Why go
The country rewards a regional plan. The Great Dividing Range shapes the settled east; the Western Plateau and central lowlands tell a different landscape story, while Tasmania is a mountainous island and the Great Barrier Reef lies off Queensland. Indigenous histories extend far beyond the colonial story visible in many cities.
What to look for
- The Great Dividing Range runs close to the eastern coast.
- The Western Plateau covers much of the continent's western half.
- Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef show how varied Australia's island and coastal landscapes are.
Useful to know
- Pick a region before choosing stops; Australia's major landscapes are spread across a continent.
- Treat the tropical north, central interior and temperate southeast as distinct planning areas.