A to Z of Australia

A Airlie Beach is the perfect beach destination on the Whitsunday coast.

B The Big Banana is a popular tourist attraction in Coffs Harbour, NSW. It’s a bunch of fun!

C Carlton is an area in Victoria that is known as one of the greatest food districts in Melbourne. It’s well known for its ‘little Italy’ precinct on Lygon Street,

D The Dog on the Tucker Box is situated just outside Gundagai, and is a monument to our early pioneers. 

E The Emu is the largest Australian native bird and can run up to 45km per hour.

F Floriade is Australia’s celebration of spring, and features more than a million colourful blooms in Commonwealth Park, Canberra.

G The Great Barrier Reef off Queensland is one of the seven wonders of the natural world and is the only living thing on earth visible from space.

H Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria is a zoo specialising in native Australian animals.

I Icehouse is an Australian rock band best known for their iconic Australian song ‘Great Southern Land’, released in 1982.

J Jindabyne is a town in south-east New South Wales that overlooks Lake Jindabyne near the Snowy Mountains, in Snowy River Shire. It’s a popular holiday destination, especially in winter, due to its proximity to several ski resorts throughout the Kosciuszko National Park, including Thredbo and Perisher.

K Kangaroo Island off South Australia is often known as the ‘zoo without fences’. Expect to meet local sea lions on the beach at Seal Bay, and encounter little penguins at Kingscote and Penneshaw as they head home at dusk.

L Lord Howe Island is widely regarded as the most beautiful island in the Pacific. The island is about 10 km long and between 2.0 km and 0.3 km wide and is a World Heritage Site of global natural significance.

M The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s premier thoroughbred horse racing and fashion event of the year. The ‘race that stops the nation’ has had horses running for the win since 1861.

N Nimbin is a village in the northern rivers area of New South Wales that is well known for its hippy communes and alternate way of life.

O The Opera House is a Sydney performing arts centre and famous icon on the Sydney Harbour. It was designed by a Danish architect in 1973 and is listed as a World Heritage Site. 

P Pub Crawls are a regular Australian tradition, especially on weekends and public holidays, where groups of drinkers undertake marathon drinking sessions that move from pub to pub.

Q Questacon is Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre located in Canberra. This interactive science centre was Japan’s gift to Australia for the 1988 Bicentenary.

R Rottnest Island is located just off Perth, Western Australia and is surrounded by vibrant aqua blue water. This island is home to some of the finest beaches and bays in the world, with a selection of 63 secluded beaches and 20 bays.

S Sheep Shearing has had a strong historical background in Australia which began with the Australian settlement. It inspired many artists, poets and songwriters throughout Australia’s history.

T Tucker is Australian terminology for food.

U Uluru also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia, and is one of Australia’s most recognisable natural landmarks. 

V Australia is well-known for its great vineyard regions such as the Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley and Margaret River regions which produce award winning internationally acclaimed wines.

W Whale Sharks are commonly found off the coast of Western Australia, specifically in the Ningaloo Reef. These sharks grow up to around 13 metres long, but there have been reports of sharks sited at around 14 metres. That’s one big shark!

X XXXX is a famous Australian brewery in Queensland that started brewing in 1878. "XXXX" itself refers to a traditional grading system for strong beer.

Y The Yarra Valley is located in Victoria and is renowned for its abundant vineyards, cellar doors and fine fresh produce.

Z Adriano Zumbo is Australia’s favourite pastry chef who has taken tastebuds around Australia by storm. He is famous for his colourful macarons and quirky sweet treats. You can find his sugar trail in Balmain, Pyrmont, Manly and Rozelle in Sydney. 

Don't forget… Islands outside Whitsundays

King Island:

You could consider King Island as being the epitome of nature’s wonderland, with its long sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, magnificent offshore reef and its abundant native wildlife. Be sure to explore the island’s two nature reserves- Seal Rocks State Reserve, home to the amazing 7000 year old Calcified Forest, and Lavinia State Reserve, boasting fresh water lagoons and beautiful beaches.

There are plenty of things to see and do on the island, whether it’s going for a swim or surf at one of the islands many beaches, following the Shipwreck Trail, or heading north to spectacular Cape Wickham to see the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest lighthouse.

When some think of King Island, cheese comes to mind. King Island Dairy has made the island famous for its masterfully handcrafted and internationally renowned products like its dreamy double brie and tangy blue vein cheeses.

The island has ample fresh food that is highly prized throughout Australia. Don’t miss the fresh seafood – crayfish, abalone, oysters and King crabs are a specialty. 

Lord Howe Island:

If you want to escape to a world of its own, then Lord Howe Island is where you should be. This island is home to unique and rare flora and is a birdwatchers paradise, with more than a dozen species of sea birds coming here to breed.

You can cycle through the rugged volcanic peaks amongst lush forests and serene lagoons, or jump in a canoe and explore the islands calm ocean surfaces. At Ned’s Beach you can feed fish up to a metre long, or try catching one offshore from one of the local sports fishing boats. 

Aerial view - Lord Howe Island

Only a two hour flight from Sydney or Brisbane, this island getaway will show you what it truly feels like to be in paradise. The locals go to great lengths to make sure Lord Howe stays flawless, with less than 300 people living there and a limit of 400 visitors you know you'll have plenty of room to enjoy yourself, with no crowded beaches. 

 

Phillip Island:

Phillip Island is an ideal getaway to take the family to experience some Australia’s cutest wildlife up close.

The island’s most famous attractions are the little penguins. Stand along the observation boardwalks at Phillip Island Nature Park at dusk to see them waddle up Summerland Beach from the sea to their burrows on shore. Or get up-close and personal with them on a secluded beach location among sand dunes on the Ultimate Penguin Tour.

One of Phillip Island’s other main attractions in the V8 Supercar Championships, which roars through the island in May. You can race around the Phillip Island Circuit on some hot laps with a professional, or drive the replica Grand Prix track in a go kart.

Be sure to explore the island on foot or bike along on of the trails, or take a swim or surf at one of the islands great beaches. Make friends with some cuddly natives at the Koala Conservation Centre, where you can cuddle a koala or head down to Seal Rocks, where you can check out some fur seals as they laze along the beach.

Phillip Island penguins

Rottnest Island:

Surrounded by the most vibrant aqua blue water, this beautiful island is home to some of the finest beaches and bays in the world. You will be spoilt for choice with a selection of 63 secluded beaches and 20 bays, perfect for boating, fishing, swimming, surfing, diving and snorkelling.

The best sheltered bays and beaches great for taking a swim include the Basin, Longreach bay, Little Parakeet Bay, and Geordie Bay.

As the island is a nature reserve, public vehicles are not aloud, so the best and most fun way to explore the island is by bike.

The variety of fish, coral species and shipwrecks in the waters surrounding Rottnest Island make it one of the most fascinating snorkelling destinations to be found in such close proximity to a capital city.

The island has the best of both worlds, because it is the perfect getaway for lovers wanting to take long strolls along a sunset lit beach, or a great place to take the kids to enjoy some fun in the sun. 

Norfolk Island:

Norfolk Island is a green paradise in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean that is the perfect island destination if you want to escape the rest of the world.

The island has a rich colonial history, and this can be seen in its beautiful architecture. You can spend your afternoon on a Convict Settlement Tour of the Kingston area, where you can walk through the cemetery, old gaol, boat shed and other ruins.

If getting active is more you thing, then head to Slaughter Bay for some windsurfing. The island also has great fishing, and locals say catching fish like Red Emperor’s and Kingfish is almost guaranteed. Emily Bay is said to be the safest swimming beach, but the best snorkelling is at Cemetery Bay, Slaughter Bay and off the Salt Mill.

As this island is not considered a territory of Australia, but simply a territory under its own control, a passport is required. 

 

Kangaroo Island:

This island is one of Australia’s great natural wonders, and is often known as the ‘zoo without fences’. Expect to meet local sea lions on the beach at Seal Bay, and encounter little penguins at Kingscote and Penneshaw as they head home at dusk.

On Kangaroo Island you can indulge yourself in some of South Australia’s renowned food and wine. The fresh local seafood is second to none, and the locally produced wines, pure Ligurian honey, hand made cheeses and fresh yoghurt are sure to treat the most discerning taste bud.

Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island

Not only is the wildlife and food great, but the scenery is really something that needs to be seen to be believed. Walk amongst the amazing rock formations, like the huge weather sculpted granite boulders, the Remarkable Rocks and the equally impressive Admirals Arch.

Want to go for a surf or swim? Well you better head down to Pennington or Stokes Bay. There is no need to fear over-crowded beaches on this island, as the sensational surf breaks are a well kept secret. The islands sandy beaches and wonderful turquoise waters are perfect for swimming, surfing and fishing.

You can access the island by ferry or plane to visit for a day or stay a while. There really is no other place quite like it.

Top 10 Extraordinary Experiences in Western Australia

1. See the world's only staircase to the moon in Broome.

2. Catch a ferry to a local favourite holiday spot - Rottnest Island. Here you can bicycle around the coastline, snorkel in azure waters or just relax upon the many white sandy beaches.

3. See the largest collection of wildflowers on Earth during the southern hemisphere spring (September to November) at Stirling Range National Park.

4. Get a taste for the real outback in Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields and learn about the area's wild past as a gold rush town in its heritage buildings and museums. Try your luck and pan for gold!

5. Swim with the majestic Whale Sharks from Exmouth on a full day cruise. Between April and June the world's biggest fish visit Ningaloo Reef.

6. Feed the local wild dolphins at Monkey Mia on the Coral Coast. These playful creatures love to interact with humans and are comfortable eating out of your hand!

7. See the amazing tidal movements that create Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef. The areas is only accessible by boat and allows you to discover waterways like Prince Regent and Hunter River that only fortunate few have seen.

8. Take a scenic flight over the magical beehive domes of the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park.

9. See the world's largest man-made lake - Lake Argyle. Best viewed from the air, you will also fly over the world's largest pink Argyle diamond mine.

10. Explore Margaret River's 100 wineries and gourmet food experiences from cheese to chocolate produced in-store. The area is also home to the state's best surf beaches.  

For assistance booking your Australian holiday contact Sunlover Holidays on 13 88 33 (from Australia) or +61 7 3535 4550 (International).