Backpacking Australia: 22 best places to visit
The most rewarding stops for backpackers in Australia, ranked and mapped. Tap any place to drop it into a free, day-by-day route built around how you actually travel.
Plan a Australia trip- 1
Sydney
New South Wales
Opera House, harbour, beaches.
2
Great Barrier Reef
Queensland
The world's largest reef.
3
Melbourne
Victoria
Laneways, coffee, culture.
4
Uluru
Northern Territory
The sacred red monolith.
- 5
Whitsunday Islands
Queensland
Whitehaven's white silica sand.
- 6
Great Ocean Road
Victoria
Twelve Apostles coast drive.
7
Cairns
Queensland
Reef-and-rainforest gateway.
8
Byron Bay
New South Wales
Surf, lighthouse, easy vibe.
9
Gold Coast
Queensland
Surf beaches and theme parks.
10
Blue Mountains
New South Wales
Eucalyptus cliffs near Sydney.
11
Hobart
Tasmania
MONA, harbour, wild Tasmania.
- 12
Kangaroo Island
South Australia
Wildlife and empty beaches.
- 13
Perth
Western Australia
Sunny isolated west-coast city.
14
K'gari (Fraser Island)
Queensland
Sand island, lakes, dingoes.
15
Darwin
Northern Territory
Tropical gateway to Kakadu.
16
Ningaloo Reef
Western Australia
Swim with whale sharks.
17
Noosa
Queensland
Chic beach and national park.
18
Adelaide
South Australia
Wine regions on the doorstep.
19
Margaret River
Western Australia
Wine, surf, forests.
20
Cradle Mountain
Tasmania
Alpine peaks and wombats.
21
Port Douglas
Queensland
Reef and Daintree base.
22
Alice Springs
Northern Territory
Red Centre outback hub.
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