Darling Harbour & Pyrmont
The first major Darling Harbour development, Harbourside shopping centre is like that nightclub guy still wearing a pirate shirt and an unreconstructed…
Must-see attractions in Australia
Tasmania
There’s all sorts of historic clutter on display here: an early telephone exchange, old organs, military paraphernalia and the world’s first automatic…
City Centre & Haymarket
Above Wynyard train station is this rare wedge of downtown greenery. Surrounded by skyscrapers and spindly plane trees, it has a certain Manhattan vibe to…
Sydney
This $2 billion project is the centrepiece of Parramatta's major redevelopment and features office towers, a university campus and public space, built to…
City Centre & Haymarket
On Chinatown's Hay St, the surreal Golden Water Mouth sculpture drips with gilt and water. Formed from a eucalyptus trunk from Condobolin, the destination…
Dr Mary Booth Reserve Foreshore Walkway
Sydney
Squeezed between the Harbour Bridge and the politicians, the diminutive Dr Mary Booth Reserve Foreshore Walkway offers great views of the Opera House and…
South Coast NSW
Presently more of a landmark than an attraction, this heritage lighthouse on the harbour was built in 1871 (and switched on the following year). It was…
Victorian High Country
In line with Australia's fine tradition of kitschy oversized monuments (the Big Prawn, Big Pineapple, Big Koala etc), Rutherglen has the Big Wine Bottle…
Victoria
For a good view over town, head up to the Burke and Wills Monument on Wills St, completed in 1863. Robert O’Hara Burke was a police superintendent in…
Sydney
Balmain’s hibiscus-studded streets contain dozens of historically significant buildings, most of which are privately owned. Darling St has Cahermore,…
Melbourne
Seaworks is the headquarters for this anti-whaling crusader. It's often possible to drop by and look at displays about its direct-action campaigns and to…
Melbourne
This fenced-off stump of a river red gum is a rare reminder of pre-colonial Melbourne. The bark was removed by the local Wurundjeri people with a stone…
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
Sydney
One of the key pieces of Parramatta's riverside development will be this museum, which will move much of the collection of the current Powerhouse Museum…
Circular Quay & The Rocks
Multi-storey luxury cruise ships anchor at this large terminal, disgorging hordes of shaky-legged tourists onto the Quay. For a killer harbour view, head…
South Coast NSW
In the former police station (1901), a 30,000-item collection is packed into a small museum of local history.
All Souls & St Bartholomew Memorial Church
Thursday Island & Horn Island
Built in 1893 in memory of the 134 lives that were lost when the Quetta struck an uncharted reef and sank within three minutes. Inside is memorabilia from…
Port Fairy
One of Victoria's oldest buildings, Mott's Cottage (c 1843) is owned by the National Trust and is only open on specific dates; call ahead if you're keen…
Melbourne Region
On the banks of Lake Daylesford, this is the most easily accessible natural spring in town. There's a pump to sample its mineral-rich water, but be warned…
Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
This beautiful modern library and community centre is sustainably built and on a busy Surry Hills corner. Libraries are cool again and locals have taken…
Snowy Mountains
In 1997, 18 lives were lost in a landslide that destroyed two ski lodges. This simple memorial, on the site of the lodges, has a post to signify each of…
Melbourne
Built between 1939 and 1940, this Streamline Moderne high-rise is an important Melbourne landmark. It was the first office block in the city to have air…
Victoria
The Old Post Office Museum is housed in an 1860s building on Mornington's main street. Volunteer-run, it has a modest collection of local historical…
Tasmania
Manned by volunteers, this small National Trust museum in a court house building dating from 1882 is home to a hodge-podge of local memorabilia and…
Melbourne
Built to host the swimming events for the 1956 Olympic Games, this dramatically shaped structure is now used by the Collingwood AFL club as a training…
Cradle Country & The West
There’s a lookout over the town here, accessed by following Esk St, beside the Strahan Village booking office. It’s less than 1km from the Esplanade.
Kellybrook Winery & Distillery
Yarra Valley
In the business of making apple and pear ciders since the 1960s, Kellybrook also makes handcrafted beers and wines. It's possible to have a picnic here.
South Coast NSW
This small regional gallery adjoining Bega's library hosts high-calibre temporary exhibitions featuring the work of artists from around the South Coast.
Outback Queensland
Richmond's small human-made lake is a popular recreation spot, stocked with barramundi and other species. Look out for the lakeside Bush Tucker Garden.
Victoria
One of Bendigo's oldest buildings is the National Trust–listed Dudley House, dating to the 1850s. It's currently used as a gallery for local artists.
Melbourne Region
Views of the surrounding countryside can be enjoyed from this lookout within Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve.
Sydney
Just up from the ferry slip, this cute sandstone cottage was built in 1841. It's one of many historic houses of this era scattered through Balmain.
Victoria
This exhibition centre showcases anything from the work of the area's timber artists to local productions. It's next to the visitor centre.
Victoria
This city monument commemorates the discovery of gold at Poverty Point in 1851, which marked the beginning of the gold rush in Ballarat.
Outback Queensland
In the town's former power station, this museum is packed with old engines and generators that will fascinate engineering types.
Yarra Valley
This is one of the smaller vineyards in the valley, producing cabernet sauvignon, cabernet merlot and a sauvignon-merlot blend.
Canberra
Take a look at the dam that has held Lake Burley Griffin at bay since 1963.
Rockhampton
Straddle the Tropic of Capricorn at the visitor centre on Gladstone Rd – it's marked by a huge spire.
Outback Queensland
In the town's former National Bank building, this museum is crammed with local historical memorabilia.
Bruno's Art & Sculpture Garden
Yarra Valley
This Tolkienesque sculpture garden is home to over 100 terracotta works by local sculptor Bruno Torts.
Outback Queensland
Windmills are a common outback sight, but this 35ft Comet is worth a look for its massive girth.
