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Australia

Destination guide

Brisbane

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International students and tourists are returning to Brisbane as occupancy rates reflect the rise.
The paradise known as Lord Howe Island.

There’s a new way to stay on one of Australia’s most exclusive islands

It has a reputation for being both pristine and eye-wateringly expensive, but there’s a new way to experience this pristine paradise.

  • Nina Karnikowski
Maleny’s lush Botanic Gardens.

No theme parks, but Queensland’s other coast is just as great for a family escape

While the Gold Coast is renowned as a family holiday destination, Queensland’s other major holiday coast is also a great option for families – particularly those seeking a more low-key escape.

  • Craig Platt
Convicts made the bricks to make their own prison.

The notorious Australian site where cruelty was an art form

Visiting this Tasmanian World Heritage-listed site can be an eerie, unsettling experience.

  • Riley Wilson
Not a patch of beach free: Lusitania Bay

Australia’s most magnificent island left me overwhelmed – and horrified

Just before leaving one of the most incredible places I’ve ever visited, I saw something that appalled me.

  • Craig Platt
Berkeley River Lodge in the Kimberley.

Luxury Australian lodge has bounced back from disaster better than ever

A tropical cyclone ripped through this region in November, but a first-time visitor would barely notice.

  • Justine Costigan
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Cairns lagoon, free for anyone to swim in, is a highlight of the city.

Stuck in a northern tropical city, my workday routine became a dream

After breakfast at a cafe, I’d work a few hours at the local library before heading to the lagoon for a swim. It wasn’t long before I started wondering if I could live here.

  • Tim Richards
The Via Ferrata course includes an 80-metre-long suspension bridge walk over an abyss.

New ‘world first’ Gold Coast attraction wants to freak you out. It works on me

You don’t need any special skills to enjoy the thrills and views of this new park, just some common sense.

  • Craig Tansley
The Douglas Mawson’s guests are the first cruise ship passengers to visit Three Hummock Island.

Our arrival on Australia’s untouched ‘most magnificent’ island is a game changer

The two caretakers on this Tasmanian island are only used to eight visitors at a time. So it’s a big day when 120 come calling at once.

  • Julie Miller
Stunning Emily Bay with the island’s namesake pines.

No resorts, no crowds: Now’s the time to visit our most underrated island

Remote yet accessible, with direct flights from the east coast, this island has flown under the radar of most Australian travellers.

  • Julietta Jameson
Australian cruisers are getting younger – more than a third are aged under 40.

A record number of Australians are cruising, but they’re facing a problem

While Australians are still keen cruise goers, Australia itself is slowly sailing into the doldrums, with a dwindling number of ships visiting our shores.

  • Brian Johnston