Lyla Lindsey
Australia is a country with diverse landscapes and experiences, stretching across an entire continent. From iconic cities to the outback wilderness, there are many destinations to choose from. Melbourne, Victoria, has emerged as Australia's new leisure capital, attracting international visitors and contributing to economic growth. New South Wales, home to Sydney and the Hunter Valley region, has ranked as the most popular area for international tourists. Queensland is also a top choice for domestic travellers, with destinations such as Brisbane, Southport, and North Stradbroke Island. Other notable places include Hobart in Tasmania, the Whitsundays, and Uluru in the Northern Territory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most-visited destination among international tourists | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Number of international visitors to Sydney in 2023 | 3.1 million |
| Number of nights spent in Australia by New Zealanders | 13.5 million |
| Amount spent by New Zealanders on their trip to Australia | $3 billion |
| Amount spent by New Zealanders in Australia | $1.8 billion |
| Number of international travellers to Australia in the year ending September 2023 | 6.1 million |
| Percentage of international arrivals in 2022-23 visiting friends and relatives | 40% |
| Percentage of international arrivals in 2022-23 visiting on holiday | 30% |
| Number of working holiday visas issued between July and December 2022 | 111,000 |
| Amount spent by international visitors on birdwatching in 2024 | $2.6 billion |
| Number of international visitors to Australia in the calendar year up to December 2019 | 8.7 million |
| Number of people employed in tourism in Australia in 2018-19 | 666,000 |
| Percentage of people employed in tourism in Australia in 2018-19 that were female | 54% |
| Percentage of international tourists engaging in cultural tourism in 2015 | 54% |
| Percentage of domestic tourists engaging in cultural tourism in 2015 | 26% |
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What You'll Learn
Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is Australia's most-visited destination, with over 3.1 million visitors in 2023. The city is known for its iconic landmarks, stunning natural surroundings, and sophisticated dining scene.
Sydney's CBD and waterfront are popular with tourists. Sydney Harbour is a major attraction, especially on a clear day, offering views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The Royal Botanic Garden is the ideal spot to take in these iconic structures, with Bennelong Lawn offering the best park views. Mrs Macquarie's Chair provides the perfect vantage point of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House together.
The Blue Mountains, a two-hour drive from Sydney, is a favourite escape for many. The region boasts photogenic spots, from misty waterfalls to Instagram-worthy street art. The Wentworth Falls track is a popular walk, with a scenic descent to a natural pool at the base of the 100-metre-tall waterfall.
For those seeking beachside relaxation, Jervis Bay is a recommended day trip from Sydney, offering dolphin-watching and Hyams Beach. The Stockton sand dunes, located two hours from Sydney, are another popular choice, featuring the largest moving dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, stretching for 32 kilometres.
New South Wales also offers a range of culinary delights and outdoor adventures. The Hunter Valley is known for its world-class wines and restaurants. The state's coastlines, rugged outback, mountain ranges, and subtropical forests provide ample opportunities for exploration and outdoor activities.
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Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne has a well-developed public transport system, with clean, reliable, and affordable services. The city offers free trams within the designated Free Tram Zone in its centre, with onboard commentary about the city's history and attractions. The city also has accessible options for most buses and trains.
Melbourne is known for its exquisite dining, offering a range of cuisines, from Turkish and Vietnamese to contemporary Australian creations. The city is also home to bustling laneways, trendy neighbourhoods, and a sophisticated foodie scene. The Queen Victoria Market, an authentic inner-city market with over 600 small businesses, has been a popular destination for fresh produce shopping since 1878.
The city also has a rich cultural history, with the traditional lands of Greater Melbourne belonging to the Kulin Nation. The traditional languages of Narrm, the Indigenous name for Central Melbourne, include Bunurong, Taungurung, Wathaurong, and Dja Dja Wurrung. Melbourne stands on the ancient grounds of the Wurundjeri people, for whom the city has always been an important meeting place for events of social, educational, sporting, and cultural significance.
Melbourne offers a range of cultural experiences, including heritage walks, cultural tours, and galleries. Notable attractions include Federation Square, a popular meeting place with live entertainment and cafes, and Parliament House, a grand building with a lavish interior that houses Australia's first federal parliament. The city also has the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Melbourne Skydeck with panoramic views, and the Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria's national war memorial.
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Queensland, the 'Sunshine State'
Queensland, affectionately known as the Sunshine State, is a subtropical stretch of land in the northeast of Australia. It is a sun-lover's paradise, boasting the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the ancient Daintree Rainforest, and the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. Queensland's capital, Brisbane, is Australia's third-largest city, with around half of the state's population. Queensland is also home to ten of Australia's thirty largest cities, including the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Ipswich, and Toowoomba.
The state enjoys a warm, tropical, and subtropical climate, making it perfect for outdoor activities and water sports. Queensland's varied landscapes and abundant natural environment make it a popular tourist destination, with millions of interstate and international visitors each year. The tourism industry generates $8.8 billion annually, accounting for 4.5% of Queensland's Gross State Product.
The most visited tourist destinations in Queensland include Brisbane and its surrounding islands, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Port Douglas, the Daintree Rainforest, and the Whitsunday Islands. Queensland also offers remote camping experiences on islands like Lady Musgrave and North West, and the southern Great Barrier Reef Coral Cays of Heron Island and Lady Elliot Island.
Beyond its natural attractions, Queensland has a thriving education sector, with numerous universities and schools. The state's oldest university, the University of Queensland, is frequently ranked among the world's top 50. International education is an important industry, with a significant number of international students, mostly from Asia, enrolled in the state.
Queensland has a rich history, first inhabited by Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. It was explored by early European navigators in the 17th century and claimed for the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1770. Today, Queensland is a diverse state with a strong economy, offering a unique mix of environments, cultures, and experiences for visitors to enjoy.
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Hobart, Tasmania
Sydney is Australia's most-visited destination among international tourists, with over 3.1 million visitors in 2023. However, Hobart, Tasmania's capital city, is a dynamic tourist destination that surpasses expectations. It is the financial and administrative hub of Tasmania and serves as the home port for Australian and French Antarctic operations.
Hobart has a rich history, having been founded in 1804 as a British penal colony. The city's name derives from the British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Lord Hobart, and the local Muwinina and Palawa peoples called the area 'Nipaluna'. Hobart's convict-era architecture, including the well-known Salamanca Market, is a drawcard for tourists. The city also boasts a thriving food and wine scene, with local produce easily making its way from farm to table. Hobart's accessibility is another advantage, with daily flights arriving from several Australian cities and a clean and safe public bus network within the city.
Hobart offers a range of accessible accommodation and attractions for all travellers. The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), the Southern Hemisphere's largest private museum, provides an immersive art experience with a variety of accessible facilities. For those seeking adventure, there are numerous outdoor activities within a 20km radius of the city, including mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling, and surfing.
The city has a unique connection to Antarctica, serving as a home port for both Australian and French operations on the southern continent. Hobart's clean and neat reputation, as noted by Mark Twain in 1895, adds to its appeal. The University of Tasmania, established in the 1880s, is another significant aspect of the city's cultural and social fabric.
With its blend of history, creativity, dynamic food scene, and natural beauty, Hobart, Tasmania, offers a memorable travel experience. Its position as a leading tourist destination in Tasmania contributes to the overall appeal of the state as a sought-after travel destination in Australia.
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Adelaide, South Australia
Sydney is Australia's most visited destination, with over 3.1 million visitors in 2023. New South Wales, the state in which Sydney is located, received an estimated 3.1 million international travellers in the year ending in September 2023. Now, let's take a closer look at Adelaide, South Australia.
Adelaide is a bustling city with a thriving cultural scene, boasting colourful events, renowned restaurants, small bars, and fine wine. It is known for its accessibility, with dedicated assistance for people with disabilities at Adelaide Airport and accessible public transport options throughout the city. Adelaide offers a diverse range of attractions, from scenic national parks teeming with wildlife to metropolitan beaches and a prestigious sporting venue, Adelaide Oval.
The city is surrounded by stunning wine regions, including the Adelaide Hills, which provide inclusive experiences for all visitors. The Adelaide Plains, or Tarntanya, hold cultural significance as the traditional lands of the Kaurna people, and the Adelaide Kaurna walking trail links significant sites such as botanic gardens, museums, and cultural centres.
Adelaide Central Market, with over 70 traders, offers a vibrant and colourful experience for visitors looking to immerse themselves in the local culture and sample fresh produce. Additionally, the Glenelg Tram provides a convenient way to explore the city and connect with other transport links.
With its mix of art, culture, nature, and world-class attractions, Adelaide, South Australia, is a popular destination that attracts visitors from around the world.
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Frequently asked questions
New South Wales is the most visited state in Australia, with Sydney being the most visited city in the country.
New South Wales has plenty of wine regions, pristine seaside villages, and mountain ranges. Sydney, the state's capital, is a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, with its iconic landmarks and cultural attractions.
Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia are also popular destinations. Queensland is known for its subtropical climate and attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands. Victoria is the cultural heart of Australia, with Melbourne as its capital, offering a diverse range of urban and natural experiences. Western Australia, the largest state, boasts diverse attractions such as the Kimberley Region and Rottnest Island.
Australia offers a range of experiences for tourists, including cultural tourism, whale watching, and food and wine tours. The Great Ocean Road in Victoria, the Barossa Valley wineries in South Australia, and the natural attractions of Tasmania are also popular choices.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected Australia's tourism industry, with international visitor numbers dropping in 2020 and 2021. However, the industry has shown resilience and recovery, with a rebound in visitor numbers in 2024.
