2. The Whitsundays, Queensland<\/h2>\n
With dense rainforests surrounded by white-sand beaches, the 74 Whitsunday Islands pepper the ocean between the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland\u2019s northeastern coast. Explore Hamilton Island\u2019s extraordinary fringe reefs and get up close and personal with everyone\u2019s favourite marine creatures on a dive with Deep Water Turtle Discovery. If you want to take to the skies instead, embark on Air Whitsunday’s half-day Panorama Tour<\/a> and soar above the glistening islands and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t think the world’s largest sand island sounds all that beautiful? Think again. Spanning more than 120 km off the eastern coast of Queensland, Fraser Island is home to loads of pretty places. Vibrant Lake McKenzie is surrounded by white-silica sand that feels like you\u2019re walking on clouds, and the view here at dawn is worth waking up early for. Fraser Explorer Tours is also a \u201cwhale\u201d of a time\u2014the island is known for its humpback whale watching. Or, buckle into a ute from Fraser Dingo 4WD Hire and chart your own course from the beaches into the rainforest. This town on Queensland\u2019s Sunshine Coast is among Australia\u2019s most captivating regions, especially once you\u2019re inside Noosa National Park. If you like to eat while you look at pretty sights (and who doesn\u2019t?), take your pick from any number of culinary adventures along Noosa Food Trail. From the hinterland to the coast, this foodie adventure will leave you stuffed. For a more active exploration, pedal through towering bloodwood trees and coastal she-oaks on a cycle hired from Bike On.<\/p>\n With a nickname like \u201cGarden City\u201d, it\u2019s no surprise that Toowoomba is chockers with fascinating flora. What\u2019s so impressive about gardens, you ask? The Japanese Gardens here have 230 species of trees and plants, and will turn any skeptic into a \u201cbudding\u201d florist. Don\u2019t miss the manicured grounds of Queens Park, then keep the theme going with a meal at Gip\u2019s Restaurant, where you can dine in a garden that\u2019s in a historic building. That\u2019s a two-for-one deal. Some might say Yamba is a bit of a show-off. National parks and natural canals showcase the beauty of this charming town, which also just happens to be on the beach. Discover these delightful surroundings aboard the Clarence River Ferry that travels to and from Iluka, then sample Yamba\u2019s celebrated prawns at the Clarence River Fishermen’s Co-operative. Work off the meal with a coastal bushwalk at Yuraygir National Park, where you\u2019ll have a chance to spot migrating whales.<\/p>\n Immaculate beaches, subtropical forests, and pristine waters\u2014what\u2019s not to love? If you can\u2019t choose just one adventure, hook up with Lord Howe Environmental Tours for a 7-day sightseeing tour that\u2019s got diving, stand-up paddle boarding and tons of other activities on the itinerary. Back on land, let your day go to the birds with Lord Howe Island Nature Tours, where you can catch glimpses of the avian species that call this island home. For lunch, sink your teeth into Beachcomber Restaurant\u2019s traditional fish-fry buffet\u2014served in a tropical garden beneath a majestic Jacaranda tree.<\/p>\n Picturesque Leura attracts throngs of tourists and locals alike, making it one of the most popular activities in Sydney\u2019s vicinity\u2014it\u2019s just 100 km west of the CBD. You\u2019ll find the world-renowned Everglades House and Gardens here, set against sweeping scenes of nearby Jamison Valley. For more flowers, Leuralla Museum and Gardens shows off a wide variety of rhododendron and dogwood. And for mountainous views stretching all the way to Kings Tableland, spend some time at Gordon Falls Lookout. We know, we know\u2014the capital of New South Wales is a no-brainer for inclusion on this list. Everyone can name Sydney attractions like the Opera House and Darling Harbour. But with unique Sydney tours like the BridgeClimb, you can appreciate them from 134 m high! Keep your heart racing on the cliff-top Bondi to Coogee walk, which offers stunning views of the coast. And Sydneysiders and visitors alike flock to the Royal Botanic Gardens, which earn the top spot on many lists of things to do in Sydney<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hidden on the coast, 120 km south of Sydney, you\u2019ll find the idyllic township of Kiama. Here you can bushwalk through nearby Budderoo National Park to see spectacular waterfalls and catch glimpses of Lake Illawarra and Five Islands from Jamberoo lookout. Put in the time in to find Little Blowhole, and you\u2019ll be blown away by the astonishing heights of the water sprays. Want to befriend the local marsupials? Pay a visit to Kangaroo Valley<\/a> and see who pops out to say hi while you\u2019re wandering through.<\/p>\n Be sure to take your togs to this seaside town, believed to possess the world\u2019s whitest sand. You\u2019ll just have to confirm that for yourself, and while you\u2019re at it, don\u2019t miss the easy-to-spot whales and dolphins in the clear blue waters. If you want to get eye-to-eye, Jervis Bay Wild can take you on unforgettable eco-tours to see these creatures up close. If you\u2019d rather explore by land, Jervis Bay Bike Hire lets you cycle around the isle\u2019s coast and bushland on a network of paths fit for the Tour de France, only easier.<\/p>\n This town\u2019s name is no coincidence. Bright is bursting with stunning scenery around every corner, especially in the autumn. The mountainous lookouts provide plenty of opportunities to take in the colours. A trip on the Rail Trail to Murray is a must-do, and includes a stop at the garden-side Rail Trail Caf\u00e9, which serves brekky all day long\u2014hooray! For another of the best views in town, stop by Bright Brewery, where you can drink a beer while you drink in the amazing views of the parks, mountains, and river. If you find beauty in complexity, this peninsula south of Melbourne is the perfect place to get lost. Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens is the country\u2019s oldest and most well-known maze, made up of hedges 3 metres high and 2 metres thick. It lies amid 25 acres of jaw-dropping gardens\u2014so once you solve the puzzle, your wandering isn\u2019t quite done. Mazes not your thing? Rent a board from Peninsula Stand Up Paddle and get out on the water, or take a horseback tour through the striking scenery on Gunnamatta Trail Rides. Not all of our country\u2019s beauty lies along the coast! This vibrant community is home to some of the state\u2019s most alluring attractions. Showcasing rare plants and exotic flowers overflowing with colour, Bendigo Botanic Gardens is one of the oldest gardens in Victoria. It even includes a lagoon and an aviary. Once you\u2019ve had your fill of flowers and feathers, marvel at the opulent Fortuna Villa mansion, which sits on 7 hectares of prime property and has an ornamental lake. Jealous? You should be.<\/p>\n3. Fraser Island, Queensland<\/h2>\n
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4. Noosa Heads, Queensland<\/h2>\n
5. Toowoomba, Queensland<\/h2>\n
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6. Yamba, New South Wales<\/h2>\n
7. Lord Howe Island, New South Wales<\/h2>\n
8. Leura, New South Wales<\/h2>\n
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9. Sydney, New South Wales<\/h2>\n
10. Kiama, New South Wales<\/h2>\n
11. Huskisson, New South Wales<\/h2>\n
12. Bright, Victoria<\/h2>\n
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13. Mornington Peninsula, Victoria<\/h2>\n
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14. Bendigo, Victoria<\/h2>\n
15. Geelong, Victoria<\/h2>\n