Australia is the only country that has an entire continent to itself. This country continent is famed for its natural wonders and wide open space in the form of beaches, deserts and “the outback”. Australia is one of the world’s most highly urbanized countries and is well known for its slick cosmopolitan culture. The major cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide are all major tourist hubs.

One of the main Australian tourist attractions has to be the Australian Outback itself. But the Outback is a huge place and pretty much the whole continent of Australia can be classified as an Outback. Anyone interested in seeing “the great Australian Outback” will have to focus on one part of it, it would be pretty much impossible to see it all. Most of the tourist attractions in the Australian Outback can be reached from the Stuart Highway. It’s the famous road that dissects Australia into its northern and southern parts. This highway takes you from Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the north. Alice Springs, which is sometimes referred to as the capital of the Outback, is situated along the highway nearly exactly halfway. Alice Springs is 1690 km from Adelaide and is 1525 km from the interesting city of Darwin. Those wanting to explore the Outback but who have little time can start with Alice Springs as most of the Outback tourist attractions are close to Alice Springs. The Alice Springs Desert Park is a top Outback tourist attraction in its own right. Those of you who want to take more away from your Outback trip than your Uluru sunset shot and souvenir T-shirt should visit the Desert Park before you visit anything else.

The Alice Springs Desert Park is a vibrant mix of a botanic garden, a zoo, an Aboriginal culture center, and an environmental conservation institute. It’s located in a magnificent Australian Outback setting at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges. The park makes learning about the Australian Outback so much more enjoyable and effortless. All you would need to do is stroll through different habitats, enjoy the wildflowers, admire all the wildlife (which there is no shortage of), and watch presentations or shows. Before you know it you will have acquired a real understanding of the Outback. The most popular show is the “Birds of Prey show” in the Nature Theatre. It’s basically a small amphitheater and the birds are totally free in their natural environment. Once you get seated the birds come right in, sometimes leaving only a couple of inches between their claws and your head. And they are fast! If you’ve never experienced them flying that close, you really can’t realize how fast they actually are. The presenter explains different hunting techniques and the birds demonstrate them. How much cooler does it get? Especially when the birds don’t play along and embarrass the presenter, or manage to sneak up on him from behind.

The single most famous tourist attraction in Australia has to be Uluru also known as Ayers Rock. For many, it’s the single reason to visit Alice Springs in the first place. Make sure you allow enough time for Uluru, it’s not as close to Alice Springs as a lot of people think (the distance is about 450 km). Standing on top of the Uluru is like the ultimate dream for many, a “must do before I die” goal. Visitors to Australia at some point would do well to try and visit Uluru while in Australia. The rock’s ever-changing colors at sunset and sunrise have been an intriguing feature for many years. Dark orange colors, that really accentuate the desert colors of the Outback and its flat horizon that would seem to go on forever. It’s no wonder Uluru is a magnet for tourists. While climbing Uluru is allowed, it’s not always advised. The rock is 348 meters high; the climbing path is 1.6 km long and can be treacherous. The climb is a very strenuous one (there have been around 35 deaths, most of them being due to heart attacks) and takes about two hours to complete. People who have climbed Uluru have given it varying reviews. Some feel that the effort is not worth the time it takes to get there and climb, and the view is not that interesting because a person is standing on the only point of interest in an otherwise desolate and featureless landscape. Others insist that climbing Ayers rock and standing on top is the most exhilarating and memorable experience of the whole Australia trip.

It’s a long drive from Alice Springs to Darwin. The drive in itself is exhilarating though: the endless horizon, the sense of space and freedom, the ever-changing landscape and the slow change of hues from the desert red to lush green tropics are sure to please. But, not everyone always agrees, it’s a long drive and there is not much in terms of tourist attractions, or stopping points.

South Australia is quite unlike many Australian states in that it was never settled as a penal colony. If traveling to Australia for the first time, a large but cozy city that you might consider spending a day or to at is Adelaide. Adelaide has a population of 1 million people and the city is a Mecca for fine dining. The city has more restaurants per head than any other in Australia. North Adelaide is home to many culinary delights with its excellent restaurants on O’Connell and Melbourne Streets. A popular town by the seaside, Glnelg is a common destination for Australian natives. The Barossa Valley is one of the premier wine areas in the world and it is located only an hour north of Adelaide. It is can be thought of as Australia’s answer to Napa and Sonoma Valley. There are approximately 50 wineries from larger commercial vineyards to smaller boutique variety. The region is famous for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz production. There is also a good selection of white wines as well.

Katherine Gorge in Northern Australia is famed for its spellbinding scenery. It is known for its natural beauty, flora and fauna, aboriginal history, rock art and more importantly, a space to get away from the tourism side of things. Katherine Gorge cruises are the most popular way to get a look at Nitmiluk (that’s the aboriginal name for Katherine Gorge). They operate throughout the year and are a great way to get a good look at the gorge in a shorter amount of time.