My Highlights Of Australia

Australia is one of those counties where the journey is every bit as memorable as the destinations.

Some of my favorite moments happened in cities, others in winding coastal roads, in national parks, or during spontaneous wildlife encounters that couldn’t have been planned.

There were the highlights of five weeks Down Under.

Melbourne

Melbourne was love at first sight.

I had expected Sydney to become my favorite Australian city, but Melbourne completely surprised me with its relaxed atmosphere, beautiful parks, excellent cafés, and vibrant neighborhoods.

Some of my favorite placed included the Shrine of Remembrance with it’s nice views over the skyline, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the lively Queen Victoria Market, and the impressive State Library Victoria.

We also made our way up to the Melbourne Skydeck. While the weather was a little foggy, the panoramic views were still worth it - and the Aperol Spritz certainly didn’t hurt.

For a slower afternoon, I loved walking around Albert Park Lake before heading to St. Kilda Pier. If you’re hoping to see the famous little penguins there, one piece of advice: book well in advance. We didn’t, and the viewing area was already sold out.

Mornington Peninsula

Not far from Melbourne, the dramatic coastline around Sorrento Back Beach quickly became one of my favorite stretches of coast and offered a first taste of Australia’s spectacular ocean scenery.

The Great Ocean Road

Driving the Great Ocean Road in a camper was amazing and the journey itself became the attraction. We stopped countless times simply because another incredible viewpoint appeared around the next corner.

Highlights included spotting wild koalas near Kennet River, exploring Port Campbell National Park, and finally seeing the iconic Twelve Apostles.

This is one of those drives where you should leave plenty of time for spontaneous stops - you’ll want to make them.

Wilsons Promontory National Park

If I had to recommend one national park in Victoria, this would probably be it.

We took the shuttle bus to the trailhead of Mount Oberon before hiking up to one of the viewpoints overlooking the coastline. And of course, there’s Squeaky Beach, whose unusually fine quartz sand literally squeaks beneath your feet as you walk across it. It sounds gimmicky, but it’s quite fun.

Croajingolong National Park

One of the more unexpected stops on our road trip. It felt much quieter than many of Australia’s more famous parks, we only saw one other couple on the trail. At the end we were rewarded with impressive sand dunes….

…and our first close encounter with Australian snakes. We almost didn’t continue, but thankfully, they wanted even less to do with us than we wanted with them.

The Joy of the Unexpected

Some of my favorite wildlife moments happened completely by accident.

Near Mallacoota, we spotted our first wild kangaroos, including one enormous one happily hopping across from lawn to lawn as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Small moments like that ended up becoming some of my favorite memories.

We also enjoyed peaceful stops around Merimbula Lake and Wallaga Lake National Park, where breakfast with a view somehow tasted even better.

Blue Mountains & Sydney

Just outside of Sydney, the Blue Mountains National Park made for a fantastic day trip with spectacular viewpoints and dramatic scenery.

Sydney delivered exactly what you’d expect.

The Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and The Rocks are iconic for a reason. One of my favorite memories was enjoying a drink at the Opera Bar, watching the harbor and the area bustling with tourists.

We also walked across the Harbour Bridge, wandered through the Royal Botanic Garden, and completed the beautiful coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach.

Queensland

Queensland felt like slowing down a bit and reflecting our journey.

On the Sunshine Coast, I loved the relaxed atmosphere around Peregian Beach and the coastal walks through Noosa Heads National Parks.

Further south, we strolled along Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast and just enjoyed some pool time at the accommodation before finishing our time together for one more night in Brisbane.

There, we explored the City Botanic Gardens, visited the Brisbane Sign and enjoyed panoramic views from the Queen’s Wharf Sky Deck.

Tasmania

Returning to Australia after 3 weeks in New Zealand gave me the chance to experience a completely different side of the country. Tasmania felt quieter, wilder, and somehow even more connected to nature.

Driving along the east coast, I quickly understood why so many Australians speak so highly of the island.

One of my first stops was the Bay of Fires, where bright orange lichen-covered rocks meet turquoise water and white sandy beaches. It almost looked tropical despite being so far south.

Nearby, I explored the giant sand dunes (Peron Dunes), before continuing to the charming coastal town of St. Helens, which made for a lovely base to explore the region.

One of my favorite days was spent in Freycinet National Park.

The hike to the famous Wineglass Bay Lookout was absolutely worth the effort, offering one of the most iconic views in Tasmania. Afterwards, I explored Coles Bay and the peaceful Honeymoon Bay, which turned out to be one of my favorite beaches on the island.

Not every stop has to be spectacular to be memorable.

The Bicheno Blowhole was nice enough for a short visit, mostly thanks to the coastal scenery, even if the blowhole itself wasn't particularly dramatic.

Around Hobart, I drove up to Mount Wellington, where the temperatures suddenly dropped, but the panoramic views over the city more than made up for the chilly (and very windy) weather.

Another highlight was taking the ferry to Bruny Island.

I spent the day exploring the island, visiting the historic Cape Bruny Lighthouse (the drive there was an adventure on its own), hiking around Adventure Bay, and stopping at The Neck, one of Tasmania’s most famous viewpoints connecting North and South Bruny Island.

Before returning my rental car, I also visited Tasman National Park, home to impressive coastal rock formations like Tasman Arch and the Tessellated Pavement, both shaped by thousands of years of erosion.

To finish the trip, I spent a few days exploring Hobart itself. I loved wandering through Battery Point, browsing the local market, and walking around the historic waterfront.

Hobart felt relaxed, walkable, and full of character - a wonderful place to end my Tasmanian road trip.

Final Thoughts

Australia reminded me that some of the best travel memories aren’t always the ones you plan. Sometimes they’re spotting your first wild kangaroo on the side of the road. Finding a beach where the sand squeaks beneath your feet. Watching koalas sleep high up in eucalyptus tress. Or simply pulling over because the coastline in front of you is too beautiful not to admire for a while.

Australia isn't a country to rush through. It’s one to experience, one road trip at a time.