“Queensland is Australia’s take on paradise. Warm, laidback and heartbreakingly beautiful, its sweep of pristine beaches, luxuriant jungle and ethereal peaks conjure a southern Shangri-La.” – Lonely Planet

For more general information on traveling Australia such as visas, money, Covid updates and more, visit my Australia travel page. You can also take a closer look at some other popular destinations like Sydney, Byron Bay, Melbourne and more! 

Queensland is massive and if you’re planning on road tripping make sure to give yourself enough time because there is a lottttt of ground to cover and a so many great stops along the way!

“Sydney, spectacularly draped around its glorious harbour and beaches, has visual wow factor like few other cities. Scratch the surface and it only gets better.” – Lonely Planet

I will admit I wasn’t sure about Sydney. An iconic city to visit and an obvious stopping point in Australia, I was worried this major city would  have only the sites but without any personality.  Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised!

The answer to the question, “What to do in Byron Bay?” is simple. Chill out. Wander both the beaches and the streets with no shoes, hang out at cafes and surf to your heart’s content. There is a place for those enjoying an Australian holiday, the budget backpacker and a competitive market for those on Working Holiday visas. But no matter who you are or why you came, you’ll certainly be able to enjoy yourself in the city.  

“When it comes to Byron these days, cries of ‘Paradise lost’ echo in the surrounding hills, while nearby unassuming beach towns puff out their chests in pride of being dubbed ‘the new Byron’. Sure, this is a place suffering under the weight of its intense popularity – traffic-choked streets, no car spaces and lengthy cafe queues – but while it might not be what it used to be, it’s still pretty special.” – Lonely Planet

The beaches may leave something to be desired in comparison to Sydney and the rest of the country, but what Melbourne lacks in beach beauty it makes up for in culture, vibe and food.  The café and brunch scene here is unbeatable. Get familiar with the lingo because fraps are out and flat whites are in and footy games are the sporting event of choice.  A city I called home for six months, Melbourne (pronounced Melbin for you Americans out there) holds a very special place in my heart.