• Pet Friendly Hotels in Australia
• Australia Hotels with Parking
• Cool & Unique Hotels Australia
• Spa Resorts in Australia
• Luxury Resorts in Australia
• All Inclusive Resorts in Australia
• Luxury Spa Resorts in Australia
• Luxury Beach Resorts in Australia
• Australia Non-Smoking Hotels
• Australia Hotels with Air Conditioning
• Australia Hotels with Concierge
• Australia Hotels with Laundry Facilities
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Australia Forum

• South Pacific    
• Canada Forums
• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• South Pacific forums
• Big Things of Australia - by 1TraveltheWorld
• Iconic Pubs and Roadhouses of Australia - by 1TraveltheWorld
• Across the Nullarbor - Ceduna to Norseman By 1TraveltheWorld
• How Big is Australia?
• FAQ - Top Ten Must Sees
• FAQ - BUDGET Travel Tips
• FAQ - DRIVING in Australia
• FAQ - Vehicle RENTAL Tips
• FAQ - Booking hotel ACCOMMODATION
• FAQ - TIPPING in Australia
• Trip Reports - NT
• Trip Reports - QLD

Entering or leaving Australia

Australia welcomes millions of overseas visitors each year. Anyone who is not an Australian citizen needs a valid visa to enter the country.

International passenger caps have been removed for all international passenger arrivals into Australia.

All travellers should be aware that: People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status People entering Australia do not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status Unvaccinated visa holders do not ​ need a travel exemption to travel to Australia Mask wearing on international flights to Australia is no longer mandatory . It is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

Australian Citizens

All Australian citizens must enter and exit Australia on an Australian passport. Your Australian passport must be valid (not expired) on the day of your arrival in Australia. It does not need to have six months remaining validity to enter Australia unless you are passing through a third country that requires it. Citizens are not entitled to a visa, even if you are also a citizen of another country. Please see the  Department of Home Affairs website  for more information. 

Immigration and Visas

All foreign travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia.

»    Immigration and visas

If you have a specific question, please contact the Department of Home Affairs .

You will also need to know what you can and cannot bring into Australia, knowing the duty-free concession limits and what to experience when travelling through Australian airports and seaports.

Please visit the Department of Home Affairs website for more information.

Plan your trip with  australia.com , the official Tourism Australia website, offering a wide range of travel information and planning tools including over 2000 images, a currency converter, daily weather updates, interactive maps, suggested holiday itineraries, holiday deals, specialist travel agents and more. Available in nine languages.

Tourist Refund Scheme

The  Tourist Refund Scheme  enables you to claim a refund, subject to certain conditions, of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia.

• Australia Tourism
• Australia Accommodation
• Australia Bed and Breakfast
• Australia Holiday Rentals
• Australia Flights
• Australia Restaurants
• Australia Attractions

Australia Travel Forum

• Australia Photos
• All Australia Hotels
• Australia Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Australia
• Australia Motels
• Australia Campsites
• Australia Hostels
• Luxury Hotels Australia
• Spa Resorts Australia
• Romantic Hotels Australia
• Australia Casinos
• Australia Green Hotels
• Australia Resorts
• Australia Ski-In / Ski-Out Hotels
• Family Hotels Australia
• Business Hotels Australia
• Australia Beach Hotels
• 4-stars Hotels in Australia
• 3-stars Hotels in Australia
• 5-stars Hotels in Australia
• Australia Hotels with a Pool
• Pet Friendly Hotels in Australia
• Australia Hotels with Parking
• Family Resorts Australia
• Romantic Resorts in Australia
• Luxury Resorts Australia
• All Inclusive Resorts in Australia
• Luxury Beach Resorts Australia
• Adults Only and Adult Friendly Hotels in Australia
• Hotels with Private Beach in Australia
• Hotels with Waterparks in Australia
• Hotels with Balconies in Australia
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Holiday Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Australia Forum

• South Pacific    
• Australia Forums
• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Holiday Rentals
• South Pacific forums
• Big Things of Australia - by 1TraveltheWorld
• Iconic Pubs and Roadhouses of Australia - by 1TraveltheWorld
• Across the Nullarbor - Ceduna to Norseman By 1TraveltheWorld
• How Big is Australia?
• FAQ - Top Ten Must Sees
• FAQ - BUDGET Travel Tips
• FAQ - DRIVING in Australia
• FAQ - Vehicle RENTAL Tips
• FAQ - Booking hotel ACCOMMODATION
• FAQ - TIPPING in Australia
• Trip Reports - NT
• Trip Reports - QLD

Australia Recommends 2024

Come and Say G'day

G'day, the short film

Discover your Australia

Travel videos

Deals and offers

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

South Australia

Western Australia

External Territories

The Whitsundays

Mornington Peninsula

Port Douglas

Ningaloo Reef

Airlie Beach

Kangaroo Island

Rottnest Island

Hamilton Island

Lord Howe Island

Tiwi Islands

Phillip Island

Bruny Island

Margaret River

Barossa Valley

The Grampians

Hunter Valley

McLaren Vale

Glass House Mountains

Alice Springs

Uluru and Kata Tjuta

The Kimberley

Flinders Ranges

Kakadu National Park

Eyre Peninsula

Karijini National Park

Great Barrier Reef

Blue Mountains

Daintree Rainforest

Great Ocean Road

Purnululu National Park

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Litchfield National Park

Aboriginal experiences

Arts and culture

Festivals and events

Food and drink

Adventure and sports

Walks and hikes

Road trips and drives

Beaches and islands

Nature and national parks

Eco-friendly travel

Health and wellness

Family travel

Family destinations

Family road trips

Backpacking

Work and holiday

Beginner's guide

Accessible travel

Planning tips

Trip planner

Australian budget guide

Itinerary planner

Find a travel agent

Find accommodation

Find transport

Visitor information centres

Deals and travel packages

Visa and entry requirements FAQ

Customs and biosecurity

Working Holiday Maker visas

Facts about Australia

Experiences that will make you feel like an Aussie

People and culture

Health and safety FAQ

Cities, states & territories

Iconic places and attractions

When is the best time to visit Australia?

Seasonal travel

Events and festivals

School holidays

Public holidays

How to get to Australia's most iconic cities

How long do I need for my trip to Australia?

How to travel around Australia

Guide to driving in Australia

How to hire a car or campervan

How to plan a family road trip

How to plan an outback road trip

The Ghan, Port Augusta, South Australia © Journey Beyond

Australia's best train journeys

• Share Share on Facebook Share on Messenger Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Copy Link

Romance awaits aboard Australia’s lavish long-distance sleeper trains.

By Amy Fraser and Krysia Bonkowski

Four days, three states, two oceans and one train. The Indian Pacific isn’t just any train journey, it’s an epic escape from day-to-day life, an adventure of a lifetime and one of the best ways to experience the true beauty of Australia. Picture the majestic Blue Mountains in New South Wales, the rolling hills and winding streams of Western Australia , the bubble-gum pink lakes of South Australia and the iconic Nullarbor Plain ; you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled and your camera at the ready. Choose to hop on at any leg of the journey, or sit back for an epic four days from one ocean to another along the world’s longest stretch of straight railway.

Over three to four days, the Great Southern sweeps through one of the most diverse corners of the nation – venturing from the lush folds of South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, to the rugged Grampians mountain range in Victoria, past the lazuline shores of the New South Wales north coast and on to Brisbane. Four Australian states in a handful of days; it’s the ultimate way to see the country's ever-changing landscapes, all the while indulging in the world-class luxuries. This all-inclusive journey runs only once a year, across summer. The best part? The itinerary changes with the direction, giving you the perfect excuse to hop back on and do it all anew.

No distractions, no complications – just you and the monumental Australian outback. Traversing almost 3,000km (1,864mi) across some of the most hard-to-reach and jaw-dropping pockets of Australia, the Ghan journey is truly awe-inspiring. Snaking your way through the heart of the outback, you’ll see a new side to Australia – and perhaps yourself. From stylish interiors to indulgent experiences; the Ghan isn't one of the world’s most celebrated train journeys just for the route – it's the whole experience. To top it off, you'll have the opportunity to create your own adventure, choosing between a handful of routes and journeys.

26 hours and 1,300-odd km (808mi) – that’s all it takes to see the soul of western Queensland . As the Spirit of the Outback sleeper train chugs inland from Brisbane, lush greenery gives way to a land tinted gold and bronze by the sun. Between the Australiana-themed dining cars serving Queensland produce and the cattle stations stretching to meet the endless horizon, it’s an experience unique to this corner of the world. A place steeped in lore and legend – the inspiration for bush poet Banjo Paterson’s ballad “Waltzing Matilda” – the Queensland outback still echoes the bushrangers, prospectors, and hardy drovers that once roamed here.

More articles like this

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.  Find out more . By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.

Acknowledgement of Country

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.

• New Zealand (English)
• United States (English)
• Canada (English)
• United Kingdom (English)
• India (English)
• Malaysia (English)
• Singapore (English)
• Indonesia (Bahasa Indonesia)
• Deutschland (Deutsch)
• France (Français)
• Italia (Italiano)
• 中国大陆 (简体中文)

*Product Disclaimer:  Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as australia.com. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.

Australia Traded Away Too Much Liberty

How long can a democracy maintain emergency restrictions and still call itself a free country?

Updated at 12:20 p.m. ET on September 3, 2021.

In a bid to keep the coronavirus out of the country, Australia’s federal and state governments imposed draconian restrictions on its citizens. Prime Minister Scott Morrison knows that the burden is too heavy. “This is not a sustainable way to live in this country,” he recently declared . One prominent civil libertarian summed up the rules by lamenting , “We’ve never seen anything like this in our lifetimes.”

Up to now one of Earth’s freest societies, Australia has become a hermit continent. How long can a country maintain emergency restrictions on its citizens’ lives while still calling itself a liberal democracy?

Australia has been testing the limits.

Before 2020, the idea of Australia all but forbidding its citizens from leaving the country, a restriction associated with Communist regimes, was unthinkable. Today, it is a widely accepted policy. “Australia’s borders are currently closed and international travel from Australia remains strictly controlled to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,” a government website declares . “International travel from Australia is only available if you are exempt or you have been granted an individual exemption.” The rule is enforced despite assurances on another government website , dedicated to setting forth Australia’s human-rights-treaty obligations, that the freedom to leave a country “cannot be made dependent on establishing a purpose or reason for leaving.”

Conor Friedersdorf: How to protect civil liberties in a pandemic

The nation’s high court struck down a challenge to the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. “It may be accepted that the travel restrictions are harsh. It may also be accepted that they intrude upon individual rights,” it ruled. “But Parliament was aware of that.” Until last month, Australians who are residents of foreign countries were exempt from the rule so they could return to their residence. But the government tightened the restrictions further, trapping many of them in the country too.

Intrastate travel within Australia is also severely restricted . And the government of South Australia, one of the country’s six states, developed and is now testing an app as Orwellian as any in the free world to enforce its quarantine rules. Returning travelers quarantining at home will be forced to download an app that combines facial recognition and geolocation. The state will text them at random times, and thereafter they will have 15 minutes to take a picture of their face in the location where they are supposed to be. Should they fail, the local police department will be sent to follow up in person. “We don’t tell them how often or when, on a random basis they have to reply within 15 minutes,” Premier Steven Marshall explained . “I think every South Australian should feel pretty proud that we are the national pilot for the home-based quarantine app.”

Other states also curtailed their citizens’ liberty in the name of safety. The state of Victoria announced a curfew and suspended its Parliament for key parts of the pandemic. “To put this in context, federal and state parliaments sat during both world wars and the Spanish Flu, and curfews have never been imposed,” the scholar John Lee observed in an article for the Brookings Institution . “In responding to a question about whether he had gone too far with respect to imposing a curfew (avoiding the question of why a curfew was needed when no other state had one), Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews replied: ‘it is not about human rights. It is about human life.’”

In New South Wales, Police Minister David Elliott defended the deployment of the Australian military to enforce lockdowns, telling the BBC that some residents of the state thought “the rules didn’t apply to them.” In Sydney, where more than 5 million people have been in lockdown for more than two months, and Melbourne, the country’s second-biggest city, anti-lockdown protests were banned, and when dissenters gathered anyway, hundreds were arrested and fined, Reuters reported .

Australia is undoubtedly a democracy, with multiple political parties, regular elections, and the peaceful transfer of power. But if a country indefinitely forbids its own citizens from leaving its borders, strands tens of thousands of its citizens abroad, puts strict rules on intrastate travel, prohibits citizens from leaving home without an excuse from an official government list, mandates masks even when people are outdoors and socially distanced, deploys the military to enforce those rules, bans protest, and arrests and fines dissenters, is that country still a liberal democracy?

Read: New Zealand’s prime minister may be the most effective leader on the planet

Enduring rules of that sort would certainly render a country a police state. In year two of the pandemic, with COVID-19 now thought to be endemic , rather than a temporary emergency the nation could avoid, how much time must pass before we must regard Australia as illiberal and unfree?

To give Australia’s approach its due, temporary restrictions on liberty were far more defensible early in the pandemic, when many countries locked down and scientists understood little about COVID-19’s attributes or trajectory. Australian leaders hoped to “flatten the curve” of infection in an effort to prevent overcrowded hospitals and degraded care, and the higher death rates that would follow. The country was also betting that, within a time period short enough that restrictions could be sustained, scientists would develop a vaccine that protected against morbidity and mortality.

As it turned out, the bet paid off. Had it behaved rationally and adequately valued liberty, a rich nation like Australia would have spent lavishly—before knowing which vaccines would turn out to be most effective—to secure an adequate supply of many options for its people. It could afford to eat the cost of any extra doses and donate them to poorer countries. Australia then could have marshaled its military and civil society to vaccinate the nation as quickly as possible, lifted restrictions more fully than Europe and the United States did, and argued that the combination of fewer deaths and the more rapid return to normalcy made their approach a net win.

Instead, Australia invested inadequately in vaccines and, once it acquired doses, was too slow to get them into arms. “Of the 16 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that have been released to the government by manufacturer CSL, only about 8 million have gone into the arms of Australians,” The Age reported on August 21, citing concern about blood clots and a widespread preference for the Pfizer vaccine. “A further 1.6 million doses have been sent offshore to help regional neighbours such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji and East Timor tackle COVID-19. But about 6 million doses are yet to be used, even as more than half the nation is in lockdown due to outbreaks of the highly infectious Delta variant.” Australia’s low infection and death rates, which the country achieved both by being surrounded by water and by adopting harsh restrictions on liberty, seemed to sap its urgency when it came time to vaccinate—even though that lack of urgency meant months more of basic human rights being abrogated. In hindsight, more urgency to get jabs in arms to end the restrictions would have saved lives, because the country would have been better protected against the unexpected Delta variant.

In return for trading away their liberty, Australians gained a huge safety dividend. COVID-19 has killed 194 of every 100,000 Americans, 77 of every 100,000 Israelis, and only four of every 100,000 Australians. That low death toll is a tremendous upside. What remains to be seen is whether Australia can maintain that performance without permanently ending core attributes of life in a liberal democracy, including freedom of movement, peaceable assembly, and basic privacy.

Read: Where the pandemic is cover for authoritarianism

If the country quickly reinstates its citizens’ pre-pandemic liberties, it can argue that the loss of liberty was only temporary (though some restrictions, such as a prohibition on leaving the country, would still seem needless if the goal was minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in the country). And if Australia’s death rate remains lower than Israel’s or America’s, Australian leaders can plausibly tell their citizens that the deprivation was worth it. If not, supporters will have a much harder time defending a record that includes handcuffing a small group of teenagers after they gathered for an outdoor hangout.

More important than whether or not the past can be justified is what the country does from now on. Promising murmurs are coming from some politicians. “New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed to reopen the state once 70% of those 16 and older get vaccinated,” Reuters reported Sunday. “No matter what the case numbers are doing … double-dose 70% in NSW means freedom for those who are vaccinated." But in Victoria, the country’s next-most-populous state, the news organization reports that “Premier Daniel Andrews said his state’s lockdown, due to end on Thursday, will be extended, but would not say for how long.”

Because of its geography, Australia is a neighbor and an observer of authoritarian countries as varied as China and Singapore. But its own fate, too, may turn on whether its people crave the feeling of safety and security that orders from the top confer, or whether they want to be free.

* This article originally failed to specify that South Australia's quarantine app will be required only of people quarantining at home, not those quarantining in hotels.

Cheerstravel   Reviews

In the Flights Search Site category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.9.

10,723 total

Most relevant

Dana was super helpful!

Dana was super helpful! She called me when the website didn't accept my booking and was super helpful and thorough in helping me book my flights. She was a 5/5!! The only reason I've rated the company 4/5 is because the price was more expensive than it was showing on the site, I understand things change all the time but the technology should update quicker to reduce this friction point for customers.

Date of experience : 24 April 2024

Reply from Cheerstravel

Dear Sarah, Thank you for taking time out to appreciate the efforts of Dana who was extremely grateful. Your feedback has been noted and we're working hard to make our website and services more efficient, however; the prices are subject to availability since they are dynamic in nature. We wish you a safe journey ahead! Cheers Travel Team

Quick response as compared to large agencies

It is hard now a days when you have issues to reach a real person with big travel companies. In worst cases they just disconnect you after going through myriad of automated options. Cheers travel you get to talk to real person without automated menu in less than a minute.

Date of experience : 26 April 2024

Dear Anand, We are truly grateful to you for taking time out to leave us a review. Together with our professional team, we promise to do our very best just to cater to every little thing you need. Wish you a safe journey ahead! Cheers Travel Team

Excellent service

We recently had to organise an international flight with only hours notice, and later change the return date. The staff at Cheers Travel were superbly helpful both times I connected with them.

Date of experience : 27 April 2024

Reassuring help from Maya

Thank you to your Snr. Team person Maya, for excellent service and help in navigating through the intricacies of booking Flight details to the best of her abilities. Her prompt replies and reassurance about our Baggage query is commendable. Being able to speak to a real person who was very patient, also deserves a positive remark.

Date of experience : 23 April 2024

Dear Francis, We are happy to know that Maya was of great help. We are working consistently every day to provide the best services to our customers since you are our top priority. So glad that you chose us since we won't settle for less in serving you at any time. Cheers Travel Team

Highest standard service by John!!

Excellent service by John!! Couldn't thank him enough for putting all the effort to find the best, quickest, and cheapest flight for us. Trying to book for a family with three kids could be complicated. John has been very exceptional in going through all details and making sure that he covered every important detail that we have to know. He took his time to explain everything to us. He is very meticulous which is what you want, to make sure you don't get any mistakes in your flight details. He even offered his help if we get any questions or needed some clarifications while on the holiday. Thanks John! He's very well experienced and we felt rest assured on our travel.

Date of experience : 25 April 2024

Dear Carlo, Thank you for taking out time and sharing your experience. Our travel experts work diligently towards providing the best services. Your kind words have been shared with John who was extremely grateful. We eagerly look forward to welcoming you back again. Cheers Travel Team

Great service

There where some hiccups with my contact timing but Sam worked around it. Excellent service. Sam was very patient with my issues. Very good pricing. Will definitely use again.

Date of experience : 28 April 2024

Herman from the agency has been extremely helpful…

Herman from the agency has been extremely helpful. This is the second time, I am booking my tickets through this agency. It is only the because of the perseverance & commitment of the "soft-spoken" team, I would not hesitate to recommend the agency and especially Herman.

Daer Archie, Thank you for taking out time and sharing your experience. Our travel experts work diligently towards providing the best services. Your kind words have been shared with Herman who was extremely grateful. We eagerly look forward to welcoming you back again. Cheers Travel Team

My booking was cancelled due to fair…

My booking was cancelled due to fair change, Sam rang within 2 mins and sorted it all out with barely any fee difference in the end. Knowledgeable and prompt. Got a new confirmation within minutes. Highly recommend 👌

Dear A O, Thank you for the wonderful 5★ rating for Sam which has kept his spirit high and positive. It has been our immense pleasure in assisting you. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back again. Cheers Travel Team

Excellent service …

Maya was very helpful in helping us book the tickets from Auckland to India. She was very patient , clarified all our questions and doubts we had and very professionally booked the tickets through the phone for us. She also got us a good price. Thank you Maya and will definitely come back to you in booking our travel tickets in future Beena

We put customer experience and satisfaction as our top priority, and your review affirms the hard work we put in every day. Maya was extremely grateful to read your appreciation. It is our utmost pleasure to be of service, thank you for this review. Cheers Travel Team

My experience buying an urgent plane ticket with Leo

I tried to buy an urgent plane ticket for my girlfriend at the website for departing immediately but it was declined. So I called and Leo told me the reason and offered me another option. So I discussed with my girlfriend and we decided to take it. From that moment on Leo gave all of himself to help us with the process and all the details, because time was running! But Leo was there every time we called him and he also called back, always respectful and polite. I really want to thank him for the great job he did. Just perfect!

Dear Tay, We are happy to know that Leo was of great help. We are working consistently every day to provide the best services to our customers since you are our top priority. So glad that you chose us since we won't settle for less in serving you at any time. Cheers Travel Team

Try booking on website but payment was easy

Try booking on website but payment was declined then got a call 📞 back from Cheers travel helping to confirm my booking details over the phone Jenny spoke slowly and clearly step by step helping me get on with my booking. Thanks Jenny

Dear Adam, Thank you for the fantastic feedback for Jenny. We are delighted that you have taken the time to submit this to us. Feedback is really appreciated by the teams as it makes all the hard work, they put in even more worthwhile. Have a wonderful day! Cheers Travel Team

Herman was super helpful

Herman was super helpful. He assisted me with booking the ticket online, when online payment system declined. Its was very fast and convenient. I recommend using cheers travel for booking the ticket.

Dear Ekta, We put customer experience and satisfaction as our top priority, and your review affirms the hard work we put in every day. Herman was extremely grateful to read your appreciation. It is our utmost pleasure to be of service, thank you for this review. Cheers Travel Team

Helpful assistance from Leo

Received a courtesy call from Leo, who talked me through the challenges that I was having with luggage on the return flights from Peru to Sydney. Leo was very helpful and patient and made me aware of all the important aspects of travels, visas, stopovers, etc.

Dear Chrissy, Thank you for the fantastic feedback for Leo. We are delighted that you have taken the time to submit this to us. Feedback is really appreciated by the teams as it makes all the hard work, they put in even more worthwhile. Have a wonderful day! Cheers Travel Team

Dana shaved hours off my trip by…

Dana shaved hours off my trip by rerouting me to shorten flights and layovers - after I had put in the booking. The call backs were excellent and everything was explained clearly. I haven't experienced this level of service from an online booking service before. Well done.

Dear Andrew, We are happy to know that Dana was of great help. We are working consistently every day to provide the best services to our customers since you are our top priority. So glad that you chose us since we won't settle for less in serving you at any time. Cheers Travel Team

I cannot thank Leo enough for his…

I cannot thank Leo enough for his exceptional service in helping me book an airline ticket in a last-minute emergency situation. Despite the time constraints, Leo managed to secure a flight that was not only affordable but also met all my travel needs. I am so grateful for his professionalism and I highly recommend his services to anyone in need of a reliable travel agent. Thank you, Leo, for going above and beyond to assist me during a stressful time.

Dear Vivek, Your satisfaction is our number one priority and reading your wonderful review only affirms that our goal is met. Your warm words have been shared with Leo who was extremely grateful. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back again. Cheers Travel Team

I am going on an emergency situation I…

I am going on an emergency situation I was stressed trying to book online for 4 tickets. I was hoping to get 4 tickets before 24 hrs was kiosk for me. While trying to do booking it has no seats available. I quickly called the consultant name Emma, she was very proactive and showed a great empathy towards me and she was on phone with me until I get all tickets booked and confirmed. It was such a seamless effort for me. I really appreciate her tone of manner and the customer service she gave me, is highly appreciated. Thank You once again.

Dear Serah, Thank you for the excellent 5-star review which will make Emma's day. We are grateful for your message of encouragement. Together with our professional team, we promise to do our very best to cater to every little thing you need. We greatly value your trust and confidence in us. Cheers Travel Team

Great experience, easy to deal with

These guys were a pleasure to deal with in booking my flights. Maya in particular was super attentive and tried to find solutions to any request I had. I would definitely use them again.

Date of experience : 29 March 2024

Dear Tim, Thank you for taking time out to appreciate the efforts of Maya. We are truly grateful for giving us the opportunity to serve you. Looking forward to welcoming you back again for many more memorable experiences in the future. Cheers Travel Team

Tanya was really helpful with booking airfares to Japan. She offered alternatives for how we could save money if we moved our dates a day or two earlier. Very fast to respond to communications.

Dear Nadia, We are happy to know that Tanya was of great help. We are working consistently every day to provide the best services to our customers since you are our top priority. So glad that you chose us since we won't settle for less in serving you at any time. Cheers Travel Team

We got lost online searching for…

We got lost online searching for flights all with extra charges for meals, for seating, for eticket delivery, for cancellation, for extra baggage and the all-up cost was rediculous. We went through CheersTravel with some personal assistance and the whole process was perfect. Professional and secure with money. Look forward to flying with CheersTravel again.

Dear Jeff, Thank you for the excellent 5-star review for Gautam who assisted. We are grateful for your message of encouragement. Together with our professional team, we promise to do our very best to cater to every little thing you need. We greatly value your trust and confidence in us. Cheers Travel Team

Helpful Lisa

Lisa gave me such a big assistance on booking my flight and answered my queries so well and I appreciate that

Dear Cris, Our team are always motivated to provide a service which is both transparent and accurate. These values enable us to be very focused in putting our customers first. Thank you for your wonderful review for Lisa! Cheers Travel Team

• Forum Listing
• Marketplace
• Advanced Search
• Living in Australia

Visas and immigration

Immigration timelines, whv with 'significant criminal record'.

• BrightSide91

From 494 to 309...employment

Getting rsa or white card licenses during tourist visa, working holiday visa (subclass 417): remaining time visa after applying for a new visa, working holiday visa (subclass 417): leaving country while waiting for visa application, prospective marriage visa (subclass 300) question - in-person meeting before 18.

• StrawberryCream
• Apr 20, 2024

Student visa Refusal

Can visitor visa holders apply for rsa, white card licenses, 485 eligibility.

• Feb 4, 2023

How can I check on the submission process?

VACCU waiting time

• Apr 3, 2023

Website / blog 309 partner visa

• Aug 28, 2023

How to solve the NOIM issue?

Attach additional documents (visa 300 - subclass 300 prospective marriage visa).

• Starfryveggies
• Apr 16, 2024

Substantial criminal record for partner visa sponsor

• Morgan Ashman

Partner Visa - AI tools Webinar

• RCA Australia

Refused 600 visa for filipino senior.

Notice of intended marriage - fiancee is in philippines, passport number update.

• ofasfsofafa
• Jul 15, 2023

Update passport details in ImmiAccount: Processing time? Can travel while waiting?

Partner visa sponsorship of tss 482.

Visitor Visa 600 (Tourist Stream) Urgent Travel

Working holiday visa occupation and education, travel with near expiry passport.

• Feb 25, 2024

Thinking of applying for 309 but confused by conditions 8515

600 visitor visa with criminal record, applying for acs review after initial assessment.

• ZenithShadow77

I want to bring my child back to Australia

Previous relationship ended - new one begun - still on previous visa - what's next.

• Mar 17, 2024

applied for partner visa 820 while in student

• gonzo_ohgonzo
• Apr 19, 2024

601 to 820?

• andlolosays

NEED HELP!!! Non conviction sponsor

• Queenoftears

When does the sponsor upload their documents for stage 1 partner visa subclass 820?

• Martaustralia
• Jul 18, 2023

Visa 189 - Skills Assessment for EOI and Invite

• Mar 6, 2024
• 338.5K posts
• 149.2M views

Forum Staff

Top contributors this month.

• SUBMIT YOUR BLOG

News Reader

Brand Monitoring

Blogger Outreach or Influencer Marketing

Combined Newsletters

Embeddable RSS Widgets

RSS Combiner beta

Select Page

• Forums Directory

Top 10 Australian Travel Forums in 2024

• Australian Frequent Flyer
• Poms In Oz » Travel
• Australia Forum » Travel Questions
• Tripadvisor » Australia Travel
• OzBargain Forums » Travel
• TeakDoor Forum » Australia & New Zealand Travel
• Reddit » Travel Australia
• Australian Travel Forums Newsletter

Australian Travel Forums

Here are 10 Best Australian Travel Forums you should follow in 2024

1. Australian Frequent Flyer

2. Poms In Oz » Travel

3. Australia Forum » Travel Questions

4. Tripadvisor » Australia Travel

5. OzBargain Forums » Travel

6. TeakDoor Forum » Australia & New Zealand Travel

7. Reddit » Travel Australia

Additional Forums ⓘ

• Fodors Community » Australia  is a place to get itinerary ideas, recommended tour and hotel at Sydney, and questions about visitor visa requirements.
• Travellerspoint » Australia  is dedicated to discussing road trips from Perth to Sydney, and tips for finding WHV work in Sydney.

Related Communities

Experts in Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific

You are here

• 40 years' experience
• Six-time British Travel Award winner
• Exclusive holiday and flight offers
• UK-based Australasia experts
• ABTA, ATOL and IATA protected

APT Escorted Touring

New Zealand

Cook Islands

Islands of Tahiti

Unforgettable experiences

Family Holidays

There's Still Nothing Like Australia

Escorted tours

Luxury and unique stays

Looking for inspiration.

What our customers say

We're dedicated to helping you have the best holiday experience possible. Over the past four decades we've crafted bespoke itineraries that our customers can't stop talking about...

From reviews

Read our customer reviews here.

Our holidays are financially protected by ATOL and ABTA .

10 Of The Best Travel Credit Cards in Australia in 2024

• Compare travel credit cards based on foreign exchange fees, travel perks and more.
• Plus get expert tips on using your credit card overseas from a veteran frequent flyer.

Featured offer: American Express® Platinum Edge Credit Card

$0 annual card fee (usually $195) in first year when you apply online and are approved. T&Cs apply, new members only. Plus, get $200 each year to spend on eligible domestic and international flights, hotels or car hire with American Express Travel.

Top travel credit cards in Australia

Bankwest Breeze Zero Platinum Mastercard

Bankwest breeze platinum mastercard, coles rewards mastercard, hsbc low rate credit card, american express platinum, bendigo bank ready credit card, latitude 28° global platinum mastercard, westpac lite card, ing orange one rewards platinum, american express platinum edge.

• International transaction fee: 0%
• Interest rate on purchases: 14.99% p.a.
• Up to 55 interest-free days
• Annual card fee: $0
• Complimentary international travel insurance: Included

What to know about the card

What’s good? By any standard, the Bankwest Breeze Zero Platinum Mastercard is a low-cost credit card that will save travellers money, with a 0% foreign transaction fee, a relatively low ongoing interest rate on purchases and no annual credit card fee . Yet it still comes with complimentary credit card travel insurance , a travel perk rarely found on low-cost cards.

What’s not so good? Despite being positioned as a ‘Platinum’ card, aside from the complimentary travel insurance, the card offers little in the way of perks and rewards.

• Interest rate on purchases: 19.99% p.a.

What’s good? Another low cost card (assuming you repay the card balance in full each statement period) with no foreign transaction fees. There are no hoops to jump through to avoid the annual fee, which is rare for a card offering complimentary travel insurance.

What’s not so good? There’s not much to dislike here if you want a low-fee card. That said, the interest rate is on the high side. For travellers covering the cost of a holiday across multiple statement periods, this could be an issue.

• International transaction fee: 0% on purchases
• Interest rate on purchases: 27.49% p.a.
• Complimentary international travel insurance: Not included

What’s good? No international transaction fees and no annual fee, plus a couple of other eye-catching travel perks: Access to global roaming data from eligible telco networks in 150 countries; and a flight delay pass which offers access to airport lounges if your flight is delayed.

What’s not so good? Even by credit card standards, Latitude’s 28° Global Platinum Mastercard has a remarkebly high interest rate, meaning carrying a balance could be extremely expensive of you have a revolving balance.

• Interest rate on purchases: 0% p.a. for 12 months, then 12.99% p.a.
• Annual card fee: $69

What’s good? Offers the same travel-friendly advantages as Bankwest’s Breeze Zero Platinum Mastercard but with a slightly lower ongoing interest rate that’s waived for the first 12 months. This could be an option for new cardholders looking to pay off an expensive trip over time with what is effectively an interest-free credit card for the first year.

What’s not so good? There’s an annual fee and also relatively few card perks (not surprising given the annual fee is fairly modest).

• Annual card fee: $99

What’s good? This is one of the 0% international purchase fee credit cards that also offers rewards points (Flybuys), with a sign-up bonus of 50,000 points if you apply by 30 June 2024 and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of approval.

What’s not so good? There’s an annual fee – it’s not massive for a rewards credit card but there are other cards out there arguably offering more travel perks (e.g complimentary travel insurance) with no annual fee.

• Interest rate on purchases: 12.99% p.a.
• Complimentary international travel insurance: Not included, but comes with domestic travel cover.

What’s good? The HSBC Low Rate Credit Card comes with no international transaction fees and a low interest rate on purchases of 12.99% p.a. It also offers domestic travel insurance, and an offer of 0% on balance transfers for 20 months.

What’s not so good? The annual fee takes some of the gloss off what is otherwise a low-cost, low-frills card. The cash advance rate is 25.99% which is very high if you need to withdraw cash using your card.

• Interest rate on purchases: 9.90% p.a.
• Up to 45 interest-free days
• Annual card fee: $108 ($9 monthly)

What’s good? The 0% fee on international transactions is the standout feature, along with the low interest rate on purchases (one of the lowest available of any card with no foreign transaction fees).

What’s not so good? For a card with a ‘Lite’ offering, the annual fee (charged monthly) is not particularly ‘Lite’. There’s also no cash advance option. Although expensive, a cash advance facility can be handy when travelling if you need cash from an ATM in an emergency.

• International transaction fee: 0% (subject to eligibility criteria)
• Interest rate on purchases: 16.99% p.a.
• Annual card fee: $149

What’s good? ING’s Orange One Rewards Platinum ticks two major boxes for travellers: No foreign transaction fees (although there’s a big asterisk on this) and complimentary travel insurance is included. There’s also a credit card cashback offer with the potential to earn cardholders up to $360 per year, comfortably enough to offset the card’s annual fee.

What’s not so good? The main caveat with this card is that the 0% international transaction fee is conditional on the cardholder also having one of ING’s Orange Everyday accounts, depositing at least $1,000 into it each month and making at least five card purchases each month. It’s not an insurmountable hurdle but it’s not ideal unless you already have ING as your main bank.

• International transaction fee: 3%
• Interest rate on purchases: 23.99% p.a.
• Annual card fee: $195 (waived in the first year)

What’s good? Amex’s Platinum Edge Credit Card also offers plenty of travel perks but with a much lower annual fee than the Platinum Card. Cardholders get complimentary travel insurance, a $200 travel credit (completely offsetting the card’s annual fee), plus 2 rewards points per $1 spent on purchases in a foreign currency (overseas and online).

What’s not so good? The 3% currency conversion fee is high compared to other cards, as is the interest rate on purchases. This is another card that could be expensive if not used strategically.

• Interest rate on purchases: n/a
• Up to 44 cash flow days
• Annual card fee: $1,450
• Plus new card members get 150,000 bonus points when they apply online by 25 June 2024, are approved and spend $5k on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of approval. T&Cs apply.

What’s good? The American Express Platinum card is certainly not a cheap option, but it arguably offers more frequent flyer travel perks than any other card in Australia: complimentary travel insurance, an annual $450 travel credit, a $400 dining credit, lounge access, up to 2.25 rewards point per $1 spent on eligible purchases, bonus sign up points subject to conditions), plus a lot more. It’s also a charge card , meaning there are no interest costs but the balance must be cleared in full each month.

What’s not so good? The $1,450 annual fee is a lot, so you really need to be taking advantage of the rewards to offset that cost. The 3% currency conversion fee on American Express credit cards is also high, meaning it’s perhaps a card best used for booking travel, and left in your wallet while spending overseas.

How to compare travel credit cards: 6 key questions to ask

What’s the foreign transaction fee.

It will be somewhere between 0% and 3% of the transaction value depending on the card. If you spend a lot overseas, it’s worth minimising this fee as much as possible.

Will the card be accepted where I’m travelling?

Mastercard and Visa are accepted almost everywhere. Amex is a bit more limited but still widely accepted in the countries Australians travel to in numbers.

What’s the interest rate?

Ideally you’ll be clearing the balance of the card within the interest-free period, but if not, a lower interest rate will help you minimise your travel costs.

What’s the annual card fee?

There are some travel credit cards with no annual fee that offer benefits for travellers, but most do come with a fee. If there is a fee, look carefully at what you’re getting in return.

Is travel insurance included?

A credit card that comes with travel insurance included could save you hundreds of dollars if it means you don’t need to purchase a separate travel insurance policy. Pay attention to what is covered by the policy and if it’s suitable for you.

Are there any other travel benefits thrown in?

Some travel credit cards offer lounge access (usually a limited number of passes per year), plus travel discounts credits you can put towards flights, accommodation and dining. These can be a nice ‘cherry on top’ if the rest of the card fits the bill.

Expert tips for using your credit card while travelling

Insider tips from Money.com.au’s credit cards expert (and frequent flyer), Brad Kelly.

Cover as many of your costs as you can before you travel

As soon as you leave Australia (or buy from an overseas retailer) you become a much more profitable customer for your bank because of the fees they charge.

Avoid foreign exchange fees by prepaying for as many expenses as you can (e.g. your accommodation) assuming you can do so in AUD.

Get clear on fees

If you’re going to be spending overseas regularly, it’s worth seriously considering a credit card with 0% foreign transaction fees . This could save you up to 3.65% on every transaction. This fee is often overlooked when people apply for a credit card .

Also be clear on what you’ll be charged for using an ATM. Chances are it will be a lot.

Make sure you ‘trigger’ your card’s travel insurance

Even if your credit card comes with travel insurance, there’s a good chance it won’t cover your trip automatically. You usually need to trigger the cover, in many cases by booking the travel/accommodation using the card itself. If you pay in full with card points (e.g. with Qantas credit card points ), that mightn’t be enough to trigger the insurance – you usually need to make an actual card purchase.

Don’t withdraw cash overseas using your credit card

Using a credit card to withdraw cash at an overseas ATM is going to be very expensive. You’ll be stung with a fee from the local ATM operator (unless it happens to be a Westpac card and the ATM is part of the Global ATM alliance), a foreign transaction fee, plus a cash advance fee. You won’t get any interest-free days, meaning you’ll immediately be paying a high rate of interest on the funds you withdrew. Basically unless it’s an emergency, don’t go near an ATM with your credit card.

Brad Kelly , Money.com.au's credit card expert

Don’t accept the “Do you want to pay in Australian Dollars” option

A lot of people get caught out by this one. When you’re making a card payment overseas, a lot of the time you’ll get the option to pay in the local currency or have the amount converted to Australian dollars.

Paying the AUD amount shown would seem like the sensible choice here, but trust me, it’s almost always a rip off. That option involves what’s called dynamic currency conversion which means the conversion rate is determined by the merchant and it’s usually a much worse rate than what your credit card provider will give you if you pay in the local currency.

Bring the physical card with you

In Australia we’re very used to paying through a phone or watch using the likes of Apple Pay and Google Pay. But that kind of payment is not as widely accepted overseas. You’ll need to use the physical card and, for a dose of nostalgia, you may even need to insert it into a card chip reader and enter a PIN.

You will also likely need to have the physical card if you’re using your card for pre-authorisation when checking into a hotel or renting a car.

Have at least one backup payment option

When it comes to travel in particular, one card does not fit all. You might like the idea of using a single card for all your spending, but there are situations when a debit card will be better. Having a card from a different financial institution can also be a life-saver if your primary bank has an outage while you’re away.

You've got to be a bit strategic about how you’ll spend money overseas. So plan ahead. The truth is, if you don’t, the potential for getting walloped with fees or being massively inconvenienced is far greater than it is when you’re using your card in Australia.

Sean Callery

Reviewed by.

Credit Cards Expert

As featured in.